登陆注册
5230100000046

第46章 CHAPTER XVII(1)

A March day, sunny and cloudless, with fresh, bracing winds. Green things pushed up from the soil; an eternal something was happening to the tips of the tree branches; an eternal something was happening in young hearts. A robin shook the dust of travel from his wings and bathed publicly in a park basin.

Here and there under the ten thousand roofs of the great city poets were busy with inkpots, trying to say an old thing in a new way.

Woe to the pinched soul that did not expand this day, for it was spring. Expansion! Nature - perhaps she was relenting a little, perhaps she saw that humanity was sliding down the scale, withering, and a bit of extra sunshine would serve to check the descension and breed a little optimism.

Cutty's study. The sunlight, thrown westward, turned windows and roofs and towers into incomparable bijoux. The double reflection cast a white light into the room, lifting out the blue and old-rose tints of the Ispahan rug.

Cutty shifted the chrysoprase, irresolutely for him. A dozen problems, and it was mighty hard to decide which to tackle first.

Principally there was Kitty. He had not seen her in four days, deeming it advisable for her not to call for the present. The Bolshevik agent who had followed him from the banker's might decide, without the aid of some connecting episode, that he had wasted his time.

It did not matter that Kitty herself was no longer watched and followed from her home to the office, from the office home. Was Karlov afraid or had he some new trick up his sleeve? It was not possible that he had given up Hawksley. He was probably planning an attack from some unexpected angle. To be sure that Karlov would not find reason to associate him with Kitty, Cutty had remained indoors during the daytime and gone forth at night in his dungarees.

Problem Two was quite as formidable. The secret agent who had passed as a negotiator for the drums of jeopardy had disappeared.

That had sinister significance. Karlov did not intend to sell the drums; merely wanted precise information regarding the man who had advertised for them. If the secret-service man weakened under torture, Cutty recognized that his own usefulness would be at an end. He would have to step aside and let the great currents sweep on without him. In that event these fifty-two years would pile upon his head, full measure; for the only thing that kept him vigorous was action, interest. Without some great incentive he would shrivel up and blow away - like some exhumed mummy.

Problem Three. How the deuce was he going to fascinate Kitty if he couldn't see her? But there was a bit of silver lining here.

If he couldn't see her, what chance had Hawksley? The whole sense and prompting of this problem was to keep Kitty and Hawksley apart.

How this was accomplished was of no vital importance. Problem Three, then, hung fire for the present. Funny, how this idea stuck in his head, that Hawksley was a menace to Kitty. One of those fool ideas, probably, but worth trying out.

Problem Four. That night, all on his own, he would make an attempt to enter that old house sandwiched between the two vacant warehouses.

Through pressure of authority he had obtained keys to both warehouses.

There would be a trap on the roof of that house. Doubtless it would be covered with tin; fairly impregnable if latched below. But he could find out. From the third-floor windows of either warehouse the drop was not more than six feet. If anywhere in town poor old Stefani Gregor would be in one of those rooms. But to storm the house frontally, without being absolutely sure, would be folly.

Gregor would be killed. The house was in fact an insane asylum, occupied by super-insane men. Warned, they were capable of blowing the house to kingdom come, themselves with it.

Problem Five was a mere vanishing point. He doubted if he would ever see those emeralds. What an infernal pity!

He built a coronet and leaned back, a wisp of smoke darting up from the bowl of his pipe.

"I say, you know, but that's a ripping game to play!" drawled a tired voice over his shoulder.

Cutty turned his head, to behold Hawksley, shaven, pale, and handsome, wrapped in a bed quilt and swaying slightly.

"What the deuce are you doing out of your room?" growled Cutty, but with the growl of a friendly dog.

Hawksley dropped into a chair weakly. "End of my rope. Got to talk to someone. Go dotty, else. Questions. Skull aches with 'em. Want to know whether this is a foretaste of the life I have a right to live - or the beginning of death. Be a good sport, and let's have it out."

"What is it you wish to know?" asked Cutty, gently. The poor beggar!

"Where I am. Who you are. What happened to me. What is going to happen to me," rather breathlessly. "Don't want any more suspense.

Don't want to look over my shoulder any more. Straight ahead. All the cards on the table, please."

Cutty rose and pushed the invalid's chair to a window and drew another up beside it.

"My word, the top of the world! Bally odd roost."

"You will find it safer here than you would on the shores of Kaspuskoi More," replied Cutty, gravely. "The Caspian wouldn't be a healthy place for you now."

With wide eyes Hawksley stared across the shining, wavering roofs. A pause. "What do you know?" he asked, faintly.

"Everything. But wait!" Cutty fetched one of the photographs and laid it upon the young man's knees. "Know who this is - Two-Hawks?"

A strained, tense gesture as Hawksley seized the photograph; then his chin sank slowly to his chest. A moment later Cutty was profoundly astonished to see something sparkle on its way down the bed quilt. Tears!

"I'm sorry!" cried Cutty, troubled and embarrassed. "I'm terribly sorry! I should have had the decency to wait a day or two."

"On the contrary, thank you!" Hawksley flung up his head. "Nothing in all God's muddied world could be more timely - the face of my mother! I am not ashamed of these tears. I am not afraid to die.

I am not even afraid to live. But all the things I loved - the familiar earth, the human beings, my dog - gone. I am alone."

