the lost road-第75节

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taxicab。　　For　the　second　time　he　bade　his　friend　good　night。

〃And　when　next　we　dine；〃　he　called　to　him　in　parting；　〃choose　a
restaurant　where　the　detective　service　is　quicker！〃

Three　hours　later；　brushed　and　repaired　by　Mrs。　Wroxton；　and
again　resplendent；　Sam　sat　in　a　secluded　corner　of　Deptford　House
and　bade　Polly　a　long　farewell。　　It　was　especially　long；　owing　to
the　unusual　number　of　interruptions；　for　it　was　evident　that　Polly
had　many　friends　in　London；　and　that　not　to　know　the　Richest　One
in　America　and　her　absurd　mother；　and　the　pompous；　self…satisfied
father；　argued　oneself　nobody。　　But　finally　the　duchess　carried　Polly
off　to　sup　with　her；　and　as　the　duchess　did　not　include　Sam　in　her
invitationat　least　not　in　such　a　way　that　any　one　could　notice　it
Sam　said　good…nightbut　not　before　he　had　arranged　a　meeting
with　Polly　for　eleven　that　same　morning。　　If　it　was　clear；　the
meeting　was　to　be　at　the　duck　pond　in　St。　James's　Park；　if　it
snowed；　at　the　National　Gallery　in　front　of　the　〃Age　of
Innocence。〃

After　robbing　the　duchess　of　three　suppers；　Sam　descended　to
the　hall　and　from　an　attendant　received　his　coat　and　hat；　which
latter　the　attendant　offered　him　with　the　inside　of　the　hat
showing。　　Sam　saw　in　it　the　trademark　of　a　foreign　maker。

〃That's　not　my　hat；〃　said　Sam。

The　man　expressed　polite　disbelief。

〃I　found　it　rolled　up　in　the　pocket　of　your　greatcoat；　sir；〃　he
protested。

The　words　reminded　Sam　that　on　arriving　at　Deptford　House　he　had
twisted　the　hat　into　a　roll　and　stuffed　it　into　his　overcoat
pocket。

〃Quite　right；〃　said　Sam。　　But　it　was　not　his　hat；　and　with　some　hope
of　still　recovering　his　property　he　made　way　for　other　departing
guests　and　at　one　side　waited。

For　some　clew　to　the　person　he　believed　was　now　wearing　his　hat；
Sam　examined　the　one　in　his　hand。　　Just　showing　above　the　inside
band　was　something　white。　　Thinking　it　might　be　the　card　of　the
owner；　Sam　removed　it。　　It　was　not　a　card；　but　a　long　sheet　of　thin
paper；　covered　with　typewriting；　and　many　times　folded。　　Sam
read　the　opening　paragraph。　　Then　he　backed　suddenly　toward　a
great　chair　of　gold　and　velvet；　and　fell　into　it。

He　was　conscious　the　attendants　in　pink　stockings　were　regarding
him　askance；　that；　as　they　waited　in　the　drafty　hall　for　cars　and　taxis；
the　noble　lords　in　stars　and　ribbons；　the　noble　ladies　in　tiaras　and
showing　much…fur…lined　galoshes；　were　discussing　his　strange
appearance。　　They　might　well　believe　the　youth　was　ill；　they　might
easily　have　considered　him　intoxicated。　　Outside　rose　the　voices　of
servants　and　police　calling　the　carriages。　　Inside　other　servants　echoed
them。

〃The　Duchess　of　Sutherland's　car！〃　they　chanted。　〃Mrs。　Trevor
Hill's　carriage！　The　French　ambassador's　carriage！　Baron
Haussmann's　car！〃

Like　one　emerging　from　a　trance；　Sam　sprang　upright。　　A　little　fat
man；　with　mild　blue　eyes　and　curly　red　hair；　was　shyly　and　with
murmured　apologies　pushing　toward　the　exit。　　Before　he　gained　it
Sam　had　wriggled　a　way　to　his　elbow。

〃Baron　Haussmann！〃　he　stammered。　　〃I　must　speak　to　you。　　It's　a
matter　of　gravest　importance。　　Send　away　your　car；〃　he　begged；
〃and　give　me　five　minutes。〃

