the drums of jeopardy-第8节

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Might　it　not　be　some　trick　to　lure　her　into　opening　the　window？　　And
what　was　he　doing　outside　there　anyhow？　　Her　mind；　freed　from　the
initial　hypnosis　of　the　encounter；　began　to　work　quickly。　　If　she　ran
from　the　kitchen　to　call　for　help　he　might　be　gone　when　she　returned；
only　to　come　back　when　she　was　again　alone。

Once　more　the　man　executed　that　gesture；　his　palms　upward。　　It　was
Latin；　she　was　aware　of　that；　for　she　was　always　encountering　it　in
the　halls。　　Another　gesture。　　She　understood　this　also。　　The　tips
of　the　fingers　bunched　and　dabbed　at　the　lips。　　She　had　seen　Italian
children　make　the　gesture　and　cry：　〃Ho　fame！〃　　Hungry。　　But　she　could
not　let　him　into　the　kitchen。　　Still；　if　he　were　honestly　hungry
　…　She　had　it！

In　the　kitchen…table　drawer　was　an　imitation　revolver　…　press　the
trigger；　and　a　fluted　fan　was　revealed　…　a　dance　favour　she　had
received　during　the　winter。

She　plucked　it　out　of　the　drawer　and　walked　bravely　to　the　window；
which　she　threw　up。

〃What　do　you　want？　　What　are　you　doing　out　there　on　the　fire　escape？〃
she　instantly　demanded　to　know。

〃My　word；　I　am　hungry！　　I　was　looking　out　of　the　window　across　the
way　and　saw　you　preparing　your　dinner。　　A　bit　of　bread　and　a　glass
of　milk。　　Would　you　mind；　I　wonder？〃

〃Why　didn't　you　come　to　the　door　then？　　What　window？〃　　Kitty　was
resolute；　once　she　embarked　upon　an　enterprise。

〃That　one。〃

〃Where　is　Mr。　Gregory？〃　　Kitty　recalled　that　odd　letter。

〃Gregory？　　I　should　very　much　like　to　know。　　I　have　come　many　miles
to　see　him。　　He　sent　me　a　duplicate　key。　　There　was　not　even　a　crust
in　the　cupboard。〃

Gregory　away？　　That　letter！　　Something　had　happened　to　that　poor；
kindly　old　man。　　〃Why　did　you　not　seek　some　restaurant？　　Or　have　you
no　money？〃

〃I　have　plenty。　　I　was　afraid　that　I　might　not　be　able　conveniently
to　return。　　I　am　a　stranger。　　My　actions　might　be　viewed　with
suspicion。〃

〃Indeed！　　Describe　Mr。　Gregory。〃

Not　of　the　clinging　kind；　evidently；　he　thought。　　A　raving　beauty
　…　Diana　domesticated！

〃It　is　four　years　since　I　saw　him。　　He　was　then　gray；　dapper；　and
erect。　　A　mole　on　his　chin；　which　he　rubs　when　he　talks。　　He　is　a
valet　in　one　of　the　fashionable　hotels。　　He　is　…　or　was　…　the　only
true　friend　I　have　in　New　York。〃

〃Was？　　What　do　you　mean？〃

〃I'm　afraid　something　has　happened　to　him。　　I　found　his　bedroom
things　tossed　about。〃

〃What　could　possibly　happen　to　a　harmless　old　man　like　Mr。　Gregory？〃

〃Pardon　me；　but　your　egg　is　burning　！〃

Kitty　wheeled　and　lifted　off　the　pan；　choking　in　the　smother　of　smoke。
She　came　right…about　face　swiftly　enough。　　The　man　had　not　moved；　and
that　decided　her。

〃Come　in。　　I　will　give　you　something　to　eat。　　Sit　in　that　chair　by
the　window；　and　be　careful　not　to　stir　from　it。　　I'm　a　good　shot；〃
lied　Kitty；　truculently。　　〃Frankly；　I　do　not　like　the　looks　of　this。〃

〃I　do　look　like　a　burglar；　what？〃　　He　sat　down　in　the　chair　meekly。
Food　and　a　human　being　to　talk　to！　　A　lovely；　self…reliant　American
girl；　able　to　take　care　of　herself。　　Magnificent　eyes　…　slate　blue；
with　thick；　velvety　black　lashes。　　Irish。

