part 6-第8节
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She left it for the maid to pick up and pushed the doctor
into the sitting…room； where she turned on the lights。 〃Let
me LOOK at you。 Yes； hands； feet； head； shouldersjust
the same。 You've grown no older。 You can't say as much
for me； can you？〃
She was standing in the middle of the room； in a white
silk shirtwaist and a short black velvet skirt； which some…
how suggested that they had ‘cut off her petticoats all
round about。' She looked distinctly clipped and plucked。
Her hair was parted in the middle and done very close to
her head； as she had worn it under the wig。 She looked
like a fugitive； who had escaped from something in clothes
caught up at hazard。 It flashed across Dr。 Archie that she
was running away from the other woman down at the
opera house； who had used her hardly。
He took a step toward her。 〃I can't tell a thing in the
world about you； Theaif I may still call you that。〃
She took hold of the collar of his overcoat。 〃Yes； call
me that。 Do： I like to hear it。 You frighten me a little；
but I expect I frighten you more。 I'm always a scarecrow
after I sing a long part like thatso high； too。〃 She
absently pulled out the handkerchief that protruded from
his breast pocket and began to wipe the black paint off her
eyebrows and lashes。 〃I can't take you in much to…night；
but I must see you for a little while。〃 She pushed him to a
chair。 〃I shall be more recognizable to…morrow。 You
mustn't think of me as you see me to…night。 Come at four
to…morrow afternoon and have tea with me。 Can you？
That's good。〃
She sat down in a low chair beside him and leaned for…
ward； drawing her shoulders together。 She seemed to him
inappropriately young and inappropriately old； shorn of
her long tresses at one end and of her long robes at the
other。
〃How do you happen to be here？〃 she asked abruptly。
〃How can you leave a silver mine？ I couldn't！ Sure
nobody'll cheat you？ But you can explain everything to…
morrow。〃 She paused。 〃You remember how you sewed
me up in a poultice； once？ I wish you could to…night。 I
need a poultice； from top to toe。 Something very disagree…
able happened down there。 You said you were out front？
Oh； don't say anything about it。 I always know exactly
how it goes； unfortunately。 I was rotten in the balcony。
I never get that。 You didn't notice it？ Probably not； but
I did。〃
Here the maid appeared at the door and her mistress
rose。 〃My supper？ Very well； I'll come。 I'd ask you to
stay； doctor； but there wouldn't be enough for two。 They
seldom send up enough for one；〃she spoke bitterly。
〃I haven't got a sense of you yet；〃turning directly to
Archie again。 〃You haven't been here。 You've only an…
nounced yourself； and told me you are coming to…morrow。
You haven't seen me； either。 This is not I。 But I'll be
here waiting for you to…morrow； my whole works！ Good…
night； till then。〃 She patted him absently on the sleeve
and gave him a little shove toward the door。
V
WHEN Archie got back to his hotel at two o'clock in
the morning； he found Fred Ottenburg's card under
his door； with a message scribbled across the top： 〃When
you come in； please call up room 811； this hotel。〃 A mo…
ment later Fred's voice reached him over the telephone。
〃That you； Archie？ Won't you come up？ I'm having
some supper and I'd like company。 Late？ What does that
matter？ I won't keep you long。〃
Archie dropped his overcoat and set out for room 811。
He found Ottenburg in the act of touching a match to a
chafing…dish； at a table laid for two in his sitting…room。
〃I'm catering here；〃 he announced cheerfully。 〃I let the
waiter off at midnight； after he'd set me up。 You'll have
to account for yourself； Archie。〃
The doctor laughed； pointing to three wine…coolers under
the table。 〃Are you expecting guests？〃
〃Yes； two。〃 Ottenburg held up two fingers；〃you；
and my higher self。 He's a thirsty boy； and I don't invite
him often。 He has been known to give me a headache。
Now； where have you been； Archie； until this shocking
hour？〃
〃Bah； you've been banting！〃 the doctor exclaimed；
pulling out his white gloves as he searched for his handker…
chief and throwing them into a chair。 Ottenburg was in
evening clothes and very pointed dress shoes。 His white
waistcoat； upon which the doctor had fixed a challenging
eye； went down straight from the top button； and he wore
a camelia。 He was conspicuously brushed and trimmed
and polished。 His smoothly controlled excitement was
wholly different from his usual easy cordiality； though he
had his face； as well as his figure； well in hand。 On the
serving…table there was an empty champagne pint and a
glass。 He had been having a little starter； the doctor told
himself； and would probably be running on high gear before
he got through。 There was even now an air of speed about
him。
〃Been； Freddy？〃the doctor at last took up his ques…
tion。 〃I expect I've been exactly where you have。 Why
didn't you tell me you were coming on？〃
〃I wasn't； Archie。〃 Fred lifted the cover of the chafing…
dish and stirred the contents。 He stood behind the table；
holding the lid with his handkerchief。 〃I had never thought
of such a thing。 But Landry； a young chap who plays her
accompaniments and who keeps an eye out for me； tele…
graphed me that Madame Rheinecker had gone to Atlantic
City with a bad throat； and Thea might have a chance to
sing ELSA。 She has sung it only twice here before； and I
missed it in Dresden。 So I came on。 I got in at four this
afternoon and saw you registered； but I thought I would
n't butt in。 How lucky you got here just when she was
coming on for this。 You couldn't have hit a better time。〃
Ottenburg stirred the contents of the dish faster and put
in more sherry。 〃And where have you been since twelve
o'clock； may I ask？〃
Archie looked rather self…conscious； as he sat down on a
fragile gilt chair that rocked under him； and stretched out
his long legs。 〃Well； if you'll believe me； I had the bru…
tality to go to see her。 I wanted to identify her。 Couldn't
wait。〃
Ottenburg placed the cover quickly on the chafing…dish
and took a step backward。 〃You did； old sport？ My word！
None but the brave deserve the fair。 Well；〃he stooped
to turn the wine；〃and how was she？〃
〃She seemed rather dazed； and pretty well used up。 She
seemed disappointed in herself； and said she hadn't done
herself justice in the balcony scene。〃
〃Well； if she didn't； she's not the first。 Beastly stuff to
sing right in there； lies just on the ‘break' in the voice。〃
Fred pulled a bottle out of the ice and drew the cork。
Lifting his glass he looked meaningly at Archie。 〃You
know who； doctor。 Here goes！〃 He drank off his glass
with a sigh of satisfaction。 After he had turned the lamp
low under the chafing…dish； he remained standing； looking
pensively down at the food on the table。 〃Well； she
rather pulled it off！ As a backer； you're a winner； Archie。
I congratulate you。〃 Fred poured himself another glass。
〃Now you must eat something； and so must I。 Here； get
off that bird cage and find a steady chair。 This stuff ought
to be rather good； head waiter's suggestion。 Smells all
right。〃 He bent over the chafing…dish and began to serve
the contents。 〃Perfectly innocuous： mushrooms and truf…
fles and a little crab…meat。 And now； on the level； Archie；
how did it hit you？〃
Archie turned a frank smile to his friend and shook his
head。 〃It was all miles beyond me； of course； but it gave
me a pulse。 The general excitement got hold of me； I sup…
pose。 I like your wine； Freddy。〃 He put down his glass。
〃It goes to the spot to…night。 She WAS all right； then？
You weren't disappointed？〃
〃Disappointed？ My dear Archie； that's the high voice
we dream of； so pure and yet so virile and human。 That
combination hardly ever happens with sopr
