the drums of jeopardy-第20章

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Outside　stood　a　well…dressed　gentleman；　older　than　Cutty；　with
shrewd；　inquiring　gray　eyes　and　a　face　with　strong　salients。

〃Pardon　me；　but　I　am　looking　for　a　man　by　the　name　of　Stephen
Gregory。　　I　was　referred　by　the　janitor　to　you。　　You　are　Miss
Conover？〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　Kitty。　　〃Will　you　come　in？〃　　She　ushered　the　stranger
into　the　living　room　and　indicated　a　chair。　　〃Please　excuse　me　for　a
moment。〃　　Kitty　went　into　her　bedroom　and　touched　the　danger　button；
which　would　summon　Bernini。　　She　wanted　her　watchdog　to　see　the
visitor。　　She　returned　to　the　living　room。　　〃What　is　it　you　wish　to
know？〃

〃Where　I　may　find　this　Gregory。〃

〃That　nobody　seems　able　to　answer。　　He　was　carried　away　from　here　in
an　ambulance；　but　we　have　been　unable　to　locate　the　hospital。　　If
you　will　leave　your　name　…　〃

〃That　is　not　necessary。　　I　am　out　of　bounds；　you　might　say；　and　I'd
rather　my　name　should　be　left　out　of　the　affair；　which　is　rather
peculiar。〃

〃In　what　way？〃

〃I　am　only　an　agent；　and　am　not　at　liberty　to　speak。　　Could　you
describe　Gregory？〃

〃Then　he　is　a　stranger　to　you？〃

〃Absolutely。〃

Kitty　described　Gregor　deliberately　and　at　length。　　It　struck　her
that　the　visitor　was　becoming　bored；　though　he　nodded　at　times。　　She
was　glad　to　hear　Bernini's　ring。　　She　excused　herself　to　admit　the
Italian。

〃A　false　alarm；〃　she　whispered。　　〃Someone　inquiring　for　Gregor。　　I
thought　it　might　be　well　for　you　to　see　him。〃

〃I'll　work　the　radiator　stuff。〃

〃Very　well。〃

Bernini　went　into　the　living　room　and　fussed　over　the　steam　cock　of
the　radiator。

〃Nothing　the　matter　with　it；　miss。　　Just　stuck。〃

〃Sorry　to　have　troubled　you；〃　said　the　stranger；　rising　and　picking
up　his　hat。

Bernini　went　down　to　the　basement；　obfuscated；　for　he　knew　the
visitor。　　He　was　one　of　the　greatest　bankers　in　New　York　…　that　is
to　say；　in　America！　　Asking　questions　about　Stefani　Gregor！



CHAPTER　XVI


About　nine　o'clock　that　same　night　a　certain　rich　man；　having
established　himself　comfortably　under　the　reading　lamp；　a　fine　book
in　his　hands　and　a　fine　after…dinner　cigar　between　his　teeth；　was
exceedingly　resentful　when　his　butler　knocked；　entered；　and　presented
a　card。

〃My　orders　were　that　I　was　not　at　home　to　any　one。〃

〃Yes；　sir。　　But　he　said　you　would　see　him　because　he　came　to　see　you
regarding　a　Mr。　Gregory。〃

〃What？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Damn　these　newspapers！　。。。　　Wait；　wait！〃　the　banker　called；　for
the　butler　was　starting　for　the　door　to　carry　the　anathema　to　the
appointed　head。　　〃Bring　him　in。　　He's　a　big　bug；　and　I　can't　afford
to　affront　him。〃

〃Yes；　sir〃　…　with　the　colourless　tone　of　a　perfect　servant。

When　the　visitor　entered　he　stopped　just　beyond　the　threshold。　　He
remained　there　even　after　the　butler　closed　the　door。　　Blue　eye　and
gray　clashed；　two　masters　of　fence　who　had　executed　the　same　stroke。
The　banker　laughed　and　Cutty　smiled。

〃I　suppose；〃　said　the　banker；　〃you　and　I　ought　to　sign　an　armistice；
too。〃

〃Agreed。〃

〃And　you've　always　been　rather　a　puzzle　to　me。　　A　rich　man；　a
gentleman；　and　yet　sticking　to　the　newspaper　game。〃

〃And　you're　a　puzzle　to　me；　too。　　A　rich　man；　a　gentleman；　and　yet
sticking　to　the　banking　game。〃

〃What　the　devil　was　our　row　about？〃

〃Can't　quite　recall。〃

〃Whatever　it　was　it　was　the　way　you　went　at　it。〃

〃A　reform　was　never　yet　accomplished　by　purring　and　pussyfooting；〃
said　Cutty。

〃Come　over　and　sit　down。　　Now；　how　the　devil　did　you　find　out　about
this　Gregory　affair？〃　　The　banker　held　out　his　hand；　which　Cutty
grasped　with　honest　pressure。　　〃If　you　are　here　in　the　capacity　of　a
newspaper　man；　not　a　word　out　of　me。　　Have　a　cigar？〃

