his own people-第7章

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〃It　wouldn't　if　you'd　thrown　away　the　most　precious　friendship　of
your　life。〃

〃See　here；〃　said　Cooley；　halting　at　the　foot　of　the　bed　and　looking
at　his　stricken　companion　from　beneath　frowning　brows；　〃I　guess　I
can　see　how　it　is　with　you；　and　I'll　tell　you　frankly　it's　been　the
same　with　me。　　I　never　met　such　a　fascinating　woman　in　my　life：　she
throws　a　reg'ler　ole…fashioned　~spell~　over　you！　　Now　I　hate　to　say
it；　but　I　can't　help　it；　because　it　plain　hits　me　in　the　face　every
time　I　think　of　it；　the　truth　iswell；　sir；　I'm　afraid　you　and　me
have　had　little　red　soldier…coats　and　caps　put　on　us　and　strings
tied　to　our　belts　while　we　turned　somersets　for　the　children。〃

〃I　don't　understand。　　I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about。〃

〃No？　　It　seems　to　get　more　and　more　simple　to　me。　　I've　been
thinking　it　all　over　and　over　again。　　I　can't　~help~　it！　　See　here：
I　met　Sneyd　on　the　steamer；　without　any　introduction。　　He　sort　of
warmed　into　the　game　in　the　smoking…room；　and　he　won　straight　along
the　trip。　　He　called　on　me　in　London　and　took　me　to　meet　the
Countess　at　her　hotel。　　We　three　went　to　the　theatre　and　lunch　and
so　forth　a　few　times；　and　when　I　left　for　Paris　she　turned　up　on
the　way：　　that's　when　you　met　her。　　Couple　of　days　later；　Sneyd
came　over；　and　he　and　the　Countess　introduced　me　to　dear　ole　friend
Pedlow。　　So　you　see；　I　don't　rightly　even　know　who　any　of　'em　really
~are~：　　just　took　'em　for　granted；　as　it　were。　　　We　had　lots　of　fun；
I　admit　that；　honkin'　about　in　my　car。　　We　only　played　cards　once；
and　that　was　in　her　apartment　the　last　night　before　I　left　Paris；
but　that　one　time　Pedlow　won　fifteen　thousand　francs　from　me。　When
I　told　them　my　plans；　how　I　was　goin'　to　motor　down　to　Rome；　she
said　~she~　would　be　in　Romeand；　I　tell　you；　I　was　happy　as　a
poodle…pup　about　it。　　Sneyd　said　he　might　be　in　Rome　along　about
then；　and　open…hearted　ole　Pedlow　said　not　to　be　surprised　if　~he~
turned　up；　too。　　Well；　he　did；　almost　to　the　minute；　and　in　the
meantime　she'd　got　~you~　hooked　on；　fine　and　tight。〃

〃I　don't　understand　you；〃　　Mellin　lifted　himself　painfully　on　an
elbow。　　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　getting　at；　but　it　seems　to　me
that　you're　speaking　disrespectfully　of　an　angel　that　I've　insulted；
and　I〃

〃Now　see　here；　Mellin；　I'll　tell　you　something。〃　　The　boy's　white
face　showed　sudden　color　and　there　was　a　catch　in　his　voice。　　〃I
wasI've　been　mighty　near　in　~love~　with　that　woman！　　But　I've　had
a　kind　of　a　shock；　I've　got　my　common…sense　back；　and　I'm　~not~；　any
more。　　I　don't　know　exactly　how　much　money　I　had；　but　it　was　between
thirty…five　and　thirty…eight　thousand　francs；　and　Sneyd　won　it　all
after　we　took　off　the　limitover　seven　thousand　dollarsat　her
table　last　night。　　Putting　two　and　two　together；　honestly　it　looks
bad。　　It　looks　~mighty~　bad！　　Now；　I'm　pretty　well　fixed；　and
yesterday　I　didn't　care　whether　school　kept　or　not；　but　seven
thousand　dollars　is　real　money　to　anybody！　　My　old　man　worked　pretty
hard　for　his　first　seven　thousand；　I　guess；　and〃he　gulped〃he'd
think　a　lot　of　me　for　lettin'　go　of　it　the　way　I　did　last　night；
~wouldn't~　he？　　You　never　~see~　things　like　this　till　the　next
morning！　　And　you　remember　that　other　woman　sat　where　she　could　see
every　hand　~you~　drew；　and　the　Countess〃

〃Stop！〃　　Mellin　flung　one　arm　up　violently；　striking　the　headboard
with　his　knuckles。　　〃I　won't　hear　a　syllable　against　Madame　de
Vaurigard！〃　　Young　Cooley　regarded　him　steadily　for　a　moment。
〃Have　you　remembered　yet；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃how　much　~you~　lost
last　night？〃

〃I　only　remember　that　I　behaved　like　an　unspeakable　boor　in　the
presence　of　the　divinest　creature　that　ever〃

