the return of tarzan-第2节
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Instantly the count and the two other players were upon
their feet。
De Coude's face went white。
〃What do you mean； sir？〃 he cried。 〃Do you know to whom
you speak？〃
〃I know that I speak； for the last time； to one who cheats
at cards；〃 replied the fellow。
The count leaned across the table； and struck the man full
in the mouth with his open palm； and then the others closed
in between them。
〃There is some mistake； sir；〃 cried one of the other players。
〃Why； this is Count de Coude； of France。〃
〃If I am mistaken；〃 said the accuser； 〃I shall gladly apologize；
but before I do so first let monsieur le count explain
the extra cards which I saw him drop into his side pocket。〃
And then the man whom Tarzan had seen drop them there
turned to sneak from the room； but to his annoyance he
found the exit barred by a tall； gray…eyed stranger。
〃Pardon；〃 said the man brusquely； attempting to pass to one side。
〃Wait；〃 said Tarzan。
〃But why； monsieur？〃 exclaimed the other petulantly。
〃Permit me to pass； monsieur。〃
〃Wait；〃 said Tarzan。 〃I think that there is a matter in here
that you may doubtless be able to explain。〃
The fellow had lost his temper by this time； and with a low
oath seized Tarzan to push him to one side。 The ape…man
but smiled as he twisted the big fellow about and； grasping
him by the collar of his coat； escorted him back to the table；
struggling； cursing； and striking in futile remonstrance。
It was Nikolas Rokoff's first experience with the muscles that
had brought their savage owner victorious through encounters
with Numa； the lion； and Terkoz； the great bull ape。
The man who had accused De Coude； and the two others who
had been playing； stood looking expectantly at the count。
Several other passengers had drawn toward the scene of the
altercation； and all awaited the denouement。
〃The fellow is crazy；〃 said the count。 〃Gentlemen； I implore
that one of you search me。〃
〃The accusation is ridiculous。〃 This from one of the players。
〃You have but to slip your hand in the count's coat pocket
and you will see that the accusation is quite serious；〃 insisted
the accuser。 And then； as the others still hesitated to do so：
〃Come； I shall do it myself if no other will；〃 and he stepped
forward toward the count。
〃No； monsieur；〃 said De Coude。 〃I will submit to a search
only at the hands of a gentleman。〃
〃It is unnecessary to search the count。 The cards are in
his pocket。 I myself saw them placed there。〃
All turned in surprise toward this new speaker； to behold
a very well…built young man urging a resisting captive toward
them by the scruff of his neck。
〃It is a conspiracy；〃 cried De Coude angrily。 〃There are no
cards in my coat；〃 and with that he ran his hand into his
pocket。 As he did so tense silence reigned in the little group。
The count went dead white； and then very slowly he withdrew
his hand； and in it were three cards。
He looked at them in mute and horrified surprise； and slowly
the red of mortification suffused his face。 Expressions of
pity and contempt tinged the features of those who looked
on at the death of a man's honor。
〃It is a conspiracy； monsieur。〃 It was the gray…eyed stranger
who spoke。 〃Gentlemen；〃 he continued； 〃monsieur le count
did not know that those cards were in his pocket。 They were
placed there without his knowledge as he sat at play。
From where I sat in that chair yonder I saw the reflection of it
all in the mirror before me。 This person whom I just intercepted
in an effort to escape placed the cards in the count's pocket。〃
De Coude had glanced from Tarzan to the man in his grasp。
〃MON DIEU； Nikolas！〃 he cried。 〃You？〃
Then he turned to his accuser； and eyed him intently for a moment。
〃And you； monsieur； I did not recognize you without your
beard。 It quite disguises you； Paulvitch。 I see it all now。
It is quite clear； gentlemen。〃
〃What shall we do with them； monsieur？〃 asked Tarzan。
〃Turn them over to the captain？〃
〃No； my friend；〃 said the count hastily。 〃It is a personal
matter； and I beg that you will let it drop。 It is sufficient
that I have been exonerated from the charge。 The less we have
to do with such fellows； the better。 But； monsieur； how can
I thank you for the great kindness you have done me？
