the drums of jeopardy-第5章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


when　they　roost　are　heavy…lidded　and　clumsy。　　She　wondered　if　there
was　a　corner　on　the　globe　he　had　not　peered　into。

For　thirty　years　he　had　been　following　two　gods　…　Rumour　and　War。
For　thirty　years　he　had　been　the　slave　of　cables　and　telegrams。
Even　now　he　was　preparing　to　return　to　the　Balkans；　where　the　great
fire　had　started　and　where　there　were　still　some　threatening　embers
to　watch。

Cutty　was　not　well　known　in　America；　his　reputation　was　European。
He　played　the　game　because　he　loved　it；　being　comfortably　fortified
with　worldly　goods。　　He　was　a　linguist　of　rare　attainments；
specializing　in　the　polyglot　of　southeastern　Europe。　　He　came　and
went　like　cloud　shadow。　　His　foresight　was　so　keen　he　was　seldom
ordered　to　go　here　or　there；　he　was　generally　on　the　spot　when　the
orders　arrived。

He　was　interested　in　socialism　and　its　bewildering　ramifications；
but　only　as　an　analytical　student。　　He　could　fit　himself　into　any
environment；　interview　a　prime　minister　in　the　afternoon　and　take
potluck　that　night　with　the　anarchist　who　was　planning　to　blow　up
the　prime　minister。

Burlingame；　an　intimate；　often　exposed　for　Kitty's　delectation　the
amazing　and　colourful　facets　of　Cutty's　diamond…brilliant　mind。
Cutty　wrote　authoritatively　on　famous　gems　and　collected　drums。
He　had　one　of　the　finest　collections　of　chrysoprase　in　the　world。
He　loved　these　semi…precious　stones　because　of　their　unmatchable；
translucent　green　…　like　the　pulp　of　a　grape。　　From　Burlingame
Kitty　had　learned　that　Cutty；　rather　indifferent　to　women；　carried
about　with　him　the　photographs　…　large　size　…　of　famous　professional
beauties　and　a　case　filled　with　polished　chrysoprase。　　He　would　lay
a　photograph　on　a　table　and　adorn　the　lovely　throat　with　astonishing
necklaces　and　the　head　with　wonderful　tiaras；　all　the　while　his
brain　at　work　with　some　intricate　political　puzzle。

And　he　collected　drums。　　The　walls　of　his　apartment　…　part　of　the
loft　of　a　midtown　office　building　…　were　covered　with　a　most
startling　assortment　of　drums：　drums　of　war；　of　the　dance；　of　the
temples　of　the　feast；　ancient　and　modern；　some　of　them　dreadful
looking　objects；　as　Kitty　had　cause　to　remember。

Though　Cutty　had　known　her　father　and　mother　intimately；　Kitty　was
a　comparative　stranger。　　He　recollected　seeing　her　perhaps　a　dozen
times。　　She　had　been　a　shy　child；　not　given　to　climbing　over
visitors'　knees；　not　the　precocious　offspring　of　the　average
theatrical　mother。　　So　in　the　past　he　had　somewhat　overlooked　her。
Then　one　day　recently　he　had　dropped　in　to　see　Burlingame　and　had
seen　Kitty　instead；　which　accounts　for　his　presence　here　this　day。
Neither　Kitty　nor　Burlingame　suspected　the　true　attraction。　　The
dramatic　editor　accepted　the　advent　as　a　peculiar　compliment　to
himself。　　And　it　is　to　be　doubted　if　Cutty　himself　realized　that
there　was　a　true　magnetic　pole　in　this　cubbyhole　of　a　room。

Kitty；　however；　had　vivid　recollections。　　Actually　the　first　strange
man　she　had　ever　met。　　But　not　having　been　visible　on　her　horizon；
except　in　flashes；　she　knew　of　the　man　only　what　she　had　read　and
what　Burlingame　had　casually　offered　during　discussions。

〃Well；　anyhow；〃　said　Burlingame；　complacently；　〃the　war　is　over。

Cutty　smiled　indulgently。　　〃That's　the　trouble　with　us　chaps　who
tramp　round　the　world　for　news。　　We　can't　bamboozle　ourselves　like
you　folks　who　stay　at　home。　　The　war　was　only　the　first　phase。
There's　a　mess　over　there；　wanting　something　and　not　knowing　exactly
what；　those　millions；　milling　cattle；　with　neither　shed　nor　pasture。
The　Lord　only　knows　how　long　it　will　take　to　clarify。　　Would　you
mind　if　I　smoked？〃

〃Wow！〃　cried　Burlingame。

〃Not　at　all；〃　answered　Kitty。　　〃I　don't　see　how　any　pipe　could　be
worse　than　Mr。　Burlingame's。〃

〃I　apologize；〃　said　the　dramatic　editor；　humbly。

〃You　needn't；〃　replied　the　girl。　　She　turned　to　the　war　correspondent。
〃Any　new　drums？〃

