the white moll-第30章

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with　dread　and　fear　now　that　it　promised　to　become　a　reality。　　It
was　not　like　last　night　when　of　her　own　initiative　she　had　sought
to　track　Danglar；　for　then　she　had　started　out　with　a　certain　freedom
of　action　that　held　in　reserve　a　freedom　to　retreat　if　it　became
necessary。　　To…night　it　was　as　though　she　were　deprived　of　that
freedom；　and　being　led　into　what　only　too　easily　might　develop　into
a　trap　from　which　she　could　not　retreat　or　escape。

Suppose　she　refused　to　go？

They　had　reached　the　street　now；　and　now　she　obtained　a　better　view
of　the　misshapen　thing　that　lurched　jerkily　along　beside　her。　　The
man　was　deformed；　miserably　deformed。　　He　walked　most　curiously；
half　bent　over；　and　one　arm；　the　left；　seemed　to　swing　helplessly；
and　the　left　hand　was　like　a　withered　thing。　　Her　eyes　sought　the
other's　face。　　It　was　an　old　face；　much　older　than　Danglar's；　and
it　was　white　and　pinched　and　drawn；　and　in　the　dark　eyes；　as　they
suddenly　darted　a　glance　at　her；　she　read　a　sullen；　bitter　brooding
and　discontent。　　She　turned　her　head　away。　　It　was　not　a　pleasant
face；　it　struck　her　as　being　both　morbid　and　cruel　to　a　degree。

Suppose　she　refused　to　go？

〃What　did　you　mean　by　'after　to…night'？〃　she　asked　again。

〃You'll　see；〃　he　answered。　　〃Pierre'll　tell　you。　　You're　in　luck；
that's　all。　　The　whole　thing　that　has　kept　you　under　cover　has　bust
wide　open　your　way；　and　you　win。　　And　Pierre's　going　through　for　a
clean…up。　　To…morrow　you　can　swell　around　in　a　limousine　again。　　And
maybe　you'll　come　around　and　take　me　for　a　drive；　if　I　dress　up；　and
promise　to　hide　in　a　corner　of　the　back　seat　so's　they　won't　see　your
handsome　friend！〃

The　creature　flung　a　bitter　smile　at　her；　and　lurched　on。

He　had　told　her　what　she　wanted　to　know　…　more　than　she　had　hoped
for。　　The　mystery　that　surrounded　the　character　of　Gypsy　Nan；　the
evidence　of　the　crime　at　which　the　woman　who　had　originated　that
role　had　hinted　on　the　night　she　died；　and　which　must　necessarily
involve　Danglar；　was　hers；　Rhoda　Gray's；　now　for　the　taking。　　As
well　go　and　give　herself　up　to　the　police　as　the　White　Moll　and
have　done　with　it　all；　as　to　refuse　to　seize　the　opportunity　which
fate；　evidently　in　a　kindlier　mood　toward　her　now；　was　offering
her　at　this　instant。　　It　promised　her　the　hold　upon　Danglar　that
she　needed　to　force　an　avowal　of　her　own　innocence；　the　very　hold
that　she　had　but　a　few　minutes　before　been　hoping　she　could　obtain
through　the　Adventurer。

There　was　no　longer　any　question　as　to　whether　she　would　go　or　not。

Her　hand　groped　down　under　the　shabby　black　shawl　into　the　wide；
voluminous　pocket　of　her　greasy　skirt。　　Yes；　her　revolver　was　there。
She　knew　it　was　there；　but　the　touch　of　her　fingers　upon　it　seemed
to　bring　a　sense　of　reassurance。　　She　was　perhaps　staking　her　all
in　accompanying　this　cripple　here　to…night　…　she　did　not　need　to　be
told　that　…　but　there　was　a　way　of　escape　at　the　last　if　she　were
cornered　and　caught。　　Her　fingers　played　with　the　weapon。　　If　the
worst　came　to　the　worst　she　would　never　be　at　Danglar's　mercy　while
she　possessed　that　revolver　and；　if　the　need　came；　turned　it　upon
herself。

