the financier-第70节

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　and　ask　them　to　come　out。〃

〃No。　　We'll　tend　to　that。　　You　stay　where　you　are。　　You're　not　going　to　get　into　any　trouble。　　You　just　stay　where　you　are；〃　insisted　Alderson。

He　motioned　to　Butler；　who；　however；　now　that　he　had　embarked　on　his　grim　task；　was　thinking　that　he　had　made　a　mistake。　　What　good　would　it　do　him　to　force　his　way　in　and　make　her　come　out；　unless　he　intended　to　kill　Cowperwood？　If　she　were　made　to　come　down　here；　that　would　be　enough。　　She　would　then　know　that　he　knew　all。　　He　did　not　care　to　quarrel　with　Cowperwood；　in　any　public　way；　he　now　decided。　　He　was　afraid　to。　　He　was　afraid　of　himself。

〃Let　her　go；〃　he　said　grimly；　doggedly　referring　to　Mrs。　Davis；　〃But　watch　her。　　Tell　the　girl　to　come　down…stairs　to　me。〃

Mrs。　Davis；　realizing　on　the　moment　that　this　was　some　family　tragedy；　and　hoping　in　an　agonized　way　that　she　could　slip　out　of　it　peacefully；　started　upstairs　at　once　with　Alderson　and　his　assistants　who　were　close　at　his　heels。　　Reaching　the　door　of　the　room　occupied　by　Cowperwood　and　Aileen；　she　tapped　lightly。　At　the　time　Aileen　and　Cowperwood　were　sitting　in　a　big　arm…chair。　At　the　first　knock　Aileen　blanched　and　leaped　to　her　feet。　　Usually　not　nervous；　to…day；　for　some　reason；　she　anticipated　trouble。　Cowperwood's　eyes　instantly　hardened。

〃Don't　be　nervous；〃　he　said；　〃no　doubt　it's　only　the　servant。　I'll　go。〃

He　started；　but　Aileen　interfered。　　〃Wait；〃　she　said。　　Somewhat　reassured；　she　went　to　the　closet；　and　taking　down　a　dressing…gown；　slipped　it　on。　　Meanwhile　the　tap　came　again。　　Then　she　went　to　the　door　and　opened　it　the　least　bit。

〃Mrs。　Montague；〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Davis；　in　an　obviously　nervous；　forced　voice；　〃there's　a　gentleman　downstairs　who　wishes　to　see　you。〃

〃A　gentleman　to　see　me！〃　exclaimed　Aileen；　astonished　and　paling。　〃Are　you　sure？〃

〃Yes；　he　says　he　wants　to　see　you。　　There　are　several　other　men　with　him。　　I　think　it's　some　one　who　belongs　to　you；　maybe。〃

Aileen　realized　on　the　instant；　as　did　Cowperwood；　what　had　in　all　likelihood　happened。　　Butler　or　Mrs。　Cowperwood　had　trailed　them　in　all　probability　her　father。　　He　wondered　now　what　he　should　do　to　protect　her；　not　himself。　　He　was　in　no　way　deeply　concerned　for　himself；　even　here。　　Where　any　woman　was　concerned　he　was　too　chivalrous　to　permit　fear。　　It　was　not　at　all　improbable　that　Butler　might　want　to　kill　him；　but　that　did　not　disturb　him。　　He　really　did　not　pay　any　attention　to　that　thought；　and　he　was　not　armed。

〃I'll　dress　and　go　down；〃　he　said；　when　he　saw　Aileen's　pale　face。　〃You　stay　here。　　And　don't　you　worry　in　any　way　for　I'll　get　you　out　of　thisnow；　don't　worry。　　This　is　my　affair。　　I　got　you　in　it　and　I'll　get　you　out　of　it。〃　　He　went　for　his　hat　and　coat　and　added；　as　he　did　so；　〃You　go　ahead　and　dress；　but　let　me　go　first。〃

