the white moll-第37节

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almost　belligerent　stare　with　which　he　met　the　eyes　of　those　with
whom　he　came　into　close　contact　belied　that。　　The　man　was　morbidly；
abnormally　sensitive　of　his　deformity。

They　turned　at　last　into　one　of　the　East　Side　cross　streets；　and
her　guide　halted　finally　on　a　corner　in　front　of　a　little　shop　that
was　closed　and　dark。　　She　stared　curiously　as　the　man　unlocked　the
door。　　Perhaps；　after　all；　she　had　been　woefully　mistaken。　　It　did
not　look　at　all　the　kind　of　place　where　crimes　that　ran　the　gamut
of　the　decalogue　were　hatched；　at　all　the　sort　of　place　that　was
the　council　chamber　of　perhaps　the　most　cunning；　certainly　the　most
cold…blooded　and　unscrupulous；　band　of　crooks　that　New　York　had
ever　harbored。　　And　yet　…　why　not？　　Wasn't　there　the　essence　of
cunning　in　that　very　fact？　　Who　would　suspect　anything　of　the　sort
from　a　ramshackle；　two…story　little　house　like　this；　whose　front
was　a　woe…begone　little　store；　the　proceeds　of　which　might　just
barely　keep　the　body　and　soul　of　its　proprietor　together？

The　man　fumbled　with　the　lock。　　There　was　not　a　single　light　showing
from　the　place；　but　in　the　dwindling　rays　of　a　distant　street　lamp
she　could　see　the　meager　window　display　through　the　filthy；　unwashed
panes。　　It　was　evidently　a　cheap　and　tawdry　notion　store；　well
suited　to　its　locality。　　There　were　toys　of　the　cheapest　variety；
stationery　of　the　same　grade；　cheap　pipes；　cigarettes；　tobacco；
candy　…　a　package　of　needles。

〃Go　on　in！〃　grunted　the　man；　as　he　pushed　the　door　…　which　seemed
to　shriek　out　unduly　on　its　hinges　…　wide　open。　　〃If　anybody　sees
the　door　open；　they'll　be　around　wanting　to　buy　a　paper　of　pins
…　curse　'em！　…　and　I　ain't　open　to…night。〃　　He　snarled　as　he　shut
and　locked　the　door。　　〃Pierre　says　you're　grouching　about　your
garret。　　How　about　me；　and　this　job？　　You　get　out　of　yours　to…night
for　keeps。　　What　about　me？　　I　can't　do　anything　but　act　as　a　damned
blind　for　the　rest　of　you　with　this　fool　store。　　just　because　I　was
born　a　freak　that　every　gutter…snipe　on　the　street　yells　at！〃

Rhoda　Gray　did　not　answer。

〃Well；　go　on！〃　snapped　the　man。　　〃What　are　you　standing　there　for？
One　would　think　you'd　never　been　here　before！〃

Go　on！　　Where？　　She　had　not　the　faintest　idea。　　It　was　quite　dark
inside　here　in　the　shop。　　She　could　barely　make　out　the　outline　of
the　other's　figure。

〃You're　in　a　sweet　temper　to…night；　aren't　you？〃　she　said　tartly。
〃Go　on；　yourself！　　I'm　waiting　for　you　to　get　through　your　speech。〃

He　moved　brusquely　past　her；　with　an　angry　grunt。　　Rhoda　Gray
followed　him。　　They　passed　along　a　short；　narrow　space；　evidently
between　a　low　counter　and　a　shelved　wall；　and　then　the　man　opened
a　door；　and；　shutting　it　again　behind　them；　moved　forward　once　more。
She　could　scarcely　see　him　at　all　now；　it　was　more　the　sound　of　his
footsteps　than　anything　else　that　guided　her。　　And　then　suddenly
another　door　was　opened；　and　a　soft；　yellow　light　streamed　out
through　the　doorway；　and　she　found　that　she　was　standing　in　an
intervening　room　between　the　shop　and　the　room　ahead　of　her。　　She
felt　her　pulse　quicken；　and　it　seemed　as　though　her　heart　began　to
thump　almost　audibly。　　Danglar　！　　She　could　see　Danglar　seated　at
a　table　in　there。　　She　clenched　her　hands　under　her　shawl。　　She
would　need　all　her　wits　now。　　She　prayed　that　there　was　not　too
much　light　in　that　room　yonder。


