the drums of jeopardy-第26节

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ever　see　those　emeralds。　　What　an　infernal　pity！

He　built　a　coronet　and　leaned　back；　a　wisp　of　smoke　darting　up　from
the　bowl　of　his　pipe。

〃I　say；　you　know；　but　that's　a　ripping　game　to　play！〃　drawled　a
tired　voice　over　his　shoulder。

Cutty　turned　his　head；　to　behold　Hawksley；　shaven；　pale；　and
handsome；　wrapped　in　a　bed　quilt　and　swaying　slightly。

〃What　the　deuce　are　you　doing　out　of　your　room？〃　growled　Cutty；　but
with　the　growl　of　a　friendly　dog。

Hawksley　dropped　into　a　chair　weakly。　　〃End　of　my　rope。　　Got　to　talk
to　someone。　　Go　dotty；　else。　　Questions。　　Skull　aches　with　'em。　　Want
to　know　whether　this　is　a　foretaste　of　the　life　I　have　a　right　to
live　…　or　the　beginning　of　death。　　Be　a　good　sport；　and　let's　have
it　out。〃

〃What　is　it　you　wish　to　know？〃　asked　Cutty；　gently。　　The　poor　beggar！

〃Where　I　am。　　Who　you　are。　　What　happened　to　me。　　What　is　going　to
happen　to　me；〃　rather　breathlessly。　　〃Don't　want　any　more　suspense。
Don't　want　to　look　over　my　shoulder　any　more。　　Straight　ahead。　　All
the　cards　on　the　table；　please。〃

Cutty　rose　and　pushed　the　invalid's　chair　to　a　window　and　drew　another
up　beside　it。

〃My　word；　the　top　of　the　world！　　Bally　odd　roost。〃

〃You　will　find　it　safer　here　than　you　would　on　the　shores　of　Kaspuskoi
More；〃　replied　Cutty；　gravely。　　〃The　Caspian　wouldn't　be　a　healthy　place
for　you　now。〃

With　wide　eyes　Hawksley　stared　across　the　shining；　wavering　roofs。　　A
pause。　　〃What　do　you　know？〃　he　asked；　faintly。

〃Everything。　　But　wait！〃　　Cutty　fetched　one　of　the　photographs　and　laid
it　upon　the　young　man's　knees。　　〃Know　who　this　is　…　Two…Hawks？〃

A　strained；　tense　gesture　as　Hawksley　seized　the　photograph；　then
his　chin　sank　slowly　to　his　chest。　　A　moment　later　Cutty　was
profoundly　astonished　to　see　something　sparkle　on　its　way　down　the
bed　quilt。　　Tears！

〃I'm　sorry！〃　cried　Cutty；　troubled　and　embarrassed。　　〃I'm　terribly
sorry！　　I　should　have　had　the　decency　to　wait　a　day　or　two。〃

〃On　the　contrary；　thank　you！〃　　Hawksley　flung　up　his　head。　　〃Nothing
in　all　God's　muddied　world　could　be　more　timely　…　the　face　of　my
mother！　　I　am　not　ashamed　of　these　tears。　　I　am　not　afraid　to　die。
I　am　not　even　afraid　to　live。　　But　all　the　things　I　loved　…　the
familiar　earth；　the　human　beings；　my　dog　…　gone。　　I　am　alone。〃

〃I'm　sorry；〃　repeated　Cutty；　a　bit　choked　up。　　This　was　honest
misery　and　it　affected　him　deeply。　　He　felt　himself　singularly　drawn。

〃I　want　to　live。　　Because　I　am　young？　　No。　　I　want　to　prove　to　the
shades　of　those　who　loved　me　that　I　am　fit　to　go　on。　　So　my　identity
is　known　to　you？〃　…　dejectedly。

〃Yes。　　You　wish　me　to　forget　what　I　know？〃

〃Will　you？〃　…　eagerly。　　〃Will　you　forget　that　I　am　anything　but　a
naked；　friendless　human　being？〃

〃Yes。　　But　your　enemies　know。〃

〃I　rather　fancy　they　will　keep　the　truth　to　themselves。　　Let　them
publish　my　identity；　and　a　hundred　havens　would　be　offered。　　Your
Government　would　protect　me。〃

