the yellow crayon-第4节

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Mr。　Sabin　nodded。　　Mr。　Skinner　at　once　took　his　arm。

〃Guess　we'll　go　right　in；〃　he　declared。　　〃I　hate　to　have　a　good
meal　spoiled。〃

They　were　an　old…looking　couple。　　Mr。　Sabin　quietly　but　faultlessly
attired　in　the　usual　evening　dinner　garb；　Mr。　Skinner　ill…dressed；
untidy；　unwashed　and　frowsy。　　But　here　at　least　Mr。　Sabin's
incognito　had　been　unavailing；　for　he　had　stayed　at　the　hotel　several
times　…　as　he　remembered　with　an　odd　little　pang　…　with　Lucille；　and
the　head…waiter；　with　a　low　bow；　ushered　them　to　their　table。　　Mr。
Skinner　saw　the　preparations　for　their　repast；　the　oysters；　the
cocktails　in　tall　glasses；　the　magnum　of　champagne　in　ice；　and
chuckled。　　To　take　supper　with　a　duke　was　a　novelty　to　him；　but　he
was　not　shy。　　He　sat　down　and　tucked　his　serviette　into　his
waistcoat；　raised　his　glass；　and　suddenly　set　it　down　again。

〃The　boss！〃　he　exclaimed　in　amazement。

Mr。　Sabin　turned　his　head　in　the　direction　which　his　companion　had
indicated。　　Coming　hastily　across　the　room　towards　them；　already
out　of　breath　as　though　with　much　hurrying；　was　a　thick…set；　powerful
man；　with　the　brutal　face　and　coarse　lips　of　a　prizefighter；　a　beard
cropped　so　short　as　to　seem　the　growth　of　a　few　days　only　covered
his　chin；　and　his　moustache；　treated　in　the　same　way；　was　not　thick
enough　to　conceal　a　cruel　mouth。　　He　was　carefully　enough　dressed；
and　a　great　diamond　flashed　from　his　tie。　　There　was　a　red　mark
round　his　forehead　where　his　hat　had　been；　and　the　perspiration　was
streaming　from　his　forehead。　　He　strode　without　hesitation　to　the
table　where　Mr。　Sabin　and　his　guest　were　sitting；　and　without　even
a　glance　at　the　former　turned　upon　his　myrmidon。

〃Where's　that　report？〃　he　cried　roughly。　　〃'Where　is　it？〃

Mr。　Skinner　seemed　to　have　shrunk　into　a　smaller　man。　　He　pointed
across　the　table。

〃I've　given　it　to　him；〃　he　said。　　〃What's　wrong；　boss？〃

The　newcomer　raised　his　hand　as　though　to　strike　Skinner。　　He
gnashed　his　teeth　with　the　effort　to　control　himself。

〃You　damned　blithering　idiot；〃　he　said　hoarsely；　gripping　the　side
of　the　table。　　〃Why　wasn't　it　presented　to　me　first？〃

〃Guess　it　didn't　seem　worth　while；〃　Skinner　answered。　　〃There's
nothing　in　the　darned　thing。〃

〃You　ignorant　fool；　hold　your　tongue；〃　was　the　fierce　reply。

The　newcomer　sank　into　a　chair　and　wiped　the　perspiration　from
his　streaming　forehead。　　Mr。　Sabin　signaled　to　a　waiter。

〃You　seem　upset；　Mr。　Horser；〃　he　remarked　politely。　　〃Allow　me　to
offer　you　a　glass　of　wine。

Mr。　Horser　did　not　immediately　reply；　but　he　accepted　the　glass
which　the　waiter　brought　him；　and　after　a　moment's　hesitation
drained　its　contents。　　Then　he　turned　to　Mr。　Sabin。

〃You　said　nothing　about　those　letters　you　had　had　when　you　came
to　see　me　this　morning！〃

〃It　was　you　yourself；〃　Mr。　Sabin　reminded　him；　〃who　begged　me　not
to　enter　into　particulars。　　You　sent　me　on　to　Mr。　Skinner。　　I　told
him　everything。〃