XV。　　IN　THE　COUNCIL　CHAMBER

The　man　with　the　withered　hand　had　passed　through　into　the　other
room。　　She　heard　them　talking　together；　as　she　followed。　　She
forced　herself　to　walk　with　as　nearly　a　leisurely　defiant　air　as
she　could。　　The　last　time　she　had　been　with　Danglar　…　as　Gypsy　Nan
…　she　had；　in　self…protection；　forbidding　intimacy；　played　up　what
he　called　her　〃grouch〃　at　his　neglect　of　her。

She　paused　in　the　doorway。　　Halfway　across　the　room；　at　the　table；
Danglar's　gaunt；　swarthy　face　showed　under　the　rays　of　a　shaded
oil　lamp。　　Behind　her　spectacles；　she　met　his　small；　black　ferret
eyes　steadily。

〃Hello；　Bertha！〃　he　called　out　cheerily。　　〃How's　the　old　girl
to…night？〃　　He　rose　from　his　seat　to　come　toward　her。　　〃And　how's
the　cold？〃

Rhoda　Gray　scowled　at　him。

〃Worse！〃　she　said　curtly…and　hoarsely。　　〃And　a　lot　you　care！　　I
could　have　died　in　that　hole；　for　all　you　knew！　　She　pushed　him
irritably　away；　as　he　came　near　her。　　〃Yes；　that's　what　I　said！
And　you　needn't　start　any　cooing　game　now！　　Get　down　to　cases！〃
She　jerked　her　hand　toward　the　twisted　figure　that　had　slouched
into　a　chair　beside　the　table。　　〃He　says　you've　got　it　doped　out
to　pull　something　that　will　let　me　out　of　this　Gypsy　Nan　stunt。
Another　bubble；　I　suppose！〃　　She　shrugged　her　shoulders；　glanced
around　her；　and；　locating　a　chair　…　not　too　near　the　table　…　seated
herself　indifferently。　　〃I'm　getting　sick　of　bubbles！〃　she　announced
insolently。　　〃What's　this　one？〃

He　stood　there　for　a　moment　biting　at　his　lips；　hesitant　between
anger　and　tolerant　amusement；　and　then；　the　latter　evidently　gaining
the　ascendency；　he　too　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　with　a　laugh
returned　to　his　chair。

〃You're　a　rare　one；　Bertha！〃　he　said　coolly。　　〃I　thought　you'd　be
wild　with　delight。　　I　guess　you're　sick；　all　right　…　because　usually
you're　pretty　sensible。　　I've　tried　to　tell　you　that　it　wasn't　my
fault　I　couldn't　go　near　you；　and　that　I　had　to　keep　away　from　　…〃

〃What's　the　use　of　going　over　all　that　again？〃　she　interrupted
tartly。　　〃I　guess　I　…〃

〃Oh；　all　right！〃　said　Danglar　hurriedly。　　〃Don't　start　a　row！　　After
to…night　I've　an　idea　you'll　be　sweet　enough　to　your　husband；　and
I'm　willing　to　wait。　　Matty　maybe　hasn't　told　you　the　whole　of　it。〃

Matty！　　So　that　was　the　deformed　creature's　name。　　She　glanced　at
him。　　He　was　grinning　broadly。　　A　family　squabble　seemed　to　afford
him　amusement。　　Her　eyes　shifted　and　made　a　circuit　of　the　room。　　It
was　poverty…stricken　in　appearance；　bare…floored；　with　the　scantiest
and　cheapest　of　furnishings；　its　one　window　tightly　shuttered。

〃Maybe　not；〃　she　said　carelessly。

〃Well；　then；　listen；　Bertha！〃　　Danglar's　voice　was　lowered　earnestly。
〃We've　uncovered　the　Nabob's　stuff！　　Do　you　get　me？　　Every　last　one
of　the　sparklers！〃

