the return of tarzan-第10节
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Often he met other members of the select little coterie that
dropped in for tea of an afternoon。 More often Olga found
devices that would give her an hour of Tarzan alone。
For a time she had been frightened by what Nikolas had
insinuated。 She had not thought of this big； young man
as anything more than friend； but with the suggestion
implanted by the evil words of her brother she had grown to
speculate much upon the strange force which seemed to attract
her toward the gray…eyed stranger。 She did not wish to
love him； nor did she wish his love。
She was much younger than her husband； and without having
realized it she had been craving the haven of a friendship
with one nearer her own age。 Twenty is shy in exchanging
confidences with forty。 Tarzan was but two years
her senior。 He could understand her； she felt。 Then he was
clean and honorable and chivalrous。 She was not afraid of
him。 That she could trust him she had felt instinctively
from the first。
From a distance Rokoff had watched this growing intimacy
with malicious glee。 Ever since he had learned that
Tarzan knew that he was a Russian spy there had been
added to his hatred for the ape…man a great fear that he
would expose him。 He was but waiting now until the moment
was propitious for a master stroke。 He wanted to rid himself
forever of Tarzan； and at the same time reap an ample revenge
for the humiliations and defeats that he had suffered
at his hands。
Tarzan was nearer to contentment than he had been since
the peace and tranquility of his jungle had been broken in
upon by the advent of the marooned Porter party。 He enjoyed
the pleasant social intercourse with Olga's friends； while
the friendship which had sprung up between the fair countess
and himself was a source of never…ending delight。 It broke
in upon and dispersed his gloomy thoughts； and served as a
balm to his lacerated heart。
Sometimes D'Arnot accompanied him on his visits to the
De Coude home； for he had long known both Olga and the
count。 Occasionally De Coude dropped in； but the
multitudinous affairs of his official position and the
never…ending demands of politics kept him from home
usually until late at night。
Rokoff spied upon Tarzan almost constantly； waiting for the
time that he should call at the De Coude palace at night；
but in this he was doomed to disappointment。 On several
occasions Tarzan accompanied the countess to her home
after the opera； but he invariably left her at the entrance
much to the disgust of the lady's devoted brother。
Finding that it seemed impossible to trap Tarzan through
any voluntary act of his own； Rokoff and Paulvitch put their
heads together to hatch a plan that would trap the ape…man
in all the circumstantial evidence of a compromising position。
For days they watched the papers as well as the movements
of De Coude and Tarzan。 At length they were rewarded。
A morning paper made brief mention of a smoker that was
to be given on the following evening by the German minister。
De Coude's name was among those of the invited guests。
If he attended this meant that he would be absent from
his home until after midnight。
On the night of the banquet Paulvitch waited at the curb
before the residence of the German minister； where he could
scan the face of each guest that arrived。 He had not long
to wait before De Coude descended from his car and passed him。
That was enough。 Paulvitch hastened back to his quarters；
where Rokoff awaited him。 There they waited until after
eleven； then Paulvitch took down the receiver of their telephone。
He called a number。
〃The apartments of Lieutenant D'Arnot？〃 he asked； when
he had obtained his connection。
〃A message for Monsieur Tarzan； if he will be so kind as
to step to the telephone。〃
For a minute there was silence。
〃Monsieur Tarzan？〃
〃Ah； yes； monsieur； this is Francoisin the service of
the Countess de Coude。 Possibly monsieur does poor Francois
the honor to recall himyes？
〃Yes； monsieur。 I have a message； an urgent message from
the countess。 She asks that you hasten to her at onceshe
is in trouble； monsieur。
〃No； monsieur； poor Francois does not know。 Shall I
tell madame that monsieur will be here shortly？
〃Thank you； monsieur。 The good God will bless you。〃
