the make-believe man(说服者)-第5节
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state…room forward。 The window of the American's room was open； and
his suit…case was on the bed。 On it were the initials H。 P。 A。 The
stateroom is number twenty…four； but when I examined the purser's list；
pretending I wished to find out if a friend of mine was on board； I found
that the man in twenty…four had given his name as James Preston。 Now；〃
he demanded； 〃why should one of them hide under an alias and the other
be afraid to show himself until we leave the wharf？〃 He did not wait for
my answer。 〃I have been talking to Mr。 H。 P。 A。； ALIAS Preston；〃 he
continued。 〃I pretended I was a person of some importance。 I hinted I
was rich。 My object；〃 Kinney added hastily； 〃was to encourage him to
try some of his tricks on ME； to try to rob ME； so that I could obtain
evidence。 I also；〃 he went on； with some embarrassment； 〃told him that
you； too； were wealthy and of some importance。〃
I thought of the lovely lady； and I felt myself blushing indignantly。
〃You did very wrong；〃 I cried； 〃you had no right！ You may involve
us both most unpleasantly。〃
〃You are not involved in any way；〃 protested Kinney。 〃As soon as we
reach New Bedford you can slip on shore and wait for me at the hotel。
When I've finished with these gentlemen； I'll join you。〃
〃Finished with them！〃 I exclaimed。 〃What do you mean to do to
them？〃
〃Arrest them！〃 cried Kinney sternly； 〃as soon as they step upon the
wharf！〃
〃You can't do it！〃 I gasped。
〃I HAVE done it！〃 answered Kinney。 〃It's good as done。 I have
notified the chief of police at New Bedford；〃 he declared proudly； 〃to meet
me at the wharf。 I used the wireless。 Here is my message。〃
From his pocket he produced a paper and； with great importance； read
aloud： 〃Meet me at wharf on arrival steamer Patience。 Two well…known
criminals on board escaping New York police。 Will personally lay
charges against them。Forbes Kinney。〃
As soon as I could recover from my surprise； I made violent protest。
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I pointed out to Kinney that his conduct was outrageous； that in making
such serious charges； on such evidence； he would lay himself open to
punishment。
He was not in the least dismayed。
〃I take it then；〃 he said importantly； 〃that you do not wish to appear
against them？〃
〃I don't wish to appear in it at all！〃 I cried。 〃You've no right to annoy
that young lady。 You must wire the police you are mistaken。〃
〃I have no desire to arrest the woman；〃 said Kinney stiffly。 〃In my
message I did not mention HER。 If you want an adventure of your own；
you might help her to escape while I arrest her accomplices。〃
〃I object；〃 I cried； 〃to your applying the word 'accomplice' to that
young lady。 And suppose they ARE criminals；〃 I demanded； 〃how will
arresting them help you？〃
Kinney's eyes flashed with excitement。
〃Think of the newspapers；〃 he cried； 〃they'll be full of it！〃 Already in
imagination he saw the headlines。 〃'A Clever Haul！'〃 he quoted。
〃'Noted band of crooks elude New York police； but are captured by Forbes
Kinney。'〃 He sighed contentedly。 〃And they'll probably print my picture；
too；〃 he added。
I knew I should be angry with him； but instead I could only feel sorry。
I have known Kinney for a year； and I have learned that his 〃make…
believe〃 is always innocent。 I suppose that he is what is called a snob；
but with him snobbishness is not an unpleasant weakness。 In his case it
takes the form of thinking that people who have certain things he does not
possess are better than himself； and that； therefore； they must be worth
knowing； and he tries to make their acquaintance。 But he does not think
that he himself is better than any one。 His life is very bare and narrow。 In
consequence； on many things he places false values。 As； for example； his
desire to see his name in the newspapers even as an amateur detective。
So； while I was indignant I also was sorry。
〃Joe；〃 I said； 〃you're going to get yourself into an awful lot of trouble；
and though I am not in this adventure； you know if I can help you I will。〃
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He thanked me and we went to the dining…saloon。 There； at a table
near ours； we saw the lovely lady and Stumps and the American。 She
again smiled at me； but this time； so it seemed； a little doubtfully。
In the mind of the American； on the contrary； there was no doubt。 He
glared both at Kinney and myself； as though he would like to boil us in oil。
After dinner； in spite of my protests； Kinney set forth to interview him
and； as he described it； to 〃lead him on〃 to commit himself。 I feared
Kinney was much more likely to commit himself than the other； and when
I saw them seated together I watched from a distance with much anxiety。
An hour later； while I was alone； a steward told me the purser would
like to see me。 I went to his office； and found gathered there Stumps； his
American friend； the night watchman of the boat； and the purser。 As
though inviting him to speak； the purser nodded to the American。 That
gentleman addressed me in an excited and belligerent manner。
〃My name is Aldrich；〃 he said； 〃I want to know what YOUR name is？〃
I did not quite like his tone； nor did I like being summoned to the
purser's office to be questioned by a stranger。
〃Why？〃 I asked。
〃Because；〃 said Aldrich； 〃it seems you have SEVERAL names。 As
one of them belongs to THIS gentleman〃he pointed at Stumps〃he
wants to know why you are using it。〃
I looked at Stumps and he greeted me with the vague and genial smile
that was habitual to him； but on being caught in the act by Aldrich he
hurriedly frowned。
〃I have never used any name but my own；〃 I said； 〃and；〃 I added
pleasantly； 〃if I were choosing a name I wouldn't choose 'Stumps。'〃
Aldrich fairly gasped。
〃His name is not Stumps！〃 he cried indignantly。 〃He is the Earl of
Ivy！〃
He evidently expected me to be surprised at this； and I WAS surprised。
I stared at the much…advertised young Irishman with interest。
Aldrich misunderstood my silence； and in a triumphant tone； which
was far from pleasant； continued： 〃So you see；〃 he sneered； 〃when you
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chose to pass yourself off as Ivy you should have picked out another boat。〃
The thing was too absurd for me to be angry； and I demanded with
patience： 〃But why should I pass myself off as Lord Ivy？〃
〃That's what we intend to find out；〃 snapped Aldrich。 〃Anyway；
we've stopped your game for to…night； and to…morrow you can explain to
the police！ Your pal；〃 he taunted； 〃has told every one on this boat that
you are Lord Ivy； and he's told me lies enough about HIMSELF to prove
HE'S an impostor； too！〃
I saw what had happened； and that if I were to protect poor Kinney I
must not； as I felt inclined； use my fists； but my head。 I laughed with
apparent unconcern； and turned to the purser。
〃Oh； that's it； is it？〃 I cried。 〃I might have known it was Kinney； he's
always playing practical jokes on me。〃 I turned to Aldrich。 〃My friend
has been playing a joke on you； too；〃 I said。 〃He didn't know who you
were； but he saw you were an Anglomaniac； and he's been having fun with
you！〃
〃Has he？〃 roared Aldrich。 He reached down into his pocket and
pulled out a piece of paper。 〃This；〃 he cried； shaking it at me； 〃is a copy
of a wireless that I've just sent to the chief of police at N