〃I　remember　that　day。　　You　were　scared　half　to　death　at　my　walls。〃

〃Small　wonder！　　I　was　only　twelve；　and　I　dreamed　of　cannibals　for
weeks。〃

〃Drums！　　I　wonder　if　any　living　man　has　heard　a　greater　variety
than　I？　　What　a　lot　of　them！　　I　have　heard　them　calling　a　jehad　in
the　Sudan。　　Tumpi…tum…tump！　　tumpitum…tump！　　Makes　a　white　man's
hair　stand　up　when　he　hears　it　in　the　night。　　I　don't　know　what　it
is；　but　the　sound　drives　the　Oriental　mad。　　And　that　reminds　me
　…　I've　had　them　in　mind　all　day　…　the　drums　of　jeopardy！〃

〃What　an　odd　phrase！　　And　what　are　the　drums　of　jeopardy？〃　asked
Kitty；　leaning　on　her　arms。　　Odd；　but　suddenly　she　felt　a　longing
to　go　somewhere；　thousands　and　thousands　of　miles　away。　　She　had
never　been　west　of　Chicago　or　east　of　Boston。　　Until　this　moment
she　had　never　felt　the　call　of　the　blood　…　her　father's。　　Cocoanut
palms　and　birds　of　paradise！　　And　drums　in　the　night　going
tumpi…tum…tump！　　tumpi…tum…tump！

〃I've　always　been　mad　over　green　things；〃　began　Cutty。　　〃A　wheat
field　in　the　spring；　leafing　maples。　　It's　Nature's　choice　and　mine。
My　passion　is　emeralds；　and　I　haven't　any　because　those　I　want　are
beyond　reach。　　They　are　owned　by　the　great　houses　of　Europe　and
Asia；　and　lie　in　royal　caskets；　or　did。　　If　I　could　go　into　a　mine
and　find　an　emerald　as　big　as　my　fist　I　should　be　only　partly　happy
if　it　chanced　to　be　of　fine　colour。　　In　a　little　while　I　should　lose
interest　in　it。　　It　wouldn't　be　alive；　if　you　can　get　what　I　mean。
Just　as　a　man　would　rather　have　a　homely　woman　to　talk　to　than　a
beautiful　window　dummy　to　admire。　　A　stone　to　interest　me　must　have
a　story　…　a　story　of　murder　and　loot；　of　beautiful　women；　palaces。

〃Br…r…r！〃　cried　Burlingame。

〃Why；　I've　seen　emeralds　I　would　steal　with　half　a　chance。　　I
couldn't　help　it。　　Fact；〃　declared　Cutty；　earnestly。　　〃Think　of
the　loot　in　the　Romanoff　palaces！　　What's　become　of　all　those
magnificent　stones？　　In　a　little　while　they'll　be　turning　up　in
Amsterdam　to　be　cut　…　some　of　them。　　Or　maybe　Mister　Bolsheviki's
inamorata　will　be　stringing　them　round　her　neck。　　Loot。〃

〃But　the　drums　of　jeopardy！〃　said　Kitty。

〃Emeralds；　green　as　an　English　lawn　in　May　after　a　shower；　Kitty。
By　the　way；　do　you　mind　if　I　call　you　Kitty？　　I　used　to。〃

〃And　I've　always　thought　of　you　as　Cutty。　　Fifty…fifty。〃

〃It's　a　bargain。　　Well；　the　drums　to　my　thinking　are　the　finest　two
examples　of　the　green　beryl　in　the　world。　　Polished；　of　course；　as
emeralds　always　should　be。　　I　should　say　that　they　were　about　the
size　of　those　peppermint　chocolate　drops　there。〃

〃Have　one？〃　said　Kitty。

〃No。　　Spoil　the　taste　of　the　pipe。〃

〃You　ought　to　spoil　that　taste　once　in　a　while；〃　was　Burlingame's
observation。　　〃But　go　on。〃

〃I　suppose　originally　there　was　a　single　stone；　later　cut　into
halves；　because　they　are　perfect　matches。　　The　drums　proper　are
exquisitely　carved　ivory　statuettes；　of　Hindu　or　Mohammedan　drummers；
squatting；　the　golden　base　of　the　drums　between　the　knees；　and　the
drumheads　the　emeralds。　　Lord；　how　they　got　to　me！　　I　wanted　to　run
off　with　them。　　The　history　of　murder　and　loot　they　could　tell！
Some　Delhi　mogul　owned　them　first。　　Then　Nadir　Shah　carried　them　off
to　Persia；　along　with　the　famous　peacock　throne。　　I　saw　them　in　a
palace　on　the　Caspian　in　1912。　　Russia　was　very　strong　in　Persia　at
one　time。　　Perhaps　they　were　gifts；　perhaps　they　were　stolen　…　these
emeralds。　　Anyhow；　I'd　never　heard　of　them　until　that　year。　　And　I
travelled　all　the　way　up　from　Constantinople　to　get　a　glimpse　of
them　if　it　were　possible。　　I　had　to　do　some　mighty　fine　wire…pulling。
For　one　of　those　stones　I　would　give　half　of　all　I　own。　　To　see　them
in　the　possession　of　another　man　would　be　a　supreme　test　to　my　honesty。〃