They　walked　on　rapidly；　the　lurching　figure　beside　her　covering　the
ground　at　an　astounding　rate　of　speed。　　The　man　made　no　effort　to
talk。　　She　was　glad　of　it。　　She　need　not　be　so　anxiously　on　her
guard　as　would　be　the　case　if　a　conversation　were　carried　on；　and
she；　who　knew　so　much　and　yet　so　pitifully　little；　must　weigh　her
every　word；　and　feel　her　way　with　every　sentence。　　And　besides；　too；
it　gave　her　time　to　think。　　Where　were　they　going？　　What　sort　of　a
place　was　it；　this　headquarters　of　the　gang？　　For　it　must　be　the
headquarters；　since　it　was　from　there　the　code　messages　would
naturally　emanate；　and　this　deformed　creature；　from　what　he　had
said；　was　the　〃secretary〃　of　the　nefarious　clique　that　was　ruled
by　his　brother。　　And　was　luck　really　with　her　at　last？　　Suppose　she
had　been　but　a　few　minutes　later　in　reaching　Gypsy　Nan's　house；　and
had　found；　instead　of　this　man　here；　only　the　note　instructing　her
to　go　and　meet　Danglar！　　What　would　she　have　done？　　What　explanation
could　she　have　made　for　her　nonappearance？　　Her　hands　would　have
been　tied。　　She　would　have　been　helpless。　　She　could　not　have
answered　the　summons；　for　she　could　have　had　no　idea　where　this
gang…lair　was；　and　the　note　certainly　would　not　contain　such　details
as　street　and　number；　which　she　was　obviously　supposed　to　know。　　She
smiled　a　little　grimly　to　herself。　　Yes；　it　seemed　as　though　fortune
were　beginning　to　smile　upon　her　again　…　fortune；　at　least；　had
supplied　her　with　a　guide。

The　twisted　figure　walked　on　the　inside　of　the　sidewalk；　and
curiously　seemed　to　seek　as　much　as　possible　the　protecting　shadows
of　the　buildings；　and　invariably　shrank　back　out　of　the　way　of　the
passers…by　they　met。　　She　watched　him　narrowly　as　they　went　along。
What　was　he　afraid　of？　　Recognition？　　It　puzzled　her　for　a　time；
and　then　she　understood：　It　was　not　fear　of　recognition；　the　sullen；
almost　belligerent　stare　with　which　he　met　the　eyes　of　those　with
whom　he　came　into　close　contact　belied　that。　　The　man　was　morbidly；
abnormally　sensitive　of　his　deformity。

They　turned　at　last　into　one　of　the　East　Side　cross　streets；　and
her　guide　halted　finally　on　a　corner　in　front　of　a　little　shop　that
was　closed　and　dark。　　She　stared　curiously　as　the　man　unlocked　the
door。　　Perhaps；　after　all；　she　had　been　woefully　mistaken。　　It　did
not　look　at　all　the　kind　of　place　where　crimes　that　ran　the　gamut
of　the　decalogue　were　hatched；　at　all　the　sort　of　place　that　was
the　council　chamber　of　perhaps　the　most　cunning；　certainly　the　most
cold…blooded　and　unscrupulous；　band　of　crooks　that　New　York　had
ever　harbored。　　And　yet　…　why　not？　　Wasn't　there　the　essence　of
cunning　in　that　very　fact？　　Who　would　suspect　anything　of　the　sort
from　a　ramshackle；　two…story　little　house　like　this；　whose　front
was　a　woe…begone　little　store；　the　proceeds　of　which　might　just
barely　keep　the　body　and　soul　of　its　proprietor　together？

The　man　fumbled　with　the　lock。　　There　was　not　a　single　light　showing
from　the　place；　but　in　the　dwindling　rays　of　a　distant　street　lamp
she　could　see　the　meager　window　display　through　the　filthy；　unwashed
panes。　　It　was　evidently　a　cheap　and　tawdry　notion　store；　well
suited　to　its　locality。　　There　were　toys　of　the　cheapest　variety；
stationery　of　the　same　grade；　cheap　pipes；　cigarettes；　tobacco；
candy　…　a　package　of　needles。

〃Go　on　in！〃　grunted　the　man；　as　he　pushed　the　door　…　which　seemed
to　shriek　out　unduly　on　its　hinges　…　wide　open。　　〃If　anybody　sees
the　door　open；　they'll　be　around　wanting　to　buy　a　paper　of　pins
…　curse　'em！　…　and　I　ain't　open　to…night。〃　　He　snarled　as　he　shut
and　locked　the　door。　　〃Pierre　says　you're　grouching　about　your
garret。　　How　about　me；　and　this　job？　　You　get　out　of　yours　to…night
for　keeps。　　What　about　me？　　I　can't　do　anything　but　act　as　a　damned
blind　for　the　rest　of　you　with　this　fool　store。　　just　because　I　was
born　a　freak　that　every　gutter…snipe　on　the　street　yells　at！〃

Rhoda　Gray　did　not　answer。

〃Well；　go　on！〃　snapped　the　man。　　〃What　are　you　standing　there　for？
One　would　think　you'd　never　been　here　before！〃

Go　on！　　Where？　　She　had　not　the　faintest　idea。　　It　was　quite　dark
inside　here　in　the　shop。　　She　could　barely　make　out　the　outline　of
the　other's　figure。

〃You're　in　a　sweet　temper　to…night；　aren't　you？〃　she　said　tartly。
〃Go　on；　yourself！　　I'm　waiting　for　you　to　get　through　your　speech。〃

