the drums of jeopardy-第16章

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〃He　said　he　had　money。〃

〃Well；　Karlov's　men　stripped　him　clean。〃

〃Have　you　any　idea　who　he　is？〃

〃To　be　honest；　that's　one　of　the　reasons　why　I　want　to　keep　him　here。
He's　Russian；　for　all　his　Oxford　English　and　his　Italian　gestures；
and　from　his　babble　I　imagine　he's　been　through　seven　kinds　of　hell。
Torches　and　hobnailed　boots　and　the　incessant　call　for　a　woman　named
Olga　…　a　young　woman　about　eighteen。〃

〃How　did　you　find　that　out？〃

〃From　a　photograph　I　found　in　the　lining　of　his　coat。　　A　pretty
blonde　girl。〃

〃Good　heavens！〃　…　recollecting　her　dream。　　〃Where　was　it　printed？〃

〃Amateur　photography。　　I'll　pick　it　up　on　the　way　to　the　living
room。〃

It　was　nothing　like　the　blonde　girl　of　her　dream。　　Still；　the　girl
was　charming。　　Kitty　turned　over　the　photograph。　　There　was　writing
on　the　back。

〃Russian？　　What　does　it　say？〃

〃'To　Ivan　from　Olga　with　all　her　love。'〃

Cutty　was　conscious　of　the　presence　of　an　indefensible　malice　in
his　tones。　　Why　the　deuce　should　he　be　bitter　…　glad　that　the　chap
had　left　behind　a　sweetheart？　　He　knew　exactly　the　basis　of　Kitty's
interest；　as　utterly　detached　as　that　of　a　reporter　going　to　a　fire。
On　the　day　the　patient　could　explain　himself；　Kitty's　interest
would　automatically　cease。　　An　old　dog　in　the　manger？　　Malice。

〃Cutty；　something　dreadful　has　happened　to　this　poor　young　woman。
That's　what　makes　him　cry　out　the　name。　　Caught　in　that　horror；　and
probably　he　alone　escaped。　　Is　it　heartless　to　be　glad　I'm　an
American？　　Do　they　let　in　these　Russians？〃

〃Not　since　the　Trotzky　regime。　　I　imagine　Two…Hawks　slipped　through
on　some　British　passport。　　He'll　probably　tell　us　all　about　it　when
he　comes　round。　　But　how　do　you　feel　after　last　night's　bout？〃

〃Alive！　　And　I'm　going　on　being　alive；　forever　and　ever！　　Oh；　those
awful　drums！　　They　look　like　dead　eyes　in　those　dim　corners。
Tumpitum…tump！　　Tumpitum…tump！〃　she　cried；　linking　her　arm　in　his。
〃What　a　gorgeous　view！　　Just　what　I'm　going　to　do　when　my　ship　comes
in　…　live　in　a　loft。　　I　really　believe　I　could　write　up　here　…　I　mean
worth…while　things　I　could　enjoy　writing　and　sell。〃

〃It's　yours　if　you　want　it　when　I　leave。〃

〃And　I'd　have　a　fine　time　explaining　to　my　friends！　　You　old　innocent！
。。。　Or　are　you　so　innocent？〃

〃We　do　live　in　a　cramped　world。　　But　I　meant　it。　Don't　forget　to
whistle　down　to　Tony　Bernini　when　you　get　back　home　to…night。〃

〃I　promise。

〃Why　the　gurgle？〃

〃Because　I'm　tremendously　excited。　　All　my　life　I've　wanted　to　do
mysterious　things。　　I've　been　with　the　audience　all　the　while；　and　I
want　to　be　with　the　actors。〃

〃You'll　give　some　man　a　wild　dance。〃

〃If　I　do　I'll　dance　with　him。　　Now　lead　me　to　the　cookies。〃

She　was　the　life　of　the　tea　table。　　Her　wit；　her　effervescence；　her
whimsicalities　amused　even　the　prim　Miss　Frances。　　When　she　recounted
the　exploit　of　the　camouflaged　fan；　Cutty　and　Harrison　laughed　so
loudly　that　the　nurse　had　to　put　her　linger　on　her　lips。　　They　might
wake　the　patient。

〃I　am　really　interested　in　him；〃　went　on　Kitty。　　〃I　won't　deny　it。
I　want　to　see　how　it's　going　to　turn　out。　　He　was　very　nice　after　I
let　him　into　the　kitchen。　　A　perfectly　English　manner　and　voice；　and
Italian　gestures　when　off　his　guard。　　I　feel　so　sorry　for　him。　　What
strangers　we　races　are　to　each　other！　　Until　the　war　we　hardly　knew
the　Canadians。　　The　British　didn't　know　us　at　all；　and　the　French
became　acquainted　with　the　British　for　the　first　time　in　history。
And　the　German　thought　he　knew　us　all　and　really　knew　nobody。　　All
the　Russians　I　ever　saw　were　peasants　of　the　cattle　type；　so　that　the
word　Russian　conjures　up　two　pictures　…　the　grand　duke　at　Monte　Carlo
and　a　race　of　men　who　wear　long　beards　and　never　bathe　except　when　it
rains。　　Think　of　it！　　For　the　first　time　since　God　set　mankind　on
earth　peoples　are　becoming　acquainted。　　I　never　saw　a　Russian　of　this
type　before。〃。

