cw.blackalibi-第39节
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Belmonte took his own off； after first setting it back a minute。 〃I have four to； but I may as well go by yours。 One watch； one purpose； one hope between the two of us。〃
〃Well； we'd better break。〃
〃All right； so long；〃 Belmonte said curtly； gripping his hand。
〃Take it easy；〃 the American breathed。
They turned their backs on one another； sidled in opposite directions； blended at a yard or two into the impenetrable gloom。
The reeds hissed a little； over one way； stilled again。 The leafy branches of a tree rustled a little； over the other way； as Manning hoisted himself up among them； shifted about for a moment or two； settling his weight。 Then they too became silent； motionless。
There wasn't a sound about the shadowy lake。 The Bosque all around it was as silent and as lifeless as though it were an actual wilderness； instead of a great natural park on the outskirts of a big city。 A breathless hush hung over everything； awaiting the arrival of the greatest killer of them all…
It was the going…out hour； when Ciudad Real answered the call of night life heart and soul。 She stepped out of the hotel entrance； looking so glittering； so frivolous； in her crystal…beaded white gown； a silver poppy in her hair； a looped silver evening pouch dangling from' her wrist； pulled a little out of shape by something heavy resting in it…perhaps opera glasses…that it was obvious there could be nothing more serious on her mind than dancing and champagne。 People passing on the sidewalk turned and smiled a little in sympathy as they saw her emerge； she looked so festive and so carefree。 They may have even envied her； some of them。
Lights were flashing everywhere； and she was one with them； and with the mood they conjured up。 A fiery monkey high against the night sky kept disappearing and returning again； once with its eyes covered； the next time with its ears； the next with its mouth； proclaiming 〃Anis del Mono。〃 A rooster with green tail feathers； more steady； urged without interruption： 〃Cinzano Vermouth。〃 The sidewalks were like noon under this flashing； blinding； man…made constellation。 Every table at every cafй was taken； and taxis swarmed through the streets with a furious twittering of their horns。
The going…out hour； now let's relax； now let's have fun； now let's forget there's such a thing as work and care。
She stood there； the tiny silver wedges of her slippers poised at the brink of the curb； and stopped the hotel doorman as he was raising the looped whistle about his neck。 〃No； not a taxi。 Carriage with a horse。 Caballo； understand？〃
He ran down to the next corner to get her one personally； came back poised on the step of it； one leg swinging free。
She got in。 〃To the Madrid。〃
The coachman and the doorman exchanged a glance。 Indistinct Spanish phrases passed between them。
〃You tell her。〃
〃No； you tell her。〃
The doorman leaned solicitously into the carriage。 〃Excuse me； is the seсorita going there alone？ No disrespect intended； but…〃 He smiled placatingly； as if not knowing how to go ahead。 〃It's…it's that it's a little far out for these nights。〃
She knew what he meant by 〃these nights。〃 He was evidently unaware that she was the identical girl who had been out there with a panion only a few nights ago； and whom it had last happened to。
She put a small coin into his hand； to show that she had taken no offense。 〃To the Madrid；〃 she repeated firmly。
The grizzled coachman touched his cap。 〃 Si； seсorita。〃
〃And drive slowly； I want to enjoy the air before I dine。〃 She said it over in her mind。 Dine？ Die？ They sounded so much alike； in English； anyway。
She saw them look at one another again and shrug helplessly； as if to say； 〃What can you do with these Americans？〃
The hotel starter closed the carriage door for her。 He glanced curiously at her face； as though it struck him she had on too much powder。 It probably did look chalky white； she realized； but not from powder。
She sank back on the upholstered seat； the hotel and the safety it offered glided slowly backwards； like a lighthouse on a receding shore； and the ride began。
It came to her that； somewhere else in the city； at about this same time； perhaps at this very minute； somebody else might be starting out too。 Somebody whose path； evil； horror…laden； would slowly； surely draw nearer to hers through the hours； until at last the two would cross…and after that there would only be one； hers would have ended。