Paulvitch hung up the receiver and turned to grin at Rokoff。
〃It will take him thirty minutes to get there。 If you
reach the German minister's in fifteen； De Coude should arrive
at his home in about forty…five minutes。 It all depends
upon whether the fool will remain fifteen minutes after he
finds that a trick has been played upon him； but unless I am
mistaken Olga will be loath to let him go in so short a time
as that。 Here is the note for De Coude。 Hasten！〃
Paulvitch lost no time in reaching the German minister's。
At the door he handed the note to a footman。 〃This is for the
Count de Coude。 It is very urgent。 You must see that it is
placed in his hands at once；〃 and he dropped a piece of silver
into the willing hand of the servant。 Then he returned
to his quarters。
A moment later De Coude was apologizing to his host as he
tore open the envelope。 What he read left his face white and
his hand trembling。
MONSIEUR LE COUNT DE COUDE：
One who wishes to save the honor of your name takes this
means to warn you that the sanctity of your home is this
minute in jeopardy。
A certain man who for months has been a constant visitor
there during your absence is now with your wife。 If
you go at once to your countess' boudoir you will find
them together。
A FRIEND。
Twenty minutes after Paulvitch had called Tarzan； Rokoff
obtained a connection with Olga's private line。 Her maid
answered the telephone which was in the countess' boudoir。
〃But madame has retired；〃 said the maid； in answer to Rokoff's
request to speak with her。
〃This is a very urgent message for the countess' ears
alone；〃 replied Rokoff。 〃Tell her that she must arise and
slip something about her and come to the telephone。 I shall
call up again in five minutes。〃 Then he hung up his receiver。
A moment later Paulvitch entered。
〃The count has the message？〃 asked Rokoff。
〃He should be on his way to his home by now；〃 replied Paulvitch。
〃Good！ My lady will be sitting in her boudoir； very much
in negligee； about now。 In a minute the faithful Jacques will
escort Monsieur Tarzan into her presence without announcing him。
It will take a few minutes for explanations。 Olga will
look very alluring in the filmy creation that is her night…
dress； and the clinging robe which but half conceals the
charms that the former does not conceal at all。 Olga will be
surprised； but not displeased。
〃If there is a drop of red blood in the man the count
will break in upon a very pretty love scene in about fifteen
minutes from now。 I think we have planned marvelously； my
dear Alexis。 Let us go out and drink to the very good
health of Monsieur Tarzan in some of old Plancon's
unparalleled absinth； not forgetting that the Count de Coude
is one of the best swordsmen in Paris； and by far the best
shot in all France。〃
When Tarzan reached Olga's； Jacques was awaiting him at
the entrance。
〃This way； Monsieur；〃 he said； and led the way up the broad；
marble staircase。 In another moment he had opened a door；
and； drawing aside a heavy curtain； obsequiously bowed
Tarzan into a dimly lighted apartment。 Then Jacques vanished。
Across the room from him Tarzan saw Olga seated before
a little desk on which stood her telephone。 She was tapping
impatiently upon the polished surface of the desk。 She had
not heard him enter。
〃Olga；〃 he said； 〃what is wrong？〃
She turned toward him with a little cry of alarm。
〃Jean！〃 she cried。 〃What are you doing here？
Who admitted you？ What does it mean？〃
Tarzan was thunderstruck； but in an instant he realized
a part of the truth。
〃Then you did not send for me； Olga？〃
〃Send for you at this time of night？ MON DIEU！ Jean； do
you think that I am quite mad？〃
〃Francois telephoned me to come at once； that you were
in trouble and wanted me。〃
〃Francois？ Who in the world is Francois？〃
〃He said that he was in your service。 He spoke as though
I should recall the fact。〃
〃There is no one by that name in my employ。 Some one
has played a joke upon you； Jean；〃 and Olga laughed。
〃I fear that it may be a most sinister ‘joke；' Olga；〃 he replied。
〃There is more back of it than humor。〃
〃What do you mean？ You do not think that〃
〃Where is the count？〃 he interrupted。
〃At the German ambassador's。〃
〃This is another move by your estimable brother。
Tomorrow the count will hear of it。 He will question
the servants。 Ever
