the red cross girl-第31节

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tones　of　rapture；　and　nodding　his　head　with　an　air　of　awe　and
solemnity。

〃I　am　telling　you　the　truth；　Mr。　Faust；〃　he　said。　〃In　no　gallery
in　Europe；　no；　not　even　in　the　Prado；　is　there　such　another
Velasquez。　This　is　what　you　are　doing；　Mr。　Faust；　you　are　robbing
Spain。　You　are　robbing　her　of　something　worth　more　to　her　than
Cuba。　And　I　tell　you；　so　soon　as　it　is　known　that　this　Velasquez
is　going　to　your　home　in　Pittsburgh；　every　Spaniard　will　hate　you
and　every　art…collector　will　hate　you；　too。　For　it　is　the　most
wonderful　art　treasure　in　Europe。　And　what　a　bargain；　Mr。　Faust！
What　a　bargain！〃

To　make　sure　that　the　reporter　was　within　hearing；　Mr。　Faust
glanced　in　the　direction　of　Philip　and；　seeing　that　he　had　heard；
frowned　importantly。　That　the　reporter　might　hear　still　more；　he
also　raised　his　voice。

〃Nothing　can　be　called　a　bargain；　Baron；〃　he　said；　〃that　costs
three　hundred　thousand　dollars！〃

Again　he　could　not　resist　glancing　toward　Philip；　and　so　eagerly
that　Philip　deemed　it　would　be　only　polite　to　look　interested。　So
he　obligingly　assumed　a　startled　look；　with　which　he　endeavored
to　mingle　simulations　of　surprise；　awe；　and　envy。

The　next　instant　an　expression　of　real　surprise　overspread　his
features。

Mr。　Faust　continued。　〃If　you　will　come　upstairs；〃　he　said　to　the
picture…dealer；　〃I　will　give　you　your　check；　and　then　I　should
like　to　drive　to　your　apartments　and　take　a　farewell　look　at　the
picture。〃

〃I　am　sorry；〃　the　Baron　said；　〃but　I　have　had　it　moved　to　my　art
gallery　to　be　packed。〃

〃Then　let's　go　to　the　gallery；〃　urged　the　patron　of　art。　〃We've
just　time　before　lunch。〃　He　rose　to　his　feet；　and　on　the　instant
the　soul　of　the　picture…dealer　was　filled　with　alarm。

In　actual　words　he　said：　〃The　picture　is　already　boxed　and　in　its
lead　coffin。　No　doubt　by　now　it　is　on　its　way　to　Liverpool。　I　am
sorry。〃　But　his　thoughts；　as　Philip　easily　read　them；　were：
〃Fancy　my　letting　this　vulgar　fool　into　the　Tate　Street　workshop！
Even　HE　would　know　that　old　masters　are　not　found　in　a
half…finished　state　on　Chelsea…made　frames　and　canvases。　Fancy　my
letting　him　see　those　two　half…completed　Van　Dycks；　the　new　Hals；
the　half…dozen　Corots。　He　would　even　see　his　own　copy　of
Velasquez　next　to　the　one　exactly　like　itthe　one　MacMillan
finished　yesterday　and　that　I　am　sending　to　Oporto；　where　next
year；　in　a　convent；　we　shall　'discover'　it。〃

Philip's　surprise　gave　way　to　intense　amusement。　In　his　delight
at　the　situation　upon　which　he　had　stumbled；　he　laughed　aloud。
The　two　men；　who　had　risen；　surprised　at　the　spectacle　of　a　young
man　laughing　at　nothing；　turned　and　stared。　Philip　also　rose。

〃Pardon　me；〃　he　said　to　Faust；　〃but　you　spoke　so　loud　I　couldn't
help　overhearing。　I　think　we've　met　before；　when　I　was　a　reporter
on　the　Republic。〃

The　Pittsburgh　millionaire　made　a　pretense；　of　annoyance。

〃Really！〃　he　protested　irritably；　〃you　reporters　butt　in
everywhere。　No　public　man　is　safe。　Is　there　no　place　we　can　go
where　you　fellows　won't　annoy　us？〃