〃I　never　smoke　anything　but　pipes　that　ruin　curtains。　　You　should
have　given　your　name　to　Miss　Conover。〃

〃I　was　under　promise　not　to　explain　my　business。　　But　before　we
proceed；　an　answer。　　Newspaper？〃

〃No。　　I　represent　the　Department　of　Justice。　　And　we'll　get　along
easier　when　I　add　that　I　possess　rather　unlimited　powers　under　that
head。　　How　did　you　happen　to　stumble　into　this　affair？〃

〃Through　Captain　Rathbone；　my　prospective　son…in…law；　who　is　in
Coblenz。　　A　cable　arrived　this　morning；　instructing　me　to　proceed
precisely　in　the　manner　I　did。　　Rathbone　is　an　intimate　friend　of
the　man　I　was　actually　seeking。　　The　apartment　of　this　man　Gregory
was　mentioned　to　Rathbone　in　a　cable　as　a　possible　temporary　abiding
place。　　What　do　you　want　to　know？〃

〃Whether　or　not　he　is　undesirable。〃

〃Decidedly；　I　should　say；　desirable。〃

〃You　make　that　statement　as　an　American　citizen？〃

〃I　do。　　I　make　it　unreservedly　because　my　future　son…in…law　is
rather　a　difficult　man　to　make　friends　with。　　I　am　acting　merely
as　Rathbone's　agent。　　On　the　other　hand；　I　should　be　a　cheerful
liar　if　I　told　you　I　wasn't　interested。　　What　do　you　know？〃

〃Everything；〃　answered　Cutty；　quietly。

〃You　know　where　this　young　man　is？〃

〃At　this　moment　he　is　in　my　apartment；　rather　seriously　battered　and
absolutely　penniless。〃

〃Well；　I'll　be　tinker…dammed！　　You　know　who　he　is；　of　course？〃

〃Yes。　　And　I　want　all　your　information　so　that　I　may　guide　my　future
actions　accordingly。　　If　he　is　really　undesirable　he　shall　be
deported　the　moment　he　can　stand　on　his　two　feet。〃

The　banker　pyramided　his　fingers；　rather　pleased　to　learn　that　he
could　astonish　this　interesting　beggar。　　〃He　has　on　account　at　my
bank　half　a　million　dollars。　　Originally　he　had　eight　hundred
thousand。　　The　three　hundred　thousand；　under　cable　orders　from
Yokohama；　was　transferred　to　our　branch　in　San　Francisco。　　This　was
withdrawn　about　two　weeks　ago。　　How　does　that　strike　you？〃

〃All　in　a　heap；〃　confessed　Cutty。　　〃When　was　this　fund　established
with　you？〃

〃Shortly　before　Kerensky's　government　blew　up。　　The　funds　were　in
our　London　bank。　　There　was；　of　course；　a　lot　of　red　tape；　excessive
charges　in　exchange；　and　all　that。　　Anyhow；　about　eight　hundred
thousand　arrived。〃

〃What　brought　him　to　America？　　Why　didn't　he　go　to　England？　　That
would　have　been　the　safest　haven。〃

〃I　can　explain　that。　　He　intends　to　become　an　American　citizen。　　Some
time　ago　he　became　the　owner　of　a　fine　cattle　ranch　in　Montana。〃

〃Well；　I'll　be　tinker…dammed；　too！〃　exploded　Cutty。

〃A　young　man　with　these　ideas　in　his　head　ought　eventually　to　become
a　first…rate　citizen。　　What　do　you　say？〃

〃I　am　considerably　relieved。　　His　forbears；　the　blood　…　〃

〃His　mother　was　a　healthy　Italian　peasant　…　a　famous　singer　in　her
time。　　His　fortune；　I　take　it；　was　his　inheritance　from　her。　　She
made　a　fortune　singing　in　the　capitals　of　Europe　and　speculating
from　time　to　time。　　She　sent　the　boy；　at　the　age　of　ten；　to　England。
Afraid　of　the　home　influence。　　He　remained　there；　under　the　name　of
Hawksley；　for　something　like　fourteen　years；　under　the　guardianship
of　this　fellow　Gregory。　　Of　Gregory　I　know　positively　nothing。　　The
young　fellow　is；　to　all　purposes；　methods　of　living；　points　of　view；
an　Englishman。　　Rathbone；　who　was　educated　at　Oxford；　met　him　there
and　they　shared　quarters。　　But　it　was　only　in　recent　years　that　he
learned　the　identity　of　his　friend。　　In　1914　the　young　fellow
returned　to　Russia。　　Military　obligations。　　That's　all　I　know。
Mighty　interesting；　though。〃

〃I　am　much　obliged　to　you。　　The　white　elephant　becomes　a　normal　drab
pachyderm；〃　said　Cutty。

〃Still　something　of　an　elephant　on　your　hands。　　I　see。　　Bring　him
here　if　you　wish。〃

