the lost road-第26节

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〃Sam；　when　are　we　to　be　married？〃

When　for　three　years　a　man　has　been　begging　a　girl　to　marry　him；
and　she　consents　at　the　exact　moment　when；　without　capitulation
to　all　that　he　holds　honorable；　he　cannot　marry　anybody；　his
position　deserves　sympathy。

〃My　dear　one；〃　exclaimed　the　unhappy　youth；　〃you　make　me　the
most　miserable　of　men！　I　can't　marry！　I'm　in　an　awful　place！　If　I
married　you　now　I'd　be　a　crook！　It　isn't　a　question　of　love　in　a
cottage；　with　bread　and　cheese。　　If　cottages　were　renting　for　a
dollar　a　year　I　couldn't　rent　one　for　ten　minutes。　　I　haven't　cheese
enough　to　bait　a　mouse…trap。　　It's　terrible！　But　we　have　got　to　wait。〃

〃Wait！〃　cried　Polly。　　〃I　thought　you　had　been　waiting！　Have　I　been
away　too　long？　Do　you　love　some　one　else？〃

〃Don't　be　ridiculous！〃　said　Sam　crossly。　　〃Look　at　me；〃　he
commanded；　〃and　tell　me　whom　I　love！〃

Polly　did　not　take　time　to　look。

〃But　I；〃　she　protested；　〃have　so　much　money！〃

〃It's　not　your　money；〃　explained　Sam。　　〃It's　your　mother's　money
or　your　father's；　and　both　of　them　dislike　me。　　They　even　have　told
me　so。　　Your　mother　wants　you　to　marry　that　Italian；　and　your
father；　having　half　the　money　in　America；　naturally　wants　to
marry　you　to　the　other　half。　　If　I　were　selfish　and　married　you
I'd　be　all　the　things　they　think　I　am。〃

〃You　are　selfish！〃　cried　Polly。　　〃You're　thinking　of　yourself　and
of　what　people　will　say；　instead　of　how　to　make　me　happy。　　What's
the　use　of　money　if　you　can't　buy　what　you　want？〃

〃Are　you　suggesting　you　can　buy　me？〃　demanded　Sam。

〃Surely；〃　said　Polly〃if　I　can't　get　you　any　other　way。　　And　you
may　name　your　own　price；　too。〃

〃When　I　am　making　enough　to　support　myself　without　sponging　on
you；〃　explained　Sam；　〃you　can　have　as　many　millions　as　you　like；
but　I　must　first　make　enough　to　keep　me　alive。　　A　man　who　can't　do
that　isn't　fit　to　marry。〃

〃How　much；〃　demanded　Polly；　〃do　you　need　to　keep　you　alive？　Maybe
I　could　lend　it　to　you。〃

Sam　was　entirely　serious。

〃Three　thousand　a　year；〃　he　said。

Polly　exclaimed　indignantly。

〃I　call　that　extremely　extravagant！〃　she　cried。　　〃If　we　wait　until　you
earn　three　thousand　a　year　we　may　be　dead。　　Do　you　expect　to　earn
that　writing　stories？〃

〃I　can　try；〃　said　Sam〃or　I　will　rob　a　bank。〃

Polly　smiled　upon　him　appealingly。

〃You　know　how　I　love　your　stories；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　wouldn't
hurt　your　feelings　for　the　world；　but；　Sam　dear；　I　think　you　had
better　rob　a　bank！〃

Addressing　an　imaginary　audience；　supposedly　of　men；　Sam
exclaimed：

〃Isn't　that　just　like　a　woman？　She　wouldn't　care；〃　he　protested；
〃how　I　got　the　money！〃

Polly　smiled　cheerfully。

〃Not　if　I　got　you！〃　she　said。　　In　extenuation；　also；　she　addressed
an　imaginary　audience；　presumably　of　women。　〃That's　how　I　love
him！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃And　he　asks　me　to　wait！　Isn't　that　just　like
a　man？　Seriously；〃　she　went　on；　〃if　we　just　go　ahead　and　get　married
father　would　have　to　help　us。　　He'd　make　you　a　vice…president　or
something。〃