The　eyes　of　the　little　fat　man　opened　wide　in　surprise；　almost　in
alarm。　　He　stared　at　Sam　reprovingly。

〃Impossible！〃　he　murmured。　　〃II　do　not　know　you。〃

〃This　is　a　letter　of　introduction；〃　said　Sam。　　Into　the　unwilling
fingers　of　the　banker　he　thrust　the　folded　paper。　　Bending　over
him；　he　whispered　in　his　ear。　　〃That；〃　said　Sam；　〃is　the　Treaty　of
London！〃

The　alarm　of　Baron　Haussmann　increased　to　a　panic。

〃Impossible！〃　he　gasped。　　And；　with　reproach；　he　repeated：　〃I　do
not　know　you；　sir！　I　do　not　know　you！〃

At　that　moment；　towering　above　the　crush；　appeared　the　tall　figure
of　Senator　Seward。　　The　rich　man　of　the　New　World　and　the　rich
man　of　Europe　knew　each　other　only　by　sight。　　But；　upon　seeing
Sam　in　earnest　converse　with　the　great　banker；　the　senator
believed　that　without　appearing　to　seek　it　he　might　through　Sam
effect　a　meeting。　　With　a　hearty　slap　on　the　shoulder　he　greeted
his　fellow　countryman。

〃Halloo；　Sam！〃　he　cried　genially。　　〃You　walking　home　with　me？〃

Sam　did　not　even　turn　his　head。

〃No！〃　he　snapped。　　〃I'm　busy。　　Go　'way！〃

Crimson；　the　senator　disappeared。　　Baron　Haussmann　regarded　the
young　stranger　with　amazed　interest。

〃You　know　him！〃　he　protested。　　〃He　called　you　Sam！〃

〃Know　him？〃　cried　Sam　impatiently。　　〃I've　got　to　know　him！　He's
going　to　be　my　father…in…law。〃

The　fingers　of　the　rich　man　clutched　the　folded　paper　as　the
claws　of　a　parrot　cling　to　the　bars　of　his　cage。　　He　let　his　sable
coat　slip　into　the　hands　of　a　servant；　he　turned　back　toward　the
marble　staircase。

〃Come！〃　he　commanded。

Sam　led　him　to　the　secluded　corner　Polly　and　he　had　left　vacant
and　told　his　story。

〃So；　it　is　evident；〃　concluded　Sam；　〃that　each　night　some　one　in
the　service　of　the　Times　dined　at　Pavoni's；　and　that　his　hat　was
the　same　sort　of　hat　as　the　one　worn　by　Hertz；　and　each　night；
inside　the　lining　of　his　hat；　Hertz　hid　the　report　of　that　day's
proceedings。　　And　when　the　Times　man　left　the　restaurant　he
exchanged　hats　with　Hertz。　　But　to…nightI　got　Hertz's　hat　and
with　it　the　treaty！〃

In　perplexity　the　blue　eyes　of　the　little　great　man　frowned。

〃It　is　a　remarkable　story；〃　he　said。

〃You　mean　you　don't　believe　me！〃　retorted　Sam。　　〃If　I　had
financial　standingif　I　had　creditif　I　were　not　a　stranger…
you　would　not　hesitate。〃

Baron　Haussmann　neither　agreed　nor　contradicted。　　He　made　a　polite
and　deprecatory　gesture。　　Still　in　doubt；　he　stared　at　the　piece　of　white
paper。　　Still　deep　in　thought；　he　twisted　and　creased　between　his　fingers
the　Treaty　of　London！

Returning　with　the　duchess　from　supper；　Polly　caught　sight　of　Sam
and；　with　a　happy　laugh；　ran　toward　him。　　Seeing　he　was　not　alone；
she　halted　and　waved　her　hand。

〃Don't　forget！〃　she　called。　〃At　eleven！〃

She　made　a　sweet　and　lovely　picture。　　Sam　rose　and　bowed。

〃I'll　be　there　at　ten；〃　he　answered。

With　his　mild　blue　eyes　the　baron　followed　Polly　until　she　had
disappeared。　　Then　he　turned　and　smiled　at　Sam。