〃You　can　go　to　the　devil　for　all　I　care；〃　said　Philip；　〃or　even
to　Pittsburgh！〃

He　saw　the　waiter　bearing　down　upon　him　with　the　imitation
cocktail；　and　moved　to　meet　it。　The　millionaire；　fearing　the
reporter　would　escape　him；　hastily　changed　his　tone。　He　spoke
with　effective　resignation。

〃However；　since　you've　learned　so　much；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　tell　you
the　whole　of　it。　I　don't　want　the　fact　garbled；　for　it　is　of
international　importance。　Do　you　know　what　a　Velasquez　is？〃

〃Do　you？〃　asked　Philip。

The　millionaire　smiled　tolerantly。

〃I　think　I　do；〃　he　said。　〃And　to　prove　it；　I　shall　tell　you
something　that　will　be　news　to　you。　I　have　just　bought　a
Velasquez　that　I　am　going　to　place　in　my　art　museum。　It　is　worth
three　hundred　thousand　dollars。〃

Philip　accepted　the　cocktail　the　waiter　presented。　It　was　quite
as　bad　as　he　had　expected。

〃Now；　I　shall　tell　you　something；〃　he　said；　〃that　will　be　news　to
you。　You　are　not　buying　a　Velasquez。　It　is　no　more　a　Velasquez
than　this　hair　oil　is　a　real　cocktail。　It　is　a　bad　copy；　worth　a
few　dollars。〃

〃How　dare　you！〃　shouted　Faust。　〃Are　you　mad？〃

The　face　of　the　German　turned　crimson　with　rage。

〃Who　is　this　insolent　one？〃　he　sputtered。

〃I　will　make　you　a　sporting　proposition；〃　said　Philip。　〃You　can
take　it；　or　leave　it。　You　two　will　get　into　a　taxi。　You　will
drive　to　this　man's　studio　in　Tate　Street。　You　will　find　your
Velasquez　is　there　and　not　on　its　way　to　Liverpool。　And　you　will
find　one　exactly　like　it；　and　a　dozen　other　'old　masters'
half…finished。　I'll　bet　you　a　hundred　pounds　I'm　right！　And　I'll
bet　this　man　a　hundred　pounds　that　he　DOESN'T　DARE　TAKE　YOU　TO
HIS　STUDIO！〃

〃Indeed；　I　will　not；〃　roared　the　German。　〃It　would　be　to　insult
myself。〃

〃It　would　be　an　easy　way　to　earn　a　hundred　pounds；　too；〃　said
Philip。

〃How　dare　you　insult　the　Baron？〃　demanded　Faust。　〃What　makes　you
think〃

〃I　don't　think；　I　know！〃　said　Philip。　〃For　the　price　of　a
taxi…cab　fare　to　Tate　Street；　you　win　a　hundred　pounds。〃

〃We　will　all　three　go　at　once；〃　cried　the　German。　〃My　car　is
outside。　Wait　here。　I　will　have　it　brought　to　the　door？〃

Faust　protested　indignantly。

〃Do　not　disturb　yourself；　Baron；〃　he　said；　〃just　because　a　fresh
reporter〃

But　already　the　German　had　reached　the　hall。　Nor　did　he　stop
there。　They　saw　him；　without　his　hat；　rush　into　Piccadilly；
spring　into　a　taxi；　and　shout　excitedly　to　the　driver。　The　next
moment　he　had　disappeared。

〃That's　the　last　you'll　see　of　him；〃　said　Philip。

〃His　actions　are　certainly　peculiar；〃　gasped　the　millionaire。　〃He
did　not　wait　for　us。　He　didn't　even　wait　for　his　hat！　I　think；
after　all；　I　had　better　go　to　Tate　Street。〃

〃Do　so；〃　said　Philip；　〃and　save　yourself　three　hundred　thousand
dollars；　and　from　the　laughter　of　two　continents。　You'll　find　me
here　at　lunch。　If　I'm　wrong；　I'll　pay　you　a　hundred　pounds。〃

