登陆注册
5230100000004

第4章 CHAPTER II(1)

When the day clerk arrived the night clerk sleepily informed him that the guest in Room 214 was without baggage and had not paid in advance.

"Lave a call?"

"No. I thought I'd put you wise. I didn't notice that the man had no grip until he was in the elevator."

"All right. I'll send the bell-hop captain up with a fake call to see if the man's still there."

When the captain - late of the A.E.F. in France - returned to the office he was mildly excited.

"Gee, there's been a whale of a scrap in Room 212. The chambermaid let me in."

"Murder?" whispered the clerks in unison.

"Murder your granny! Naw! Just a fight between 212 and 214, because both of 'em have flown the roost. But take a peek at what I found on the table."

It was a case of blue velours. The boy threw back the lid dramatically.

"War medals?"

"If they are I never piped 'em before. They ain't French or British." The captain of the bell-boys scratched his head ruminatively. "Gee, I got it! Orders, that's what they all 'em.

Kings pay 'em out Saturdays when the pay roll is nix. Will you pipe the diamonds and rubies? There's your room rents, monseer."

The day clerk, who considered himself a judge, was of the opinion that there were two or three thousand dollars tied up in the stones. It was a police affair. Some ambassador had been robbed, and the Britisher and the Greek or Bulgarian were mixed up in it.

Loot.

"I thought the war was over," said the night clerk.

"The shootin' is over, that's all," said the captain of the bellboys, sagely.

What had happened in Room 212? A duel of wits rather than of physical contact. Hawksley realized instantly that here was the crucial moment. Caught and overpowered, he was lost. If he shouted for help and it came, he was lost. Once the police took a hand in the affair, the newspaper publicity that would follow would result in the total ruin of all his hopes. There was only one chance - to finish this affair outside the hotel, in some fog-dimmed street.

There leaped into his mind, obliquely and queerly, a picture in one of Victor Hugo's tales - Quasimodo. And there he stood, in every particular save the crooked back. And on the top of this came the recollection that he had seen the man before.... The torches! The red torches and the hobnailed boots!

There began an odd game, a dancing match, which the young man led adroitly, always with his thought upon the open window. There would be no shooting; Quasimodo would not want the police either.

Half a dozen times his fingers touched futilely the dancing master's coat. Bank and forth across the room, over the bed, round the stand and chairs. Persistently, as if he understood the young man's manoeuvres, the squat individual kept to the window side of the room.

An inspiration brought the affair to an end. Hawksley snatched up the bedclothes and threw them as the ancient retiarius threw his net.

He managed to win to the lower platform of the fire escape before Quasimodo emerged.

There was a fourteen-foot drop to the street, and the man with the golden stubble on his chin and cheeks swung for a moment to gauge his landing. Quasimodo came after with the agility of an ape.

The race down the street began with about a hundred yards in between.

Down the hill they went, like phantoms. The distance did not widen.

同类推荐
  • 平台纪事本末

    平台纪事本末

    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。
  • 增补评注柳选医案

    增补评注柳选医案

    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。
  • 二酉委谭摘录

    二酉委谭摘录

    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。
  • 佛说弥勒下生成佛经

    佛说弥勒下生成佛经

    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。
  • 太上正一解五音咒诅秘箓

    太上正一解五音咒诅秘箓

    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
  • 雨鼓

    雨鼓

    《雨鼓》讲述:15世纪,奥斯曼帝国出兵围攻阿尔巴尼亚的城堡,帕夏率领千军万马驻扎城脚,千奇西怪的攻城方式轮番上演,百转千回的军委会派系斗争层出不穷。首次踏上战场的士兵手忙脚乱地冲锋陷阵,预示着下雨的雨鼓声犹如上帝的怒吼。
  • 走向未来(科技发展大趋势·科学新导向丛书)

    走向未来(科技发展大趋势·科学新导向丛书)

    本册《走向未来:科技发展大趋势》一书是一本尽情畅想明天、激发中小学生想象力的科普读物。如果有一天地球停止转动?你会觉得心脏好像要从嘴里飞出去,所有的东西都会以很快的速度飞向东边……如果明天的太阳不再升起?白天会和夜晚一样黑,公鸡不知道应该什么时候打鸣……如果地球是方的会怎样?如果你有三只眼睛会怎样?如果我们和外星人联系上会怎样?……上百个令人目瞪口呆的问题,引发孩子强烈的好奇心和丰富的想象力;超乎寻常的难题和巧妙的回答,带领孩子进入奇妙的科学世界,创造一个完全不同于今日的全新地球。
  • A Trace of Vice (a Keri Locke Mystery--Book #3)