〃A　leaf　in　the　whirlpool。　…　Anyhow；　we'll　keep　him　here　until　he's　on
his　feet。　　By　the　way；　never　answer　any　telephone　call　…　I　mean；　go
anywhere　on　a　call　…　unless　you　are　sure　of　the　speaker。〃

〃I　begin　to　feel　important。〃

〃You　are　important。　　You　have　suddenly　become　a　connecting　link
between　this　Karlov　and　the　man　we　wish　to　protect。　　I'll　confess　I
wanted　you　out　of　that　apartment　at　first；　but　when　I　saw　that　you
were　bent　on　remaining；　I　decided　to　make　use　of　you。〃

〃You　are　going　to　give　me　a　part　in　the　play？〃

〃Yes。　　You　are　to　go　about　your　affairs　as　always；　just　as　if　nothing
had　happened。　　Only　when　you　wish　to　come　here　will　you　play　any　game
like　that　of　to…day。　　Then　it　will　be　advisable。　　Switch　your　route
each　time。　　Your　real　part　is　to　be　that　of　lure。　　Through　you　we　shall
gradually　learn　who　Karlov's　associates　are。　　If　you　don't　care　to　play
the　role　all　you　have　to　do　is　to　move。〃

〃The　idea！　　I'm　grateful　for　anything。　　You　men　will　never　understand。
You　go　forth　into　the　world　each　day　…　politics；　diplomacy；　commerce；
war　…　while　we　women　stay　at　home　and　knit　or　darn　socks　or　take
care　of　the　baby　or　make　over　our　clothes　and　hats　or　do　household
work　or　play　the　piano　or　read。　　Never　any　adventure。　　Never　any
games。　　Never　any　clubs。　　The　leaving　your　house　to　go　to　the　office
is　an　adventure。　　A　train　from　here　to　Philadelphia　is　an　adventure。
We　women　are　always　craving　it。　　And　about　all　we　can　squeeze　out
of　life　is　shopping　and　hiding　the　bills　after　marriage；　and　going
to　the　movies　before　marriage　with　young　men　our　fathers　don't　like。
We　can't　even　stroll　the　street　and　admire　the　handsome　gowns　of　our
more　fortunate　sisters　the　way　you　men　do。　　When　you　see　a　pretty
woman　on　the　street　do　you　ever　stop　to　think　that　there　are　ten　at
home　eating　their　hearts　out？　　Of　course　you　don't。　　So　I'm　going
through　with　this；　to　satisfy　suppressed　instincts；　and　I　shan't
promise　to　trot　along　as　usual。〃

〃They　may　attempt　to　kidnap　you；　Kitty。〃

〃That　doesn't　frighten　me。〃

〃So　I　observe。　　But　if　they　ever　should　have　the　luck　to　kidnap　you；
tell　all　you　know　at　once。　　There's　only　one　way　up　here　…　the
elevator。　　I　can　get　out　to　the　fire　escape；　but　none　can　get　in
from　that　direction；　as　the　door　is　of　steel。〃

〃And；　of　course；　you'll　take　me　into　your　confidence　completely？〃

〃When　the　time　comes。　　Half　the　fun　in　an　adventure　is　the　element
of　the　unexpected；〃　said　Cutty。

〃Where　did　you　first　meet　Stefani　Gregor？〃

Captain　Harrison　laughed。　　He　liked　this　girl。　　She　was　keen　and
could　be　depended　upon；　as　witness　last　night's　work。　　Her　real
danger　lay　in　being　conspicuously　pretty；　in　looking　upon　this　affair
as　merely　a　kind　of　exciting　game；　when　it　was　tragedy。

〃What　makes　you　think　I　know　Stefani　Gregor？〃　asked　Cutty；　genuinely
curious。

〃When　I　pronounced　that　name　you　whirled　upon　me　as　if　I　had　struck
you。〃

〃Very　well。　　When　we　learn　who　Two…Hawks　is　I'll　tell　you　what　I
know　about　Gregor。　　And　in　the　meantime　you　will　be　ceaselessly　under
guard。　　You　are　an　asset；　Kitty；　to　whichever　side　holds　you。
Captain　Harrison　is　going　to　stay　for　dinner。　　Won't　you　join　us？〃

〃I'm　going　to　a　studio　potluck　with　some　girls。　　And　it's　time　I　was
on　the　way。　　I'll　let　your　Tony　Bernini　know。　　Home　probably　at　ten。〃

Cutty　went　with　her　to　the　elevator　and　when　he　returned　to　the　tea
table　he　sat　down　without　speaking。

