the drums of jeopardy-第37节

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〃What's　that　to　do　with　it　so　long　as　convention　is　satisfied？〃

Cutty　was　so　shaken　and　confused　that　he　missed　the　tragic　irony　of
the　voice。　　All　the　receptive　avenues　to　his　brain　seemed　to　have
shut　down　suddenly。　　He　was　conscious　only　of　the　clitter…clatter。
Marry　Kitty！

〃You　can't　settle　money　on　her；〃　went　on　Hawksley；　〃without　scandal。
You　can't　offer　her　anything　without　offending　her。　　And　you　can't
let　her　go　to　rust　without　having　her　bit　of　good　times。〃

〃Utterly　impossible；〃　said　Cutty；　to　the　idea　rather　than　to　his
tormentor。

〃Oh；　of　course；　if　you　have　an　affair　…　No；　God　forgive　me；　I　don't
mean　that！　　I'm　a　damned　ingrate！　　But　your　bringing　up　those　stones
and　knocking　off　the　top　of　all　the　misery　piling　up　in　my　heart！　　I
was　only　trying　to　hurt　you；　hurt　myself；　everybody。　　Please　have　a
little　patience　with　me；　for　I've　come　out　of　hell！〃　　Hawksley　turned
aside　his　head。

〃Buck　up；〃　said　Cutty；　his　blazing　wrath　dropping　to　a　smoulder。
〃I'll　fetch　those　togs。〃

What　had　the　boy　done　to　fill　him　with　such　tragic　bitterness？　　Was
he　Two…Hawks？　　Cutty　dismissed　this　doubt　instantly。　　He　recalled
the　episode　of　the　boy's　conduct　when　confronted　by　the　photograph
of　his　mother。　　No　human　being　could　be　a　play　actor　in　such　a
moment。　　The　boy's　emotion　had　been　deep　and　real。　　Cutty　recognized
the　fact　that　he　had　become　as　a　block　in　the　middle　of　a　Chinese
puzzle；　only　Fate　could　move　him　to　his　appointed　place。

But　offer　marriage　to　Kitty　so　that　he　could　provide　for　her！
Mechanically　he　rummaged　his　clothes　press　for　the　suit　he　was　to
take　to　Hawksley。　　Well；　why　not？　　He　could　settle　five　thousand　a
year　on　her。　　His　departure　for　the　Balkans　…　he　might　be　gone　a
year　or　more　…　could　be　legally　construed　as　desertion。　　And　with
pretty　clothes　and　freedom　she　would　soon　find　some　young　chap　to
her　liking。　　But　would　a　girl　like　Kitty　see　it　from　his　point　of
view？　　The　marriage　could　take　place　an　hour　or　two　before　he　went
aboard　his　ship。　　Hang　it；　Hawksley　wasn't　so　far　off。　　Kitty
couldn't　possibly　be　offended　if　he　laid　the　business　squarely　on
the　table。　　To　provide　for　Molly's　girl！

When　Kuroki　announced　that　breakfast　was　ready；　Cutty　went　into　the
living　room　for　Kitty；　whom　he　bad　not　yet　seen。　　He　found　her　by　a
window　fascinated　by　the　splendour　of　the　panorama　as　seen　in　the
morning　light。　　Not　a　vestige　of　the　tears　and　disorder　in　which
he　had　left　her。　　What　had　been　behind　those　tears？　　Dainty　and
refreshing；　to　the　eye　as　though　she　had　stepped　out　of　a　bandbox。
Compromised？　　That　was　utter　rot！　　Wasn't　Miss　Frances　here？
Clitter…clatter；　clitter…clatter。　　But　Cutty　was　not　aware　that　it
was　no　longer　in　his　head　but　in　his　heart。

〃Breakfast　is　served；　Your　Highness；〃　he　announced　with　a　grave
salaam。

Kitty　pirouetted。　　For　some　reason　she　could　not　explain　to　herself
she　wanted　to　laugh；　sing；　dance。　　Perhaps　it　was　because　she　was
only　twenty…four。　　Or　it　might　have　had　its　origin　in　the　tonicky
awakening　among　all　these　beautiful　furnishings。

