mg.greeneyes-第15节

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　audible　reply　of　The　Shadow！
　　The　echoes　of　the　sardonic　laugh　died　away。　The　sinister　mirth　was　ended。
　　Silence；　alone；　prevailed。　The　Shadow　was　gone。　The　Shadow　had　laughed！
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　X　
　　　THE　CHINESE　THEATER　
　　IT　was　gala　night　at　the　Mukden　Theater。　All　the　elite　of　Chinatown　had　turned　out。　The　reason　was　the　return　to　America　of　Foo　Chow；　one　of　China's　most　celebrated　dramatic　actors。　Since　the　days　of　the　dowager　empress；　this　famous　impersonator　had　dominated　the　theaters　of　old　China。
　　The　prices　rivaled　those　of　a　〃Follies〃　premiere。　Chinese　first…nighters　were　entering　the　playhouse　so　eagerly　that　it　was　difficult　to　distinguish　individuals　in　the　throng。　Americans　were　there；　displaying　advance　reservations。
　　Joseph　Darley　and　Cleve　Branch　arrived　afoot。　Darley　had　discharged　his　limousine。　He　had　picked　up　two　friends　on　the　way；　and　with　four　seats　reserved；　there　would　be　room　for　all　the　party。
　　Within；　the　Mukden　Theater　resembled　a　large　American　playhouse。　In　fact；　it　was　more　American　than　Chinese；　for　in　its　construction；　the　builders　had　adopted　the　most　modern　plans。　The　seats　which　Darley　had　obtained　were　on　a　side　aisle。　Cleve　noticed　that　there　were　boxes　on　both　sides；　but　only　the　upstairs　ones　were　occupied。
　　This　was　probably　due　to　the　narrowness　of　the　stage。　The　aisles　converged　sharply；　And　the　entire　stage　was　not　fully　visible　even　from　the　spot　where　Cleve　was　located。　The　upper　boxes；　projecting　over　the　audience；　might　be　satisfactory；　but　the　lower　ones　were　practically　useless。
　　The　downstairs　portion　of　the　theater　was　not　entirely　filled。　Darley　explained　that　this　was　due　to　the　high　prices　asked　for　seats。　Later　in　Foo　Chow's　engagement；　prices　would　be　lower；　Then　the　less　wealthy　Chinese　would　throng　the　playhouse。
　　The　show　began。　It　was　Cleve's　first　experience　in　a　Chinese　theater；　and　the　costumes　and　gestures　of　the　actors　were　interesting　at　the　beginning。
　　Gorgeously　dressed　women　appeared　upon　the　stage。　Darley　explained　that　they　were　impersonators。　For　years　there　had　been　a　taboo　on　actresses　in　China；　and　that　custom　was　in　force　here。
　　Tragic　gesticulations　and　chanting　singsong　voices　became　monotonous。
　　Cleve　looked　over　the　sea　of　faces　in　the　theater。　He　could　just　distinguish　solemn　yellow　countenances。
　　He　wondered　if　Ling　Soo　had　fared　here　tonight。　Probably　not。　Lost　in　his　fantastic　dream　of　a　Yellow　Empire；　the　leader　of　the　Wu…Fan　would　probably　have　no　time　for　theaters。
　　The　body　of　the　theater　was　bathed　in　gloom。　The　side　aisles　by　the　walls　were　black。　All　eyes　were　toward　the　stage。　Hence　neither　Cleve　nor　any　one　else　in　the　vast　throng　observed　a　motion　there。
　　A　tall；　black　figure　was　gliding　along　the　wall。　It　reached　the　curtain　that　marked　the　entrance　to　the　side　boxes；　It　moved　through。
　　A　phantomlike　shape　stood　beside　the　individual　entrance　to　Box　C。　Then　it　passed　the　last　curtain；　and　stood　in　the　box　itself。
