登陆注册
5188300000080

第80章

Suddenly he turned and faced Herndon.I could not help thinking, in spite of all that he must be so expert, that, if he really were a smuggler, he had all the poise and skill at evasion that would entitle him to be called a past master of the art.

"You see that woman over there? "he whispered."She says she is just coming home after studying music in Paris."We looked.It was the guileless ingenue, Mademoiselle Gabrielle.

"She has dutiable goods, all right.I saw her declaration.She is trying to bring in as personal effects of a foreign resident gowns which, I believe, she intends to wear on the stage.She's an actress."There was nothing for Herndon to do but to act on the tip.The man had got rid of us temporarily, but we knew the inspector would be, if anything, more vigilant.I think he took even longer than usual.

Mademoiselle Gabrielle and her maid pouted and fussed over the renewed examination which Herndon ordered.According to the inspector everything was new and expensive; according to her, old, shabby, and cheap.She denied everything, raged and threatened.But when, instead of ordering the stamp "Passed" to be placed on her half dozen trunks and bags which contained in reality only a few dutiable articles, Herndon threatened to order them to the appraiser's stores and herself to go to the Law Division if she did not admit the points in dispute, there was a real scene.

"Generally, madame," he remonstrated, though I could see he was baffled at finding nothing of the goods he had really expected to find, "generally even for a first offence the goods are confiscated and the court or district attorney is content to let the person off with a fine.If this happens again we'll be more severe.So you had better pay the duty on these few little matters, without that."If he had been expecting to "throw a scare "into her, it did not succeed."Well, I suppose if I must, I must," she said, and the only result of the diversion was that she paid a few dollars more than had been expected and went off in a high state of mind.

Herndon had disappeared for a moment, after a whisper from Kennedy, to instruct two of his men to shadow Mademoiselle Gabrielle and, later, Pierre.He soon rejoined us and we casually returned to the vicinity of our tall friend, Number 140, for whom I felt even less respect than ever after his apparently ungallant action toward the lady he had been talking with.He seemed to notice my attitude and he remarked defensively for my benefit, "Only a patriotic act."His inspector by this time had finished a most minute examination.

There was nothing that could be discovered, not a false book with a secret spring that might disclose instead of reading matter a heap of almost priceless jewels, not a suspicious bulging of any garment or of the lining of a trunk or grip.Some of the goods might have been on his person, but not much, and certainly there was no excuse for ordering a personal examination, for he could not have hidden a tenth part of what we knew he had, even under the proverbial porous plaster.He was impeccable.Accordingly there was nothing for the inspector to do but to declare a polite armistice.

"So you didn't find 'Mona Lisa' in a false bottom, and my trunks were not lined with smuggled cigars after all," he rasped savagely as the stamp "Passed" was at last affixed and he paid in cash at the little window with its sign, "Pay Duty Here: U.S.Custom House,"some hundred dollars instead of the thousands Herndon had been hoping to collect, if not to seize.

All through the inspection, an extra close scrutiny had been kept on the other passengers as well, to prevent any of them from being in league with the smugglers, though there was no direct or indirect evidence to show that any of the others were.

We were about to leave the wharf, also, when Craig's attention was called to a stack of trunks still remaining.

"Whose are those?" he asked as he lifted one.It felt suspiciously light.

"Some of them belong to a Mr.Pierre and the rest to a Miss Gabrielle," answered an inspector."Bonded for Troy and waiting to be transferred by the express company."Here, perhaps, at last was an explanation, and Craig took advantage of it.Could it be that the real seat of trouble was not here but at some other place, that some exchange was to be made en route or perhaps an attempt at bribery?

Herndon, too, was willing to run a risk.He ordered the trunks opened immediately.But to our disappointment they were almost empty.There was scarcely a thing of value in them.Most of the contents consisted of clothes that had plainly been made in America and were being brought back here.It was another false scent.We had been played with and baffled at every turn.Perhaps this had been the method originally agreed on.At any rate it had been changed.

"Could they have left the goods in Paris, after all?" I queried.