She　assumed　a　haughty　expression　…　such　as　the　Duchess　of　Gerolstein
assumes　when　she　appoints　the　private　to　the　office　of　generalissimo
　…　and　with　a　careless　wave　of　the　hand　said：　〃Summon　His　Highness！〃



CHAPTER　XXIV


Between　Cutty's　heart　and　his　throat　there　was　very　little　space　at
that　moment　for　the　propelment　of　sound。　　Kitty　Conover　had
innocently　…　he　understood　that　almost　immediately　and　recovered
his　mental　balance　…　Kitty　had　innocently　thrown　a　bomb　at　his　feet。
It　did　not　matter　that　it　was　a　dud。　　The　result　was　the　same。　　For
a　second；　then；　all　the　terror；　all　the　astounding　suspension　of
thought　and　action　attending　the　arrival　of　a　shell　on　the
battlefield　were　his。　　As　an　aftermath　he　would　have　liked　very
much　to　sit　down。　　Instead；　maintaining　the　mock　gravity　of　his
expression；　he　offered　his　arm；　which　Kitty　accepted；　still　the
Grand　Duchess　of　Gerolstein。　　Pompously　they　marched　into　the
dining　room。　　But　as　Kitty　saw　Hawksley　she　dropped　the　air
confusedly；　and　hesitated。　　〃Good　gracious！〃　she　whispered。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　Cutty　whispered　in　turn。

〃My　clothes！〃

〃What's　the　matter　with　'em？〃

〃I　slept　in　them！〃

If　that　wasn't　like　a　woman！　　It　did　not　matter　how　she　might　look
to　an　old　codger；　aetat。　fifty…two；　he　didn't　count。　　But　a　handsome
young　chap；　now；　in　white　flannels　and　sport　shirt；　his　head
bound　picturesquely　…

〃Don't　let　that　bother　you；〃　he　said。　　〃Those　duds　of　his　are　mine。〃

Still；　Cutty　was　grateful　for　this　little　diversion。　　As　he　drew
back　Kitty's　chair　he　was　wholly　himself　again。　　At　once　he　dictated
the　trend　of　the　conversation；　moved　it　whither　he　willed；　into
strange　channels；　gave　them　all　a　glimpse　of　his　amazing　versatility；
with　vivid　shafts　of　humour　to　light　up　corners。

Kuroki；　who　had　travelled　far　with　his　master　these　ten　years；
sometimes　paused　in　his　rounds　to　nod　affirmatively。

Hawksley　listened　intently；　wondering　a　bit。　　What　was　the　dear　old
beggar's　idea；　throwing　such　fireworks　round　at　breakfast？　　He　stole
a　glance　at　Kitty　to　see　how　she　was　taking　it　…　and　caught　her
stealing　a　glance　at　him。　　Instantly　both　switched　back　to　Cutty。
Shortly　the　little　comedy　was　repeated　because　neither　could　resist
the　invisible　force　of　some　half…conscious　inquiry。　　Third　time；
they　smiled　unembarrassedly。　　Mind　you；　they　were　both　hanging　upon
Cutty's　words；　only　their　eyes　were　like　little　children　at　church；
restless。　　It　was　spring。

Without　being　exactly　conscious　of　what　he　was　doing；　Hawksley　began
to　dress　Kitty　…　that　is；　he　visualized　her　in　ball　gowns；　in　sports；
in　furs。　　He　put　her　on　horses；　in　opera　boxes；　in　limousines。　　But
in　none　of　these　pictures　could　he　hold　her；　she　insisted　upon
returning　to　her　kitchen　to　fry　bacon　and　eggs。