He　moved　brusquely　past　her；　with　an　angry　grunt。　　Rhoda　Gray
followed　him。　　They　passed　along　a　short；　narrow　space；　evidently
between　a　low　counter　and　a　shelved　wall；　and　then　the　man　opened
a　door；　and；　shutting　it　again　behind　them；　moved　forward　once　more。
She　could　scarcely　see　him　at　all　now；　it　was　more　the　sound　of　his
footsteps　than　anything　else　that　guided　her。　　And　then　suddenly
another　door　was　opened；　and　a　soft；　yellow　light　streamed　out
through　the　doorway；　and　she　found　that　she　was　standing　in　an
intervening　room　between　the　shop　and　the　room　ahead　of　her。　　She
felt　her　pulse　quicken；　and　it　seemed　as　though　her　heart　began　to
thump　almost　audibly。　　Danglar　！　　She　could　see　Danglar　seated　at
a　table　in　there。　　She　clenched　her　hands　under　her　shawl。　　She
would　need　all　her　wits　now。　　She　prayed　that　there　was　not　too
much　light　in　that　room　yonder。


XV。　　IN　THE　COUNCIL　CHAMBER

The　man　with　the　withered　hand　had　passed　through　into　the　other
room。　　She　heard　them　talking　together；　as　she　followed。　　She
forced　herself　to　walk　with　as　nearly　a　leisurely　defiant　air　as
she　could。　　The　last　time　she　had　been　with　Danglar　…　as　Gypsy　Nan
…　she　had；　in　self…protection；　forbidding　intimacy；　played　up　what
he　called　her　〃grouch〃　at　his　neglect　of　her。

She　paused　in　the　doorway。　　Halfway　across　the　room；　at　the　table；
Danglar's　gaunt；　swarthy　face　showed　under　the　rays　of　a　shaded
oil　lamp。　　Behind　her　spectacles；　she　met　his　small；　black　ferret
eyes　steadily。

〃Hello；　Bertha！〃　he　called　out　cheerily。　　〃How's　the　old　girl
to…night？〃　　He　rose　from　his　seat　to　come　toward　her。　　〃And　how's
the　cold？〃

Rhoda　Gray　scowled　at　him。

〃Worse！〃　she　said　curtly…and　hoarsely。　　〃And　a　lot　you　care！　　I
could　have　died　in　that　hole；　for　all　you　knew！　　She　pushed　him
irritably　away；　as　he　came　near　her。　　〃Yes；　that's　what　I　said！
And　you　needn't　start　any　cooing　game　now！　　Get　down　to　cases！〃
She　jerked　her　hand　toward　the　twisted　figure　that　had　slouched
into　a　chair　beside　the　table。　　〃He　says　you've　got　it　doped　out
to　pull　something　that　will　let　me　out　of　this　Gypsy　Nan　stunt。
Another　bubble；　I　suppose！〃　　She　shrugged　her　shoulders；　glanced
around　her；　and；　locating　a　chair　…　not　too　near　the　table　…　seated
herself　indifferently。　　〃I'm　getting　sick　of　bubbles！〃　she　announced
insolently。　　〃What's　this　one？〃

He　stood　there　for　a　moment　biting　at　his　lips；　hesitant　between
anger　and　tolerant　amusement；　and　then；　the　latter　evidently　gaining
the　ascendency；　he　too　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　with　a　laugh
returned　to　his　chair。

〃You're　a　rare　one；　Bertha！〃　he　said　coolly。　　〃I　thought　you'd　be
wild　with　delight。　　I　guess　you're　sick；　all　right　…　because　usually
you're　pretty　sensible。　　I've　tried　to　tell　you　that　it　wasn't　my
fault　I　couldn't　go　near　you；　and　that　I　had　to　keep　away　from　　…〃

〃What's　the　use　of　going　over　all　that　again？〃　she　interrupted
tartly。　　〃I　guess　I　…〃

〃Oh；　all　right！〃　said　Danglar　hurriedly。　　〃Don't　start　a　row！　　After
to…night　I've　an　idea　you'll　be　sweet　enough　to　your　husband；　and
I'm　willing　to　wait。　　Matty　maybe　hasn't　told　you　the　whole　of　it。〃

Matty！　　So　that　was　the　deformed　creature's　name。　　She　glanced　at
him。　　He　was　grinning　broadly。　　A　family　squabble　seemed　to　afford
him　amusement。　　Her　eyes　shifted　and　made　a　circuit　of　the　room。　　It
was　poverty…stricken　in　appearance；　bare…floored；　with　the　scantiest
and　cheapest　of　furnishings；　its　one　window　tightly　shuttered。

〃Maybe　not；〃　she　said　carelessly。

〃Well；　then；　listen；　Bertha！〃　　Danglar's　voice　was　lowered　earnestly。
〃We've　uncovered　the　Nabob's　stuff！　　Do　you　get　me？　　Every　last　one
of　the　spa