earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第5节

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tting　me　talk　to　you　like　that。〃
　〃It　was　fun；〃　she　told　him。　〃I　hope　you're　going　to　like　us　out　here。　We're　so　eager　to　be　liked；　you　know。　It's　almost　pathetic。〃
　〃Well；〃　smiled　John　Quincy；　〃I've　met　only　one　Californian　to　date。　But　…〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃So　far；　so　good！〃
　〃Oh；　thank　you。〃　She　moved　away。
　〃Please　…　just　a　moment；〃　called　John　Quincy。　〃I　hope　…　I　mean；　I　wish　…〃
　But　the　crowd　surged　between　them。　He　saw　her　dark　eyes　smiling　at　him　and　then；　irrevocably　as　the　hat；　she　drifted　from　his　sight。
　
　CHAPTER　III　
　Midnight　On　Russian　Hill
　
　A　FEW　MOMENTS　later　John　Quincy　stepped　ashore　in　San　Francisco。　He　had　taken　not　more　than　three　steps　across　the　floor　of　the　Ferry　Building　when　a　dapper　Japanese　chauffeur　pushed　through　the　crowd　and　singling　out　the　easterner　with　what　seemed　uncanny　perspicacity；　took　plete　charge　of　him。
　Roger　Winterslip；　the　chauffeur　announced；　was　too　busy　to　meet　ferries；　but　had　sent　word　that　the　boy　was　to　go　up　to　the　house　and　after　establishing　himself　fortably　there；　join　his　host　for　lunch　down…town。　Gratified　to　feel　solid　ground　once　more　beneath　his　feet；　John　Quincy　followed　the　chauffeur　to　the　street。　San　Francisco　glittered　under　the　morning　sun。
　〃I　always　thought　this　was　a　foggy　town；〃　John　Quincy　said。
　The　Japanese　grinned。　〃Maybe　fog　will　e；　maybe　it　will　not。　Just　now　one　time　maybe　it　will　not。　Please。〃　He　held　open　the　car　door。
　Through　bright　streets　where　life　appeared　to　flow　with　a　pleasant　rhythm；　they　bowled　along。　Beside　the　curbs　stood　the　colorful　carts　of　the　flower　venders；　unnecessarily　painting　the　lily　of　existence。　Weary　traveler　though　he　was；　John　Quincy　took　in　with　every　breath　a　fresh　supply　of　energy。　New　ambitions　stirred　within　him；　bigger；　better　bond　issues　than　ever　before　seemed　ridiculously　easy　of　attainment。
　Roger　Winterslip　had　not　been　among　those　lured　to　suburban　life　down　the　peninsula；　he　resided　in　bachelor　solitude　on　Nob　Hill。　It　was　an　ancient；　battered　house　viewed　from　without；　but　within；　John　Quincy　found；　were　all　known　forts。　A　bent　old　Chinese　man　showed　him　his　room　and　his　heart　leaped　up　when　he　beheld；　at　last；　a　veritable　bath。
　At　one　o'clock　he　sought　out　the　office　where　his　relative　carried　on；　with　conspicuous　success；　his　business　as　an　engineer　and　builder。　Roger　proved　a　short　florid　man　in　his　late　fifties。
　〃Hello；　son；〃　he　cried　cordially。　〃How's　Boston？〃
　〃Every　one　is　quite　well；〃　said　John　Quincy。　〃You're　being　extremely　kind　…〃
　〃Nonsense。　It's　a　pleasure　to　see　you。　e　along。〃
　He　took　John　Quincy　to　a　famous　club　for　lunch。　In　the　grill　he　pointed　out　several　well…known　writers。　The　boy　was　not　unduly　impressed；　for　Longfellow；　Whittier　and　Lowell　were　not　among　them。　Nevertheless　it　was　a　pleasant　place；　the　service　perfect；　the　food　of　an　excellence　rare　on　the　codfish　coast。
　〃And　what；〃　asked　Roger　presently；　〃do　you　think　of　San　Francisco？〃
　〃I　like　it；〃　John　Quincy　said　simply。