Permit me to offer you my card； and should the time come
when I may serve you； remember that I am yours to command。〃
Tarzan had released Rokoff； who； with his confederate；
Paulvitch； had hastened from the smoking…room。 Just as he
was leaving； Rokoff turned to Tarzan。 〃Monsieur will have
ample opportunity to regret his interference in the affairs
of others。〃
Tarzan smiled； and then； bowing to the count； handed him
his own card。
The count read：
M。 JEAN C。 TARZAN
〃Monsieur Tarzan；〃 he said； 〃may indeed wish that he had
never befriended me； for I can assure him that he has won
the enmity of two of the most unmitigated scoundrels in all
Europe。 Avoid them； monsieur； by all means。〃
〃I have had more awe…inspiring enemies； my dear count；〃 replied
Tarzan with a quiet smile； 〃yet I am still alive and unworried。
I think that neither of these two will ever find the means to harm me。〃
〃Let us hope not； monsieur；〃 said De Coude； 〃but yet it will
do no harm to be on the alert； and to know that you have made
at least one enemy today who never forgets and never forgives；
and in whose malignant brain there are always hatching new
atrocities to perpetrate upon those who have thwarted or
offended him。 To say that Nikolas Rokoff is a devil would
be to place a wanton affront upon his satanic majesty。〃
That night as Tarzan entered his cabin he found a folded
note upon the floor that had evidently been pushed beneath
the door。 He opened it and read：
M。 TARZAN：
Doubtless you did not realize the gravity of your offense；
or you would not have done the thing you did today。
I am willing to believe that you acted in ignorance and
without any intention to offend a stranger。 For this reason
I shall gladly permit you to offer an apology； and on receiving
your assurances that you will not again interfere in affairs
that do not concern you； I shall drop the matter。
Otherwisebut I am sure that you will see the wisdom of
adopting the course I suggest。
Very respectfully；
NIKOLAS ROKOFF。
Tarzan permitted a grim smile to play about his lips for a
moment； then he promptly dropped the matter from his mind；
and went to bed。
In a nearby cabin the Countess de Coude was speaking to her husband。
〃Why so grave； my dear Raoul？〃 she asked。 〃You have been
as glum as could be all evening。 What worries you？〃
〃Olga； Nikolas is on board。 Did you know it？〃
〃Nikolas！〃 she exclaimed。 〃But it is impossible； Raoul。
It cannot be。 Nikolas is under arrest in Germany。〃
〃So I thought myself until I saw him todayhim and that
other arch scoundrel； Paulvitch。 Olga； I cannot endure his
persecution much longer。 No； not even for you。 Sooner or later
I shall turn him over to the authorities。 In fact； I am half
minded to explain all to the captain before we land。 On a
French liner it were an easy matter； Olga； permanently to
settle this Nemesis of ours。〃
〃Oh； no； Raoul！〃 cried the countess； sinking to her knees
before him as he sat with bowed head upon a divan。 〃Do not
do that。 Remember your promise to me。 Tell me； Raoul； that
you will not do that。 Do not even threaten him； Raoul。〃
De Coude took his wife's hands in his； and gazed upon
her pale and troubled countenance for some time before he
spoke； as though he would wrest from those beautiful eyes
the real reason which prompted her to shield this man。
〃Let it be as you wish； Olga；〃 he said at length。 〃I cannot
understand。 He has forfeited all claim upon your love； loyalty；
or respect。 He is a menace to your life and honor； and the
life and honor of your husband。 I trust you may never regret
championing him。〃
〃I do not champion him； Raoul；〃 she interrupted vehemently。
〃I believe that I hate him as much as you do； butOh； Raoul；
blood is thicker than water。〃
〃I should today have liked to sample the consistency of
his；〃 growled De Coude grimly。 〃The two deliberately
attempted to besmirch my honor； Olga；〃 and then he told her
of all that had happened in the smoking…room。 〃Had it
not been for this utter stranger； they had succeeded； for who
would have accepted my unsupported word against the damning
evidence of those cards hidden on my person？ I had almost
begun to doubt myself when this Monsieur Tarzan dragged
your precious Nikolas before us； and explained the
whole cowardly transaction。〃
〃Monsieur Tarzan？〃 asked the co