〃It　is　doing　so　now；　indirectly。　　But　why　do　you　not　want　it　known？〃

〃Freedom！　　Would　I　have　it　if　known？　　Could　I　trust　anybody？　　Would
it　not　be　essentially　the　old　life　in　a　new　land？　　I　want　a　new　life
in　a　new　land。　　I　want　to　be　born　again。　　I　want　to　be　what　you
patently　are；　an　American。　　That　is　why　I　risked　life　a　hundred
times　in　coming　all　these　miles；　why　I　sit　in　this　chair　before　you；
with　the　room　rocking　because　they　battered　in　my　head。　　I　do　not
offer　a　human　wreck；　an　illiterate　mind；　in　exchange　for　citizenship。
I　bring　a　tolerably　decent　manhood。　　Try　me！　　Always　I　have　admired
you　people。　　Always　we　Russians　have。　　But　there　is　no　Russia　now　
that　I　can　ever　return　to！〃　　Hawksley's　head　drooped　again　and　his
bloodshot　eyes　closed。

Cutty　sensed　confusion；　indecision；　all　his　deductions　were　upset
in　the　face　of　this　strange　appeal。　　Russian；　born　of　an　Italian
mother　and　speaking　Oxford　English　as　if　it　were　his　birthright；　and
wanting　citizenship！　　Wasn't　ashamed　of　his　tears；　wasn't　afraid　to
die　or　to　live！　　Cutty　searched　quickly　for　a　new　handhold　to　his
antagonism；　but　he　found　only　straws。　　He　was　honest　enough　to
realize　that　he　had　built　this　antagonism　upon　a　want；　a　desire；
there　was　no　foundation　for　it。　　Downright　likeable。　　A　chap　who　had
gone　through　so　much；　who　was　in　such　a　pitiable　condition；　would
not　have　the　wit　to　manufacture　character；　camouflage　his　soul。

〃Hang　it！〃　he　said；　briskly。　　〃You　shall　have　your　chance。　　Talk　like
that　will　carry　a　man　anywhere　in　this　country。　　You　shall　stay　here
until　you　are　strong　again。　　Then　some　night　I'll　put　you　on　your
train　for　Montana。　　You　want　to　ask　questions。　　I'll　save　you　the
trouble　by　telling　you　what　I　know。〃

But　his　narrative　contained　no　mention　of　the　emeralds。　　Why？　　A　bit
conscience…stricken　because；　if　he　could；　he　was　going　to　rob　his
guest　on　the　basis　that　findings　is　keepings？　　Cutty　wasn't　ready　to
analyze　the　omission。　　Perhaps　he　wanted　Hawksley　himself　to　inquire
about　the　stones；　test　him　out。　　If　he　asked　frankly　that　would
signify　that　he　had　brought　the　stones　in　honestly；　paid　his
obligations　to　the　Customs。　　Otherwise；　smuggling；　and　in　that　event
conscience　wouldn't　matter；　the　emeralds　became　a　game　anybody　could
take　a　hand　in　…　anybody　who　considered　the　United　States　Customs　an
infringement　upon　human　rights。

What　a　devil　of　a　call　those　stones　had　for　him！　　Did　they　mean
anything　to　Hawksley　aside　from　their　intrinsic　value？　　But　for　the
nebulous　idea；　originally；　that　the　emeralds　were　mixed　up　somewhere
in　this　adventure；　Cutty　knew　that　he　would　have　sent　Hawksley　to　a
hospital；　left　him　to　his　fate；　and　never　known　who　he　was。

All　through　the　narration　Hawksley　listened　motionless；　with　his　eyes
closed；　possibly　to　keep　the　wavering　instability　of　the　walls　from
interfering　with　his　assimilation　of　this　astonishing　series　of　fact。

〃Found　you　insensible　on　the　floor；〃　concluded　Cutty；　〃hoisted　you　to
my　shoulders；　took　you　to　the　street　…　and　here　you　are！〃

Hawksley　opened　his　eyes。　　〃I　say；　you　know；　what　a　devil　of　an　old
Sherlock　you　must　be！　　And　you　carried　me　on　your　shoulders　across　that
fire　escape？　　Ripping！　　When　I　stepped　back　into　that　room　I　heard　a
rushing　sound。　　I　knew！　　But　I　didn't　have　the　least　chance。。。。　　You
and　that　bully　girl！〃