Mr。　Horser　leaned　over　the　table。　　His　eyes　were　bloodshot；　his
tone　was　fierce　and　threatening。　　Mr。　Sabin　was　coldly　courteous。
The　difference　between　the　demeanour　of　the　two　men　was　remarkable。

〃You　knew　what　those　letters　meant！　　This　is　a　plot！　　Where　is
Skinner's　report？〃

Mr。　Sabin　raised　his　eyebrows。　　He　signaled　to　the　head…waiter。

〃Be　so　good　as　to　continue　the　service　of　my　dinner；〃　he　ordered。
〃The　champagne　is　a　trifle　too　chilled。　　You　can　take　it　out　of
the　cooler。〃

The　man　bowed；　with　a　curious　side　glance　at　Horser。

〃Certainly；　your　Grace！〃

Horser　was　almost　speechless　with　anger。

〃Are　you　going　to　answer　my　questions？〃　he　demanded　thickly。

〃I　have　no　particular　objection　to　doing　so；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered；
〃but　until　you　can　sit　up　and　compose　yourself　like　an　ordinary
individual；　I　decline　to　enter　into　any　conversation　with　you　at
all。〃

Again　Mr。　Horser　raised　his　voice；　and　the　glare　in　his　eyes　was
like　the　glare　of　a　wild　beast。

〃Do　you　know　who　I　am？〃　he　asked。　　〃Do　you　know　who　you're　talking
to？〃

Mr。　Sabin　looked　at　him　coolly；　and　fingered　his　wineglass。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃I've　a　shocking　memory　for　names；　but　yours　is
…　Mr。　Horser；　isn't　it？　　I　heard　it　for　the　first　time　this　morning；
and　my　memory　will　generally　carry　me　through　four…and…twenty　hours。〃

There　was　a　moment's　silence。　　Horser　was　no　fool。　　He　accepted　his
defeat　and　dropped　the　bully。

〃You're　a　stranger　in　this　city；　Mr。　Sabin；　and　I　guess　you　aren't
altogether　acquainted　with　our　ways　yet；〃　he　said。　　〃But　I　want　you
to　understand　this。　　The　report　which　is　in　your　pocket　has　got　to
be　returned　to　me。　　If　I'd　known　what　I　was　meddling　with　I　wouldn't
have　touched　your　business　for　a　hundred　thousand　dollars。　　It's　got
to　be　returned　to　me；　I　say！〃　he　repeated　in　a　more　threatening　tone。

Mr。　Sabin　helped　himself　to　fish；　and　made　a　careful　examination　of
the　sauce。

〃After　all；〃　he　said　meditatively；　〃I　am　not　sure　that　I　was　wise
in　insisting　upon　a　sauce　piquante。　　I　beg　your　pardon；　Mr。　Horser。
Please　do　not　think　me　inattentive；　but　I　am　very　hungry。　　So；　I
believe；　is　my　friend；　Mr。　Skinner。　　Will　you　not　join　us　…　or
perhaps　you　have　already　dined？〃

There　was　an　ugly　flush　in　Mr。　Horser's　cheeks；　but　he　struggled　to
keep　his　composure。

〃Will　you　give　me　back　that　report？〃

〃When　I　have　read　it；　with　pleasure；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃Before；
no。〃

Mr。　Horser　swallowed　an　exceedingly　vicious　oath。　　He　struck　the
table　lightly　with　his　forefinger。

〃Look　here；〃　he　said。　　〃If　you'd　lived　in　New　York　a　couple　of
years；　even　a　couple　of　months；　you　wouldn't　talk　like　that。　　I　tell
you　that　I　hold　the　government　of　this　city　in　my　right　hand。　　I
don't　want　to　be　unpleasant；　but　if　that　paper　is　not　in　my　hands
by　the　time　you　leave　this　table　I　shall　have　you　arrested　as　you
leave　this　room；　and　the　papers　taken　from　you。〃

〃Dear　me；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃this　is　serious。　　On　what　charge　may　I
ask　should　I　be　exposed　to　this　inconvenience？〃

〃Charge　be　damned！〃　Mr。　Horser　answered。　　〃The　police　don't　want
particulars　from　me。　　When　I　say　do　a　thing　they　do　it。　　They　know
that　if　they　declined　it　would　be　their　last　day　on　the　force。〃

