the red cross girl-第30节

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〃when　you　tell　her　I　come　as　the　special　ambassador　of　his
lordship。〃

From　a　tiny　reception…room　on　the　right　of　the　entrance…hall
there　issued　a　feminine　exclamation　of　surprise；　not　unmixed　with
joy；　and　in　the　hall　the　noble　lady　instantly　appeared。

When　she　saw　herself　confronted　by　a　stranger；　she　halted　in
embarrassment。　But　as；　even　while　she　halted；　her　only　thought
had　been；　〃Oh！　if　he　will　only　ask　me　to　forgive　him！〃　Philip
felt　no　embarrassment　whatsoever。　Outside；　concealed　behind　a　cab
horse；　was　the　erring　but　bitterly　repentant　husband；　inside；　her
tenderest　thoughts　racing　tumultuously　toward　him；　was　an　unhappy
child…wife　begging　to　be　begged　to　pardon。

For　a　New　York　reporter；　and　a　Harvard　graduate　of　charm　and　good
manners；　it　was　too　easy。

〃I　do　not　know　you；〃　said　her　ladyship。　But　even　as　she　spoke　she
motioned　to　the　butler　to　go　away。　〃You　must　be　one　of　his　new
friends。〃　Her　tone　was　one　of　envy。

〃Indeed；　I　am　his　newest　friend；〃　Philip　assured　her；　〃but　I　can
safely　say　no　one　knows　his　thoughts　as　well　as　I。　And　they　are
all　of　you！〃

The　china　shepherdess　blushed　with　happiness；　but　instantly　she
shook　her　head。

〃They　tell　me　I　must　not　believe　him；〃　she　announced。　〃They　tell
me〃

〃Never　mind　what　they　tell　you；〃　commanded　Philip。　〃Listen　to　ME。
He　loves　you。　Better　than　ever　before；　he　loves　you。　All　he　asks
is　the　chance　to　tell　you　so。　You　cannot　help　but　believe　him。
Who　can　look　at　you；　and　not　believe　that　he　loves　you！　Let　me；〃
he　begged；　〃bring　him　to　you。〃　He　started　from　her　when；
remembering　the　somewhat　violent　thoughts　of　the　youthful
husband；　he　added　hastily：　〃Or　perhaps　it　would　be　better　if　you
called　him　yourself。〃

〃Called　him！〃　exclaimed　the　lady。　〃He　is　in　Paris…at　the
raceswith　her！〃

〃If　they　tell　you　that　sort　of　thing；〃　protested　Philip
indignantly；　〃you　must　listen　to　me。　He　is　not　in　Paris。　He　is
not　with　her。　There　never　was　a　her！〃

He　drew　aside　the　lace　curtains　and　pointed。　〃He　is　there
behind　that　ancient　cab　horse；　praying　that　you　will　let　him　tell
you　that　not　only　did　he　never　do　it；　but；　what　is　much　more
important；　he　will　never　do　it　again。〃

The　lady　herself　now　timidly　drew　the　curtains　apart；　and　then
more　boldly　showed　herself　upon　the　iron　balcony。　Leaning　over
the　scarlet　geraniums；　she　beckoned　with　both　hands。　The　result
was　instantaneous。　Philip　bolted　for　the　front　door；　leaving　it
open；　and；　as　he　darted　down　the　steps；　the　youthful　husband；　in
strides　resembling　those　of　an　ostrich；　shot　past　him。　Philip　did
not　cease　running　until　he　was　well　out　of　Berkeley　Square。　Then；
not　ill…pleased　with　the　adventure；　he　turned　and　smiled　back　at
the　house　of　yellow　stucco。