Aileen；　the　moment　the　door　closed；　had　begun　to　put　on　her　clothes　swiftly　and　nervously。　　Her　mind　was　working　like　a　rapidly　moving　machine。　　She　was　wondering　whether　this　really　could　be　her　father。　Perhaps　it　was　not。　　Might　there　be　some　other　Mrs。　Montaguea　real　one？　Supposing　it　was　her　fatherhe　had　been　so　nice　to　her　in　not　telling　the　family；　in　keeping　her　secret　thus　far。　　He　loved　hershe　knew　that。　　It　makes　all　the　difference　in　the　world　in　a　child's　attitude　on　an　occasion　like　this　whether　she　has　been　loved　and　petted　and　spoiled；　or　the　reverse。　　Aileen　had　been　loved　and　petted　and　spoiled。　　She　could　not　think　of　her　father　doing　anything　terrible　physically　to　her　or　to　any　one　else。　　But　it　was　so　hard　to　confront　himto　look　into　his　eyes。　　When　she　had　attained　a　proper　memory　of　him；　her　fluttering　wits　told　her　what　to　do。

〃No；　Frank；〃　she　whispered；　excitedly；　〃if　it's　father；　you'd　better　let　me　go。　　I　know　how　to　talk　to　him。　　He　won't　say　anything　to　me。　　You　stay　here。　　I'm　not　afraidreally；　I'm　not。　　If　I　want　you；　I'll　call　you。〃

He　had　come　over　and　taken　her　pretty　chin　in　his　hands；　and　was　looking　solemnly　into　her　eyes。

〃You　mustn't　be　afraid；〃　he　said。　　〃I'll　go　down。　　If　it's　your　father；　you　can　go　away　with　him。　　I　don't　think　he'll　do　anything　either　to　you　or　to　me。　　If　it　is　he；　write　me　something　at　the　office。　　I'll　be　there。　　If　I　can　help　you　in　any　way；　I　will。　We　can　fix　up　something。　　There's　no　use　trying　to　explain　this。　Say　nothing　at　all。〃

He　had　on　his　coat　and　overcoat；　and　was　standing　with　his　hat　in　his　hand。　　Aileen　was　nearly　dressed；　struggling　with　the　row　of　red　current…colored　buttons　which　fastened　her　dress　in　the　back。　Cowperwood　helped　her。　　When　she　was　readyhat；　gloves；　and　all　he　said：

〃Now　let　me　go　first。　　I　want　to　see。〃

〃No；　please；　Frank；〃　she　begged；　courageously。　　〃Let　me；　I　know　it's　father。　　Who　else　could　it　be？〃　She　wondered　at　the　moment　whether　her　father　had　brought　her　two　brothers　but　would　not　now　believe　it。　　He　would　not　do　that；　she　knew。　　〃You　can　come　if　I　call。〃　　She　went　on。　　〃Nothing's　going　to　happen；　though。　　I　understand　him。　　He　won't　do　anything　to　me。　　If　you　go　it　will　only　make　him　angry。　　Let　me　go。　　You　stand　in　the　door　here。　　If　I　don't　call；　it's　all　right。　　Will　you？〃

She　put　her　two　pretty　hands　on　his　shoulders；　and　he　weighed　the　matter　very　carefully。　　〃Very　well；〃　he　said；　〃only　I'll　go　to　the　foot　of　the　stairs　with　you。〃

They　went　to　the　door　and　he　opened　it。　　Outside　were　Alderson　with　two　other　detectives　and　Mrs。　Davis；　standing　perhaps　five　feet　away。

〃Well；〃　said　Cowperwood；　commandingly；　looking　at　Alderson。

〃There's　a　gentleman　down…stairs　wishes　to　see　the　lady；〃　said　Alderson。　　〃It's　her　father；　I　think；〃　he　added　quietly。

Cowperwood　made　way　for　Aileen；　who　swept　by；　furious　at　the　presence　of　men　and　this　exposure。　　Her　courage　had　entirely　returned。　She　was　angry　now　to　think　her　father　would　make　a　public　spectacle　of　her。　　Cowperwood　started　to　follow。

〃I'd　advise　you　not　to　go　down　there　right　away；〃　cautioned　Alderson；　sagely。　　〃That's　her　father。　　Butler's　her　name；　isn't　it？　　He　don't　want　you　so　much　as　he　wants　her。〃