Mr。　Sabin　filled　his　glass　and　leaned　back　in　his　chair。

〃This；〃　he　remarked；　〃is　interesting。　　I　am　always　glad　to　have　the
opportunity　of　gaining　an　insight　into　the　customs　of　different
countries。　　I　had　an　idea　that　America　was　a　country　remarkable　for
the　amount　of　liberty　enjoyed　by　its　inhabitants。　　Your　proposed
course　of　action　seems　scarcely　in　keeping　with　this。〃

〃What　are　you　going　to　do？　　Come；　I've　got　to　have　an　answer。〃

〃I　don't　quite　understand；〃　Mr。　Sabin　remarked；　with　a　puzzled　look；
〃what　your　official　position　is　in　connection　with　the　police。〃

Mr。　Horser's　face　was　a　very　ugly　sight。　　〃Oh；　curse　my　official
position；〃　he　exclaimed　thickly。　　〃If　you　want　proof　of　what　I　say
you　shall　have　it　in　less　than　five　minutes。　　Skinner；　be　off　and
fetch　a　couple　of　constables。〃

〃I　really　must　protest；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃Mr。　Skinner　is　my　guest；
and　I　will　not　have　him　treated　in　this　fashion；　just　as　the
terrapin　is　coming　in；　too。　　Sit　down；　Mr。　Skinner；　sit　down。　　I
will　settle　this　matter　with　you　in　my　room；　Mr。　Horser；　after　I
have　dined。　　I　will　not　even　discuss　it　before。〃

Mr。　Horser　opened　his　mouth　twice；　and　closed　it　again。　　He　knew
that　his　opponent　was　simply　playing　to　gain　time；　but；　after　all；
he　held　the　trump　card。　　He　could　afford　to　wait。　　He　turned　to　a
waiter　and　ordered　a　cigar。　　Mr。　Sabin　and　Mr。　Skinner　continued
their　dinner。

Conversation　was　a　little　difficult；　though　Mr。　Sabin　showed　no
signs　of　an　impaired　appetite。　　Skinner　was　white　with　fear；　and
glanced　every　now　and　then　nervously　at　his　chief。　　Mr。　Horser
smoked　without　ceasing；　and　maintained　an　ominous　silence。　　Mr。
Sabin　at　last；　with　a　sigh；　rose；　and　lighting　a　cigarette；　took
his　stick　from　the　waiter　and　prepared　to　leave。

〃I　fear；　Mr。　Horser；〃　he　remarked；　〃that　your　presence　has　scarcely
contributed　to　the　cheerfulness　of　our　repast。　　Mr。　Skinner；　am　I
to　be　favoured　with　your　company　also　upstairs？〃

Horser　clutched　that　gentleman's　arm　and　whispered　a　few　words　in
his　ear。

〃Mr。　Skinner；〃　he　said；　〃will　join　us　presently。　　What　is　your
number？〃

〃336；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃You　will　excuse　my　somewhat　slow
progress。〃

They　crossed　the　hall　and　entered　the　elevator。　　Mr。　Horser's　face
began　to　clear。　　In　a　moment　or　two　they　would　be　in　Mr。　Sabin's
sitting…room…alone。　　He　regarded　with　satisfaction　the　other's　slim；
delicate　figure　and　the　limp　with　which　he　moved。　　He　felt　that　the
danger　was　already　over。


CHAPTER　V

BUT；　after　all；　things　did　not　exactly　turn　out　as　Mr。　Horser　had
imagined。　　The　sight　of　the　empty　room　and　the　closed　door　were
satisfactory　enough；　and　he　did　not　hesitate　for　a　moment。

〃Look　here；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃you　and　I　are　going　to　settle　this
matter　quick。　　Whatever　you　paid　Skinner　you　can　have　back　again。
But　I'm　going　to　have　that　report。〃

He　took　a　quick　step　forward　with　uplifted　hand　…　and　looked　into
the　shining　muzzle　of　a　tiny　revolver。　　Behind　it　Mr。　Sabin's　face；
no　longer　pleasant　and