〃You　should　come　with　me；〃　said　Faust。　〃It　is　only　fair　to
yourself。〃

〃I'll　take　your　word　for　what　you　find　in　the　studio；〃　said
Philip。　〃I　cannot　go。　This　is　my　busy　day。〃

Without　further　words；　the　millionaire　collected　his　hat　and
stick；　and；　in　his　turn；　entered　a　taxi…cab　and　disappeared。

Philip　returned　to　the　Louis　Quatorze　chair　and　lit　a　cigarette。
Save　for　the　two　elderly　gentlemen　on　the　sofa；　the　lounge　was
still　empty；　and　his　reflections　were　undisturbed。　He　shook　his
head　sadly。

〃Surely；〃　Philip　thought；　〃the　French　chap　was　right　who　said
words　were　given　us　to　conceal　our　thoughts。　What　a　strange　world
it　would　be　if　every　one　possessed　my　power。　Deception　would　be
quite　futile　and　lying　would　become　a　lost　art。　I　wonder；〃　he
mused　cynically；　〃is　any　one　quite　honest？　Does　any　one　speak　as
he　thinks　and　think　as　he　speaks？〃

At　once　came　a　direct　answer　to　his　question。　The　two　elderly
gentlemen　had　risen　and；　before　separating；　had　halted　a　few　feet
from　him。

〃I　sincerely　hope；　Sir　John；〃　said　one　of　the　two；　〃that　you　have
no　regrets。　I　hope　you　believe　that　I　have　advised　you　in　the
best　interests　of　all？〃

〃I　do；　indeed；〃　the　other　replied　heartily　〃We　shall　be　thought
entirely　selfish；　but　you　know　and　I　know　that　what　we　have　done
is　for　the　benefit　of　the　shareholders。〃

Philip　was　pleased　to　find　that　the　thoughts　of　each　of　the　old
gentlemen　ran　hand　in　hand　with　his　spoken　words。　〃Here；　at
least；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃are　two　honest　men。〃

As　though　loath　to　part；　the　two　gentlemen　still　lingered。

〃And　I　hope；〃　continued　the　one　addressed　as　Sir　John；　〃that　you
approve　of　my　holding　back　the　public　announcement　of　the　combine
until　the　afternoon。　It　will　give　the　shareholders　a　better
chance。　Had　we　given　out　the　news　in　this　morning's　papers　the
stockbrokers　would　have〃

〃It　was　most　wise；〃　interrupted　the　other。　〃Most　just。〃

The　one　called　Sir　John　bowed　himself　away；　leaving　the　other
still　standing　at　the　steps　of　the　lounge。　With　his　hands　behind
his　back；　his　chin　sunk　on　his　chest；　he　remained；　gazing　at
nothing；　his　thoughts　far　away。

Philip　found　them　thoughts　of　curious　interest。　They　were
concerned　with　three　flags。　Now；　the　gentleman　considered　them
separately；　and　Philip　saw　the　emblems　painted　clearly　in　colors；
fluttering　and　flattened　by　the　breeze。　Again；　the　gentleman
considered　them　in　various　combinations；　but　always；　in　whatever
order　his　mind　arranged　them；　of　the　three　his　heart　spoke　always
to　the　same　flag；　as　the　heart　of　a　mother　reaches　toward　her
firstborn。

Then　the　thoughts　were　diverted；　and　in　his　mind's　eye　the　old
gentleman　was　watching　the　launching　of　a　little　schooner　from　a
shipyard　on　the　Clyde。　At　her　main　flew　one　of　the　three　flagsa
flag　with　a　red　cross　on　a　white　ground。　With　thoughts　tender　and
grateful；　he　followed　her　to　strange；　hot　ports；　through
hurricanes　and　tidal　waves；　he　saw　her　return　again　and　again　to
the　London　docks；　laden　with　odorous　coffee；　mahogany；　red
rubber；　and　raw　bullion。　He　saw　sister　ships　follow　in　her　wake
to　every　port　in　the　South　Sea；　saw　steam　packets　take　the　place
of　the　ships　with　sails；　saw　the　steam　packets　give　way　to　great
ocean　liners；　each　a　floating　village；　each　equipped；　a