In　a　moment　Kitty　had　three　eggs　and　half　a　dozen　strips　of　bacon
frying　in　a　fresh　pan。　　She　kept　one　eye　upon　the　pan　and　the　other
upon　the　intruder；　risking　strabismus。　　At　length　she　transferred
the　contents　of　the　pan　to　a　plate；　backed　to　the　ice　chest；　and
reached　for　a　bottle　of　milk。　　She　placed　the　food　at　the　far　end
of　the　table　and　retreated　a　few　steps；　her　arms　crossed　in　such　a
way　as　to　keep　the　revolver　in　view。

〃Please　do　not　be　afraid　of　me。

〃What　makes　you　think　I　am？〃

〃Any　woman　would　be。〃

Kitty　saw　that　he　was　actually　hungry；　and　her　suspicions　began　to
ebb。　　He　hadn't　lied　about　that。　　And　he　ate　like　a　gentleman。
Young；　not　more　than　thirty；　possibly　less。　　But　that　dreadful
stubble　and　that　black　eye　！　　The　clothes　would　have　passed　muster
on　any　fashionable　golf　links。　　A　fugitive？　　From　what？

〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　setting　down　the　empty　milk　bottle。

〃Your　accent　is　English。〃

〃Which　is　to　say？〃

〃That　your　gestures　are　Italian。〃

〃My　mother　was　Italian。　　But　what　makes　you　believe　I　am　not　English？〃

〃An　Englishman　…　or　an　American；　for　that　matter　…　with　money　in
his　pocket　would　have　gone　into　the　street　in　search　of　a　restaurant。〃

〃You　are　right。　　The　fundamentals　of　the　blood　will　always　crop　out。
You　can　educate　the　brain　but　not　the　blood。　　I　am　not　an　Englishman；
I　merely　received　my　education　at　Oxford。〃

〃A　fugitive；　however；　of　any　blood　might　have　come　to　my　window。〃

〃Yes；　I　am　a　fugitive；　pursued　by　the　god　of　Irony。　　And　Irony　is
never　particular；　the　chase　is　the　thing。　　What　matters　it　whether
the　quarry　be　wolf　or　sheep？〃

Kitty　was　impressed　by　the　bitterness　of　the　tone。　　〃What　is　your
name？〃

〃John　Hawksley。〃

〃But　that　is　English！〃

〃I　should　not　care　to　call　myself　Two…Hawks；　literally。　　It　would
be　embarrassing。　　So　I　call　myself　Hawksley。〃

A　pause。　　Kitty　wondered　what　new　impetus　she　might　give　to　the
conversation；　which　was　interesting　her　despite　her　distrust。

〃How　did　you　come　by　that　black　eye？〃　she　asked　with　embarrassing
directness。

Hawksley　smiled；　revealing　beautifully　white　teeth。　　〃I　say；　it　is
a　bit　off；　isn't　it！　　I　received　it〃　　…　a　twinkle　coming　into　his
eyes　…　〃in　a　situation　that　had　moribund　perspectives。〃

〃Moribund　perspectives；〃　repeated　Kitty；　casting　the　phrase　about
in　her　mind　in　search　of　an　equivalent　less　academic。

〃I　am　young　and　healthy；　and　I　wanted　to　live；〃　he　said；　gravely。
〃I　am　curious　to　know　what　is　going　to　happen　to…morrow　and　other
to…morrows。〃

Somewhere　near　by　a　door　was　slammed　violently。　　Kitty；　every　muscle
in　her　body　tense；　jumped　convulsively；　with　the　result　that　her
finger　pressed　automatically　the　trigger　of　her　pistol。　　The　fan
popped　out　gayly。

Hawksley　stared　at　the　fan；　quite　as　astonished　as　Kitty。　　Then　he
broke　into　low；　rollicking　laughter；　which　Kitty；　because　her　basic
corpuscle　was　Irish；　perforce　had　to　join。　　For　all　her　laughter　she
retreated；　furious　and　alarmed。