Strange rendezvous！ Yes； somewhere； in some noisome alley； from some hidden unguessed lair； a cloaked form； faceless to the night； was emerging； to keep an appointment with her： lady in a white and crystal dress； silver…shod； raven…haired； waf ting scented traces of a perfume whose trade name was； ominously enough； 〃Je Serai Seule a Minuit；〃 on the soft evening air about her； as her carriage took her from her lighted hotel。 And no one's heart； going to any other rendezvous； had ever beat any harder than hers was now； as she lolled there in the back of the carriage； so gracefully at ease。 Silver…tipped feet crossed before her on the floor； the curve of one arm negligently resting on the curve of the seat around her； the hand of the other…down out of sight…clenched into a tormented little lump close at her side that no instrument could have pried open； it had frozen so solid。
Slowly the peaceful； resonant clop…clop of the horse drew her toward the Puerta Mayor； the main outlet into the Bosque。 And； as they went along； it was like leaving the stratified reflections of a vast central bonfire； with the street shine dimming progressively the farther away they got。 First the holocaust of the downtown night…life district； bleaching everything with noonday brilliance； then the soberer luster of the intermediate sectors； with just their shops and occasional small electrified signs； finally the gloomy austerity of the outlying residential districts； streets lighted solely with the cool white of their own lampposts and the occasional yellow square of a window。
And then the Puerta Mayor； and darkness closed in； plete； triumphant； on both sides。 Everywhere but overhead； where a long line of lonely center lights marked the double…laned main driveway that led back into the depths of the Bosque； toward the Madrid。
The long talcumed vistas of the city's periphery avenues fell behind them； finally blotted out。 The air became damper； cooler with a penetrating quality。 An odor of ferns and foliage and dank wood crept up； worsting the gossamer perfume that still clung about her。
The main driveway was anything but empty； however。 A constant procession of cars； some closed and lighted； others topless and open； went past her； going the other way。 It was only being used in one direction tonight。 〃These nights；〃 as the hotel doorman had expressed it。 Everyone was ing out； leaving。 In to town…and safety。 No one was going the opposite way。 No one but she。 Her coachman had his lane all to himself。
They had very little to fear； these others； seated in their lighted limousines in twos and threes and fours。 But their machines didn't loiter along the way； just the same。 They all went by fast； maintaining a general level of accelerated speed that was not lost on her。 As though； now that they had proved their courage to themselves and all their friends by dining early at the Madrid； they couldn't wait until they got out of here； to continue their revels somewhere else with greater peace of mind。 Even though it was general knowledge by now that it was no longer in here； had last been seen all the way across town by the Hippodrome race track。
So she went slowly by； counter to the stream； in lonely grandeur。 A sheet of coruscating white flame licked over her form each time the carriage passed beneath an overhanging arc light； then dwindled again until the next one came along。
At last； through the darkness ahead； the lanterns of the Madrid began to show； like a bed of luminous； multicolored confetti lying scattered about under the trees。 The ghostly echoes of accordion and violin notes seemed to drop down on them from those same trees like a fine； impalpable rain； as he turned in the short looped spur that led in toward the entrance and then out and around again。
An attendant helped her down and she stepped through the low box hedge that bordered the outside。 dining place。
〃You'll wait； of course；〃 she ordered the coachman。 There was a depleted line of cars still standing there along one side of the drive…in。
〃But not too late； seсorita；〃 he pleaded cravenly； 〃it's not advisable these days。〃
〃You'll wait until I'm ready；〃 she said severely。 〃See that he does；〃 she instructed the attendant。
A headwaiter had e forward to greet her。 They were all inside the main building； an octagonal pavilion raised several steps above ground level。 There were still people here； but in vastly diminished numbers。 Last…standers； either trying to show how daring they were； or having had too much wine and too good a time to care very much any longer one way or the other。 Even so； the few there were were banded together in large table groups； as if for mutual protect