　　Box　C　was　a　deep　recess；　with　a　high；　solid　railing。　Its　black　interior　was　impenetrable　while　the　performance　was　going　on。　The　black　form　stationed　itself　in　a　corner　of　the　box；　and　waited　there；　motionless。
　　The　Shadow　was　in　the　Mukden　Theater…in　the　very　place　that　Stephen　Laird　had　tried　to　designate！
　　Shrouded　in　blackness；　the　invisible　man　of　the　darkness　was　prepared　for　all　who　might　e　this　way。　A　silent；　unseen　form；　he　was　seeking　hidden　facts。
　　What　did　this　visit　presage？　Only　The　Shadow　knew！
　　
　　
　　THE　performance　continued　on　the　stage。　Foo　Chow　made　his　appearance；　garbed　in　a　mandarin　costume。　He　was　a　tall；　well…built　Chinaman；　whose　very　appearance　excited　the　approval　of　the　audience。
　　His　work　was　more　interesting　than　that　of　the　other　actors；　but；　to　Cleve　Branch；　it　grew　monotonous；　and　he　was　pleased　when　Foo　Chow's　part　had　ended。
　　Joseph　Darley　seemed　to　share　Cleve's　restlessness。　He　spoke　to　his　panions　in　a　low　voice。
　　〃Would　you　like　to　meet　this　celebrated　actor？〃　he　questioned。
　　His　friends　replied　in　the　affirmative。　Darley　stated　that　he　could　arrange　it。
　　〃Foo　Chow's　part　is　ended　now；〃　he　explained。　〃I　met　him　once　before。　I'll
　　go　back　stage　and　arrange　an　interview　with　him。　You　can　expect　me　back　shortly。〃
　　He　left　his　seat；　gained　the　aisle；　and　followed　the　wall　until　he　reached　the　curtains　that　led　to　the　downstairs　boxes。
　　Cleve　watched　Darley　go；　and　saw　him　disappear　behind　the　curtains。　Then　Cleve　studied　the　stage　indifferently；　and　settled　himself　back　in　his　seat。
　　This　evening　was　a　wasted　one；　he　decided。
　　The　performance　was　nearly　ended　when　Darley　returned。　He　motioned　from　the　end　of　the　row；　and　they　arose　and　joined　him　at　the　side　aisle。
　　〃e　on　back；〃　he　said。　〃This　way…through　the　entrance　by　the　boxes。〃
　　They　pushed　through　the　thick　curtain。　Cleve　was　the　last　of　the　four。　He　noticed　the　inner　entrances　to　the　unoccupied　boxes；　as　he　passed。　Then　they　reached　the　sliding　door　to　the　wings　of　the　stage。　Darley　conducted　the　party　to　a　dressing　room；　where　he　introduced　his　friends　to　Foo　Chow。
　　The　Chinese　actor　was　a　most　interesting　specimen　of　his　race。　He　was　much　older　than　he　had　appeared　when　on　stage。　He　shook　hands　in　American　style；　and　beamed　pleasantly。
　　〃I　like　these　visits　to　America；〃　he　said；　in　perfect　English。　〃There　is　an　appreciation　here　that　one　does　not　find　in　my　own　land。　There；　they　are　used　to　my　work。　Here；　it　is　new　to　those　who　witness　it。〃
　　To　Cleve；　the　brief　visit　was　as　uninteresting　as　the　performance　had　proved　to　be；　but　he　made　no　ment。　He　saw　no　possible　connection　between　Foo　Chow　and　the　affairs　of　Chinatown。
　　Ling　Soo…the　Wu…Fan…the　Tiger　Tong。　These　were　matters　that　seemed　of　more　importance　than　a　visit　back　stage　at　the　Mukden　Theater。
　　Such　thoughts　brought　Cleve's　mind　to　The　Shadow。　He　was　still　thinking　of　the　mysterious　man　in　black　when　he　left　the　dressing　room　with　his　panions。
　　They　followed　the　narrow　passage　beside　the　boxes；　Cleve　again　at　the　rear。　As　they　came　to　the　curtain；　the　man　ahead　of　Cleve　dropped　the　hanging；　and　Cleve　stood　alone　in　the　darkness。