Cooley　disregarded　the　outburst；　and　said：

〃When　we　settled；　you　had　a　pad　of　express　company　checks　worth
six　hundred　dollars。　　You　signed　all　of　'em　and　turned　'em　over
to　Sneyd　with　three　one…hundred…lire　bills；　which　was　all　the　cash
you　had　with　you。　　Then　you　gave　him　your　note　for　twelve　thousand
francs　to　be　paid　within　three　days。　　You　made　a　great　deal　of
fuss　about　its　being　a　'debt　of　honor。'〃　　He　paused。　　〃You　hadn't
remembered　that；　had　you？〃

Mellin　had　closed　his　eyes。　　He　lay　quite　still　and　made　no　answer。

〃No；　I'll　bet　you　hadn't；〃　said　Cooley；　correctly　deducing　the　fact。
〃You're　well　off；　or　you　wouldn't　be　at　this　hotel；　and；　for　all　I
know；　you　may　be　fixed　so　you　won't　mind　your　loss　as　much　as　I　do
mine；　but　it　ought　to　make　you　kind　of　charitable　toward　my
suspicions　of　Madame　de　Vaurigard's　friends。〃

The　six　hundred　dollars　in　express　company　checks　and　the　three
hundred…lire　bills　were　all　the　money　the　unhappy　Mellin　had　in
the　world；　and　until　he　could　return　to　Cranston　and　go　back　to
work　in　the　real…estate　office　again；　he　had　no　prospect　of　any
more。　　He　had　not　even　his　steamer　ticket。　　In　the　shock　of　horror
and　despair　he　whispered　brokenly：

〃I　don't　care　if　they　're　the　worst　people　in　the　world；　they're
better　than　I　am！〃

The　other's　gloom　cleared　a　little　at　this。　　〃Well；　you　~have~　got
it！〃　he　exclaimed　briskly。　　〃You　don't　know　how　different　you'll
feel　after　a　long　walk　in　the　open　air。〃　　He　looked　at　his　watch。
〃I've　got　to　go　and　see　what　that　newspaper…man；　Cornish；　wants；
it's　ten　o'clock。　　I'll　be　back　after　a　while；　I　want　to　reason
this　out　with　you。　　I　don't　deny　but　it's　possible　I'm　wrong；
anyway；　you　think　it　over　while　I'm　gone。　　You　take　a　good　hard
think；　will　you？〃

As　he　closed　the　door；　Mellin　slowly　drew　the　coverlet　over　his
head。　　It　was　as　if　he　covered　the　face　of　some　one　who　had
just　died。




VIII。　　What　Cornish　Knew


Two　hours　passed　before　young　Cooley　returned。　He　knocked　twice
without　a　reply；　then　he　came　in。

The　coverlet　was　still　over　Mellin's　head。

〃Asleep？〃　asked　Cooley。

〃No。〃

The　coverlet　was　removed　by　a　shaking　hand。

〃Murder！〃　exclaimed　Cooley　sympathetically；　at　sight　of　the　other's
face。　　〃A　night　off　certainly　does　things　to　you！　　Better　let　me　get
you　some〃

〃No。　　I'll　be　all　rightafter　while。〃

〃Then　I'll　go　right　ahead　with　our　little　troubles。　　I've　decided
to　leave　for　Paris　by　the　one…thirty　and　haven't　got　a　whole　lot
of　time。　　Cornish　is　here　with　me　in　the　hall：　he's　got　something
to　say　that's　important　for　you　to　hear；　and　I'm　goin'　to　bring　him
right　in。〃　　He　waved　his　hand　toward　the　door；　which　he　had　left
open。　　〃Come　along；　Cornish。　　Poor　ole　Mellin'll　play　Du　Barry　with
us　and　give　us　a　morning　leevy　while　he　listens　in　a　bed　with　a
palanquin　to　it。　　Now　let's　draw　up　chairs　and　be　sociable。〃

The　journalist　came　in；　smoking　a　long　cigar；　and　took　the　chair
the　youth　pushed　toward　him；　but；　after　a　twinkling　glance　through
his　big　spectacles　at　the　face　on　the　pillow；　he　rose　and　threw　the
cigar　out　of　the　window。

〃Go　ahead；〃　said　Cooley。　　〃I　want　you　to　tell　him　just　what　you　told
me；　and　when　you're　through　I　want　to　see　if　he　doesn't　think　I'm
Sherlock　Holmes'　little　brother。〃

〃If　Mr。　Mellin　does　not　feel　too　ill；〃　said　Cornish　dryly；　〃I　know
how　painful　such　cases　sometimes〃

〃No。〃　　Mellin　moistened　his　parched　lips　and　made　a　pitiful　effort
to　smile。　　〃I'll　be　all　right　very　soon。〃

〃I　am　very　sorry；〃　began　the　journalist；　〃that　I　wasn't　able　to　get
a　few　words　with　Mr。　Cooley　yesterday　evening。　　Perhaps　you　noticed
that　I　tried　as　hard　as　I　could；　without　using　actual　force〃he
laughed〃to　detain　him。〃