〃Permit　me；〃　he　said；　〃to　offer　you　my　felicitations。　　Your　young
lady　is　very　beautiful　and　very　good。〃　　Sam　bowed　his　head。　　〃If
she　trusts　you；〃　murmured　the　baron；　〃I　think　I　can　trust　you
too。〃

〃How　wonderful　is　credit！〃　exclaimed　Sam。　　〃I　was　just　saying　so
to　my　landlady。　　If　you　have　only　cash　you　spend　it　and　nothing
remains。　　But　with　credit　you　can〃

〃How　much；〃　interrupted　the　banker；　〃do　you　want　for　this？〃

Sam　returned　briskly　to　the　business　of　the　moment。

〃To　be　your　partner；〃　he　said〃to　get　half　of　what　you　make　out
of　it。〃

The　astonished　eyes　of　the　baron　were　large　with　wonder。　　Again　he
reproved　Sam。

〃What　I　shall　make　out　of　it？〃　he　demanded　incredulously。　　〃Do　you
know　how　much　I　shall　make　out　of　it？〃

〃I　cannot　even　guess；〃　said　Sam；　〃but　I　want　half。〃

The　baron　smiled　tolerantly。

〃And　how；〃　he　asked；　〃could　you　possibly　know　what　I　give　you　is
really　half？〃

In　his　turn；　Sam　made　a　deprecatory　gesture。

〃Your　credit；〃　said　Sam；　〃is　good！〃

That　morning；　after　the　walk　in　St。　James's　Park；　when　Sam　returned
with　Polly　to　Claridge's；　they　encountered　her　father　in　the　hall。
Mindful　of　the　affront　of　the　night　before；　he　greeted　Sam　only
with　a　scowl。

〃Senator；〃　cried　Sam　happily；　〃you　must　be　the　first　to　hear　the　news！
Polly　and　I　are　going　into　partnership。　　We　are　to　be　married。〃

This　time　Senator　Seward　did　not　trouble　himself　even　to　tell　Sam
he　was　an　ass。　　He　merely　grinned　cynically。

〃Is　that　all　your　news？〃　he　demanded　with　sarcasm。

〃No；〃　said　Sam〃I　am　going　into　partnership　with　Baron　Haussmann
too！〃





THE　BURIED　TREASURE　OF　COBRE



Young　Everett　at　last　was　a　minister　plenipotentiary。　　In　London
as　third　secretary　he　had　splashed　around　in　the　rain　to　find　the
ambassador's　carriage。　　In　Rome　as　a　second　secretary　he　had
served　as　a　clearing…house　for　the　Embassy's　visiting…cards；　and
in　Madrid　as　first　secretary　he　had　acted　as　interpreter　for　a
minister　who；　though　valuable　as　a　national　chairman；　had　much
to　learn　of　even　his　own　language。　　But　although　surrounded　by
all　the　wonders　and　delights　of　Europe；　although　he　walked；　talked；
wined；　and　dined　with　statesmen　and　court　beauties；　Everett　was
not　happy。　　He　was　never　his　own　master。　　Always　he　answered　the
button　pressed　by　the　man　higher　up。　　Always　over　him　loomed　his
chief；　always；　for　his　diligence　and　zeal；　his　chief　received　credit。

As　His　Majesty's　naval　attache　put　it　sympathetically；　〃Better　be
a　top…side　man　on　a　sampan　than　First　Luff　on　the　Dreadnought。
Don't　be　another　man's　right　hand。　　Be　your　own　right　hand。〃
Accordingly　when　the　State　Department　offered　to　make　him
minister　to　the　Republic　of　Amapala；　Everett　gladly　deserted　the
flesh…pots　of　Europe；　and；　on　mule…back　over　trails　in　the　living
rock；　through　mountain　torrents　that　had　never　known　the　shadow
of　a　bridge；　through　swamp　and　jungle；　rode　sunburnt　and
saddle…sore　into　his　inheritance。

When　giving　him　his　farewell　instructions；　the　Secretary　of　State