Cutty　swore　under　his　breath。　　He　had　taken　particular　pains　to
avoid　mentioning　Kitty；　and　here；　first　off；　the　fat　was　in　the　fire。
He　remembered　now　that　he　had　told　Hawksley　that　Kitty　had　saved　his
life。　　Fortunately；　the　chap　wasn't　keen　enough　with　that　banged…up
head　of　his　to　apply　reason　to　the　omission。

〃Saved　my　life。　　Suppose　she　doesn't　want　me　to　know。〃

Cutty　jumped　at　this。　　〃Doesn't　care　to　be　mixed　up　with　the
Bolshevik　end　of　it。　　Besides；　she　doesn't　know　who　you　are。〃

〃The　fewer　that　know　the　better。　　But　I'll　always　remember　her
kindness　and　that　bally　pistol　with　the　fan　in　it。　　But　you？　　Why
did　you　bother　to　bring　me　up　here？〃

〃Couldn't　decently　leave　you　where　Karlov　could　get　to　you　again。〃

〃Is　Stefani　Gregor　dead？〃

〃Don't　know；　probably　not。　　But　we　are　hunting　for　him。〃　　Cutty　had
not　explained　his　interest　in　Gregor。　　Those　plaguey　stones　again。
They　were　demoralizing　him。　　Loot。

〃You　spoke　of　Karlov。　　Who　is　he？〃

〃Why；　the　man　who　followed　you　across　half　the　world。〃

〃There　were　many。　　What　is　he　like？〃

〃A　gorilla。〃

〃Ah　！〃　Hawksley　became　galvanized　and　extended　his　fists。　　〃God　let
me　live　long　enough　to　put　my　hands　on　him！　　I　had　the　chance　the
other　day　…　to　blot　out　his　face　with　my　boots！　　But　I　couldn't　do
it！　　I　couldn't　do　it！〃　　He　sagged　in　the　chair。　　〃No；　no！　　Just　a
bit　groggy。　　All　right　in　a　moment。〃

〃By　the　Lord　Harry；　I'll　see　you　through。　　Now　buck　up。　　Hear　that？〃
cried　Cutty；　throwing　up　a　window。

〃Music。〃

〃Look　through　that　street　there。　　See　the　glint　of　bayonets？
American　soldiers；　marching　up　Fifth　Avenue；　thousands　of　them；
freemen　who　broke　the　vaunted　Hlndenburg　Line。　　God　bless　'em！
Americans；　every　mother's　son　of　'em；　who　went　away　laughing；　who
returned　laughing；　who　will　go　back　to　their　jobs　laughing。　　The
ability　to　laugh；　that's　America。　　Do　you　know　how　to　laugh？〃

〃I　used　to。　　I'm　jolly　weak　just　now。　　But　I'll　grin　if　you　want　me
to。〃　　And　Hawksley　grinned。

〃That's　the　way。　　A　grin　in　this　country　will　take　you　quite　as　far。
All　right。　　In　five　years　you'll　be　voting。　　I'll　see　to　that。　　Now
back　to　bed　with　you；　and　no　more　leaving　it　until　the　nurse　says　so。
What　you　need　is　rest。〃

Cutty　sent　a　call　to　the　nurse；　who　was　standing　undecidedly　in　the
doorway；　and　together　they　put　the　derelict　back　to　bed。　　Then　Cutty
fetched　the　photograph　and　set　it　on　top　of　the　dresser；　where
Hawksley　could　see　it。

〃Now；　no　more　gallivanting　about。〃

〃I　promise；　old　top。　　This　bed　is　a　little　bit　of　all　right。　　I　say！〃

〃What？〃

〃How　long　am　I　to　be　here？〃

〃If　you're　good；　two　weeks；〃　interposed　the　nurse。

〃Two　weeks？　　I　say；　would　you　mind　doing　me　a　trifling　favour？　　I'd
like　a　violin　to　amuse　myself　with。〃

〃A　fiddle？　　I　don't　know　a　thing　about　'em　except　that　they　sound
good。〃　　Cutty　pulled　at　his　chin。

〃Whatever　it