the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第37节
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At the words and at sight of the struggling men； the great lady swayed
helplessly； her eyes filled with terror。 Her son sprang protectingly in front
of her。 But the danger was past。 A second policeman was now holding the
maniac by the wrists； forcing his arms above his head； Philip's arms； like a
lariat； were wound around his chest； and from his pocket the first
policeman gingerly drew forth a round； black object of the size of a glass
fire…grenade。 He held it high in the air； and waved his free hand warningly。
But the warning was unobserved。 There was no one remaining to observe
it。 Leaving the would…be assassin struggling and biting in the grasp of the
stalwart policeman； and the other policeman unhappily holding the bomb
at arm's length； Philip sought to escape into the Ritz。 But the young King
broke through the circle of attendants and stopped him。
〃I must thank you；〃 said the boy eagerly； 〃and I wish you to tell me
how you came to suspect the man's purpose。〃
Unable to speak the truth； Philip； the would…be writer of fiction； began
to improvise fluently。
〃To learn their purpose； sir；〃 he said； 〃is my business。 I am of the
International Police； and in the secret service of your Majesty。〃
〃Then I must know your name；〃 said the King； and added with a
dignity that was most becoming； 〃You will find we are not ungrateful。〃
Philip smiled mysteriously and shook his head。
〃I said in your secret service；〃 he repeated。 〃Did even your Majesty
know me； my usefulness would be at an end。〃 He pointed toward the two
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policemen。 〃If you desire to be just； as well as gracious； those are the men
to reward。〃
He slipped past the King and through the crowd of hotel officials into
the hall and on into the corridor。
The arrest had taken place so quietly and so quickly that through the
heavy glass doors no sound had penetrated； and of the fact that they had
been so close to a possible tragedy those in the corridor were still ignorant。
The members of the Hungarian orchestra were arranging their music； a
waiter was serving two men of middle age with sherry； and two
distinguished…looking elderly gentlemen seated together on a sofa were
talking in leisurely whispers。
One of the two middle…aged men was well known to Philip； who as a
reporter had often； in New York； endeavored to interview him on matters
concerning the steel trust。 His name was Faust。 He was a Pennsylvania
Dutchman from Pittsburgh； and at one time had been a foreman of the
night shift in the same mills he now controlled。 But with a roar and a
spectacular flash； not unlike one of his own blast furnaces； he had soared
to fame and fortune。 He recognized Philip as one of the bright young men
of the Republic； but in his own opinion he was far too self…important to
betray that fact。
Philip sank into an imitation Louis Quatorze chair beside a fountain in
imitation of one in the apartment of the Pompadour； and ordered what he
knew would be an execrable imitation of an American cocktail。 While
waiting for the cocktail and Lady Woodcote's luncheon party； Philip； from
where he sat； could not help but overhear the conversation of Faust and of
the man with him。 The latter was a German with Hebraic features and a
pointed beard。 In loud tones he was congratulating the American many…
time millionaire on having that morning come into possession of a rare
and valuable masterpiece； a hitherto unknown and but recently discovered
portrait of Philip IV by Velasquez。
Philip sighed enviously。
〃Fancy；〃 he thought； 〃owning a Velasquez！ Fancy having it all to
yourself！ It must be fun to be rich。 It certainly is hell to be poor！〃
The German； who was evidently a picture…dealer； was exclaiming in
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tones of rapture； and nodding his head with an air of awe and solemnity。
〃I am telling you the truth； Mr。 Faust；〃 he said。 〃In no gallery in
Europe； no； not even in the Prado； is there such another Velasquez。 This is
what you are doing； Mr。 Faust； you are robbing Spain。 You are robbing her
of something worth more to her than Cuba。 And I tell you； so soon as it is
known that this Velasquez is going to your home in Pittsburgh； every
Spaniard will hate you and every art…collector will hate you； too。 For it is
the most wonderful art treasure in Europe。 And what a bargain； Mr。 Faust！
What a bargain！〃
To make sure that the reporter was within hearing； Mr。 Faust glanced
in the direction of Philip and； seeing that he had heard； frowned
importantly。 That the reporter might hear still more； he also raised his
voice。
〃Nothing can be called a bargain； Baron；〃 he said； 〃that costs three
hundred thousand dollars！〃
Again he could not resist glancing toward Philip； and so eagerly that
Philip deemed it would be only polite to look interested。 So he obligingly
assumed a startled look； with which he endeavored to mingle simulations
of surprise； awe； and envy。
The next instant an expression of real surprise overspread his features。
Mr。 Faust continued。 〃If you will come upstairs；〃 he said to the
picture…dealer； 〃I will give you your check； and then I should like to drive
to your apartments and take a farewell look at the picture。〃
〃I am sorry；〃 the Baron said； 〃but I have had it moved to my art gallery
to be packed。〃
〃Then let's go to the gallery；〃 urged the patron of art。 〃We've just time
before lunch。〃 He rose to his feet； and on the instant the soul of the
picture…dealer was filled with alarm。
In actual words he said： 〃The picture is already boxed and in its lead
coffin。 No doubt by now it is on its way to Liverpool。 I am sorry。〃 But his
thoughts； as Philip easily read them； were： 〃Fancy my letting this vulgar
fool into the Tate Street workshop！ Even HE would know that old masters
are not found in a half…finished state on Chelsea…made frames and
canvases。 Fancy my letting him see those two half…completed Van Dycks；
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the new Hals； the half…dozen Corots。 He would even see his own copy of
Velasquez next to the one exactly like itthe one MacMillan finished
yesterday and that I am sending to Oporto； where next year； in a convent；
we shall 'discover' it。〃
Philip's surprise gave way to intense amusement。 In his delight at the
situation upon which he had stumbled； he laughed aloud。 The two men；
who had risen； surprised at the spectacle of a young man laughing at
nothing； turned and stared。 Philip also rose。
〃Pardon me；〃 he said to Faust； 〃but you spoke so loud I couldn't help
overhearing。 I think we've met before； when I was a reporter on the
Republic。〃
The Pittsburgh millionaire made a pretense； of annoyance。
〃Really！〃 he protested irritably； 〃you reporters butt in everywhere。 No
public man is safe。 Is there no place we can go where you fellows won't
annoy us？〃
〃You can go to the devil for all I care；〃 said Philip； 〃or even to
Pittsburgh！〃
He saw the waiter bearing down upon him with the imitation cocktail；
and moved to meet it。 The millionaire； fearing the reporter would escape
him； hastily changed his tone。 He spoke with effective resignation。
〃However； since you've learned so much；〃 he said； 〃I'll tell you the
whole of it。 I don't want the fact garbled； for it is of international
importance。 Do you know what a Velasquez is？〃
〃Do you？〃 asked Philip。
The millionaire smiled tolerantly。
〃I think I do；〃 he said。 〃And to prove it； I shall tell you something that
will be news to you。 I have just bought a Velasquez that I am going to
place in my art museum。 It is worth three hundred thousand dollars。〃
Philip accepted the cocktail the waiter presented。 It was quite as bad as
he had expected。
〃Now； I shall