〃You　old　pirate！〃　said　Burlingame。

〃But　why　the　word　jeopardy？〃　persisted　Kitty；　who　was　intrigued　by
the　phrase。

〃Probably　some　Hindu　trick。　　It　is　a　language　of　flowery　metaphors。
It　means；　I　suppose；　that　when　you　touch　the　drums　they　bite。　　In
journeying　from　one　spot　to　another　they　always　leave　misfortune
behind；　as　I　understand　it。　　Just　coincidence；　but　you　couldn't
drive　that　into　an　Oriental　skull。　　This　is　what　makes　the　study　of
precious　stones　so　interesting。　　There　is　always　some　enchantment；
some　evil　spell。　　To　handle　the　drums　is　to　invite　a　minor　accident。
Call　it　twaddle；　probably　is；　and　yet　I　have　reason　to　believe　that
there's　something　to　the　superstition。〃

Burlingame　sniffed。

〃I　can　prove　it；〃　Cutty　declared。　　〃I　held　those　drums　in　my　hands
one　day。　　I　carried　them　to　a　window　the　better　to　observe　them。
On　my　return　to　the　hotel　I　was　knocked　down　by　a　horse　and　laid
up　in　bed　for　a　week。　　That　same　night　someone　tried　to　kill　the
man　who　showed　me　the　emeralds。　　Coincidence？　　Perhaps。　　But　these
days　I'm　shying　at　thirteen；　the　wrong　side　of　the　street；　ladders；
and　religious　curses。〃

〃An　old　hard…boiled　egg　like　you？〃　Burlingame　threw　up　his　hands
in　mock　despair。

〃I　laugh；　too；　but　I　duck；　nevertheless。　　The　chap　who　showed　me
the　stones　was　what　you'd　call　the　honorary　custodian；　a　privileged
character　because　of　his　genius。　　Before　approaching　him　I　sent　him
a　copy　of　my　monograph　on　green　stones。　　I　found　that　he　was　quite
as　crazy　over　green　as　I。　　That　brought　us　together；　and　while　I
drew　him　out　I　kept　wondering　where　I　had　seen　him　before。　　Both　his
name　and　his　face　were　vaguely　familiar。　　lt　seems　a　superstition
had　come　along　with　the　stones；　from　India　to　Persia；　from　there　to
Russia。　　A　maid　fortunate　enough　to　see　the　drums　would　marry　and
be　happy。　　The　old　fellow　confessed　that　occasionally　he　secretly
admitted　a　peasant　maid　to　gaze　upon　the　stones。　　But　he　never　let
the　male　inmates　of　the　palace　find　this　out。　　He　knew　them　a　little
too　intimately。　　A　bad　lot。〃

〃And　this　palace？〃　asked　Kitty。

〃Not　one　stone　on　another。　　The　proletariat　rose　up　and　destroyed
it。　　To　mobs　anything　beautiful　is　offensive。　　Palaces　looted；　banks；
museums；　houses。　　The　ignorant　toying　with　hand　grenades；　thinking
them　sceptres。　　All　the　scum　in　the　world　boiling　to　the　top。　　After
the　Red　Day　comes　the　Red　Night。〃

〃Whatever　will　become　of　them　…　the　little　kings　and　princes　and
dukes？〃　　After　all；　thought　Kitty；　they　were　human　beings；　they　would
not　suffer　any　the　less　because　they　had　been　born　to　the　purple。

〃Maybe　they'll　go　to　work；〃　said　Cutty；　dryly。　　〃Sooner　or　later；
all　parasites　will　have　to　work　if　they　want　bread。　　And　yet　I've
met　some　men　among　them；　big　in　the　heart　and　the　mind；　who　would
have　made　bully　farmers　and　professors。　　The　beautiful　thing　about
the　Anglo…Saxon　education　is　that　the　whole　structure　is　based　upon
fair　play。　　In　eastern　and　southeastern　Europe　few　of　them　can　play
solitaire　without　cheating。　　But　I　would　give　a　good　deal　to　know
what　has　happened　to　those　emeralds　…　the　drums　of　jeopardy。　　They'll
probably　be　broken　up　and　sold　in　carat　weights。　　The　whole　family
was　wiped　out　in　a　night。。。。　　I　say；　will　you　take　lunch　with　me
to…morrow？〃

〃Gladly。〃

〃All　right。　　I'll　drop　in　here　at　half　after　twelve。　　Here's　my
telephone　number；　should　anything　alter　your　plans。　　If　I'm　going
to　be　godfather　I　might　as　well　start　right　in。〃

〃The　drums　of　jeopardy；　what　a　haunting