登陆注册
5230100000067

第67章 CHAPTER XXIV(1)

Between Cutty's heart and his throat there was very little space at that moment for the propelment of sound. Kitty Conover had innocently - he understood that almost immediately and recovered his mental balance - Kitty had innocently thrown a bomb at his feet.

It did not matter that it was a dud. The result was the same. For a second, then, all the terror, all the astounding suspension of thought and action attending the arrival of a shell on the battlefield were his. As an aftermath he would have liked very much to sit down. Instead, maintaining the mock gravity of his expression, he offered his arm, which Kitty accepted, still the Grand Duchess of Gerolstein. Pompously they marched into the dining room. But as Kitty saw Hawksley she dropped the air confusedly, and hesitated. "Good gracious!" she whispered.

"What's the matter?" Cutty whispered in turn.

"My clothes!"

"What's the matter with 'em?"

"I slept in them!"

If that wasn't like a woman! It did not matter how she might look to an old codger, aetat. fifty-two; he didn't count. But a handsome young chap, now, in white flannels and sport shirt, his head bound picturesquely -

"Don't let that bother you," he said. "Those duds of his are mine."

Still, Cutty was grateful for this little diversion. As he drew back Kitty's chair he was wholly himself again. At once he dictated the trend of the conversation, moved it whither he willed, into strange channels, gave them all a glimpse of his amazing versatility, with vivid shafts of humour to light up corners.

Kuroki, who had travelled far with his master these ten years, sometimes paused in his rounds to nod affirmatively.

Hawksley listened intently, wondering a bit. What was the dear old beggar's idea, throwing such fireworks round at breakfast? He stole a glance at Kitty to see how she was taking it - and caught her stealing a glance at him. Instantly both switched back to Cutty.

Shortly the little comedy was repeated because neither could resist the invisible force of some half-conscious inquiry. Third time, they smiled unembarrassedly. Mind you, they were both hanging upon Cutty's words; only their eyes were like little children at church, restless. It was spring.

Without being exactly conscious of what he was doing, Hawksley began to dress Kitty - that is, he visualized her in ball gowns, in sports, in furs. He put her on horses, in opera boxes, in limousines. But in none of these pictures could he hold her; she insisted upon returning to her kitchen to fry bacon and eggs.

Then came a twisted thought, rejected only to return; a surprising thought, so alluring that the sense of shame, of chivalry, could not press it back. Cutty's words began to flow into one ear and out of the other, without sense. There was in his heart - put there by the recollection of the jewels - an indescribable bitterness, a desperate cynicism that urged him to strike out, careless of friend or foe. Who could say what would happen to him when he left here?

A flash of spring madness, then to go forth devil-may-care.

She was really beautiful, full of unsuspected fire. To fan it into white flame. The whole affair would depend upon whether she cared for music. If she did he would pluck the soul out of her. She had saved his life. Well, what of that? He had broken yonder man's bread and eaten his salt. Still, what of that? Hadn't he come from a race of scoundrels? The blood - he had smothered and repressed it all his life - to unleash it once, happen what might. If she were really fond of music!

Once again Kitty's glance roved back to Hawksley. This time she encountered a concentration in his unwavering stare. She did not quite like it. Perhaps he was only thinking about something and wasn't actually seeing her. Still, it quieted down the fluttering gayety of her mood. There was a sun spot of her own that became visible whenever her interest in Cutty's monologue lagged. Perhaps Hawksley had his sun spot.

"And so," she heard Cutty say. "Mr. Hawksley is going to become an American citizen. Kitty, what are some of the principles of good citizenship?"

"To be nice to policemen. Not to meddle with politics, because it is vulgar. To vote perfunctorily. To 'let George do it' when there are reforms to be brought about. To keep your hat on when the flag goes by because otherwise you will attract attention. To find fault without being able to offer remedies. To keep in debt because life here in America would be monotonous without bill collectors."

Cutty interrupted with a laugh. "Kitty, you'll 'scare Hawksley off the map!"

"Let him know the worst at once," retorted Kitty, flashing a smile at the victim.

"Spoofing me - what?" said Hawksley, appealing to his host.

This quality of light irony in a woman was a distinct novelty to Hawksley. She had humour, then? So much the better. An added zest to the game he was planning. He recalled now that she was not of the clinging kind either. A woman with a humorous turn of mind was ten times more elusive than a purely sentimental one.

Give him an hour or two with that old Amati - if she really cared for music! She would be coming to the apartment again - some afternoon, when his host was out of the way. Better still, he would call her by telephone; the plea of loneliness. Scoundrel?

Of course he was. He was not denying that. He would embark upon this affair without the smug varnish of self-lies. Fire - to play with it!

He ate his portion of beefsteak, potatoes, and toast, and emptied his coffee cup. It was really the first substantial meal he had had in many hours. A feeling of satisfaction began to permeate him. He smiled at Miss Frances, who shook her head dubiously. She could not quite make him out pathologically. Perhaps she had been treating him as shell-shocked when there was nothing at all the matter with his nerves.

Presently Kuroki came in with a yellow envelope, which he laid at the side of Cutty's plate.

"Telegrams!" exploded Cutty. "Hang it, I don't want any telegrams!"

"Open it and have it over with," suggested Kitty.

"If you don't mind."