同类推荐
  • 儿科萃精

    儿科萃精

    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。
  • 率性篇

    率性篇

    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。
  • 佛说太子慕魄经

    佛说太子慕魄经

    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。
  • 梁公九谏

    梁公九谏

    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。
  • 形意拳十法

    形意拳十法

    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
  • 鬼藏人(天黑莫上山,夜半鬼藏人)

    鬼藏人(天黑莫上山,夜半鬼藏人)

    (新书《憋宝人》已经上传)三十年前,一支神秘的勘探队在大兴安岭深处全军覆灭,只有谷爷爬回来,背上刻满了地图,手掌上刻着“三十年后……”;三十年后,谷爷的外孙小七,在北京过着皮货店掌柜的悠闲生活,突然间得知一位猎人死在大兴安岭林子里,临死前扒开桦树皮,咬断手指在树干上血书小七的名字……为查明真相,东家组队上山,却发现另有两支队伍也在暗暗行动。经历种种后,他们被莫名的力量引到阴山狼城。这座神秘的城池,不仅没有城门,里面还遍布着巨大的人骨坑,狼窟,巨大的狼形石雕,半空中悬挂着手腕粗的铁链子,风干的肉干。一个足以颠覆想象的宿命轮回抹平了时间的痕迹……
  • 台湾通志

    台湾通志

    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。
  • 仗剑破轮回

    仗剑破轮回

    地球少年偶然穿越到神奇大陆,收服了单纯美貌的妖怪女仆,征服了冷若冰霜的魔教公主,吸引了活泼娇俏的掌门千金。面对即将到来的大陆灭绝轮回,少年力挽狂澜,剑道、阵法修仙,仗剑破轮回,拯救苍生!
  • 心灵卷(文摘小说精品)

    心灵卷(文摘小说精品)

    百篇美文,百种人生态度,蕴涵了大师们感悟自然,体验人生的情愫。阅读本书,流连于名家名作中,体味亲人的爱,朋友的关怀,使干涸的心灵得以滋润,枯萎的生命得以激越。共赏隽永不朽的作品,透过名家笔触,感受唯美。翻开本书的那一瞬间将成为你生命中的一部分,享受阅读之乐、感知之乐、人生之乐。所选文章篇篇脍炙人口,堪称人类语言文字之杰作。
  • 泰泉乡礼

    泰泉乡礼

    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。
  • 侯沧海商路笔记

    侯沧海商路笔记

    《侯卫东官场笔记》兄弟篇,大神作家小桥老树潜心五年突破之作!一部民企教父的商路传奇奋斗史,也是每一个人的命运打拼史。翻开本书,在中国跌宕起伏的时代变迁20年中,见识一个民企教父的热血发家史。山南省首富侯沧海传奇创业故事。主人公侯沧海出身于国营企业工人家庭,1999年大学毕业后分配到政府工作。从政府辞职后投身商海,每一次挫折都成为他前进的动力。经过十年创业,最终成为山南省首富,并在茫茫人海中找到了心心相印的真心爱人。
  • 恋上天使面孔恶魔心

    恋上天使面孔恶魔心

    当狐狸遇上狐狸……冷清清,因为遵守狐狸法则而荼毒了一棵漂亮的嫩草,却不知,麻烦就此开始。天使的外表隐藏着魔鬼的邪恶,蓝一泽,一个纯真帅气,又有着执著和倔强的坏脾气,从遇上那一秒开始,就注定了甩不掉。冷清清深感绝望:先是被追踪到工作地,奖金彻底归零。其次被堵在门口,一双可怜兮兮的眼睛使她失去了单身的自由。再次,如影随形,生活犹如恶梦。云霄飞车?!悬崖蹦极?!恐怖鬼屋?!还有!还有!!!左右衡量,罢了!为了漂亮的嫩草,她冷清清霍出去了!不是吧?!晚上也要寻刺激,什么?!居然要带着她这个二十八岁的老大姐去玩飞车?!额的上帝啊!!可是,某一天居然被他发现,天使出现了恶魔的翅膀,这家伙居然是黑道人人闻声破胆的蓝太子!!!“清,给我暖床吧!”某一夜,恶魔带着天使的笑勾引她。哼!她可是狐狸,要主动出击,因为……她爱给嫩草暖床!《暖床系列》之‘狐狸精’凌镜:《我不暖床》瞑月流水:《我暖不暖床》
  • 王者荣耀之纵横天下

    王者荣耀之纵横天下

    他,曾经是国服第一强者,打爆美服,吊打韩服!因一次事故失去了记忆,重回高中校园。当,叶天拿上手机的那一刻开始,他要完成未完成的使命,要让华国站在王者荣耀电竞的金字塔顶端!游戏不是他的本领,因为他的体内有一本混沌遗书,透视眼,玄学医术,还有龙魂诀,以及神秘的龙魂血脉……清纯校花,美女老师,温柔女总裁,一个个都追着叶天……拳打富二代,脚踢高富帅!还有谁不服?
  • 小儿惊癎门

    小儿惊癎门

    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。
  • 暗杀左宗棠

    暗杀左宗棠

    清光绪年间,大风卷着黄沙,肆虐在漫无边际的戈壁上。狂风在沙丘,红柳丛中发出一阵阵怪叫。黄昏时分,四个骑马的人来到疏勒河边。走在前面的人,中年,肥胖,他叫朱文贵,是个商人,往返于俄罗斯、新疆、甘肃做生意,紧跟着他的一个黑衣人,宽肩、细腰、两臂修长,他叫王福成。后面两个人,回民打扮,四人翻身下马,钻进河边的芨芨草丛中,席地而坐,朱文贵拱手说:“福成大哥,兄弟在此就把这宗买卖敲定了。”王福成问:“你要杀的是何人?”朱文贵脸上露出了诡秘的表情:“说出此人姓名,只怕要把大哥吓一跳。”“你少卖关子,死在我王福成刀下的贪官污吏也有几个了。”