roads of destiny-第29节

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Sister　Felicite's　large　eyes　regarded　him　solemnly。

〃There　was　one　woman；〃　she　said；　slowly；　〃to　whom　he　bowedto　whom　he　gave　his　heart。〃

Robbins　fumbled　rapturously　for　his　pencil。

〃Behold　the　woman！〃　said　Sister　Felicite；　suddenly；　in　deep　tones。

She　reached　a　long　arm　and　swept　aside　the　curtain　of　the　alcove。　In　there　was　a　shrine；　lit　to　a　glow　of　soft　colour　by　the　light　pouring　through　a　stained…glass　window。　Within　a　deep　niche　in　the　bare　stone　wall　stood　an　image　of　the　Virgin　Mary；　the　colour　of　pure　gold。

Dumars；　a　conventional　Catholic；　succumbed　to　the　dramatic　in　the　act。　He　bowed　his　head　for　an　instant　and　made　the　sign　of　the　cross。　The　somewhat　abashed　Robbins；　murmuring　an　indistinct　apology；　backed　awkwardly　away。　Sister　Felicite　drew　back　the　curtain；　and　the　reporters　departed。

On　the　narrow　sidewalk　of　Bonhomme　Street；　Robbins　turned　to　Dumars；　with　unworthy　sarcasm。

〃Well；　what　next？　Churchy　law　fem？〃

〃Absinthe；〃　said　Dumars。

With　the　history　of　the　missing　money　thus　partially　related；　some　conjecture　may　be　formed　of　the　sudden　idea　that　Madame　Tibault's　words　seemed　to　have　suggested　to　Robbins's　brain。

Was　it　so　wild　a　surmisethat　the　religious　fanatic　had　offered　up　his　wealthor；　rather；　Madame　Tibault'sin　the　shape　of　a　material　symbol　of　his　consuming　devotion？　Stranger　things　have　been　done　in　the　name　of　worship。　Was　it　not　possible　that　the　lost　thousands　were　molded　into　that　lustrous　image？　That　the　goldsmith　had　formed　it　of　the　pure　and　precious　metal；　and　set　it　there；　through　some　hope　of　a　perhaps　disordered　brain　to　propitiate　the　saints　and　pave　the　way　to　his　own　selfish　glory？

That　afternoon；　at　five　minutes　to　three；　Robbins　entered　the　chapel　door　of　the　Little　Sisters　of　Samaria。　He　saw；　in　the　dim　light；　a　crowd　of　perhaps　a　hundred　people　gathered　to　attend　the　sale。　Most　of　them　were　members　of　various　religious　orders；　priests　and　churchmen；　come　to　purchase　the　paraphernalia　of　the　chapel；　lest　they　fall　into　desecrating　hands。　Others　were　business　men　and　agents　come　to　bid　upon　the　realty。　A　clerical…looking　brother　had　volunteered　to　wield　the　hammer；　bringing　to　the　office　of　auctioneer　the　anomaly　of　choice　diction　and　dignity　of　manner。

A　few　of　the　minor　articles　were　sold；　and　then　two　assistants　brought　forward　the　image　of　the　Virgin。

Robbins　started　the　bidding　at　ten　dollars。　A　stout　man；　in　an　ecclesiastical　garb；　went　to　fifteen。　A　voice　from　another　part　of　the　crowd　raised　to　twenty。　The　three　bid　alternately；　raising　by　bids　of　five；　until　the　offer　was　fifty　dollars。　Then　the　stout　man　dropped　out；　and　Robbins；　as　a　sort　of　/coup　de　main/；　went　to　a　hundred。

〃One　hundred　and　fifty；〃　said　the　other　voice。

〃Two　hundred；〃　bid　Robbins；　boldly。

〃Two…fifty；〃　called　his　competitor；　promptly。

The　reporter　hesitated　for　the　space　of　a　lightning　flash；　estimating　how　much　he　could　borrow　from　the　boys　in　the　office；　and　screw　from　the　business　manager　from　his　next　month's　salary。