〃You　did　your　best；〃　agreed　Cooley　ruefully；　〃and　I　did　my　worst。
Nobody　ever　listens　till　the　next　day！〃

〃Well；　I'm　glad　no　vital　damage　was　done；　anyway；〃　said　Cornish。
〃It　would　have　been　pretty　hard　lines　if　you　two　young　fellows　had
been　poor　men；　but　as　it　is　you're　probably　none　the　worse　for　a
lesson　like　this。〃

〃You　seem　to　think　seven　thousand　dollars　is　a　joke；〃　remarked
Cooley。

Cornish　laughed　again。　　〃You　see；　it　flatters　me　to　think　my　time
was　so　valuable　that　a　ten　minutes'　talk　with　me　would　have　saved
so　much　money。〃

〃I　doubt　it；〃　said　Cooley。　　〃Ten　to　one　we'd　neither　of　us　have
believed　youlast　night！〃

〃I　doubt　it；　too。〃　　Cornish　turned　to　Mellin。　　〃I　hear　that　you；
Mr。　Mellin；　are　still　of　the　opinion　that　you　were　dealing　with
straight　people？〃

Mellin　managed　to　whisper　〃Yes。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Cornish；　〃I'd　better　tell　you　just　what　I　know　about
it；　and　you　can　form　your　own　opinion　as　to　whether　I　do　know　or
not。　　I　have　been　in　the　newspaper　business　on　this　side　for
fifteen　years；　and　my　headquarters　are　in　Paris；　where　these　people
are　very　well　known。　　The　man　who　calls　himself　'Chandler　Pedlow'
was　a　faro…dealer　for　Tom　Stout　in　Chicago　when　Stout's　place　was
broken　up；　a　good　many　years　ago。　　There　was　a　real　Chandler　Pedlow
in　Congress　from　a　California　district　in　the　early　nineties；　but
he　is　dead。　　This　man's　name　is　Ben　Welch：　　he's　a　professional
swindler；　and　the　Englishman；　Sneyd；　is　another；　a　quiet　man；　not　so
well　known　as　Welch；　and　not　nearly　so　clever；　but　a　good　'feeder'
for　him。　　The　very　attractive　Frenchwoman　who　calls　herself
'Comtesse　de　Vaurigard'　is　generally　believed　to　be　Sneyd's　wife；
though　I　could　not　take　the　stand　on　that　myself。　　Welch　is　the
brains　of　the　organization：　　you　mightn't　think　it；　but　he's　a　very
brilliant　manhe　might　have　made　a　great　reputation　in　business
if　he'd　been　straightand；　with　this　woman's　help；　he's　carried　out
some　really　astonishing　schemes。　　His　manner　is　clumsy；　~he~　knows
that；　bless　you；　but　it's　the　only　manner　he　can　manage；　and　she
is　so　adroit　she　can　sugar…coat　even　such　a　pill　as　that　and　coax
people　to　swallow　it。　　I　don't　know　anything　about　the　Italian　who
is　working　with　them　down　here。　　But　a　gang　of　the　Welch…Vaurigard…
Sneyd　type　has　tentacles　all　over　the　Continent；　such　people　are　in
touch　with　sharpers　everywhere；　you　see。〃

〃Yes；〃　Cooley　interpolated；　〃and　with　woolly　little　lambkins；　too。〃

〃Well；〃　chuckled　Cornish；　〃that's　the　way　they　make　their　living；
you　know。〃

〃Go　on　and　tell　him　the　rest　of　it；〃　urged　Cooley。

〃About　Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke；〃　said　Cornish；　〃it　seems　strange
enough；　but　she　has　a　perfect　right　to　her　name。　　She　is　a　good
deal　older　than　she　looks；　and　I've　heard　she　used　to　be　remarkably
beautiful。　　Her　third　husband　was　Lord　George　Mount…Rhyswicke；　a　man
who'd　been　dropped　from　his　clubs；　and　he　deserted　her　in　1903；　but
she　has　not　divorced　him。　　It　is　said　that　he　is　somewhere　in　South
America；　however；　as　to　that　I　do　not　know。〃

Mr。　Cornish　put　the　very　slightest　possible　emphasis　on　the　word
〃know；〃　and　proceeded：

〃I've　heard　that　she　is　sincerely　attached　to　him　and　sends　him
money　from　time　to　time；　when　she　has　itthough　that；　too；　is
third…hand　information。　　She　has　been　~declasse~　ever　since　her
first　divorce。　　That　was　a　'celebrated　case；'　and　she's　dropped
down　pretty　far　in　the　world；　though　I　judge　she's　a　good　deal　the
best　of　this　crowd。　　Exactly　what　her　relations　to　the　others　are
I　don't　know；　but　I　imagine　that　she's　pretty　thick　with　'em。〃

〃Just　a　little！〃　exclaimed　Cooley。　　〃She　sits　behind　one　of　the
lambkins　and　Helene　behind　the　other　while　they　get　their　woolly
wool　clipped。　　I　suppose　the　two　of　'em　signaled　what　was　in　every
hand　we　held；　though　I'm　sur