Then　came　a　twisted　thought；　rejected　only　to　return；　a　surprising
thought；　so　alluring　that　the　sense　of　shame；　of　chivalry；　could　not
press　it　back。　　Cutty's　words　began　to　flow　into　one　ear　and　out　of
the　other；　without　sense。　　There　was　in　his　heart　…　put　there　by
the　recollection　of　the　jewels　…　an　indescribable　bitterness；　a
desperate　cynicism　that　urged　him　to　strike　out；　careless　of　friend
or　foe。　　Who　could　say　what　would　happen　to　him　when　he　left　here？
A　flash　of　spring　madness；　then　to　go　forth　devil…may…care。

She　was　really　beautiful；　full　of　unsuspected　fire。　　To　fan　it　into
white　flame。　　The　whole　affair　would　depend　upon　whether　she　cared
for　music。　　If　she　did　he　would　pluck　the　soul　out　of　her。　　She　had
saved　his　life。　　Well；　what　of　that？　　He　had　broken　yonder　man's
bread　and　eaten　his　salt。　　Still；　what　of　that？　　Hadn't　he　come　from
a　race　of　scoundrels？　　The　blood　…　he　had　smothered　and　repressed
it　all　his　life　…　to　unleash　it　once；　happen　what　might。　　If　she
were　really　fond　of　music！

Once　again　Kitty's　glance　roved　back　to　Hawksley。　　This　time　she
encountered　a　concentration　in　his　unwavering　stare。　　She　did　not
quite　like　it。　　Perhaps　he　was　only　thinking　about　something　and
wasn't　actually　seeing　her。　　Still；　it　quieted　down　the　fluttering
gayety　of　her　mood。　　There　was　a　sun　spot　of　her　own　that　became
visible　whenever　her　interest　in　Cutty's　monologue　lagged。　　Perhaps
Hawksley　had　his　sun　spot。

〃And　so；〃　she　heard　Cutty　say。　　〃Mr。　Hawksley　is　going　to　become
an　American　citizen。　　Kitty；　what　are　some　of　the　principles　of　good
citizenship？〃

〃To　be　nice　to　policemen。　　Not　to　meddle　with　politics；　because　it
is　vulgar。　　To　vote　perfunctorily。　　To　'let　George　do　it'　when　there
are　reforms　to　be　brought　about。　　To　keep　your　hat　on　when　the　flag
goes　by　because　otherwise　you　will　attract　attention。　　To　find　fault
without　being　able　to　offer　remedies。　　To　keep　in　debt　because　life
here　in　America　would　be　monotonous　without　bill　collectors。〃

Cutty　interrupted　with　a　laugh。　　〃Kitty；　you'll　'scare　Hawksley　off
the　map！〃

〃Let　him　know　the　worst　at　once；〃　retorted　Kitty；　flashing　a　smile
at　the　victim。

〃Spoofing　me　…　what？〃　said　Hawksley；　appealing　to　his　host。

This　quality　of　light　irony　in　a　woman　was　a　distinct　novelty　to
Hawksley。　　She　had　humour；　then？　　So　much　the　better。　　An　added
zest　to　the　game　he　was　planning。　　He　recalled　now　that　she　was
not　of　the　clinging　kind　either。　　A　woman　with　a　humorous　turn　of
mind　was　ten　times　more　elusive　than　a　purely　sentimental　one。
Give　him　an　hour　or　two　with　that　old　Amati　…　if　she　really　cared
for　music！　　She　would　be　coming　to　the　apartment　again　…　some
afternoon；　when　his　host　was　out　of　the　way。　　Better　still；　he
would　call　her　by　telephone；　the　plea　of　loneliness。　　Scoundrel？
Of　course　he　was。　　He　was　not　denying　that。　　He　would　embark
upon　this　affair　without　the　smug　varnish　of　self…lies。　　Fire　…　to
play　with　it！

He　ate　his　portion　of　beefsteak；　potatoes；　and　toast；　and　emptied
his　coffee　cup。　　It　was　really　the　first　substantial　meal　he　had
had　in　many　hours。　　A　feeling　of　satisfaction　began　to　permeate
him。　　He　smiled　at　Miss　Frances；　who　shook　her　head　dubiously。　　She
could　not　quite　make　him　out　pathologically。　　Perhaps　she　had　been
treating　him　as　shell…shoc