Rhoda　Gray's　eyes　went　back　to　the　deformed　creature　at　Danglar's
side；　as　the　man　laughed　out　abruptly。

〃Yes；〃　grinned　Matty　Danglar；　〃and　they　weren't　in　the　empty
money…belt　that　you　beat　it　with　like　a　scared　cat　after　croaking
Deemer！〃

How　queer　and　dim　the　light　seemed　to　go　suddenly　…　or　was　it　a　blur
before　her　own　eyes？　　She　said　nothing。　　Her　mind　seemed　to　be
groping　its　way　out　of　darkness　toward　some　faint　gleam　of　light
showing　in　the　far　distance。　　She　heard　Danglar　order　his　brother
savagely　to　hold　his　tongue。　　That　was　curious；　too；　because　she
was　grateful　for　the　man's　gibe。　　Gypsy　Nan；　in　her　proper　person；
had　murdered　a　man　named　Deemer　in　an　effort　to　secure　…　　Danglar's
voice　came　again：

〃Well；　to…night　we'll　get　that　stuff；　all　of　it　…　it's　worth　a　cool
half　million；　and　to…night　we'll　get　Mr。　House…Detective　Cloran　for
keeps　…　bump　him　off。　　That　cleans　everything　up。　　How　does　that
strike　you；　Bertha？〃

Rhoda　Gray's　hands　under　her　shawl　locked　tightly　together。　　Her
premonition　had　not　betrayed　her。　　She　was　face　to　face　to…night　with
the　beginning　of　the　end。

〃It　sounds　fine！〃　she　said　derisively。

Danglar's　eyes　narrowed　for　an　instant；　and　then　he　laughed。

〃You're　a　rare　one；　Bertha！〃　he　ejaculated　again。　　〃You　don't　seem
to　put　much　stock　in　your　husband　lately。〃

〃Why　should　I？〃　she　inquired　imperturbably。　　〃Things　have　been
breaking　fine；　haven't　they？　…　only　not　for　us！〃　　She　cleared　her
throat　as　though　it　were　an　effort　to　talk。　　〃I'm　not　going　crazy
with　joy　till　I've　been　shown。〃

Danglar　leaned　suddenly　over　the　table。

〃Well；　come　and　look　at　the　cards；　then；〃　he　said　impressively。
〃Pull　your　chair　up　to　the　table；　and　I'll　tell　you。〃

Rhoda　Gray　tilted　her　chair；　instead；　nonchalantly　back　against　the
wall　…　it　was　quite　light　enough　where　she　was！

〃I　can　hear　you　from　here；〃　she　said　coolly。　　〃I'm　not　deaf；　and　I
guess　Matty's　suite　is　safe　enough　so　that　you　won't　have　to　whisper
all　the　time！〃

The　deformed　creature　at　the　table　chortled　again。

Danglar　scowled。

〃Damn　you；　Bertha！〃　he　flung　out　savagely。　　〃I　could　wring　that　neck
of　yours　sometimes；　and　…〃

〃I　know　you　could；　Pierre；〃　she　interposed　sweetly。　　〃That's　what　I
like　about　you　…　you're　so　considerate　of　me！　　But　suppose　you　get
down　to　cases。　　What's　the　story　about　those　sparklers？　　And　what's
the　game　that's　going　to　let　me　shed　this　Gypsy　Nan　stuff　for　keeps？〃

〃I'll　tell　her；　Pierre；〃　grinned　the　deformed　one。　　〃It'll　keep　you
two　from　spitting　at　one　another；　and　neither　of　you　have　got　all
night　to　stick　around　here。〃　　He　swung　his　withered　hand　suddenly
across　the　table；　and　as　suddenly　all　facetiousness　was　gone　both
from　his　voice　and　manner。　　〃Say；　you　listen　hard；　Bertha！　　What
Pierre's　telling　you　is　straight。　　You　and　him　can　kiss　and　make
up　to…morrow　or　the　next　day；　or　whenever　you　damned　please；　but
to…night　there　ain't　any　more　time　for　scrapping。　　Now；　listen！
I　handed　you　a　rap　about　beating　it　with