〃Bless　you；　my　children；〃　he　murmured；　〃bless　you！〃

He　continued　to　the　Ritz；　and；　on　crossing　Piccadilly　to　the
quieter　entrance　to　the　hotel　in　Arlington　Street；　found　gathered
around　it　a　considerable　crowd　drawn　up　on　either　side　of　a　red
carpet　that　stretched　down　the　steps　of　the　hotel　to　a　court
carriage。　A　red　carpet　in　June；　when　all　is　dry　under　foot　and
the　sun　is　shining　gently；　can　mean　only　royalty；　and　in　the　rear
of　the　men　in　the　street　Philip　halted。　He　remembered　that　for　a
few　days　the　young　King　of　Asturia　and　the　Queen　Mother　were　at
the　Ritz　incognito；　and；　as　he　never　had　seen　the　young　man　who
so　recently　and　so　tragically　had　been　exiled　from　his　own
kingdom；　Philip　raised　himself　on　tiptoe　and　stared　expectantly。

As　easily　as　he　could　read　their　faces　could　he　read　the　thoughts
of　those　about　him。　They　were　thoughts　of　friendly　curiosity；　of
pity　for　the　exiles；　on　the　part　of　the　policemen　who　had
hastened　from　a　cross　street；　of　pride　at　their　temporary
responsibility；　on　the　part　of　the　coachman　of　the　court
carriage；　of　speculation　as　to　the　possible　amount　of　his
Majesty's　tip。　The　thoughts　were　as　harmless　and　protecting　as
the　warm　sunshine。

And　then；　suddenly　and　harshly；　like　the　stroke　of　a　fire　bell　at
midnight；　the　harmonious　chorus　of　gentle；　hospitable　thoughts
was　shattered　by　one　that　was　discordant；　evil；　menacing。　It　was
the　thought　of　a　man　with　a　brain　diseased；　and　its　purpose　was
murder。

〃When　they　appear　at　the　doorway；〃　spoke　the　brain　of　the　maniac；
〃I　shall　lift　the　bomb　from　my　pocket。　I　shall　raise　it　above　my
head。　I　shall　crash　it　against　the　stone　steps。　It　will　hurl　them
and　all　of　these　people　into　eternity　and　me　with　them。　But　I
shall　LIVEa　martyr　to　the　Cause。　And　the　Cause　will　flourish！〃

Through　the　unsuspecting　crowd；　like　a　football　player　diving　for
a　tackle；　Philip　hurled　himself　upon　a　little　dark　man　standing
close　to　the　open　door　of　the　court　carriage。　From　the　rear
Philip　seized　him　around　the　waist　and　locked　his　arms　behind
him；　elbow　to　elbow。　Philip's　face；　appearing　over　the　man's
shoulder；　stared　straight　into　that　of　the　policeman。

〃He　has　a　bomb　in　his　right…hand　pocket！〃　yelled　Philip。　〃I　can
hold　him　while　you　take　it！　But；　for　Heaven's　sake；　don't　drop
it！〃　Philip　turned　upon　the　crowd。　〃Run！　all　of　you！〃　he　shouted。
〃Run　like　the　devil！〃

At　that　instant　the　boy　King　and　his　Queen　Mother；　herself　still
young　and　beautiful；　and　cloaked　with　a　dignity　and　sorrow　that
her　robes　of　mourning　could　not　intensify；　appeared　in　the
doorway。

〃Go　back；　sir！〃　warned　Philip。　〃He　means　to　kill　you！〃

At　the　words　and　at　sight　of　the　struggling　men；　the　great　lady
swayed　helplessly；　her　eyes　filled　with　terror。　Her　son　sprang
protectingly　in　front　of　her。　But　the　danger　was　past。　A　second
policeman　was　now　holding　the　maniac　by　the　wrists；　forcing　his
arms　above　his　head；　Philip's　arms；　like　a　lariat；　were　wound
around　his　chest；　and　from　his　pocket　the　first　policeman
gingerly　drew　forth　a　round；　black　object　of　the　size　of　a　glass
fire…grenade。　He　held　it　high　in　the　air；　and　waved　his　free　hand
warningly。　But　the　warning　was　unobserved。　There　was　no　one
remaining　to　observe　it。　Leaving　the　would…be　assassin　struggling
and　biting　in　the　grasp　of　the　stalwart　policeman；　and　the　other
policeman　unhappily　holding　the　bomb　at　arm's　length；　Philip
sought　to　escape　into　the　Ritz。　But　the　young　King　broke　through
the　circle　of　attendants　and　stopped　him。