    A Trace of Vice (a Keri Locke Mystery--Book #3)

    "A dynamic story line that grips from the first chapter and doesn't let go."--Midwest Book Review, Diane Donovan (regarding Once Gone)From #1 bestselling mystery author Blake Pierce comes a new masterpiece of psychological suspense.In A TRACE OF VICE (Book #3 in the Keri Locke mystery series), Keri Locke, Missing Persons Detective in the Homicide division of the LAPD, follows a fresh lead for her abducted daughter. It leads to a violent confrontation with The Collector—which, in turn, offers more clues that may, after all this time, reunite her with her daughter.
  • ET少女

    ET少女

    颠沛流离到地球的外星少女孟樱珞,十年寻找只为找到初遇的那一人,是神秘乖僻的他,还是温暖如斯的他?
  • 穿越之冷月无声

    穿越之冷月无声

    这世间,最美不过情人重逢,最哀不过冷月无声。一句话简介,看看就好。
  • 猫眼看日本

    猫眼看日本

    本书以《哆啦A梦》为切入点,深入剖析日本历史和社会各个层面。《哆啦A梦》是有较大影响的动画片,而在这部为人熟知的动漫背后的曲折离奇的历史故事,很多人大概都很陌生。作者正是通过这一话题,引导大家去了解日本、了解日本历史。本书文字洗练、幽默风趣,可读性非常强,适合大多数读者休闲阅读。
  • 情感赠言(当代教育丛书·现代名言妙语全集)

    情感赠言(当代教育丛书·现代名言妙语全集)

    这些名言警句句句经典,字字珠玑,精辟睿智,闪耀着智慧的光芒和精神的力量,具有很强的鼓舞性、哲理性和启迪性。具有成功心理暗示和潜在力量开发的功能,不仅可以成为我们的座右铭,还能增进自律的能力。
  • Transmission (The Invasion Chronicles—Book One): A

    Transmission (The Invasion Chronicles—Book One): A

    "TRANSMISSION is riveting, unexpected, and firmly rooted in strong psychological profiles backed with thriller and sci-fi elements: what more could readers wish for? (Just the quick publication of Book Two, Arrival.)"--Midwest Book ReviewFrom #1 worldwide bestselling fantasy author Morgan Rice comes a long-anticipated science fiction series debut. When SETI finally receives a signal from an alien civilization, what will happen next?A 13 year old boy, dying of a rare brain disease, is the only one able to hear and decode signals from outer space. SETI confirms it is a real signal.What is the message? How will the world react?And most of all: are the aliens coming?"Action-packed …. Rice's writing is solid and the premise intriguing."–Publishers Weekly, re A Quest of Heroes"A superior fantasy… A recommended winner for any who enjoy epic fantasy writing fueled by powerful, believable young adult protagonists."
  • 效率达人:上班前45件事

    效率达人:上班前45件事

    找到活力的方法,绝不是猫在被窝里睡懒觉,也不仅仅是晨跑那般枯燥乏味。只要愿意,从睁开眼睛的那一刻直到迈进办公室之前,我们可以在这段时间里找到N种方法来提升的活力,让自己精神充沛。或许一时之间我们还想不出什么特别适合自己的“醒活”方法。没关系!翻开本书,我们会看到里面介绍了45种提升活力的方法,它们简单易行而且相当有效,其中肯定有适合我们的妙方。
  • 倾国盛宠

    倾国盛宠

    【极致宠文】【连归初×容倾流】连归初——翩跹清离之样貌,吞吐山河之劲势。容倾流——如玉如琢似谪仙,手握乾坤睨万物。连归初×容倾流=倾国倾城小尤物×清云似火大妖精她如掇如风,娇姿倾贵,有朝一日也自愿臣服于他,将一生都主动递上,任凭他做主。他生杀予夺,权势滔天,有一日竟也对她,言听计从。他将她全盘接过,纵揽余生,包括情爱,包括生死。连归初于容倾流,半生全是相思。容倾流于连归初,此情深深几许。本文就是披着正经皮囊的小甜文。绝世大妖精为主角,倾城小甜心为配角,美滋美味。走过路过,客官们不要错过。【更新进度:每天更新6000余字】