"With the fall and winter trade just coming on?" Kennedy replied, with an air of finality that set at rest any doubts about his opinion on that score."I thought perhaps we had a case of what do you call it, Herndon, when they leave trunks that are to be secretly removed by dishonest expressmen from the wharf at night?

"Sleepers.Oh, we've broken that up, too.No expressman would dare try it now.I must confess this thing is beyond me, Craig."Kennedy made no answer.Evidently there was nothing to do but to await developments and see what Herndon's men reported.We had been beaten at every turn in the game.Herndon seemed to feel that there was a bitter sting in the defeat, particularly because the smuggler or smugglers had actually been in our grasp so long to do with as we pleased, and had so cleverly slipped out again, leaving us holding the bag.

同类推荐
  • 全辽志

    全辽志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 省愆集

    省愆集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 六十种曲白兔记

    六十种曲白兔记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 明伦汇编人事典八十一岁至九十岁部

    明伦汇编人事典八十一岁至九十岁部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说老母经

    佛说老母经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 娇宠田妻:农家小织女

    娇宠田妻:农家小织女

    号外号外,阿雪回归云起,【新书《重生五零巧媳妇》已发布】求收藏推荐堂堂纺织世家继承人,穿越到异世农家成为寄人篱下的小孤女,养母刁钻刻薄,养父阴险狡诈,姐姐蛮横不讲理,哥哥更是一心占便宜,这样的日子可要怎么过下去?某女握拳,小可怜又如何,她非要凭借一双巧手,织出个锦绣前程。喂,那个冰块儿脸的帅哥,你成天往本姑娘身边凑,是个什么意思?看小小织女,如何携手冷魅世子,共创属于他们的繁华盛世。
  • 子宫健康书

    子宫健康书

    子宫与女人的容颜、身心以及幸福生活息息相关,是非常重要的内生殖器官,它不仅仅是存放生命种子的容器,也是女人的第二颗“心脏”,需要女人小心呵护。《子宫健康书》告诉女人子宫的重要性,告诉女人哪些伤害子宫的事情不要做,并从中西医结合的角度告诉女人如何从食物、运动、经穴、精神……等方面养护子宫,在面对子宫疾病的时候怎样辩证施治。
  • 总裁爹地,快点追妈咪

    总裁爹地,快点追妈咪

    在外人眼里,她是即将继承亿万遗产的裴小姐。却没人知道,继承这遗产的条件竟然是和从未见面的所谓云家的男人生孩子?她挣扎想要反抗,却不小心把自己的第一次也赔了进去。她惊慌失措,一离开就是五年,再次回来时,摇身一变,带着一对双胞胎儿子,重新出现在世人面前……
  • 仙师惊情

    仙师惊情

    望断天涯觅海角,回首地老顾天荒。不管你是人是仙还是妖,都是我心中所爱。如果你是天地不容,那我就为你与天地为敌。假如爱是一条不归路,就让我陪你走到最后一步。妖魔鬼怪,天打雷劈,就算还剩一口气,也要用这一息之念想着你。
  • 宝云振祖集

    宝云振祖集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 镇魂诀

    镇魂诀

    是兴盛?还是没落?青龙大陆成为魔法天空,人人崇尚魔法。他空有精神力,却无法感知外界的元素,被家族遗弃沦为商人。一块镇魂玉佩引发家族灭门惨祸,又遭接连追杀。他将怎样逃脱?以后又将怎么样生存?爱恨情仇他又将怎样抉择?
  • 肆意妄为:本宫为上尔为下

    肆意妄为:本宫为上尔为下

    身为将门贵女,她为夫君牺牲了青春,奉献满腔深爱,换来的不过是狠辣善妒的骂名……一朝入宫为质受尽侮辱,家族尽灭,她成了秽乱后宫的奸妃,受她恩惠的表妹摇身一变成了那人的新妃,竟敢在她面前耀武扬威!疼爱多年的儿子竟也别人的孽子,甚至结束自己生命的也是他!再睁眼竟然重生到十二年前,一切都还有挽回的地步……她姓肆,肆意妄为的肆!那么这一次,她会让那一对忘恩负义的人知道,什么才是真正的狠毒嚣张!什么才是真正的不择手段!斗王爷杀奸妃,一步步叫天下惊艳,却又一步步陷入迷局,秘闻中的天定凤主又究竟是谁?
  • 重生之超神保安