〃And　sic　the　Bolshevik　at　your　door。〃

〃That's　so。　　You　spoke　of　his　having　been　beaten　and　robbed。
Bolshevik？〃

〃Yes。　　An　old　line　of　reasoning　first　put　into　effect　by　Oliver
Cromwell。　　The　axe。〃

〃The　poor　devil！〃

〃Fact。　　I'm　sorry　for　him；　but　I　wish　he　would　blow　away　conveniently。〃

〃Rathbone　says　he's　handsome；　gay；　but　decent；　considering。　　Humanity
is　being　knocked　about　some。　　The　hour　has　come　for　our　lawyers　to　go
back　to　their　offices。　　Politics　must　step　aside　for　business。　　We
ought　to　hang　up　signs　in　every　state　capitol　in　the　country：　'Men
Wanted　…　Specialists。'　　A　steel　man　from　Pittsburgh；　a　mining　man　from
Idaho；　a　shipowner　from　Boston；　a　meat　packer　from　Omaha；　a　grain　man
from　Chicago。　　What　the　devil　do　lawyers　know　about　these　things　…　the
energies　that　make　the　wheels　of　this　country　go　round？　　By　the　way；
that　Miss　Conover　was　a　remarkably　pretty　girl。　　She　seemed　to　be　a　bit
suspicious　of　me。〃

〃Good　reasons。　　That　chap　went　to　Gregor's　…　Gregor　is　his　name　…　
and　was　beaten；　robbed；　and　left　for　dead。　　She　saved　his　life。〃

〃Good　Lord！　　Does　she　know？〃

〃No。　　And　what's　more；　I　don't　want　her　to。　　I　am　practically　her
guardian。〃

〃Then　you　ought　to　get　her　out　of　that　roost。〃

〃Hang　it；　I　can't　get　her　to　leave。　　I'm　not　legally　her　guardian；
self…appointed。　　But　she　has　agreed　to　leave　in　May。〃

〃I'm　glad　you　dropped　in。　　Command　me　in　any　way　you　please。〃

〃That's　very　good　of　you；　considering。〃

〃The　war　is　over。　　We'd　be　a　fine　pair　of　fools　to　let　an　ancient
grudge　go　on。　　They　tell　me　you've　a　wonderful　apartment　on　top　of
that　skyscraper　of　yours。〃

〃Will　you　come　to　dinner　some　night？〃

〃Any　time　you　say。　　I　should　like　to　bring　my　daughter。〃

〃She　doesn't　know？〃

〃No。　　Heard　of　Hawksley；　thinks　he's　English。〃

〃I　am　certainly　agreeable。〃　　This　would　be　a　distinct　advantage　to
Kitty。　　〃I　see　you　have　a　good　book　there。　　I'll　take　myself　off。〃

In　the　Avenue　Cutty　loaded　his　pipe。　　He　struck　a　match　on　the
flagstone　and　cupped　it　over　the　bowl　of　his　pipe；　thereby　throwing
his　picturesque　countenance　into　ruddy　relief。　　Opposite　emotions
filled　the　hearts　of　the　two　men　watching　him　…　in　one；　chagrin；　in
the　other；　exultation。

Cutty　decided　to　walk　downtown；　the　night　being　fine。　　He　set　his
foot　to　a　long；　swinging　stride。　　An　elephant　on　his　hands；　truly。
Poor　devil；　for　a　fad！　　Nobody　wanted　him；　not　even　those　who　wished
him　well。　　Wanted　to　become　an　American　citizen。　　He　would　have　been
tolerably　safe　in　England。　　Here　he　would　never　be　free　of　danger。
A　ranch。　　The　beggar　would　have　a　chance　out　there　in　the　West。　　The
anarchist　and　the　Bolshevik　were　town　cooties。　　His　one　chance；
actually。　　The　poor　devil！　　Kitty　had　the　right　idea。　　It　was　a
mighty　fine　thing；　these　times；　to　be　a　citizen　under　the　protection
of　the　American　doctrine。

Three　hundred　thousand！　　And　Karlov　had　got　that　along　with　the　drums。
The　devil's　own　for　luck！　　The　fool　would　be　able　to　start　some　fine
ructions　with　all　that　capital　behind　him。　　Episodes　in　the　night。

Kitty　dreamed　of　wonderful　rose　gardens；　endless　and　changing；　but
strive　as　she　would　she　could　not　find　Cutty　anywhere；　which　worried
her；　even　in　her　dream。

The　nurse　heard　the　patient　utter　a　single　word　several　times　before
he　fell　asleep。

〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked。

〃Fan！〃　And　he　smiled。

She　hunted　for　the　palm　leaf；　but　with　a　slight　gesture　he　signified
that　that　was　not　what　he　wanted。

Cutty　played　solitaire　with　his　chrysoprase　until　the　telephone
broke　in　upon　his　reveries。　　What　he　heard　over　the　wire　disturbed
him　greatly。

〃You　were　followed　from　the　Avenue　to　the　apartment。〃

〃How　do　you　know？〃

〃I　am　Henderson。　　You　assigned　me　to　watch　the　apartment　in　Eightieth
throug