the white moll-第15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！


and　wrenched　it　from　its　fastenings。　　It　crashed　to　the　floor　with
a　din　infernal　that；　in　the　night　silence；　went　racketing　through
the　house　like　the　reverberations　of　an　explosion。

〃My　God；　what　have　you　done！〃　he　cried　out　hoarsely。

〃What　I　said　I'd　do！〃　she　answered。　　She　was　white…faced；　frightened
at　her　own　act；　fighting　to　maintain　her　nerve。　　〃You'll　go　now；　I
imagine！〃　she　flung　at　him　passionately。　　〃You　haven't　much　time。〃

〃No！〃　he　said。　　His　composure　was　instantly　at　command　again。　　〃No；〃
he　repeated　steadily；　〃not　until　after　you　have　gone。　　I　refuse
…　positively　…　to　let　you　run　any　such　risk　as　that。　　It　is　far　too
dangerous。〃

〃Yes；　you　will！〃　she　burst　out　wildly。　　〃You　will！　　You　must！　　You
shall！　　I　…　I　…〃　　The　house　itself　seemed　suddenly　to　have　awakened。
From　above　doors　opened　and　closed。　　Indistinctly　there　came　the
sound　of　a　voice。　　She　clenched　her　hand　in　anguished　desperation。
〃Go；　you　…　you　coward！〃　she　whispered　frantically。

〃Miss　Gray；　for　God's　sake；　do　as　I　tell　you！〃　he　said　between　his
teeth。　　〃You　don't　realize　the　danger。　It's　not　the　pursuit。　　They
are　not　coming　down　here　unarmed　after　that　racket。　　I　know　that
you　came　in　by　that　door　there。　　Go　out　that　way。　　I　will　play　the
game　for　you。　　I　swear　it！〃

There　were　footsteps；　plainly　audible　now；　out　in　the　main　hall。

〃Quick！〃　he　urged。　　〃Are　we　both　to　be　caught？　　See！〃　　He　backed
suddenly　toward　the　window。

〃See！　　I　am　too　far　away　now　to　touch　that　necklace　before　they　get
here。　　Throw　it　down；　and　get　behind　the　portiere　of　the　rear　door！〃

Mechanically　she　was　retreating。　　They　were　almost　at　the　other　door
now；　those　footsteps　outside　in　the　main　hall。　　With　a　backward
spring　she　reached　the　portiere。　　The　door　handle　across　the　room
rattled。　　She　glanced　at　the　Adventurer。　　He　was　close　to　the　window。
It　was　true；　he　could　not　get　the　necklace　and　at　the　same　time　hope
to　escape。　　She　whipped　it　from　her　pocket；　tossed　it　from　her　to
the　floor　near　the　plush…lined　case　…　and　slipped　behind　the　portiere。

The　door　opposite　to　her　was　wrenched　violently　open。　　She　could
see　through　the　corner　of　the　portiere。　　There　was　a　sharp；　excited
exclamation；　as　a　gray…haired　man；　in　pajamas；　evidently　Mr。
Hayden…Bond　himself；　sprang　into　the　room。　　He　was　followed　by
another　man　in　equal　dishabille。

And　the　Adventurer　was　leaping　for　the　window。

There　was　a　blinding　flash；　the　roar　of　a　report；　as　the
millionaire　flung　up　a　revolver　and　fired；　it　was　echoed　by　the
splatter　and　tinkle　of　falling　glass。　　The　Adventurer　was　astride
the　window　sill　now；　his　face　deliberately　and　unmistakably　in　view。

〃A　foot　too　high；　and　a　bit　to　the　right！〃　said　the　Adventurer
debonairly　…　and　the　window　sill　was　empty。

Rhoda　Gray　stole　silently　through　the　doorway　behind　her。　　She　could
hear　the　millionaire　and　his　companion；　the　butler；　probably；　rush
across　the　library　to　the　window。　　As　she　gained　the　pantry；　she
heard　another　shot。　　Tight…lipped；　using　her　flashlight；　she　ran
through　the　kitchen。　　In　a　moment　more；　she　was　standing　at　the
garage　door；　listening；　peering　furtively　outside。　　The　street
itself　was　empty；　there　were　shouts；　though；　from　the　direction　of
the　Avenue。　　　She　stepped　out　on　the　side　street；　and　walking
composedly　that　she　might　not　attract　attention；　though　very　impulse
urged　her　to　run　with　frantic　haste；　she　reached　the　corner　and　the
waiting　taxicab。　　She　gave　the　chauffeur　an　address　that　would　bring
her　to　the　street　in　the　rear　of　Gypsy　Nan's　and　within　reach　of　the
lane　where　she　had　left　her　clothes；　and；　with　an　injunction　to
hurry；　sprang　into　the　cab。