同类推荐
  • 老子翼

    老子翼

    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。
  • 不空罥索陀罗尼自在王咒经

    不空罥索陀罗尼自在王咒经

    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。
  • 贤首五教仪开蒙

    贤首五教仪开蒙

    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。
  • 清代台湾职官印录

    清代台湾职官印录

    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。
  • 上清太极真人神仙经

    上清太极真人神仙经

    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
  • 明心宝鉴

    明心宝鉴

    《明心宝鉴》大约成书于元末明初,辑录者为范立本。《明心宝鉴》是一部汇集了儒释道思想精华,荟萃了明代之前中国圣贤有关修身养性、安身立命、言行交友等方方面面处世哲学的人生教科书。全书分为继善、天理、顺命、孝行、正己、安分、存心、戒性、劝学、训子、省心、立教、治政、治家、安义、遵礼、存信、言语、交友、妇行共二十篇,六百余段短小精悍的名言警句。在明代,本书是比《菜根谭》更流行的劝善书、启蒙书,曾多次重刊、重印,万历皇帝还命人重辑修订一遍,是当时最流行的通俗读物之一。
  • 卫氏风云

    卫氏风云

    汉武帝末年,虽然不再波澜壮阔,却是暗流涌动。随着大将军卫青的逝世,皇后卫子夫的失宠,曾经风光无限的卫家已经风光不再。卫风,长公主最溺爱的幼子,卫青寄托了最大希望而又最不放心的儿子,带着不知从何而来的奇思怪想,懵懵懂懂的闯入了这个充斥着阴谋与阳谋、卑鄙与高尚并存的世界。他是将卫氏推向败亡的深渊,还是重铸卫氏的辉煌?
  • 国际危机传播

    国际危机传播

    由高晓虹和隋岩主编的《国际危机传播》结合丰富的案例,在厘清危机传播与国际危机传播的关系、剖析危机传播国际化趋势的基础上,对国际危机传播中媒介组织的社会功能、生产机制、报道策略,以及公共政策、文化在国际危机传播中的作用,进行了深入的探讨;创新性地引入修辞学和阐释学理论,对国际危机传播中的文本修辞和过度报道进行了详尽分析。国际危机此起彼伏,国际危机传播影响深远,如何临希不乱,有效地进行媒体传播,帮助各方面转“危”为“机”,是《国际危机传播》的宗旨所在。
  • 奈何大神太腹黑

    奈何大神太腹黑

    如果你问起修途中最厉害的存在,那么答案百分百是【七洛染羽】。如果你问起修途中最嚣张的新人,那么答案绝对会是【浅碧泠泠】。“你们赚钱,我杀人就好。”——不想杀人的新手不是好玩家。“夫人,这厢有理了。”——不被勾搭的大神不是好相公。秦浅浅与洛羽齐,大神与大神的终极碰撞,腹黑自有腹黑磨。任务算什么,拐个相公回来才是正经事。
  • 营养主食集锦

    营养主食集锦

    主食是指传统上餐桌上的主要食物,所需能量的主要来源。由于主食是碳水化合物特别是淀粉的主要摄入源,因此以淀粉为主要成分的稻米、小麦、玉米等谷物,以及土豆、甘薯等块茎类食物被不同地域的人当作主食。《营养主食集锦》介绍面食、米饭、粥类这三大主食食谱,南北贯通,总有一类适合读者的口味。
  • 凤御凰权

    凤御凰权

    一场背叛,华南大陆第一美人凤月璃为证清白,血溅当场。再次睁开眼睛,她已不再是过去的月璃。是浴火重生的凤月璃。整个京都之人说她是废材?抱歉,那些人全都是不识才华。她一瞥惊华惊艳了那些人的眼睛。姐妹不把她当成姐妹父亲不把她当女儿!凤月璃极力碾压这些人让父亲承认为止。一道圣旨,让她嫁给一个天下人都让人觉得可怕的残帝,却未料到,那人是全天下难得的黑心,相貌让女人都嫉妒,却从此把她宠上心尖上。她腹黑算尽所有人,虐绿茶虐渣渣,他为她铲尽欺她之人。
  • 超级军工科学家

    超级军工科学家

    重生平行空间成为超级军工科学家。
  • 打工妹逆袭记

    打工妹逆袭记

    本文有一个与众不同的男女主角!讲述了八十年代,在改革开放的时代洪流下,来自农村的白萍和赵俊霖等人南下广州追逐梦想的故事。有一天,农村出身,老实本份的白萍惊讶地发现,自己的行事风格变得越来越像赵俊霖那个无赖了……白萍大惊,完了完了,这是中毒已深的节奏哇!只是,不知道现在抽身,是否还来得及?
  • 射雕英雄传(第一卷)(纯文字新修版)

    射雕英雄传(第一卷)(纯文字新修版)

    《射雕英雄传》又名《大漠英雄传》,是“射雕三部曲”之一,下接《神雕侠侣》和《倚天屠龙记》。这部小说历史背景突出,场景纷繁,气势宏伟,具有鲜明的“英雄史诗”风格。在人物创造与情节安排上,它打破了传统武侠小说一味传奇,将人物作为情节附庸的模式,坚持以创造个性化的人物形象为中心,坚持人物统帅故事,按照人物性格的发展需要及其内在可能性、必然性来设置情节,从而使这部小说达到了事虽奇人却真的妙境。
  • 乱世煞神

    乱世煞神

    一名“能”隐藏了十三年的少年,一次十死无生的历练,四大神兽,另一个自己,天灾,地害,人祸,制裁审判,戮仙弑神,乱世为尊,我为煞神。