the drums of jeopardy-第53节

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！


all　that。　　Once　he　was　in　Montana　he　would　be　sending　for　his　Olga。
There　wasn't　the　least　doubt　in　her　mind　that　if　ever　autocracy
returned　to　power；　he'd　be　casting　aside　his　American　citizenship；
his　chaps　and　sombrero；　for　the　old　regalia。　　Well　…　truculently　to
the　world　at　large　…　why　not？

So　she　avoided　Hawksley's　gaze；　sensing　the　sustained　persistence
of　it。　　But；　oh；　to　be　alone；　alone；　alone！

Cutty　washed　the　patient's　hands　and　face　and　patched　up　the　cut　on
the　cheek；　interlarding　his　chatter　with　trench　idioms；　banter；
jokes。　　Underneath；　though；　he　was　chuckling。　　He　was　the　hero　of
this　tale；　he　had　done　all　the　thrilling　stunts；　carried　limp　bodies
across　fire　escapes　in　the　rain；　climbed　roofs；　eluded　newspaper
reporters；　fought　with　his　bare　fists；　rescued　the　girl。。。。　　All
with　one　foot　in　the　grave！　　Fifty…two；　gray　haired　…　with　a　prospect
of　rheumatism　on　the　morrow　…　and　putting　it　over　like　a　debonair
movie　idol！

Hawksley　met　these　pleasantries　halfway　by　grousing　about　being
babied　when　there　was　nothing　the　matter　with　him　but　his　head；　his
body；　and　his　legs。

Why　didn't　she　look　at　him？　　What　was　the　meaning　of　this　persistent
avoidance？　　She　must　have　forgiven　last　night。　　She　was　too　much　of
a　thoroughbred　to　harbour　ill　feeling　over　that。　　Why　didn't　she
look　at　him？

The　telephone　called　Cutty　from　the　room。

Kitty　went　into　the　dining　room　for　an　extra　pair　of　salt　cellars
and　delayed　her　return　until　she　heard　Cutty　coming　back。

〃Karlov　is　dead；〃　he　announced。　　〃Started　a　fight　in　the　taxi；　got
out；　and　was　making　for　safety　when　one　of　the　boys　shot　him。　　He
hadn't　the　jewels　on　him；　John。　　I'm　afraid　they　are　gone；　unless　he
hid　them　somewhere　in　that　…　　What's　the　matter；　Kitty？〃

For　Kitty　had　dropped　the　salt　cellars　and　pressed　her　hands　against
her　bosom；　her　face　colourless。

Hawksley；　terrified；　tried　to　get　up。

〃No；　no！　　Nothing　is　the　matter　with　me　but　my　head。。。。　　To　think　I
could　forget！　　Good　…　heavens！〃　　She　prolonged　the　words　drolly。
〃Wait。〃

She　turned　her　back　to　them。　　When　she　faced　them　again　she　extended
a　palm　upon　which　lay　a　leather　tobacco　pouch；　cracked　and　parched
and　blistered　by　the　reactions　of　rain　and　sun。

〃Think　of　my　forgetting　them！　　I　found　them　this　morning。　　Where　do
you　suppose？　　On　a　step　of　the　fire…escape　ladder。〃

〃Well；　I'll　be　tinker…dammed！〃　said　Cutty。

〃I've　reasoned　it　out；〃　went　on　Kitty；　breathlessly；　looking　at
Cutty；　〃When　the　anarchist　tore　them　from　Mr。　Hawksley's　neck；　he
threw　them　out　of　the　window。　　The　room　was　dark；　his　companion
could　not　see。　　Later　he　intended；　no　doubt；　to　go　into　the　court
and　recover　them　and　cheat　his　master。　　I　was　looking　out　of　the
window；　when　I　noticed　a　brilliant　flash　of　purple；　then　another
of　green。　　The　pouch　was　open；　the　stones　about　to　trickle　out。
I　dared　not　leave　them　in　the　apartment　or　tell　anybody　until　you
came　home。　　So　I　carried　them　with　me　to　the　office。　　The　drums；
Cutty！　　The　drums！　　Tumpitum…tump！　　Look！〃

