贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > the return of tarzan >

第2章

the return of tarzan-第2章

小说: the return of tarzan 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




a sufficient time upon the mirror to note the reflection of

Tarzan's watchful eyes。  Stealthily the man withdrew something

from his pocket。  Tarzan could not discern what the object was;

for the man's hand covered it。



Slowly the hand approached the count; and then; very deftly;

the thing that was in it was transferred to the count's pocket。

The man remained standing where he could watch the

Frenchman's cards。  Tarzan was puzzled; but he was all

attention now; nor did he permit another detail of the

incident to escape him。



The play went on for some ten minutes after this; until

the count won a considerable wager from him who had

last joined the game; and then Tarzan saw the fellow back

of the count's chair nod his head to his confederate。

Instantly the player arose and pointed a finger at the count。



〃Had I known that monsieur was a professional card sharp

I had not been so ready to be drawn into the game;〃 he said。



Instantly the count and the two other players were upon

their feet。



De Coude's face went white。



〃What do you mean; sir?〃 he cried。  〃Do you know to whom

you speak?〃



〃I know that I speak; for the last time; to one who cheats

at cards;〃 replied the fellow。



The count leaned across the table; and struck the man full

in the mouth with his open palm; and then the others closed

in between them。



〃There is some mistake; sir;〃 cried one of the other players。

〃Why; this is Count de Coude; of France。〃

〃If I am mistaken;〃 said the accuser; 〃I shall gladly apologize;

but before I do so first let monsieur le count explain

the extra cards which I saw him drop into his side pocket。〃



And then the man whom Tarzan had seen drop them there

turned to sneak from the room; but to his annoyance he

found the exit barred by a tall; gray…eyed stranger。



〃Pardon;〃 said the man brusquely; attempting to pass to one side。



〃Wait;〃 said Tarzan。



〃But why; monsieur?〃 exclaimed the other petulantly。

〃Permit me to pass; monsieur。〃



〃Wait;〃 said Tarzan。  〃I think that there is a matter in here

that you may doubtless be able to explain。〃



The fellow had lost his temper by this time; and with a low

oath seized Tarzan to push him to one side。  The ape…man

but smiled as he twisted the big fellow about and; grasping

him by the collar of his coat; escorted him back to the table;

struggling; cursing; and striking in futile remonstrance。

It was Nikolas Rokoff's first experience with the muscles that

had brought their savage owner victorious through encounters

with Numa; the lion; and Terkoz; the great bull ape。



The man who had accused De Coude; and the two others who

had been playing; stood looking expectantly at the count。

Several other passengers had drawn toward the scene of the

altercation; and all awaited the denouement。



〃The fellow is crazy;〃 said the count。  〃Gentlemen; I implore

that one of you search me。〃



〃The accusation is ridiculous。〃  This from one of the players。



〃You have but to slip your hand in the count's coat pocket

and you will see that the accusation is quite serious;〃 insisted

the accuser。  And then; as the others still hesitated to do so:

〃Come; I shall do it myself if no other will;〃 and he stepped

forward toward the count。



〃No; monsieur;〃 said De Coude。  〃I will submit to a search

only at the hands of a gentleman。〃



〃It is unnecessary to search the count。  The cards are in

his pocket。  I myself saw them placed there。〃



All turned in surprise toward this new speaker; to behold

a very well…built young man urging a resisting captive toward

them by the scruff of his neck。



〃It is a conspiracy;〃 cried De Coude angrily。  〃There are no

cards in my coat;〃 and with that he ran his hand into his

pocket。  As he did so tense silence reigned in the little group。

The count went dead white; and then very slowly he withdrew

his hand; and in it were three cards。



He looked at them in mute and horrified surprise; and slowly

the red of mortification suffused his face。  Expressions of

pity and contempt tinged the features of those who looked

on at the death of a man's honor。



〃It is a conspiracy; monsieur。〃  It was the gray…eyed stranger

who spoke。  〃Gentlemen;〃 he continued; 〃monsieur le count

did not know that those cards were in his pocket。  They were

placed there without his knowledge as he sat at play。

From where I sat in that chair yonder I saw the reflection of it

all in the mirror before me。  This person whom I just intercepted

in an effort to escape placed the cards in the count's pocket。〃



De Coude had glanced from Tarzan to the man in his grasp。



〃MON DIEU; Nikolas!〃 he cried。  〃You?〃



Then he turned to his accuser; and eyed him intently for a moment。



〃And you; monsieur; I did not recognize you without your

beard。  It quite disguises you; Paulvitch。  I see it all now。

It is quite clear; gentlemen。〃



〃What shall we do with them; monsieur?〃 asked Tarzan。

〃Turn them over to the captain?〃



〃No; my friend;〃 said the count hastily。  〃It is a personal

matter; and I beg that you will let it drop。  It is sufficient

that I have been exonerated from the charge。  The less we have

to do with such fellows; the better。  But; monsieur; how can

I thank you for the great kindness you have done me?

Permit me to offer you my card; and should the time come

when I may serve you; remember that I am yours to command。〃



Tarzan had released Rokoff; who; with his confederate;

Paulvitch; had hastened from the smoking…room。  Just as he

was leaving; Rokoff turned to Tarzan。  〃Monsieur will have

ample opportunity to regret his interference in the affairs

of others。〃



Tarzan smiled; and then; bowing to the count; handed him

his own card。



The count read:



                  M。 JEAN C。 TARZAN





〃Monsieur Tarzan;〃 he said; 〃may indeed wish that he had

never befriended me; for I can assure him that he has won

the enmity of two of the most unmitigated scoundrels in all

Europe。  Avoid them; monsieur; by all means。〃



〃I have had more awe…inspiring enemies; my dear count;〃 replied

Tarzan with a quiet smile; 〃yet I am still alive and unworried。

I think that neither of these two will ever find the means to harm me。〃



〃Let us hope not; monsieur;〃 said De Coude; 〃but yet it will

do no harm to be on the alert; and to know that you have made

at least one enemy today who never forgets and never forgives;

and in whose malignant brain there are always hatching new

atrocities to perpetrate upon those who have thwarted or

offended him。  To say that Nikolas Rokoff is a devil would

be to place a wanton affront upon his satanic majesty。〃



That night as Tarzan entered his cabin he found a folded

note upon the floor that had evidently been pushed beneath

the door。  He opened it and read:



M。 TARZAN:



Doubtless you did not realize the gravity of your offense;

or you would not have done the thing you did today。

I am willing to believe that you acted in ignorance and

without any intention to offend a stranger。  For this reason

I shall gladly permit you to offer an apology; and on receiving

your assurances that you will not again interfere in affairs

that do not concern you; I shall drop the matter。



Otherwisebut I am sure that you will see the wisdom of

adopting the course I suggest。

                                    Very respectfully;

                                                NIKOLAS ROKOFF。





Tarzan permitted a grim smile to play about his lips for a

moment; then he promptly dropped the matter from his mind;

and went to bed。



In a nearby cabin the Countess de Coude was speaking to her husband。



〃Why so grave; my dear Raoul?〃 she asked。  〃You have been

as glum as could be all evening。  What worries you?〃



〃Olga; Nikolas is on board。  Did you know it?〃



〃Nikolas!〃 she exclaimed。  〃But it is impossible; Raoul。

It can

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的