　〃No？　Do　you　really　mean　that？〃　Roger　beamed。　〃Well；　it's　the　sort　of　place　that　ought　to　appeal　to　a　New　Englander。　It's　had　a　history；　brief；　but　believe　me；　my　boy；　one　crowded　hour　of　glorious　life。　It's　sophisticated；　knowing；　subtle。　Contrast　it　with　other　cities　…　for　instance；　take　Los　Angeles　…〃
　He　was　off　on　a　favorite　topic　and　he　talked　well。
　〃Writers；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃are　for　ever　paring　cities　to　women。　San　Francisco　is　the　woman　you　don't　tell　the　folks　at　home　an　awful　lot　about。　Not　that　she　wasn't　perfectly　proper　…　I　don't　mean　that　…　but　her　stockings　were　just　a　little　thinner　and　her　laugh　a　little　gayer　…　people　might　misunderstand。　Besides；　the　memory　is　too　precious　to　talk　about。　Hello。〃
　A　tall；　lean；　handsome　Englishman　was　crossing　the　grill　on　his　way　out。　〃Cope！　Cope；　my　dear　fellow！〃　Roger　sped　after　him　and　dragged　him　back。　〃I　knew　you　at　once；〃　he　was　saying；　〃though　it　must　be　more　than　forty　years　since　I　last　saw　you。〃
　The　Britisher　dropped　into　a　chair。　He　smiled　a　wry　smile。　〃My　dear　old　chap；〃　he　said。　〃Not　so　literal；　if　you　don't　mind。〃
　〃Rot！〃　protested　Roger。　〃What　do　years　matter？　This　is　a　young　cousin　of　mine；　John　Quincy　Winterslip；　of　Boston。　Ah　…　er　…　just　what　is　your　title　now？〃
　〃Captain。　I'm　in　the　Admiralty。〃
　〃Really？　Captain　Arthur　Temple　Cope；　John　Quincy。〃　Roger　turned　to　the　Englishman。　〃You　were　a　midshipman；　I　believe；　when　we　met　in　Honolulu。　I　was　talking　to　Dan　about　you　not　a　year　ago　…〃
　An　expression　of　intense　dislike　crossed　the　captain's　face。　〃Ah；　yes；　Dan。　Alive　and　prospering；　I　presume？〃
　〃Oh；　yes；〃　answered　Roger。
　〃Isn't　it　damnable；〃　remarked　Cope；　〃how　the　wicked　thrive？〃
　An　unfortable　silence　fell。　John　Quincy　was　familiar　with　the　frankness　of　Englishmen；　but　he　was　none　the　less　annoyed　by　this　open　display　of　hostility　toward　his　prospective　host。　After　all；　Dan's　last　name　was　Winterslip。
　〃Ah　…　er　…　have　a　cigarette；〃　suggested　Roger。
　〃Thank　you　…　have　one　of　mine；〃　said　Cope；　taking　out　a　silver　case。　〃Virginia　tobacco；　though　they　are　put　up　in　Piccadilly。　No？　And　you；　sir　…〃　He　held　the　case　before　John　Quincy；　who　refused　a　bit　stiffly。
　The　captain　nonchalantly　lighted　up。　〃I　beg　your　pardon　…　what　I　said　about　your　cousin；〃　he　began。　〃But　really；　you　know　…〃
　〃No　matter；〃　said　Roger　cordially。　〃Tell　me　what　you're　doing　here。〃
　〃On　my　way　to　Hawaii；〃　explained　the　captain。　〃Sailing　at　three　to…day　on　the　Australian　boat。　A　bit　of　a　job　for　the　Admiralty。　From　Honolulu　I　drop　down　to　the　Fanning　Group　…　a　little　flock　of　islands　that　belongs　to　us；〃　he　added　with　a　fine　paternal　air。
　〃A　possible　coaling　station；〃　smiled　Roger。
　〃My　dear　fellow　…　the　precise　nature　of　my　mission　is；　of　course；　a　secret。〃　Captain　Cope　looked　suddenly　at　John　Quincy。　〃By　the　way；　I　once　knew　a　very　charming　girl　from　Boston。　A　relative　of　yours；　no　doubt。〃
　〃A　…　a　girl；〃　repeated　John　Quincy；　puzzled。
　〃Minerva　Winterslip。〃
　〃Why；〃　said　John　Quincy；　amazed；　〃you　mean　my　Aunt　Minerva。〃