    重生之超神保安

    本是一个绝世杀手却无奈只能做一个小区保安小区保安又如何?我依然可以站在世界的巅峰!
  • 第一傻妃

    第一傻妃

    ◆慕容婧琪:这狗血的人生。一朝睁眼,睿智腹黑的她已重生到十八岁却只有三岁智商的富家傻小姐身上。妹妹心如蛇蝎,父不疼亲不爱,唯有母亲是她的依靠。◆社会太现实,世道太冷血。因自己太强悍,腹黑……一连吞并了好几家大企业。被仇家用最低级也最有效的方法结束了她的生命。◆被心如蛇蝎的亲妹妹推下水后。睁眼,“傻小姐”不傻了。脱胎换般的聪明、睿智、淡定。不仅琴棋书画样样精通、还身怀绝世武功。回府后,让所有看不起她,曾经欺负过她的人,拭目以待!◆肩负重任,身不由己。被迫嫁入皇宫为太子妃,人虽在深宫,心却早已随之离去,留下的只是躯壳一副。深宫中,你敬我一分,我礼让三分,人不犯我,我不犯人,人若犯我,我千倍奉还。看她是如何化险为夷,修理了嚣张的皇后。如何让皇太子刮目相看,再狠狠地甩开他,奉旨休了他,然后一个漂亮的转身离开了皇宫。◆第一美男为她易容成丑将军,为她放下尊贵身份,混进他国皇宫,甘愿为小小将军。不为别的,只为守护她,守护那坚真的爱。◆一副不食人间烟火,从未对任何一个女子动过心的他,也甘愿臣服于她,为她守候!◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆【片断一】大婚宇文旭尧似醉非醉地讽刺地道:“别以为本太子不知道你用了什么卑鄙的手段嫁进了皇宫,本太子就会宠幸你,你这个不要脸的女人,给我滚出去……”慕容婧琪一脸清冷淡然,不悲不喜、不怒不怨淡淡地说道:“该滚,该离开的人是你吧,这可是本太子妃的寝宫!”原本酒仍未醒的宇文旭尧突然清醒过来,一脸尴尬,表情极其难看,狠狠地看着她……【片断二】男子面不改色地跪在龙颜面前,一脸坚定地道:“一刀许终身,二刀天可鉴,三刀永相随,世世永不离。”然后,拿出匕首当手臂割开,以血起誓,便从此不再爱其他人,否则将人神共愤。一旁的女子拍手叫好道:“哥哥,你太棒了,妹妹我永远支持你,相信你跟她一定可以“一生一世,一双人,”永远幸福的!”龙椅上的男子拍案而起,一脸怒气地道:“你们都反了,都不将朕放在眼里了是吗?”◆前世:她是现代最优秀的财政天才、商界女强人。善于伪装,腹黒。◆今生:睿智、淡定、清冷、恬淡、随和,因背负了重大责任,她不得不伪装自己,不得不隐藏一切。◆本文文风女强,一对一,一生一世,一双人。简介无能,请多关照!◆☆★◆☆★◆☆★◆☆★◆☆★◆☆★◆☆★◆☆★◆☆★◆☆★◆☆本故事纯属虚构,禁止模仿!
  • 一出好戏

    一出好戏

    黄渤导演电影《一出好戏》同名小说,国内首部荒岛求生末日题材!荒岛文明狂想,人性极限挑战,深度思考人性善恶!马进,一个执着于成功学的社会小人物。因欠下巨额债务,他与远房堂弟小兴在底层社会摸爬滚打,他习惯性地买彩票,企图一夜爆富,并迎娶自己的同事姗姗。一日,马进工作的公司因即将上市,公司老板张总组织全体员工出海团建。途中,马进收到了彩票中头奖的信息,六千万!然而就在马进狂喜自己翻身之日终于到来之际,一场突如其来的海啸吞噬了他们乘坐的小船。众人再次苏醒过来时,已身处一座荒岛,丧失了一切与外界的联系。所有人都发现,世界毁灭了,他们是最后的人类。世界末日来临了,我们怎么办?