At　this　suggestion　Sam　expressed　his　extreme　displeasure。

〃The　last　time　I　talked　to　your　father；〃　he　said；　〃I　was　in　a　position
to　marry；　and　I　told　him　I　wanted　to　marry　you。　　What　he　said　to
that　was：　'Don't　be　an　ass！'　Then　I　told　him　he　was　unintelligent
and　I　told　him　why。　　First；　because　he　could　not　see　that　a　man
might　want　to　marry　his　daughter　in　spite　of　her　money；　and
second；　because　he　couldn't　see　that　her　money　wouldn't　make
up　to　a　man　for　having　him　for　a　father…in…law。〃

〃Did　you　have　to　tell　him　that？〃　asked　Polly。

〃Some　one　had　to　tell　him；〃　said　Sam　gloomily。　　〃Anyway；　as　a
source　of　revenue　father　is　eliminated。　　I　have　still　one　chance
in　London。　　If　that　fails　I　must　go　home。　　I've　been　promised　a　job
in　New　York　reporting　for　a　Wall　Street　paperand　I'll　write　stories
on　the　side。　　I've　cabled　for　money；　and　if　the　London　job　falls
through　I　shall　sail　Wednesday。〃

〃Wednesday！〃　cried　Polly。　　〃When　you　say　things　like　'Wednesday'
you　make　the　world　so　dark！　You　must　stay　here！　It　has　been　such
a　long　six　months；　and　before　you　earn　three　thousand　dollars　I
shall　be　an　old；　old　maid。　　But　if　you　get　work　here　we　could　see
each　other　every　day。〃

They　were　in　the　Sewards'　sitting…room　at　Claridge's。　　Sam　took　up
the　desk　telephone。

〃In　London；〃　he　said；　〃my　one　best　and　only　bet　is　a　man　named
Forsythe；　who　helps　edit　the　Pall　Mall。　　I'll　telephone　him　now。
If　he　can　promise　me　even　a　shilling　a　day　I'll　stay　on　and　starve
but　I'll　be　near　you。　　If　Forsythe　fails　me　I　shall　sail　Wednesday。〃

The　telephone　call　found　Forsythe　at　the　Pall　Mall　office。　　He　would
be　charmed　to　advise　Mr。　Lowell　on　a　matter　of　business。　　Would　he
that　night　dine　with　Mr。　Lowell？　He　would。　　And　might　he　suggest
that　they　dine　at　Pavoni's？　He　had　a　special　reason　for　going　there；
and　the　dinner　would　cost　only　three　and　six。

〃That's　reason　enough！〃　Sam　told　him。

〃And　don't　forget；〃　said　Polly　when；　for　the　fifth　time；　Sam　rose
to　go；　〃that　after　your　dinner　you　are　to　look　for　me　at　the　Duchess
of　Deptford's　dance。　　I　asked　her　for　a　card　and　you　will　find　it　at
your　lodgings。　　Everybody　will　be　there；　but　it　is　a　big　place…full
of　dark　corners　where　we　can　hide。〃

〃Don't　hide　until　I　arrive；〃　said　Sam。　　〃I　shall　be　very　late；　as
I　shall　have　to　walk。　　After　I　pay　for　Forsythe's　dinner　and　for
white　gloves　for　your　dance　I　shall　not　be　in　a　position　to　hire
a　taxi。　　But　maybe　I　shall　bring　good　news。　　Maybe　Forsythe　will
give　me　the　job。　　If　he　does　we　will　celebrate　in　champagne。
〃

〃You　will　let　me　at　least　pay　for　the　champagne？〃　begged　Polly。

〃No；〃　said　Sam　firmly〃the　duchess　will　furnish　that。〃

When　Sam　reached　his　lodgings　in　Russell　Square；　which　he
approached　with　considerable　trepidation；　he　found　Mrs。　Wroxton
awaiting　him。　　But　her　attitude　no　longer　was　hostile。　　On　the
contrary；　as　she　handed　him　a　large；　square　envelope；　decorated
with　the　strawberry　leaves　of　a　duke；　her　manner　was　humble。

Sam　opened　the　envelope　and；　with　apparent　carelessness；　stuck　it
over　the　fireplace。