　　Something　prompted　him　to　look　in　the　nearest　box。　It　was　Box　C；　although　Cleve　did　not　know　it；　and　would　have　thought　nothing　of　the　fact。　He　stepped　past　the　curtain　of　the　box。　He　saw　the　outlines　of　seats；　by　the　high；　built…up　rail。
　　A　board　creaked　under　Cleve's　foot　as　he　approached　a　chair　and　stood　there；　watching　the　stage。
　　The　Chinese　play　was　drawing　to　its　close。　Cleve　Branch　viewed　it　mechanically。　He　had　a　vague　impression　that　someone　was　here；　close　beside　him；　in　this　box。　He　turned　instinctively　and　stared　at　the　shadowy　corner。
　　It　was　nothing　but　a　mass　of　blackness。　The　impression　still　persisted。
　　Cleve　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　left　the　box。　He　felt　that　his　imagination　was　getting　the　better　of　him。　Chinatown　was　strange　enough；　without　giving　way　to　fancies　and　odd　qualms。
　　Yet　as　Cleve　walked　up　the　side　aisle；　beside　the　wall；　he　could　not　help　but　glance　back　at　times。　He　seemed　to　sense　someone　gliding　behind　him。　Yet　each　quick　inspection　revealed　no　one。
　　
　　
　　DARLEY　and　the　others　were　waiting　at　the　entrance　of　the　theater。　They　walked　slowly　through　the　lobby；　one　man　stopping　to　point　to　a　picture　of　Foo　Chow；　whom　they　had　just　met。　It　was　a　full…length　likeness　of　the　Chinese　actor。
　　Cleve's　eyes；　moving　to　the　right；　stopped　suddenly。　There；　on　the　marble　panel　of　the　lobby；　was　a　long；　mysterious　shadow。　It　bore　a　striking　resemblance　to　a　man…to　the　man　whom　Cleve　had　seen　that　night　at　the　Sun　Kew！
　　It　was　the　shadow　of　The　Shadow！
　　A　grotesque；　silhouetted　face…a　black　portion　that　was　shaped　like　a　large　slouch　hat…in　every　detail；　Cleve　saw　the　replica　of　the　man　whom　he　was　seeking。
　　As　though　it　possessed　eyes　that　sensed　Cleve's　gaze；　the　substanceless　shape　melted　away。　Cleve　whirled；　and　was　in　time　to　glimpse　a　tall　figure　moving　into　the　dark。　The　cloak…the　hat…both　betokened　the　departure　of　The　Shadow！
　　For　an　instant；　Cleve　was　about　to　spring　in　wild　pursuit。　Long　had　he　sought　The　Shadow。　This　time；　he　must　trail　the　strange　man　of　the　dark。
　　But　Darley's　hand　was　upon　his　arm；　and　realizing　that　the　mitteeman　was　watching　him；　Cleve　abandoned　his　desire。　The　matter　of　The　Shadow　was　one　that　he　chose　to　discuss　with　no　one…not　even　Joseph　Darley。
　　〃e；〃　suggested　Darley。　〃My　limousine　is　waiting。　We　can　go　up　to　my　apartment　and　enjoy　ourselves　for　a　while。　These　Chinese　theatricals　are　all　right…for　the　Chinese。　But　they　leave　the　evening　rather　tasteless　for　me。〃
　　There　was　nothing　to　do　but　accept　the　invitation。　Cleve　went　along　with　Darley　and　his　friends。　He　was　silent　as　they　rode　away　from　Chinatown。
　　Why　was　The　Shadow　at　the　Mukden　Theater　tonight？　Cleve　wondered　over　the　perplexing　question。　Then　he　remembered　the　thoughts　that　he　had　experienced　while　he　had　been　standing　in　the　box。　He　had　felt　sure　that　someone　was　there；　that　someone　had　followed　him　up　the　aisle。
　　That　someone　could　only　be…The　Shadow！
　　The　more　Cleve　Branch　pondered；