a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第32节
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face was pale； and his voice； although steady and self…controlled； had that
same strange suggestion of sudden age in it which Paul had before noticed。
Whether Don Caesar detected it； or whether he had some other instinctive
appreciation of greater security； Paul could not tell。 He seemed to recover
his swagger again； as he said；
〃I shall hear what Colonel Pendleton has to say first。 But I shall hold
myself in readiness to meet you afterwardsyou shall not fear； sir！〃
Paul remained looking from the one to the other without speaking。 It
was Don Caesar who returned his glance boldly and defiantly； Colonel
Pendleton who； with thin white fingers pulling his moustache； evaded it。
Then Paul unlocked the door； and said slowly； 〃In five minutes I leave this
house for the station。 I shall wait there until the train arrives。 If this
gentleman does not join me； I shall be better able to understand all this and
take measures accordingly。〃
〃And I tell to you； Meester Hathaway； sir；〃 said Don Caesar； striking
an attitude in the doorway； 〃you shall do as I please Caramba！and shall
beg〃
〃Hold your tongue； siror； by the Eternal！〃burst out Pendleton
suddenly； bringing down his thin hand on the Mexican's shoulder。 He
stopped as suddenly。 〃Gentlemen； this is childish。 Go； sir！〃 to Don Caesar；
pointing with a gaunt white finger into the darkened hall。 〃I will follow
you。 Mr。 Hathaway； as an older man； and one who has seen a good deal of
foolish altercation； I regret； sir； deeply regret； to be a witness to this
belligerent quality in a law…maker and a public man； and I must deprecate；
sirdeprecate； your demand on that gentleman for what； in the folly of
youth； you are pleased to call personal satisfaction。〃
As he moved with dignity out of the room； Paul remained blankly
staring after him。 Was it all a dream？or was this Colonel Pendleton the
duelist？ Had the old man gone crazy； or was he merely acting to veil some
wild purpose？ His sudden arrival showed that Yerba must have sent for
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him and told him of Don Caesar's threats； would he be wild enough to
attempt to strangle the man in some remote room or in the darkness of the
passage？ He stepped softly into the hall： he could still hear the double
tread of the two men： they had reached the staircasethey were
DESCENDING！ He heard the drowsy accents of the night porter and the
swinging of the doorthey were in the street！
Wherever they were going； or for what purpose； HE must be at the
station； as he had warned them he would be。 He hastily threw a few things
into his valise； and prepared to follow them。 When he went downstairs he
informed the porter that owing to an urgent call of business he should try
to catch the through express at three o'clock； but they must retain his room
and luggage until they heard from him。 He remembered Don Caesar's
letter。 Had either of the gentlemen； his friends who had just gone out； left a
letter or message？ No； Excellency； the gentlemen were talking earnestly
he believed； in the South American languageand had not spoken to him。
Perhaps it was this that reminded Paul； as he crossed the square again；
that he had made no preparation for any possible fatal issue to himself in
this adventure。 SHE would know it； however； and why he had undertaken
it。 He tried to think that perhaps some interest in himself had prompted her
to send the colonel to him。 Yet； mingled with this was an odd sense of a
certain ridiculousness in his position： there was the absurdity of his
prospective antagonist being even now in confidential consultation with
his own friend and ally； whose functions he had usurped； and in whose
interests he was about to risk his life。 And as he walked away through the
silent streets； the conviction more than once was forced upon him that he
was going to an appointment that would not be kept。
He reached the station some ten minutes before the train was due。 Two
or three half…drowsy； wrapped…up passengers were already on the platform；
but neither Don Caesar nor Colonel Pendleton was among them。 He
explored the waiting…rooms and even the half…lit buffet； but with no better
success。 Telling the Bahnhof Inspector that his passage was only
contingent upon the arrival of one or two companions； and describing
them minutely to prevent mistakes； he began gloomily to pace before the
ticket…office。 Five minutes passedthe number of passengers did not
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increase； ten minutes； a distant shriekthe hoarse inquiry of the inspector…
…had the Herr's companions yet gekommt？ the sudden glare of a
Cyclopean eye in the darkness； the ongliding of the long…jointed and
gleaming spotted serpent； the traina hurried glance around the platform；
one or two guttural orders； the slamming of doors； the remounting of black
uniformed figures like caryatides along the marchepieds； a puff of vapor；
and the train had come and gone without them。
Yet he would give his adversary fifteen minutes more to allow for
accident or delay； or the possible arrival of the colonel with an explanation；
and recommenced his gloomy pacing； as the Bahnhof sank back into half…
lit repose。 At the end of five minutes there was another shriek。 Paul turned
quickly to the inspector。 Ah； then； there was another train？ No； it was only
the up express for Basle； going the other way and stopping at the Nord
Station； half a mile away。 It would not stop here； but the Herr would see it
pass in a few moments at full speed。
It came presently； with a prolonged despairing shriek； out of the
darkness； a flash； a rush and roar at his side； a plunge into the darkness
again with the same despairing cry； a flutter of something white from one
of the windows； like a loosened curtain； that at last seemed to detach itself；
and； after a wild attempt to follow； suddenly soared aloft； whirled over and
over； dropped； and drifted slowly； slantwise； to the ground。
The inspector had seen it； ran down the line； and picked it up。 Then he
returned with it to Paul with a look of sympathizing concern。 It was a
lady's handkerchief； evidently some signal waved to the well…born Herr；
who was the only passenger on the platform。 So； possibly； it might be from
his friends； who by some stupid mischance had gone to the wrong station；
andGott im Himmel！it was hideously stupid； yet possible； got on the
wrong train！
The Herr； a little pale； but composed； thought it WAS possible。 No； he
would not telegraph to the next stationnot yethe would inquire。
He walked quickly away； reaching the hotel breathlessly； yet in a space
that seemed all too brief for his disconnected thought。 There were signs of
animation in the hall； and an empty carriage was just reentering the
courtyard。 The hall…porter met him with demonstrative concern and
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apology。 Ah！ if he had only understood his Excellency better； he could
have saved him all this trouble。 Evidently his Excellency was going with
the Arguello party； who had ordered a carriage； doubtless； for the same
important journey； an hour before； yet had left only a few moments after
his Excellency； and his Excellency； it would appear； had gone to the wrong
station。
Paul pushed hurriedly past the man and ascended to his room。 Both
windows were open； and in the faint moonlight he could see that
something white was pinned to his pillow。 With nervous fingers he relit his
candles； and found it was a note in Yerba's handwriting。 As he opened it； a
tiny spray of the vine that had grown on the crumbling wall fell at his feet。
He picked it up； pressed it to his lips； and read； with dim eyes； as follows：…
…
〃You know now why I spoke to you as I did to…day
