the white moll-第20章
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I went to Gypsy Nan's … and might have been spared my pains。 I
told her about last night； and that I knew you were in danger； and
that I wanted to help you。 I mention this so that you will
understand that I am not just speaking on the spur of the moment；
now that I have an opportunity of repeating that offer in person。〃
She looked at him impassively for a moment。 He had neglected to
state that he had also told Gypsy Nan he desired to enter into a
partnership with her … in
crime。
〃It is very kind of you；〃 she said sweetly。 〃I presume； then； that
you have some suggestion to make？〃
〃Only what any … may I say it？ … gentleman would suggest under the
circumstances。 It is far too dangerous a thing for a woman to
attempt； it would be much less dangerous for me。 I realize that
you are in earnest now； and I will agree to carry out your plan in
every detail once I am satisfied that you are safely away。〃
〃The idea being；〃 she observed monotonously； 〃that； being safely
away； and the necklace being left safely on the floor； you are left
safely in possession of … the necklace。 Well； my answer is … no！〃
His face hardened a little。
〃I'm sorry； then；〃 he said。 〃For in that case； in so far as your
project is concerned； I； too； must say … no！〃
It was an impasse。 She studied his face； the strong jaw set a
little now； the lips molded in sterner lines； and for all her
outward show of composure； she knew a sick dismay。 And for a moment
she neither moved nor spoke。 What he would do next； she did not
know； but she knew quite well that he had not the slightest
intention of leaving her here undisturbed to carry out her plan；
unless … unless； somehow； she could outwit him。 She bit her lips
again。 And then inspiration came。 She turned； and with a sudden
leap gained the wall； and the next instant； holding him back with
her revolver as she reached up with her left hand； she caught at
the great metal shield with its encircling cluster of small arms；
and wrenched it from its fastenings。 It crashed to the floor with
a din infernal that； in the night silence； went racketing through
the house like the reverberations of an explosion。
〃My God； what have you done！〃 he cried out hoarsely。
〃What I said I'd do！〃 she answered。 She was white…faced； frightened
at her own act； fighting to maintain her nerve。 〃You'll go now； I
imagine！〃 she flung at him passionately。 〃You haven't much time。〃
〃No！〃 he said。 His composure was instantly at command again。 〃No；〃
he repeated steadily； 〃not until after you have gone。 I refuse
… positively … to let you run any such risk as that。 It is far too
dangerous。〃
〃Yes； you will！〃 she burst out wildly。 〃You will！ You must！ You
shall！ I … I …〃 The house itself seemed suddenly to have awakened。
From above doors opened and closed。 Indistinctly there came the
sound of a voice。 She clenched her hand in anguished desperation。
〃Go； you … you coward！〃 she whispered frantically。
〃Miss Gray； for God's sake； do as I tell you！〃 he said between his
teeth。 〃You don't realize the danger。 It's not the pursuit。 They
are not coming down here unarmed after that racket。 I know that
you came in by that door there。 Go out that way。 I will play the
game for you。 I swear it！〃
There were footsteps； plainly audible now； out in the main hall。
〃Quick！〃 he urged。 〃Are we both to be caught？ See！〃 He backed
suddenly toward the window。
〃See！ I am too far away now to touch that necklace before they get
here。 Throw it down； and get behind the portiere of the rear door！〃
Mechanically she was retreating。 They were almost at the other door
now； those footsteps outside in the main hall。 With a backward
spring she reached the portiere。 The door handle across the room
rattled。 She glanced at the Adventurer。 He was close to the window。
It was true； he could not get the necklace and at the same time hope
to escape。 She whipped it from her pocket； tossed it from her to
the floor near the plush…lined case … and slipped behind the portiere。
The door opposite to her was wrenched violently open。 She could
see through the corner of the portiere。 There was a sharp； excited
exclamation； as a gray…haired man； in pajamas； evidently Mr。
Hayden…Bond himself； sprang into the room。 He was followed by
another man in equal dishabille。
And the Adventurer was leaping for the window。
There was a blinding flash； the roar of a report； as the
millionaire flung up a revolver and fired； it was echoed by the
splatter and tinkle of falling glass。 The Adventurer was astride
the window sill now； his face deliberately and unmistakably in view。
〃A foot too high； and a bit to the right！〃 said the Adventurer
debonairly … and the window sill was empty。
Rhoda Gray stole silently through the doorway behind her。 She could
hear the millionaire and his companion； the butler； probably； rush
across the library to the window。 As she gained the pantry； she
heard another shot。 Tight…lipped； using her flashlight； she ran
through the kitchen。 In a moment more； she was standing at the
garage door； listening； peering furtively outside。 The street
itself was empty； there were shouts； though； from the direction of
the Avenue。 She stepped out on the side street； and walking
composedly that she might not attract attention； though very impulse
urged her to run with frantic haste； she reached the corner and the
waiting taxicab。 She gave the chauffeur an address that would bring
her to the street in the rear of Gypsy Nan's and within reach of the
lane where she had left her clothes； and； with an injunction to
hurry； sprang into the cab。
And then for a long time she sat there with her hands tightly
clasped in her lap。 Her mind； her brain； her very soul itself
seemed in chaos and turmoil。 There was the Sparrow； who was safe；
and Danglar； who would move heaven and hell to get her now； and
the Adventurer； who … Her mind seemed to grope around in cycles；
it seemed to moil on and on and arrive at nothing。 The Adventurer
had played the game … perhaps because he had had to； but he had
not risked that revolver shot in her stead because he had had to。
Who was he？ How had he come there？ How had he found her there？
How had he known that she had entered by that rear door behind
the portiere？ She remembered how that he had offered not a single
explanation。
Almost mechanically she dismissed the taxi when at last it stopped；
and almost mechanically； as Gypsy Nan； some ten minutes later； she
let herself into the garret； and lighted the candle。 She was
conscious； as she hid the White Moll's clothes away； that she was
thankful she had regained in safety even the questionable sanctuary
of this wretched place； but； strangely； thoughts of her own peril
seemed somehow to be temporarily relegated to the background。
She flung herself down on the bed … it was not Gypsy Nan's habit to
undress … and blew out the light。 But she could not sleep。 And
hour after hour in the darkness she tossed unrestfully。 It was very
strange！ It was not as it had been last night。 It was not the
impotent； frantic rebellion against the horrors of her own situation；
nor the fear and terror of it； that obsessed her to…night。 It was
the Adventurer who plagued her。
VIII。 THE CODE MESSAGE
It was strange！ Most strange！ Three days had passed； and to Gypsy
Nan's lodging no one had come。 The small crack under the partition
that had been impressed into service as a letter…box had remained
empty。 There had been no messages … nothing … only a sinister；
brooding isolation。 Since the night Rhoda Gray had left Danglar；
balked； almost a madman in his fury； in the little room over
Shluker's junk shop； Danglar had not been seen … nor the Adventurer
… nor even Rough Rorke。 Her only visitant since then had been an
ugly premonition of impending peril； which came and stalked like a
hideous ghost about the bare and miserable garret； and which woke
her at night with its whispering voice … which was the voice of
intuition。
Rhoda Gray drew her shawl closer around her shoulders and shivered；
as now； from shuffling down the block in the guise of Gypsy Nan；
s
