the white moll-第47章
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colors and of all sizes … but each one of them seemed to pulsate and
throb； and from some wondrous； glorious depth of its own to fling
back from the white ray upon it a thousand rays in return； as though
into it had been breathed a living and immortal fire。
And Rhoda Gray； crouched there； stared … until suddenly she grew
afraid； and suddenly with a shudder she wrapped the package up again。
These were the stones for whose fabulous worth the woman whose
personality she； Rhoda Gray； had usurped； had murdered a man； these
were the stones which were indirectly the instrumentality … since
but for them Gypsy Nan would never have existed … that made her；
Rhoda Gray； to…night； now； at this very moment； a hunted thing；
homeless； friendless； fighting for her very life against police and
underworld alike！
She rose abruptly to her feet。 She had no longer any need of a
flashlight。 There was even light of a sort in the place … she could
see the stars through the jagged holes in the roof； and through one
of these； too； the moonlight streamed in。 The shed was all but
crumbling in a heap。 Underfoot； what had once been flooring； was
now but rotting； broken boards。 Under one of these； beside the
clothing of Gypsy Nan which she had discarded but a little while
before； she deposited the package； then stepped out into the lane；
and from there to the street again。
And now she became suddenly conscious of a great and almost
overpowering physical weariness。 She did not quite understand at
first； unless it was to be attributed to the reaction from the last
few hours … and then； smiling wanly to herself； she remembered。 For
two nights she had not slept。 It seemed very strange。 That was it；
of course； though she was not in the least sleepy now … just tired；
just near the breaking point。
But she must go on。 To…night was the end； anyhow。 To…night； failing
to keep her appointment as 〃Bertha；〃 the crash must come； but before
it came； as the White Moll； armed with the knowledge of the crime
that had driven Danglar's wife into hiding； and which was Danglar's
crime too； and with the evidence in the shape of those jewels in her
possession； she and Danglar would meet somewhere … alone。 Before the
law got him； when he would be close…mouthed and struggling with all
his cunning to keep the evidence of other crimes from piling up
against him and damning whatever meager chances he might have to
escape the penalty for Deemer's murder； she meant … yes； even if
she pretended to compound a felony with him … to force or to inveigle
from him； it mattered little which； a confession of the authorship
and details of the scheme to rob Skarbolov that night when she；
Rhoda Gray； in answer to a dying woman's pleading； had tried to
forestall the plan； and had been caught； apparently； in the very act
of committing the robbery herself！ With that confession in her
possession； with the identity of the unknown woman who had died in
the hospital that night established； her own story would be believed。
And so； if she were weary； what did it matter？ It was only until
morning。 Danglar was at the Silver Sphinx now with the man he meant
that she should help him murder； only … only that plan would fail；
because there would be no 〃Bertha〃 to lure the man to his death； and
she； Rhoda Gray； had only to keep track of Danglar until somewhere；
where he lived perhaps； she should have that final scene； that final
reckoning with him alone。
It was a long way to the Silver Sphinx； which she knew； as every one
in the underworld； and every one in New York who was addicted to
slumming knew； was a combination dance…hall and restaurant in the
Chatham Square district。 She tried to find a taxi； but with out
avail。 A clock in a jeweler's window which she passed showed her
that it was ten minutes after eleven。 She had had no idea that it
was so late。 At eleven； Danglar had said。 Danglar would be growing
restive！ She took the elevated。 If she could risk the protection
of her veil in the Silver Sphinx； she could risk it equally in an
elevated train！
But； in spite of the elevated； it was； she knew； well on towards
half past eleven when she finally came down the street in front of
the Silver Sphinx。 From under her veil； she glanced； half curiously；
half in a sort of grim irony； at the taxis lined up before the
dancehall。 The two leading cars were not taxis at all； though they
bore the ear…marks； with their registers； of being public vehicles
for hire； they were large； roomy； powerful； and looked； with their
hoods up； like privately owned motors。 Well； it was of little
account！ She shrugged her shoulders； as …she mounted the steps of
the dance…hall。 Neither 〃Bertha〃 nor Cloran would use those cars
to…night！
XVII。 THE SILVER SPHINX
A Bedlam of noise smote Rhoda Gray's ears as she entered the Silver
Sphinx。 A jazz band was in full swing； on the polished section of
the floor in the center； a packed mass of humanity swirled and
gyrated and wriggled in the contortions of the 〃latest〃 dance； and
laughed and howled immoderately； and around the sides of the room；
the waiters rushed this way and that amongst the crowded tables；
mopping at their faces with their aprons。 It seemed as though
confusion itself held sway！
Rhoda Gray scanned the occupants of the tables。 The Silver Sphinx
was particularly riotous to…night； wasn't it？ Yes； she understood！
A great many of the men were wearing little badges。 Some society
or other was celebrating … and was doing it with abandon。 Most of
the men were half drunk。 It was certainly a free…and…easy night！
Everything went！
Danglar！ Yes； 'there he was … quite close to her； only a few tables
away … and beside him sat a heavy built； clean…shaven man of middle
age。 That would be Cloran； of course … the man who was to have been
lured to his death。 And Danglar was nervous and uneasy； she could
see。 His fingers were drumming a tattoo on the table； his eyes were
roving furtively about the room； and he did not seem to be paying any
but the most distrait attention to his companion； who was talking
to him。
Rhoda Gray sank quickly into a vacant chair。 Three men； linked arm
in arm； and decidedly more than a little drunk； were approaching
her。 She turned her head away to avoid attracting their attention。
It was too free and easy here to…night； and she began to regret her
temerity at having ventured inside； she would better； perhaps； have
waited until Danglar came out … only there were two exits； and she
might have missed him … and。。。
A cold fear upon her； she shrank back in her chair。 The three men
had halted at the table； and were clustered around her。 They began
a jocular quarrel amongst themselves as to who should dance with her。
Her heart was pounding。 She stood up； and pushed them away。
〃Oh； no； you don't！〃 hiccoughed one of the three。 〃Gotta see your
… hic！ … pretty face； anyhow！〃
She put up her hands frantically and clutched at her veil … but just
an instant too late to save it from being wrenched aside。 Wildly her
eyes flew to Danglar。 His attention had been attracted by the scene。
She saw him rise from his seat； she saw his eyes widen … and then；
stumbling over his chair in his haste； he made toward her。 Danglar
had recognized the White Moll！
She turned and ran。 Fear； horror； desperation； lent her strength。
It was not like this that she had counted on her reckoning with
Danglar！ She brushed the roisterers aside； and darted for the door。
Over her shoulder she glimpsed Danglar following her。 She reached
the door； burst through a knot of people there； and； her torn veil
clutched in her hand； dashed down the steps。 She could only run
… run； and pray that in some way she might escape。
And then a mad exultation came upon her。 She saw the man in the
chauffeur's seat of the first car in the line lean out and swing
the door open。 And in a flash she grasped the situation。 The man
was waiting for just this … for a woman to come running for her life
down the steps of the Silver Sphinx。 She put her hand up to her
face； hiding it with the torn veil； raced for the car； and flung
herself into the tonneau。