She　poured　the　stones　upon　the　white　linen　tablecloth。　　A　thousand
fires！

〃The　wonderful　things！〃　she　gasped。　　〃Oh；　the　wonderful　things！
I　don't　blame　you；　Cutty。　　They　would　tempt　an　angel。　　The　drums　of
jeopardy；　and　that　I　should　find　them！〃

〃Lord！〃　said　Cutty；　in　an　awed　whisper。　　Green　stones！　　The
magnificent　rubies　and　sapphires　and　diamonds　vanished；　he　could
see　nothing　but　the　exquisite　emeralds。　　He　picked　up　one　…　still
warm　with　Kitty's　pulsing　life　…　and　toyed　with　it。　　Actually；　the
drums！　　And　all　this　time　they　had　been　inviting　the　first　comer
to　appropriate　them。　　Money；　love；　tragedy；　death；　history；　pageants；
lovely　women；　murder　and　loot！　　All　these　days　on　the　step　of　the
fire…escape　ladder！　　He　must　have　one　of　them；　positively　he　must。
Could　he　prevail　upon　Hawksley　to　sell　one？　　Had　he　carried　them
through　sentiment？

He　turned　to　broach　the　suggestion　of　purchase；　but　remained　mute。

Hawksley's　head　was　sunk　upon　his　chest；　his　arms　hung　limply　at
the　sides　of　his　chair。

〃He　is　fainting！〃　cried　Kitty；　her　love　outweighing　her　resolves。
〃Cutty！〃　…　desperately；　fearing　to　touch　Hawksley　herself。

〃No！　　The　stones；　the　stones！　　Take　them　away　…　out　of　sight！　　I'm
too　done　in！　　I　can't　stand　it！　　I　can't　…　The　Red　Night！　　Torches
and　hobnailed　boots！〃



CHAPTER　XXXIII


Her　fingers　seemingly　all　thumbs；　her　heart　swelling　with　misery
and　loneliness；　wanting　to　go　to　him　but　fearing　she　would　be
misunderstood；　Kitty　scooped　up　the　dazzling　stones　and　poured
them　hastily　into　the　tobacco　pouch；　which　she　thrust　into　Cutty's
hands。　　What　she　had　heard　was　not　the　cry　of　a　disordered　brain。
There　was　some　clear　reason　for　the　horror　in　Hawksley's　tones。
What　tragedy　lay　behind　these　wonderful　prisms　of　colour　that　the
legitimate　owner　could　not　look　upon　them　without　being　stirred　in
this　manner？

〃Take　them　into　the　study；〃　urged　Kitty。

〃Wait！〃　interposed　Hawksley。　　〃I　give　one　of　the　emeralds　to　you；
Cutty。　　They　came　out　of　hell　…　if　you　want　to　risk　it！　　The　other
is　for　Miss　Conover；　with　Mister　Hawksley's　compliments。〃　　He　was
looking　at　Kitty　now；　his　face　drawn；　his　eyes　bloodshot。　　〃Don't
be　apprehensive。　　They　bring　evil　only　to　men。　　With　one　in　your
possession　you　will　be　happy　ever　after；　as　the　saying　goes。　　Oh；
they　are　mine　to　give；　mine　by　right　of　inheritance。　　God　knows　I
paid　for　them！〃

〃If　I　said　Mister　…　〃　began　Kitty；　her　brain　confused；　her　tongue
clumsy。

〃You　haven't　forgiven！〃　he　interrupted。　　〃A　thoroughbred　like　you；
to　hold　last　night　against　me！　　Mister　…　after　what　we　two　have
shared　together！　　Why　didn't　you　leave　me　there　to　die？〃

Cutty　observed　that　the　drama　had　resolved　itself　into　two
characters；　he　had　been　relegated　to　the　scenes。　　He　tiptoed　toward
his　study　door；　and　as　he　slipped　inside　he　knew　that　Gethsemane　was
not　an　orchard　but　a　condition　of　the　mind。　　He　tossed　the　pouch　on
his　desk；　eyed　it　ironically；　and　sat　down。　　His；　one　of　them　…　one
of　those　marvellous　emeralds　was　his！　　He　interlaced　his　fingers
and　rested　his　brow　upon　them。　　He　was　very　tired。