〃Why　not　kidnap　her　yourself；〃　suggested　Harrison；　〃if　you　don't　want
her　in　this？〃

〃She　would　never　forgive　me。〃

〃If　she　found　it　out。〃

〃She's　the　kind　who　would。　　What　do　you　think　of　her；　Miss　Frances？〃

〃I　think　she　is　wonderful。　　Frankly；　I　should　tell　her　everything
　…　if　there　is　anything　more　to　be　told。〃

When　dinner　was　over；　the　nurse　gone　back　to　the　patient　and　Captain
Harrison　to　his　club；　Cutty　lit　his　odoriferous　pipe　and　patrolled
the　windows　of　his　study。　　Ever　since　Kitty's　departure　he　had　been
mulling　over　in　his　mind　a　plan　regarding　her　future　…　to　add　a
codicil　to　his　will；　leaving　her　five　thousand　a　year；　so　Molly's
girl　might　always　have　a　dainty　frame　for　her　unusual　beauty。　　The
pity　of　it　was　that　convention　denied　him　the　pleasure　of　settling
the　income　upon　her　at　once；　while　she　was　young。　　He　might　outlive
her；　you　never　could　tell。　　Anyhow；　he　would　see　to　the　codicil。　　An
accident　might　step　in。

He　got　out　his　chrysoprase。　　In　one　corner　of　the　room　there　was　a
large　portfolio　such　as　artists　use　for　their　proofs　and　sketches；
and　from　this　he　took　a　dozen　twelve…by…fourteen…inch　photographs
of　beautiful　women；　most　of　them　stage　beauties　of　bygone　years。
The　one　on　top　happened　to　be　Patti。　　The　adorable　Patti！　。。。　Linda；
Violetta；　Lucia。　　Lord；　what　a　nightingale　she　had　been！　　He　laughed
laid　the　photograph　on　the　desk；　and　dipped　his　hand　into　a　canvas
bag　filled　with　polished　green　stones　which　would　have　great
commercial　value　if　people　knew　more　about　them；　for　nothing　else　in
the　world　is　quite　so　beautifully　green。

He　built　tiaras　above　the　lovely　head　and　laid　necklaces　across　the
marvellous　throat。　　Suddenly　a　phenomenon　took　place。　　The　roguish
eyes　of　the　prima　donna　receded　and　vanished　and　slate…blue　ones
replaced　them。　　The　odd　part　of　it　was；　he　could　not　dissipate　the
fancied　eyes　for　the　replacement　of　the　actual。　　Patti；　with
slate…blue　eyes！　　He　discarded　the　photograph　and　selected　another。
He　began　the　game　anew　and　was　just　beginning　the　attack　on　the
problem　uppermost　in　his　mind　when　the　phenomenon　occurred　again。
Kitty's　eyes！　　What　infernal　nonsense！　　Kitty　had　served　merely　to
enliven　his　tender　recollections　of　her　mother。　　Twenty…four　and
fifty…two。　　And　yet；　hadn't　he　just　read　that　Maeterlinck；　fifty…six；
had　married　Mademoiselle　Dahon；　many　years　younger？

In　a　kind　of　resentful　fury　he　pushed　back　his　chair　and　fell　to
pacing；　eddies　and　loops　and　spirals　of　smoke　whirling　and　sweeping
behind　him。　　The　only　light　was　centred　upon　the　desk；　so　he　might
have　been　some　god　pacing　cloud…riven　Olympus　in　the　twilight。　　By
and　by　he　laughed；　and　the　atmosphere　…　mental　…　cleared。
Maeterlinck；　fifty…six；　and　Cutty；　fifty…two；　were　two　different　men。
Cutty　might　mix　his　metaphors　occasionally；　but　he　wasn't　going　to
mix　his　ghosts。

He　returned　to　his　singular　game。　　More　tiaras　and　necklaces；　and
his　brain　took　firm　hold　of　the　theme　which　had　in　the　beginning
lured　him　to　the　green　stones。

Two…Hawks。　　That　name　bothered　him。　　He　knew　he　had　heard　it　before；
but　never　in　the　Russian　tongue。　　It　might　be　that　the　chap　had　been
spoofing　Kitty。　　Still；　he　had　also　called　himself　Hawksley。

The　smoke　thickened；　there　were　frequent　flares　of　matches。　　One　by
one　Cutty　discarded　the　photographs；　dropping　them　on　the　floor
beside　his　chair；　his　mind　boring　this　way　and　that　for　a　solution。
He　had　now　come　to　the　point　where　he　ceased　to　see　the　photographs
or　the　green　stones。　　The　movements　of　his　hands　were　almost
automatic。　　And　in　this　abstract　manner　he　came　to　the　last
photograph。　　He　built　a　necklace　and　even　ventured　an　earring。

It　was　a　glorious　face　…　black　eyes　that　followed　you；　full　lipped；
every　indication　of　fire　and　genius。　　It　must　be　understood　that　he
rarely　saw　the　photographs　w