And　then　for　a　long　time　she　sat　there　with　her　hands　tightly
clasped　in　her　lap。　　Her　mind；　her　brain；　her　very　soul　itself
seemed　in　chaos　and　turmoil。　　There　was　the　Sparrow；　who　was　safe；
and　Danglar；　who　would　move　heaven　and　hell　to　get　her　now；　and
the　Adventurer；　who　…　　Her　mind　seemed　to　grope　around　in　cycles；
it　seemed　to　moil　on　and　on　and　arrive　at　nothing。　　The　Adventurer
had　played　the　game　…　perhaps　because　he　had　had　to；　but　he　had
not　risked　that　revolver　shot　in　her　stead　because　he　had　had　to。
Who　was　he？　　How　had　he　come　there？　　How　had　he　found　her　there？
How　had　he　known　that　she　had　entered　by　that　rear　door　behind
the　portiere？　She　remembered　how　that　he　had　offered　not　a　single
explanation。

Almost　mechanically　she　dismissed　the　taxi　when　at　last　it　stopped；
and　almost　mechanically；　as　Gypsy　Nan；　some　ten　minutes　later；　she
let　herself　into　the　garret；　and　lighted　the　candle。　　She　was
conscious；　as　she　hid　the　White　Moll's　clothes　away；　that　she　was
thankful　she　had　regained　in　safety　even　the　questionable　sanctuary
of　this　wretched　place；　but；　strangely；　thoughts　of　her　own　peril
seemed　somehow　to　be　temporarily　relegated　to　the　background。

She　flung　herself　down　on　the　bed　…　it　was　not　Gypsy　Nan's　habit　to
undress　…　and　blew　out　the　light。　　But　she　could　not　sleep。　　And
hour　after　hour　in　the　darkness　she　tossed　unrestfully。　　It　was　very
strange！　　It　was　not　as　it　had　been　last　night。　　It　was　not　the
impotent；　frantic　rebellion　against　the　horrors　of　her　own　situation；
nor　the　fear　and　terror　of　it；　that　obsessed　her　to…night。　　It　was
the　Adventurer　who　plagued　her。


VIII。　　THE　CODE　MESSAGE

It　was　strange！　　Most　strange！　　Three　days　had　passed；　and　to　Gypsy
Nan's　lodging　no　one　had　come。　　The　small　crack　under　the　partition
that　had　been　impressed　into　service　as　a　letter…box　had　remained
empty。　　There　had　been　no　messages　…　nothing　…　only　a　sinister；
brooding　isolation。　　Since　the　night　Rhoda　Gray　had　left　Danglar；
balked；　almost　a　madman　in　his　fury；　in　the　little　room　over
Shluker's　junk　shop；　Danglar　had　not　been　seen　…　nor　the　Adventurer
…　nor　even　Rough　Rorke。　　Her　only　visitant　since　then　had　been　an
ugly　premonition　of　impending　peril；　which　came　and　stalked　like　a
hideous　ghost　about　the　bare　and　miserable　garret；　and　which　woke
her　at　night　with　its　whispering　voice　…　which　was　the　voice　of
intuition。

Rhoda　Gray　drew　her　shawl　closer　around　her　shoulders　and　shivered；
as　now；　from　shuffling　down　the　block　in　the　guise　of　Gypsy　Nan；
she　halted　before　the　street　door　of　what　fate；　for　the　moment；　had
thrust　upon　her　as　a　home；　and　shivered　again；　as；　with　abhorrence；
she　pushed　the　door　open　and　stepped　forward　into　the　black；
unlighted　hallway。　　Soul；　mind　and　body　were　in　revolt　to…night。
Even　faith；　the　simple　faith　in　God　that　she　had　known　since
childhood；　was　wavering。　　There　seemed　nothing　but　horror　around
her；　a　mental　horror；　a　physical　horror；　and　the　sole　means　of　even
momentary　relief　and　surcease　from　it　had　been　a　pitiful　prowling
around　the　streets；　where　even　the　fresh　air　seemed　to　be　denied　to
her；　for　it　was　tainted　with　the　smells　of　squalor　that　ruled；
rampant；　in　that　neighborhood。