Kitty　missed　him　only　when　she　heard　the　latch　snap。

She　was　alone　with　Hawksley；　and　all　her　terror　returned。　　Not　to
touch　him；　not　to　console　him；　to　stand　staring　at　him　like　a　dumb
thing！

〃I　do　forgive　…　Johnny！　　But　your　world　and　my　world　…〃

〃Those　stains！　　The　wretches　hurt　you！〃

〃What？　　Where？〃　…　bewildered。

〃The　blood　on　your　waist！〃

Kitty　looked　down。　　〃That　is　not　my　blood；　Johnny。　　It　is　yours。〃

〃Mine？〃　Johnny。　　Something　in　the　way　she　said　it。　　〃Mine？〃　…　trying
to　solve　the　riddle。

〃Yes。　　It　is　where　your　cheek　rested　when　…　I　thought　you　were　dead。〃

The　sense　of　misery；　of　oppression；　of　terror；　all　fell　away
miraculously；　leaving　only　the　flower　of　glory。　　She　would　be　his
plaything　if　he　wanted　her。

Silence。

〃Kitty；　I　came　out　of　a　dark　world　…　to　find　you。　　I　loved　you　the
moment　I　entered　your　kitchen　that　night。　　But　I　did　not　know　it。
I　loved　you　the　night　you　brought　the　wallet。　　Still　I　did　not
understand。　　It　was　when　I　heard　the　lift　door　and　knew　you　had　gone
forever　that　I　understood。　　Loved　you　with　all　my　heart；　with　all
that　poor　old　Stefani　had　fashioned　out　of　muck　and　clay。　　If　you
held　my　head　to　your　heart；　if　that　is　my　blood　there　…　　Do　you；　can
you　care　a　little？〃

〃I　can　and　do　care　very　much；　Johnny。〃

Her　voice　to　his　ears　was　like　the　G　string　of　the　Amati。　　〃Will
you　go　with　me？〃

〃Anywhere。　　But　you　are　a　prince　of　some　great　Russian　house；　Johnny；
and　I　am　nobody。〃

〃What　am　I；　Kitty？　　Less　than　nobody　…　a　homeless　outcast；　with　only
you　and　Cutty。　　An　American！　　Well；　when　I'm　that　it　will　be
different；　I'll　be　somebody。　　God　forgive　me　if　I　do　not　give　it
absolute　loyalty；　this　new　country！　。。。　Never　call　me　anything　but
Johnny。〃

〃Johnny。〃　　Anywhere；　whatever　he　willed　her　to　be。

〃I'm　a　child；　Kitty。　　I　want　to　grow　up　…　if　I　can　…　to　be　an
American；　something　like　that　ripping　old　thoroughbred　yonder。〃

Cutty！　　Johnny　wanted　to　be　something　like　Cutty。　　Johnny　would　have
to　grow　up　to　be　his　own　true　self；　for　nobody　could　ever　be　like
Cutty。　　He　was　as　high　and　far　away　from　the　average　man　as　this
apartment　was　from　hers。　　Would　he　understand　her　attitude？　　Could
she　say　anything　until　it　would　be　too　late　for　him　to　interfere？
She　was　this　man's　woman。　　She　would　have　her　span　of　happiness；
come　ill；　come　good；　even　if　it　hurt　Cutty；　whom　she　loved　in　another
fashion。　　But　for　Johnny　dropping　through　that　trap　she　might　never
have　really　known；　married　Cutty；　and　been　happy。　　Happy　until　one
or　the　other　died；　never　gloriously；　never　furiously；　but　mildly
happy；　perhaps　understanding　each　other　far　better　than　Johnny　and
she　would　understand　each　other。　　The　average　woman's　lot。　　But　to
give　her　heart；　her　mind；　her　body　in　a　whirlwind　of　emotions；
absolute　surrender；　to　know　for　once　the　highest　state　of　exaltation
　…　to　love！

All　this　tender　exchange　with　half　a　dozen　feet　between　them。　　Kitty
had　not　stirred　from　the　far　side　of　the　tea　cart；　and　he　had　not
opened　his　arms。　　She　had