〃I　must　thank　you；〃　said　the　boy　eagerly；　〃and　I　wish　you　to　tell
me　how　you　came　to　suspect　the　man's　purpose。〃

Unable　to　speak　the　truth；　Philip；　the　would…be　writer　of
fiction；　began　to　improvise　fluently。

〃To　learn　their　purpose；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃is　my　business。　I　am　of
the　International　Police；　and　in　the　secret　service　of　your
Majesty。〃

〃Then　I　must　know　your　name；〃　said　the　King；　and　added　with　a
dignity　that　was　most　becoming；　〃You　will　find　we　are　not
ungrateful。〃

Philip　smiled　mysteriously　and　shook　his　head。

〃I　said　in　your　secret　service；〃　he　repeated。　〃Did　even　your
Majesty　know　me；　my　usefulness　would　be　at　an　end。〃　He　pointed
toward　the　two　policemen。　〃If　you　desire　to　be　just；　as　well　as
gracious；　those　are　the　men　to　reward。〃

He　slipped　past　the　King　and　through　the　crowd　of　hotel　officials
into　the　hall　and　on　into　the　corridor。

The　arrest　had　taken　place　so　quietly　and　so　quickly　that　through
the　heavy　glass　doors　no　sound　had　penetrated；　and　of　the　fact
that　they　had　been　so　close　to　a　possible　tragedy　those　in　the
corridor　were　still　ignorant。　The　members　of　the　Hungarian
orchestra　were　arranging　their　music；　a　waiter　was　serving　two
men　of　middle　age　with　sherry；　and　two　distinguished…looking
elderly　gentlemen　seated　together　on　a　sofa　were　talking　in
leisurely　whispers。

One　of　the　two　middle…aged　men　was　well　known　to　Philip；　who　as　a
reporter　had　often；　in　New　York；　endeavored　to　interview　him　on
matters　concerning　the　steel　trust。　His　name　was　Faust。　He　was　a
Pennsylvania　Dutchman　from　Pittsburgh；　and　at　one　time　had　been　a
foreman　of　the　night　shift　in　the　same　mills　he　now　controlled。
But　with　a　roar　and　a　spectacular　flash；　not　unlike　one　of　his
own　blast　furnaces；　he　had　soared　to　fame　and　fortune。　He
recognized　Philip　as　one　of　the　bright　young　men　of　the　Republic；
but　in　his　own　opinion　he　was　far　too　self…important　to　betray
that　fact。

Philip　sank　into　an　imitation　Louis　Quatorze　chair　beside　a
fountain　in　imitation　of　one　in　the　apartment　of　the　Pompadour；
and　ordered　what　he　knew　would　be　an　execrable　imitation　of　an
American　cocktail。　While　waiting　for　the　cocktail　and　Lady
Woodcote's　luncheon　party；　Philip；　from　where　he　sat；　could　not
help　but　overhear　the　conversation　of　Faust　and　of　the　man　with
him。　The　latter　was　a　German　with　Hebraic　features　and　a　pointed
beard。　In　loud　tones　he　was　congratulating　the　American　many…time
millionaire　on　having　that　morning　come　into　possession　of　a　rare
and　valuable　masterpiece；　a　hitherto　unknown　and　but　recently
discovered　portrait　of　Philip　IV　by　Velasquez。

Philip　sighed　enviously。

〃Fancy；〃　he　thought；　〃owning　a　Velasquez！　Fancy　having　it　all　to
yourself！　It　must　be　fun　to　be　rich。　It　certainly　is　hell　to　be
poor！〃

The　German；　who　was　evidently　a　picture…dealer；　was　exclaiming　in
tones　of　rapture；　and　nodding　his　head　with　an　air　of　awe　and
solemnity。

〃I　am　telling　you　the　truth；　Mr。　Fa