　The　captain　smiled。　〃She　was　no　one's　aunt　in　those　days；〃　he　said。　〃Nothing　auntish　about　her。　But　that　was　in　Honolulu　in　the　'eighties　…　we'd　put　in　there　on　the　old　wooden　Reliance　…　the　poor　unlucky　ship　was　limping　home　crippled　from　Samoa。　Your　aunt　was　visiting　at　that　port　…　there　were　dances　at　the　palace；　swimming　parties　…　ah；　me；　to　be　young　again。〃
　〃Minerva's　in　Honolulu　now；〃　Roger　told　him。
　〃No　…　really？〃
　〃Yes。　She's　stopping　with　Dan。〃
　〃With　Dan。〃　The　captain　was　silent　for　a　moment。　〃Her　husband　…〃
　〃Minerva　never　married；〃　Roger　explained。
　〃Amazing；〃　said　the　captain。　He　blew　a　ring　of　smoke　toward　the　paneled　ceiling。　〃The　more　shame　to　the　men　of　Boston。　My　time　is　hardly　my　own；　but　I　shall　hope　to　look　in　on　her。〃　He　rose。　〃This　was　a　bit　of　luck　…　meeting　you　again；　old　chap。　I'm　due　aboard　the　boat　very　shortly　…　you　understand；　of　course。〃　He　bowed　to　them　both；　and　departed。
　〃Fine　fellow；〃　Roger　said；　staring　after　him。　〃Frank　and　British；　but　a　splendid　chap。〃
　〃I　wasn't　especially　pleased；〃　John　Quincy　admitted；　〃by　the　way　he　spoke　of　Cousin　Dan。〃
　Roger　laughed。　〃Better　get　used　to　it；〃　he　advised。　〃Dan　is　not　passionately　beloved。　He's　climbed　high；　you　know；　and　he's　trampled　down　a　few　on　his　way　up。　By　the　way；　he　wants　you　to　do　an　errand　for　him　here　in　San　Francisco。〃
　〃Me！〃　cried　John　Quincy。　〃An　errand？〃
　〃Yes。　You　ought　to　feel　flattered。　Dan　doesn't　trust　everybody。　However；　it's　something　that　must　wait　until　dark。〃
　〃Until　dark；〃　repeated　the　puzzled　young　man　from　Boston。
　〃Precisely。　In　the　meantime　I　propose　to　show　you　about　town。〃
　〃But　…　you're　busy。　I　couldn't　think　of　taking　you　away　…〃
　Roger　laid　his　hand　on　John　Quincy's　shoulder。　〃My　boy；　no　westerner　is　ever　too　busy　to　show　a　man　from　the　East　about　his　city。　I've　been　looking　forward　to　this　chance　for　weeks。　And　since　you　insist　on　sailing　tomorrow　at　ten；　we　must　make　the　most　of　our　time。〃
　Roger　proved　an　adept　at　making　the　most　of　one's　time　in　San　Francisco。　After　an　exhilarating　afternoon　of　motoring　over　the　town　and　the　surrounding　country；　he　brought　John　Quincy　back　to　the　house　at　six；　urging　him　to　dress　quickly　for　a　dinner　of　which　he　apparently　had　great　hopes。
　The　boy's　trunk　was　in　his　room；　and　as　he　put　on　a　dinner　coat　he　looked　forward　with　lively　anticipation　to　a　bit　of　San　Francisco　night　life　in　Roger's　pany。　When　he　came　down…stairs　his　host　was　waiting；　a　distinguished　figure　in　his　dinner　clothes；　and　they　set　out　blithely　through　the　gathering　dusk。
　〃Little　place　I　want　you　to　try；〃　Roger　explained　as　they　sat　down　at　a　table　in　a　restaurant　that　was　outwardly　of　no　special　note。　〃Afterward　we'll　look　in　on　that　musical　show　at　the　Columbia。〃
　The　restaurant　more　than　justified　Roger's　hopes　of　it。　John　Quincy　began　to　glow　with　a　warm　friendly　feeling　for　all　the　world；　particularly　this　city　by　the　western　gate。　He　did　not　think　of　himself　as　a　stranger　here。　He　wasn't　a　stranger；　anyhow。　The　sensation　he　had　first　experienced　in　the　harbor　returned　to　him。　He　had　been　here　before；　he　was　treading　old　familiar　ground。　In　far；　forgotten；　happy　times　he　had　known　the　life　of　this　city's　str