〃Three　hundred；〃　he　offered。

〃Three…fifty；〃　spoke　up　the　other；　in　a　louder　voicea　voice　that　sent　Robbins　diving　suddenly　through　the　crowd　in　its　direction；　to　catch　Dumars；　its　owner；　ferociously　by　the　collar。

〃You　unconverted　idiot！〃　hissed　Robbins；　close　to　his　ear〃pool！〃

〃Agreed！〃　said　Dumars；　coolly。　〃I　couldn't　raise　three　hundred　and　fifty　dollars　with　a　search…warrant；　but　I　can　stand　half。　What　you　come　bidding　against　me　for？〃

〃I　thought　I　was　the　only　fool　in　the　crowd；〃　explained　Robbins。

No　one　else　bidding；　the　statue　was　knocked　down　to　the　syndicate　at　their　last　offer。　Dumars　remained　with　the　prize；　while　Robbins　hurried　forth　to　wring　from　the　resources　and　credit　of　both　the　price。　He　soon　returned　with　the　money；　and　the　two　musketeers　loaded　their　precious　package　into　a　carriage　and　drove　with　it　to　Dumars's　room；　in　old　Chartres　Street；　nearby。　They　lugged　it；　covered　with　a　cloth；　up　the　stairs；　and　deposited　it　on　a　table。　A　hundred　pounds　it　weighed；　if　an　ounce；　and　at　that　estimate；　according　to　their　calculation；　if　their　daring　theory　were　correct；　it　stood　there；　worth　twenty　thousand　golden　dollars。

Robbins　removed　the　covering；　and　opened　his　pocket…knife。

〃/Sacre/！〃　muttered　Dumars；　shuddering。　〃It　is　the　Mother　of　Christ。　What　would　you　do？〃

〃Shut　up；　Judas！〃　said　Robbins；　coldly。　〃It's　too　late　for　you　to　be　saved　now。〃

With　a　firm　hand；　he　chipped　a　slice　from　the　shoulder　of　the　image。　The　cut　showed　a　dull；　grayish　metal；　with　a　thin　coating　of　gold　leaf。

〃Lead！〃　announced　Robbins；　hurling　his　knife　to　the　floor〃gilded！〃

〃To　the　devil　with　it！〃　said　Dumars；　forgetting　his　scruples。　〃I　must　have　a　drink。〃

Together　they　walked　moodily　to　the　cafe　of　Madame　Tribault；　two　squares　away。

It　seemed　that　madame's　mind　had　been　stirred　that　day　to　fresh　recollections　of　the　past　services　of　the　two　young　men　in　her　behalf。

〃You　mustn't　sit　by　those　table；〃　she　interposed；　as　they　were　about　to　drop　into　their　accustomed　seats。　〃Thass　so；　boys。　But　no。　I　mek　you　come　at　this　room；　like　my　/tres　bon　amis/。　Yes。　I　goin'　mek　for　you　myself　one　/anisette/　and　one　/cafe　royale/　ver'　fine。　Ah！　I　lak　treat　my　fren'　nize。　Yes。　Plis　come　in　this　way。〃

Madame　led　them　into　the　little　back　room；　into　which　she　sometimes　invited　the　especially　favoured　of　her　customers。　In　two　comfortable　armchairs；　by　a　big　window　that　opened　upon　the　courtyard；　she　placed　them；　with　a　low　table　between。　Bustling　hospitably　about；　she　began　to　prepare　the　promised　refreshments。

It　was　the　first　time　the　reporters　had　been　honoured　with　admission　to　the　sacred　precincts。　The　room　was　in　dusky　twilight；　flecked　with　gleams　of　the　polished；　fine　woods　and　burnished　glass　and　metal　that　the　Creoles　love。　From　the　little　courtyard　a　tiny　fountain　sent　in　an　insinuating　sound　of　trickling　waters；　to　which　a　banana　plant　by　the　window　kept　time　with　its　tremulous　leaves。

Robbins；　an　investigator　by　nature；　sent　a　curious　glance　roving　about　the　room。　From　some　barbaric　ancestor；　madame　had　inherited　a　/penchant/　for　the　crude　in　decoration。