〃Fancy！　　I　say；　now；　you're　jolly　plucky　to　face　a　scoundrel　like
me　with　that。〃

〃I　don't　just　know　what　to　make　of　you；〃　said　Kitty；　irresolutely；
flinging　the　fan　into　a　corner。

〃You　have　revivified　a　celestial　spark　…　my　faith　in　human　beings。
I　beg　of　you　not　to　be　afraid　of　me。　　I　am　quite　harmless。　　I　am
very　grateful　for　the　meal。　　Yours　is　the　one　act　of　kindness　I　have
known　in　weeks。　　I　will　return　to　Gregor's　apartment　at　once。　　But
before　I　go　please　accept　this。　　I　rather　suspect；　you　know；　that
you　live　alone；　and　that　fan　is　amusing　and　not　particularly
suitable。〃　　He　rose　and　unsmilingly　laid　upon　the　table　one　of　those
heavy　blue…black　bull…dogs　of　war；　a　regulation　revolver。　　Kitty
understood　what　this　courteous　act　signified；　he　was　disarming
himself　to　reassure　her。

〃Sit　down；〃　she　ordered。　　Either　he　was　harmless　or　he　wasn't。　　If
he　wasn't　she　was　utterly　at　his　mercy。　　She　might　be　able　to　lift
that　terrible…looking　engine　of　murder；　battle；　and　sudden　death
with　the　aid　of　both　hands；　but　to　aim　and　fire　it　…　　never　in　this
world！　　〃As　I　came　in　to…night　I　found　a　note　in　the　hall　from　Mr。
Gregory。　　I　will　fetch　it。　　But　you　call　him　Gregor？〃

〃His　name　is　Stefani　Gregor；　and　years　and　years　ago　he　dandled　me
on　his　knees。　　I　promise　not　to　move　until　you　return。〃

Subdued　by　she　knew　not　what；　no　longer　afraid；　Kitty　moved　out　of
the　kitchen。　　She　had　offered　Gregory's　letter　as　an　excuse　to　reach
the　telephone。　　Once　there；　however；　she　did　not　take　the　receiver
off　the　hook。　　Instead　she　whistled　down　the　tube　for　the　janitor。

〃This　is　Miss　Conover。　　Come　up　to　my　apartment　in　ten　minutes。。。。
　　No；　it's　not　the　water　pipes。。。。　　In　ten　minutes〃

Nothing　very　serious　could　happen　inside　of　ten　minutes；　and　the
janitor　was　reliable　and　not　the　sort　one　reads　about　in　the　comic
weeklies。　　Her　confidence　reenforced　by　the　knowledge　that　a　friend
was　near；　she　took　the　letter　into　the　kitchen。　　Apparently　her
unwelcome　guest　had　not　stirred。　　The　revolver　was　where　he　had
laid　it。

〃Read　this；〃　she　said。

The　visitor　glanced　through　it。　　〃It　is　Gregor's　hand。　　Poor　old
chap！　　I　shall　never　forgive　my　self。〃

〃For　what？〃

〃For　dragging　him　into　this。　　They　must　have　intercepted　one　of　my
telegrams。〃　　He　stared　dejectedly　at　the　strip　of　oilcloth　in　front
of　the　range。　　〃You　are　an　American？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃God　has　been　exceedingly　kind　to　your　country。　　I　doubt　if　you　will
ever　know　how　kind。　　I'll　take　myself　off。　　No　sense　in　compromising
you。〃　　He　laid　a　folded　handkerchief　inside　his　cap　which　he　put　on。
〃Know　anything　about　this？〃　…　indicating　the　revolver。

〃Nothing　whatever。〃

〃Permit　me　to　show　you。　　It　is　loaded；　there　are　five　bullets　in　the
clip。　　See　this　little　latch？　　So；　it　is　harmless。　　So；　and　you　kill
with　it。〃

〃It　is　horrible！〃　cried　Kitty。　　〃Take　it　with　you　please。　　I　could
not　keep　my　eyes　open　to　shoot　it。〃

〃These　are　troublous　times。　　All　women　should　know　something　about
small　arms。　　Again　I　thank　you。　　For　your　own　sake　I　trust　that　we
may　never　me