〃About　that　back　rent；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　cabled　for　money；　and　as
soon〃

〃I　know；〃　said　Mrs。　Wroxton。　　〃I　read　the　cable。〃　　She　was　reading
the　card　of　invitation　also。　　〃There's　no　hurry；　sir；〃　protested　Mrs。
Wroxton。　　〃Any　of　my　young　gentlemen　who　is　made　welcome　at
Deptford　House　is　made　welcome　here！〃

〃Credit；　Mrs。　Wroxton；〃　observed　Sam；　〃is　better　than　cash。　　If
you　have　only　cash　you　spend　it　and　nothing　remains。　　But　with
credit　you　can　continue　indefinitely　to…to…〃

〃So　you　can！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Wroxton　enthusiastically。　　〃Stay　as
long　as　you　like；　Mr。　Lowell。〃

At　Pavoni's　Sam　found　Forsythe　already　seated　and；　with　evident
interest；　observing　the　scene　of　gayety　before　him。　　The　place　was
new　to　Sam；　and　after　the　darkness　and　snow　of　the　streets　it
appeared　both　cheerful　and　resplendent。　　It　was　brilliantly　lighted；
a　ceiling　of　gay　panels　picked　out　with　gold；　and　red　plush　sofas；
backed　against　walls　hung　with　mirrors　and　faced　by　rows　of
marble…topped　tables；　gave　it　an　air　of　the　Continent。

Sam　surrendered　his　hat　and　coat　to　the　waiter。　　The　hat　was　a
soft　Alpine　one　of　green　felt。　　The　waiter　hung　it　where　Sam
could　see　it；　on　one　of　many　hooks　that　encircled　a　gilded　pillar。

After　two　courses　had　been　served　Forsythe　said：

〃I　hope　you　don't　object　to　this　place。　　I　had　a　special　reason
for　wishing　to　be　here　on　this　particular　night。　　I　wanted　to　be
in　at　the　death！〃

〃Whose　death？〃　asked　Sam。　　〃Is　the　dinner　as　bad　as　that？〃

Forsythe　leaned　back　against　the　mirror　behind　them　and；　bringing
his　shoulder　close　to　Sam's；　spoke　in　a　whisper。

〃As　you　know；〃　he　said；　〃to…day　the　delegates　sign　the　Treaty　of
London。　　It　still　must　receive　the　signatures　of　the　Sultan　and
the　three　kings；　and　they　will　sign　it。　　But　until　they　do；　what
the　terms　of　the　treaty　are　no　one　can　find　out。〃

〃I'll　bet　the　Times　finds　out！〃　said　Sam。

〃That's　it！〃　returned　Forsythe。　　〃Hertz；　the　man　who　is　supposed　to
be　selling　the　secrets　of　the　conference　to　the　Times；　dines　here。
To…night　is　his　last　chance。　　If　to…night　he　can　slip　the　Times　a
copy　of　the　Treaty　of　London　without　being　caught；　and　the
Times　has　the　courage　to　publish　it；　it　will　be　the　biggest
newspaper　sensation　of　modern　times；　and　it　will　either　cause
a　financial　panic　all　over　Europeor　prevent　one。　　The　man　they
suspect　is　facing　us。　　Don't　look　now；　but　in　a　minute　you　will
see　him　sitting　alone　at　a　table　on　the　right　of　the　middle　pillar。
The　people　at　the　tables　nearest　himeven　the　womenare
detectives。　　His　waiter　is　in　the　employ　of　Scotland　Yard。　　The
maitre　d'hotel；　whom　you　will　see　always　hovering　round　his
table；　is　a　police　agent　lent　by　Bulgaria。　　For　the　Allies　are　even
more　anxious　to　stop　the　leak　than　we　are。　　We　are　interested
only　as　their　hosts；　with　them　it　is　a　matter　of　national　life　or
death。　　A　week　ago　one　of　our　own　inspectors　tipped　me　off　to
what　is　going　on；　and　every　night　since　then　I've　dined　here；
hoping　to　see　something　suspicious。〃

〃Have　you？〃　asked　Sam。

〃Only　this；〃　whispered　Forsythe〃on　four　different　nights　I've
recognized　me