The　walls　were　adorned　with　cheap　lithographsflorid　libels　upon　nature；　addressed　to　the　taste　of　the　/bourgeoisie/birthday　cards；　garish　newspaper　supplements；　and　specimens　of　art…advertising　calculated　to　reduce　the　optic　nerve　to　stunned　submission。　A　patch　of　something　unintelligible　in　the　midst　of　the　more　candid　display　puzzled　Robbins；　and　he　rose　and　took　a　step　nearer；　to　interrogate　it　at　closer　range。　Then　he　leaned　weakly　against　the　wall；　and　called　out：

〃Madame　Tibault！　Oh；　madame！　Since　whenoh！　since　when　have　you　been　in　the　habit　of　papering　your　walls　with　five　thousand　dollar　United　States　four　per　cent。　gold　bonds？　Tell　meis　this　a　Grimm's　fairy　tale；　or　should　I　consult　an　oculist？〃

At　his　words；　Madame　Tibault　and　Dumars　approached。

〃H'what　you　say？〃　said　madame；　cheerily。　〃H'what　you　say；　M'sieur　Robbin？　/Bon/！　Ah！　those　nize　li'l　peezes　papier！　One　tam　I　think　those　w'at　you　call　calendair；　wiz　ze　li'l　day　of　mont'　below。　But；　no。　Those　wall　is　broke　in　those　plaze；　M'sieur　Robbin'；　and　I　plaze　those　li'l　peezes　papier　to　conceal　ze　crack。　I　did　think　the　couleur　harm'nize　so　well　with　the　wall　papier。　Where　I　get　them　from？　Ah；　yes；　I　remem'　ver'　well。　One　day　M'sieur　Morin；　he　come　at　my　houze　thass　'bout　one　mont'　before　he　shall　diethass　'long　'bout　tam　he　promise　fo'　inves'　those　money　fo'　me。　M'sieur　Morin；　he　leave　thoze　li'l　peezes　papier　in　those　table；　and　say　ver'　much　'bout　money　thass　hard　for　me　to　ond'stan。　/Mais/　I　never　see　those　money　again。　Thass　ver'　wicked　man；　M'sieur　Morin。　H'what　you　call　those　peezes　papier；　M'sieur　Robbi'/bon/！〃

Robbins　explained。

〃There's　your　twenty　thousand　dollars；　with　coupons　attached；〃　he　said；　running　his　thumb　around　the　edge　of　the　four　bonds。　〃Better　get　an　expert　to　peel　them　off　for　you。　Mister　Morin　was　right。　I'm　going　out　to　get　my　ears　trimmed。〃

He　dragged　Dumars　by　the　arm　into　the　outer　room。　Madame　was　screaming　for　Nicolette　and　Meme　to　come　and　observe　the　fortune　returned　to　her　by　M'sieur　Morin；　that　best　of　men；　that　saint　in　glory。

〃Marsy；〃　said　Robbins；　〃I'm　going　on　a　jamboree。　For　three　days　the　esteemed　/Pic。/　will　have　to　get　along　without　my　valuable　services。　I　advise　you　to　join　me。　Now；　that　green　stuff　you　drink　is　no　good。　It　stimulates　thought。　What　we　want　to　do　is　to　forget　to　remember。　I'll　introduce　you　to　the　only　lady　in　this　case　that　is　guaranteed　to　produce　the　desired　results。　Her　name　is　Belle　of　Kentucky；　twelve…　year…old　Bourbon。　In　quarts。　How　does　the　idea　strike　you？〃

〃/Allons/！〃　said　Dumars。　〃/Cherchez　la　femme/。〃



XII

FRIENDS　IN　SAN　ROSARIO

The　west…bound　train　stopped　at　San　Rosario　on　time　at　8。20　A。M。　A　man　with　a　thick　black…leather　wallet　under　his　arm　left　the　train　and　walked　rapidly　up　the　main　street　of　the　town。　There　were　other　passengers　who　also　got　off　at　San　Rosario；　but　they　either　slouched　limberly　over　to　the　railroad　eating…house　or　the　Silver　Dollar　saloon；　or　joined　the　groups　of　idlers　about　the　station。

Indecision　had　no　part　in　the　movements　of　the　man　with　the　wallet。　He　wa