Cowperwood　nevertheless　walked　slowly　toward　the　head　of　the　stairs；　listening。

〃What　made　you　come　here；　father？〃　he　heard　Aileen　ask。

Butler's　reply　he　could　not　hear；　but　he　was　now　at　ease　for　he　knew　how　much　Butler　loved　his　daughter。

Confronted　by　her　father；　Aileen　was　now　attempting　to　stare　defiantly；　to　look　reproachful；　but　Butler's　deep　gray　eyes　beneath　their　shaggy　brows　revealed　such　a　weight　of　weariness　and　despair　as　even　she；　in　her　anger　and　defiance；　could　not　openly　flaunt。　It　was　all　too　sad。

〃I　never　expected　to　find　you　in　a　place　like　this；　daughter；〃　he　said。　　〃I　should　have　thought　you　would　have　thought　better　of　yourself。〃　　His　voice　choked　and　he　stopped。

〃I　know　who　you're　here　with；〃　he　continued；　shaking　his　head　sadly。　　〃The　dog！　I'll　get　him　yet。　　I've　had　men　watchin'　you　all　the　time。　　Oh；　the　shame　of　this　day！　The　shame　of　this　day！　You'll　be　comin'　home　with　me　now。〃

〃That's　just　it；　father；〃　began　Aileen。　　〃You've　had　men　watching　me。　　I　should　have　thought〃　She　stopped；　because　he　put　up　his　hand　in　a　strange；　agonized；　and　yet　dominating　way。

〃None　of　that！　none　of　that！〃　he　said；　glowering　under　his　strange；　sad；　gray　brows。　　〃I　can't　stand　it！　Don't　tempt　me！　We're　not　out　of　this　place　yet。　　He's　not！　You'll　come　home　with　me　now。〃

Aileen　understood。　　It　was　Cowperwood　he　was　referring　to。　　That　frightened　her。

〃I'm　ready；〃　she　replied；　nervously。

The　old　man　led　the　way　broken…heartedly。　　He　felt　he　would　never　live　to　forget　the　agony　of　this　hour。





Chapter　XXXVII




In　spite　of　Butler's　rage　and　his　determination　to　do　many　things　to　the　financier；　if　he　could；　he　was　so　wrought　up　and　shocked　by　the　attitude　of　Aileen　that　he　could　scarcely　believe　he　was　the　same　man　he　had　been　twenty…four　hours　before。　　She　was　so　nonchalant；　so　defiant。　　He　had　expected　to　see　her　wilt　completely　when　confronted　with　her　guilt。　　Instead；　he　found；　to　his　despair；　after　they　were　once　safely　out　of　the　house；　that　he　had　aroused　a　fighting　quality　in　the　girl　which　was　not　incomparable　to　his　own。　　She　had　some　of　his　own　and　Owen's　grit。　　She　sat　beside　him　in　the　little　runaboutnot　his　ownin　which　he　was　driving　her　home；　her　face　coloring　and　blanching　by　turns；　as　different　waves　of　thought　swept　over　her；　determined　to　stand　her　ground　now　that　her　father　had　so　plainly　trapped　her；　to　declare　for　Cowperwood　and　her　love　and　her　position　in　general。　　What　did　she　care；　she　asked　herself；　what　her　father　thought　now？　She　was　in　this　thing。　She　loved　Cowperwood；　she　was　permanently　disgraced　in　her　father's　eyes。　　What　difference　could　it　all　make　now？　He　had　fallen　so　low　in　his　parental　feeling　as　to　spy　on　her　and　expose　her　before　other　menstrangers；　detectives；　Cowperwood。　　What　real　affection　could　she　have　for　him　after　this？　He　had　made　a　mistake；　according　to　her。　　He　had　done　a　foolish　and　a　contemptible　thing；　which　was　not　warranted　however　bad　her　actions　might　have　been。　　What　could　he　hope　to　accomplish　by　rushing　in　on　her　in　this　way　and　ripping　the　veil　from　her　very　soul　before　these　other　menthese　crude　detectives？　Oh；　the　agony　of　that　walk　from　the　bedroom