the titan-第59章
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〃Well； what can I do？〃 he repeated。 〃I'm not here after six。 The janitor runs this elevator from six to twelve。〃
〃There isn't a room vacant anywhere near this one； is there？〃 Kennedy asked； speculatively。
The factotum thought。 〃Yes； there is。 One just across the hall。〃
〃What time does she come here as a rule？〃
〃I don't know anything about nights。 In the day she sometimes comes mornings； sometimes in the afternoon。〃
〃Anybody with her？〃
〃Sometimes a man； sometimes a girl or two。 I haven't really paid much attention to her； to tell you the truth。〃
Kennedy walked away whistling。
From this day on Mr。 Kennedy became a watcher over this very unconventional atmosphere。 He was in and out； principally observing the comings and goings of Mr。 Gurney。 He found what he naturally suspected； that Mr。 Gurney and Stephanie spent hours here at peculiar timesafter a company of friends had jollified； for instance； and all had left； including Gurney； when the latter would quietly return； with Stephanie sometimes； if she had left with the others； alone if she had remained behind。 The visits were of varying duration； and Kennedy； to be absolutely accurate； kept days； dates； the duration of the hours； which he left noted in a sealed envelope for Cowperwood in the morning。 Cowperwood was enraged； but so great was his interest in Stephanie that he was not prepared to act。 He wanted to see to what extent her duplicity would go。
The novelty of this atmosphere and its effect on him was astonishing。 Although his mind was vigorously employed during the day； nevertheless his thoughts kept returning constantly。 Where was she？ What was she doing？ The bland way in which she could lie reminded him of himself。 To think that she should prefer any one else to him； especially at this time when he was shining as a great constructive factor in the city； was too much。 It smacked of age； his ultimate displacement by youth。 It cut and hurt。
One morning； after a peculiarly exasperating night of thought concerning her； he said to young Kennedy： 〃I have a suggestion for you。 I wish you would get this elevator man you are working with down there to get you a duplicate key to this studio； and see if there is a bolt on the inside。 Let me know when you do。 Bring me the key。 The next time she is there of an evening with Mr。 Gurney step out and telephone me。〃
The climax came one night several weeks after this discouraging investigation began。 There was a heavy yellow moon in the sky； and a warm； sweet summer wind was blowing。 Stephanie had called on Cowperwood at his office about four to say that instead of staying down…town with him； as they had casually planned； she was going to her home on the West Side to attend a garden…party of some kind at Georgia Timberlake's。 Cowperwood looked at her withfor hima morbid eye。 He was all cheer； geniality； pleasant badinage； but he was thinking all the while what a shameless enigma she was； how well she played her part； what a fool she must take him to be。 He gave her youth； her passion； her attractiveness； her natural promiscuity of soul due credit； but he could not forgive her for not loving him perfectly； as had so many others。 She had on a summery black…and…white frock and a fetching brown Leghorn hat； which； with a rich…red poppy ornamenting a flare over her left ear and a peculiar ruching of white…and…black silk about the crown； made her seem strangely young； debonair； a study in Hebraic and American origins。
〃Going to have a nice time； are you？〃 he asked； genially； politically； eying her in his enigmatic and inscrutable way。 〃Going to shine among that charming company you keep！ I suppose all the standbys will be thereBliss Bridge； Mr。 Knowles； Mr。 Crossdancing attendance on you？〃
He failed to mention Mr。 Gurney。
Stephanie nodded cheerfully。 She seemed in an innocent outing mood。
Cowperwood smiled； thinking how one of these daysvery shortly； perhapshe was certain to take a signal revenge。 He would catch her in a lie； in a compromising position somewherein this studio； perhapsand dismiss her with contempt。 In an elder day； if they had lived in Turkey； he would have had her strangled； sewn in a sack； and thrown into the Bosporus。 As it was； he could only dismiss her。 He smiled and smiled； smoothing her hand。 〃Have a good time；〃 he called； as she left。 Later； at his own homeit was nearly midnightMr。 Kennedy called him up。
〃Mr。 Cowperwood？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃You know the studio in the New Arts Building？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃It is occupied now。〃
Cowperwood called a servant to bring him his runabout。 He had had a down…town locksmith make a round keystem with a bored clutch at the end of ita hollow which would fit over the end of such a key as he had to the studio and turn it easily from the outside。 He felt in his pocket for it； jumped in his runabout； and hurried away。 When he reached the New Arts Building he found Kennedy in the hall and dismissed him。 〃Thanks；〃 he observed； brusquely。 〃I will take care of this。〃
He hurried up the stairs； avoiding the elevator； to the vacant room opposite； and thence reconnoitered the studio door。 It was as Kennedy had reported。 Stephanie was there； and with Gurney。 The pale poet had been brought there to furnish her an evening of delight。 Because of the stillness of the building at this hour he could hear their muffled voices speaking alternately； and once Stephanie singing the refrain of a song。 He was angry and yet grateful that she had； in her genial way； taken the trouble to call and assure him that she was going to a summer lawn…party and dance。 He smiled grimly； sarcastically； as he thought of her surprise。 Softly he extracted the clutch…key and inserted it； covering the end of the key on the inside and turning it。 It gave solidly without sound。 He next tried the knob and turned it； feeling the door spring slightly as he did so。 Then inaudibly； because of a gurgled laugh with which he was thoroughly familiar； he opened it and stepped in。
At his rough； firm cough they sprang upGurney to a hiding position behind a curtain； Stephanie to one of concealment behind draperies on the couch。 She could not speak； and could scarcely believe that her eyes did not deceive her。 Gurney； masculine and defiant； but by no means well composed； demanded： 〃Who are you？ What do you want here？〃 Cowperwood replied very simply and smilingly： 〃Not very much。 Perhaps Miss Platow there will tell you。〃 He nodded in her direction。
Stephanie； fixed by his cold； examining eye； shrank nervously； ignoring Gurney entirely。 The latter perceived on the instant that he had a previous liaison to deal withan angry and outraged loverand he was not prepared to act either wisely or well。
〃Mr。 Gurney；〃 said Cowperwood； complacently； after staring at Stephanie grimly and scorching her with his scorn； 〃I have no concern with you； and do not propose to do anything to disturb you or Miss Platow after a very few moments。 I am not here without reason。 This young woman has been steadily deceiving me。 She has lied to me frequently； and pretended an innocence which I did not believe。 To…night she told me she was to be at a lawn…party on the West Side。 She has been my mistress for months。 I have given her money； jewelry； whatever she wanted。 Those jade ear…rings； by the way； are one of my gifts。〃 He nodded cheerfully in Stephanie's direction。 〃I have come here simply to prove to her that she cannot lie to me any more。 Heretofore； every time I have accused her of things like this she has cried and lied。 I do not know how much you know of her； or how fond you are of her。 I merely wish her； not you； to know〃and he turned and stared at Stephanie〃that the day of her lying to me is over。
During this very peculiar harangue Stephanie； who； nervous； fearful； fixed； and yet beautiful； remained curled up in the corner of the suggestive oriental divan； had been gazing at Cowperwood in a way which plainly attested； trifle as she might with others； that she was nevertheless fond of himintensely so。 His strong； solid figure； confronting her so ruthlessly； gripped her imagination； of which she had a world。 She had managed to conceal her body in part； but