And　to…night；　stronger　than　ever；　intuition　and　premonition　of
approaching　danger　lay　heavy　upon　her；　and　oppressed　her　with　a
sense　of　nearness。　　She　was　not　a　coward；　but　she　was　afraid。
Danglar　would　leave　no　stone　unturned　to　get　the　White　Moll。　　He
had　said　so。　　She　remembered　the　threat　he　had　made　…　it　had　lived
in　her　woman's　soul　ever　since　that　night。　　Better　anything　than
to　fall　into　Danglar's　hands！　　She　caught　her　breath　a　little；　and
shivered　again　as　she　groped　her　way　up　the　dark　stairs。　　But；
then；　she　never　would　fall　into　Danglar's　power。　　There　was　always
an　alternative。　　Yes；　it　was　quite　as　bad　as　that　…　death　at　her
own　hands　was　preferable。　　Balked；　outwitted；　the　plans　of　the
criminal　coterie；　of　which　Danglar　appeared　to　be　the　head；　rendered
again　and　again　abortive；　and　believing　it　all　due　to　the　White　Moll；
all　of　Danglar's　shrewd；　unscrupulous　cunning　would　be　centered　on
the　task　of　running　her　down；　and　if；　added　to　this；　he　discovered
that　she　was　masquerading　as　Gypsy　Nan；　one　of　their　own　inner
circle；　it　mean　that　…　　She　closed　her　lips　in　a　hard；　tight　line。
She　did　not　want　to　think　of　it。　　She　had　fought　all　day；　and　the
days　before；　against　thinking　about　it；　but　premonition　had　crept
upon　her　stronger　and　stronger；　until　to…night；　now；　it　seemed　as
though　her　mind　could　dwell　on　nothing　else。

On　the　landing；　she　paused　suddenly　and　listened。　　The　street　door
had　opened　and　closed；　and　now　a　footstep　sounded　on　the　stairs
behind　her。　　She　went　on　again　along　the　hall；　feeling　her　way；　and
reaching　the　short；　ladder…like　steps　to　the　garret；　she　began　to
mount　them。　　Who　was　it　there　behind　her？　　One　of　the　unknown
lodgers　on　the　lower　floor；　or　…？　　She　could　not　see；　of　course。
It　was　pitch　black。　　But　she　could　hear。　　And　as　she　knelt　now　on
the　narrow　landing；　and　felt　with　her　fingers　along　the　floor　for
the　aperture；　where；　imitating　the　custom　of　Gypsy　Nan；　she　had　left
her　key　when　she　went　out；　she　heard　the　footsteps　coming　steadily
on；　passing　the　doors　below　her；　and　making　toward　the　garret　ladder。
And　then；　stifling　a　startled　little　cry；　her　hand　closed　on　the　key；
and　closed；　as　it　had　closed　on　that　first　night　when　she　had
returned　here　in　the　role　of　Gypsy　Nan；　on　a　piece　of　paper　wrapped
around　the　key。　　The　days　of　isolation　were　ended　with　climacteric
effect；　the　pendulum　had　swung　full　the　other　way　…　to…night　there
was　both　a　visitor　and　a　message！

The　paper　detached　from　the　key　and　thrust　into　her　bodice；　she
stood　up　quickly。　　A　form；　looming　up　even　in　the　darkness；　showed
on　the　garret　stairs。　　〃Who's　dere？〃　she　croaked。

〃It's　all　right；〃　a　voice　answered　in　low　tones。　　〃You　were　just
ahead　of　me　on　the　street。　　I　saw　you　come　in。　　It's　Pierre。〃

Pierre！　　So　that　was　his　name！　　It　was　only　the　voice　she　recognized。
Pierre　…　Danglar！　　She　fumbled　for　the　keyhole；　found　it；　and
inserted　the　key。　　〃Well；　how's　Bertha　to…night？〃

There　seemed　to　be　a　strange　exhilaration　in　the　man's　voice。　　He
was　standing　beside　her　now；　close　beside　her；　and　now　his　hand
played　with　a　curiously　caressing　motion　on　her　shoulder。　　The　touch
seemed　to　scorch　and　burn　her。　　Who　was　this　Danglar；　who　was　Pierre
to　her；　and　to　whom　she　was　Bertha？　　Her　breath　came　quickly　in
spite　of　herself；　there　came；　too；　a　frenzy　of　aversion；　and
impulsively　she　flung　his　hand　away；　and　with　the　door　unlocked　now；
stepped　from　him　into　the　garret。

〃Feeling　a　bit　off　color；　eh？〃　he　said　with　a　short　laugh；　as　he
followed　her；　and　shut　the　door　behind　him。　　〃Well；　I　don't　know
as　I　blame　you。　　But；　look　here；　old　girl；　have　a　heart！　　It's　not
my　fault。　　I　know　what　you're　grouching　about　…　it's　because　I
haven't　been　around　much　lately。　　But　you　ought　to　know　well　enough
that　I　couldn't　help　it。　　Our　game　has　been　crimped　lately　at　every
turn　by　that　she…devil；　the　White　Moll；　and　that　dude　pal　of　hers。〃
He　laughed　out　again　…　in　savage　menace　now。　　〃I've　been　busy。
Understand；　Bertha？　　　It　was　either　ourselves；　or　them。　　We've　got
to　go　under　…　or　they　have。　　And　we　won't！　　I　promise　you　that！
Things'll　break　a　little　better　before　long；　and　I'll　make　it　up　to
you。〃

She　could　not　see　him　in　the　blackness　of　the　garret。　　She　breathed
a　prayer　of　gratitude　that　he　could　not　see　her。　　Her　face；　in　spi