the white moll-第59章
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essential details。 In a certain city in the Middle West … I think
you will remember it well； Danglar … the young rajah met with an
accident。 He was out riding in the outskirts of the city。 His
horse took fright and dashed for the river…bank。 He was an
excellent horseman； but； pitched from his seat； his foot became
tangled in the stirrup； and as he hung there head down； a blow from
he horse's hoof rendered him unconscious； and he was being dragged
along； when a man by the name of Deemer； at the risk of his own
life； saved the rajah's son。 The horse plunged over the bank and
into the water with both of them。 They were both nearly drowned。
Deemer； let me say in passing； did one of the bravest things that
any man ever did。 Submerged； half drowned himself； he stayed
with the maddened animal until he had succeeded in freeing the
unconscious man。 All this was some two years ago。〃
The Adventurer paused。
Rhoda Gray； hanging on his words； was leaning tensely forward … it
seemed as though some great； dawning wonderment was lifting her out
of herself； making her even unconscious of her surroundings。
〃The rajah's son remained at the hotel there for several days to
recuperate；〃 continued the Adventurer deliberately； 〃and during that
time he saw a great deal of Deemer； and； naturally； so did I。 And；
incidentally； Danglar； though I thought nothing much of it then；
I saw something of you； and something of Mrs。 Danglar there； too；
though … if she will permit me to say it … in a more becoming
costume than she is now wearing！〃 Once more he shrugged his
shoulders as Danglar snarled。 〃Yes； yes； I will hurry。 I am almost
through。 While it was not made public throughout the country；
inasmuch as the rajah's son was more or less an official guest of
the government； the details of the accident were of course known
locally； as also was the fact that the young rajah in token of his
gratitude had presented Deemer with a collection of jewels of
almost priceless worth。 We resumed our journey； Deemer； who was a
man in very moderate circumstances； and who had probably never had
any means in his life before； went to New York； presumably to have
his first real holiday； and； as it turned out； to dispose of the
stones； or at least a portion of them。 When we reached the coast
we received two advices containing very ill news。 The first was
an urgent message to return instantly to India on account of the
old rajah's serious illness； the second was to the effect that
Deemer had been murdered by a woman in New York； and that the jewels
had been stolen。〃
Again the Adventurer paused； and； eying Danglar； smiled … not
pleasantly。
〃I will not attempt to explain to you；〃 he went on； 〃the young
rajah's feelings when he heard that the gift he had given Deemer
in return for his own life had cost Deemer his。 Nor will I attempt
to explain the racial characteristics of the people of whom the
young rajah was one； and who do not lightly forget or forgive。
But an eye for an eye； Danglar … you will understand that。 If it
cost all he had； there should be justice。 He could not stay
himself； and so I stayed…because he made me swear I would； and
because he made me swear that I would never allow the chase to lag
until the murderers were found。
〃And so I came East again。 I remembered you； Danglar … that on
several occasions when I had come upon Deemer unawares； you；
sometimes accompanied by a woman； and sometimes not； had been
lurking in the background。 I went to Cloran； the house detective
at the hotel here in New York where Deemer was murdered。 He
described the woman。 She was the same woman that had been with
you。 I went to the authorities and showed my credentials； with
which the young rajah had seen to it I was supplied from very
high sources indeed。 I did not wish to interfere with the
authorities in their handling of the case； but； on the other hand；
I had no wish to sit down idly and watch them； and it was necessary
therefore that I should protect myself in anything I did。 I also
made。 myself known to one of New York's assistant district attorneys；
who was an old friend of my father's。 And then； Danglar； I started
out after you。
〃I discovered you after about a month； then I wormed myself into
your gang as the Pug。 That took about a year。 I was almost another
year with you as an accepted member of the gang。 You know what
happened during that period。 A little while ago I found out that
the woman we wanted … with you； Danglar … was your wife； living in
hiding in this garret as Gypsy Nan。 But the jewels themselves were
still missing。 To…night they are not。 A … a friend of mine； one
very much misjudged publicly； I might say； has them； and has told
me they would be handed to the police。
〃And so； Danglar； after coming here to…night； I sent the Sparrow
out to gather together a few of the authorities who are interested
in the case … my friend the assistant district attorney； Cloran； the
house detective； Rough Rorke of headquarters； who on one occasion
was very much interested in Gypsy Nan； and enough men to make the
round of arrests。 They should be conveniently hidden across the
road now； and waiting for my signal。 My idea； you see； was to allow
Mrs。 Danglar to enter here without having her suspicions aroused；
and to see that she did not get away again if she arrived before
those who are duly qualified … which I am not … to arrest her did；
also； in view of what transpired earlier this evening； I must
confess I was a little anxious about those several years'
accumulation of stolen funds up there in the ceiling。 As I said
at the beginning； I hardly expected the luck to get you both at the
same time； though we should have got you； Danglar； and every one of
the rest of the gang before morning； and …〃
〃You；〃 Rhoda Gray whispered； 〃you … are not a thief！〃 Brain and
soul seemed on fire。 It seemed as though she had striven to voice
those words a dozen times since he had been speaking； but that she
had been afraid … afraid that this was not true； this great；
wonderful thing； that it could not be true。 〃You … you are not a
… a thief！〃
The Adventurer's face lost its immobility。 He half rose from his
chair； staring at her in a startled way … but it was Danglar now
who spoke。
〃It's a lie！〃 he screamed out。 〃It's a lie！〃 The man's reason
appeared to be almost unhinged； a mad terror seemed to possess him。
〃It's all a lie！ I never heard of this rajah bunk before in my
life！ I never heard of Deemer； or any jewels before。 You lie！ I
tell you； you lie！ You can't prove it； you can't …〃
〃But I can；〃 said Rhoda Gray in a low voice。 The shawl fell from
her shoulders； from her blouse she took the package of jewels and
held them out to the Adventurer。 〃Here are the stones。 I got them
from where you had put them in old Luertz's room。 I was hidden
there all the time last night。〃 She was removing her spectacles
and her wig of tangled gray hair as she spoke； and now she turned
her face full upon Danglar。 〃I heard you discuss Deemer's murder
with your brother last night； and plan to get rid of Cloran； who
you thought was the only existing witness you need fear； and …〃
〃Great God！〃 The Adventurer cried out。 〃You … Rhoda！ The White
Moll！ I … I don't understand； though I can see you are not the
woman who originally masqueraded as Gypsy Nan； for I knew her； as
I said； by sight。〃
He was on his feet now； his face aflame with a great light。 He
took a step toward her。
〃Wait！〃 she said hurriedly。 She glanced at Danglar。 The man's
face was blanched； his body seemed to have shriveled up； and
there was a light in his eyes as they held upon her that was near
to the borderland of insanity。 〃That night at Skarbolov's！〃 she
said； and tried to hold her voice in control。 〃Gypsy Nan； this
man's wife； died that night in the hospital。 I had found her here
sick； and I had promised not to divulge her secret。 I helped her
get to the hospital。 She was dying； she was penitent in a way；
she wanted to prevent a crime that she said was to be perpetrated
that night； but she would not inform on her accomplices。 She begged
me to fore
