the drums of jeopardy-第40章
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somehow I fancied he was calling me back； and I had to hang on to
the divan。 Cutty； he is a great violinist。〃
〃Are you fond of music？〃
〃I am mad about it！ I'm always running round to concerts； and I'd
walk from Battery to Bronx to hear a good violinist。〃
Fiddles and Irish hearts。 Swiftly came the vision of Hawksley
fiddling the heart out of this lonely girl … if he had the chance。
And he； Cutty； was going to fascinate her … with what？ He rose and
took her by the shoulders； bringing her round so that the light was
full in her face。 Slate…blue eyes。
〃Kitty； what would you say if I kissed you？〃 Inwardly he asked：
〃Now； what the devil made me say that？〃
The sinister and cynical idea leaped from its ambush。 〃Why； Cutty；
I … I don't believe I should mind。 It's … it's you！〃 Vile wretch
that she was！
Cutty； noting the lily succeeding the rose； did not kiss her。 Fate
has a way of reversing the illogical and giving it logical semblance。
It was perfectly logical that he should not kiss her； and yet that
was exactly what he should have done。 The fatherliness of the
salute … and he couldn't have made it anything else … would have
shamed Kitty's peculiar state of mind out of existence and probably
sent back to its eternal sleep that which was strangely reawaking
in his lonely heart。
〃Forgive me； Kitty。 That wasn't exactly nice of me； even if I was
trying to be funny。〃
She tore away from him； flung herself upon the divan； her face in
the pillows； and let down the dam。
This wild sobbing … apparently without any reason terrified Cutty。
He put both hands into his hair； but he drew them out immediately
without retaining any of the thinning gray locks。 Done up； both of
them； that was the matter。 He longed to console her； but knew not
what to say or how to act。 He had not seen a woman weep like this
in so many years that he had forgotten the remedies。
Should he call the nurse？ But that would only add to Kitty's
embarrassment； and the nurse would naturally misinterpret the
situation。 He couldn't kneel and put his arms round her； and yet
it was a situation that called for arms and endearments。 He had
sense enough to recognize that。 Molly's girl crying like that； and
he able to do nothing！ It was intolerable。 But what was she
weeping about？
Covering the divan was a fine piece of Bokhara embroidery。 He drew
this down over Kitty and tucked her in； turned off the light； and
proceeded to
his bedroom。
Kitty's sobs died eventually。 There was an occasional hiccup。 That；
too； disappeared。 To play … or even think of playing … a game like
that！ She was despicable。 A silly little fool； too； to suppose
that so keen a mind as Cutty's would not see through the artifice！
What was happening to her that she could let such a thought into her
head？
By and by she was able to pick up Cutty's narrative and review it。
Not a word about the drums of jeopardy； the mark of the thong
round Hawksley's neck。 Hadn't she let him know that she knew the
author of that advertisement offering to buy the drums； no
questions asked？ Very well； then； if he would not tell her the
truth she would have to find it out herself。
Meanwhile； Cutty sat on the edge of his bed staring blankly at the
rug； trying to find a pick…up to the emotions that beset him。 One
thing issued clearly： He had wanted to kiss the child。 He still
wanted to kiss her。 Why hadn't he？ Unanswerable。 It was still
unanswerable even when the pallor of dawn began slowly to absorb the
artificial light of his bed lamp。
CHAPTER XXIII
When Cutty awoke … having had about two hours' sleep … he was
instantly conscious that the zest had gone from the adventure。 It
had resolved itself into official business into which he had
projected himself gratuitously； and having assumed the offices of
chief factor； he would have to see the affair through； victim of
his own greediness。 It did not serve to marshal excuses。 He had
frankly entered the affair in the role of buccaneer； and here he
was； high and dry on the reef。
The drums of jeopardy； so far as he was concerned； had been shot
into the moon two hundred thousand miles out of reach。 He found
himself resenting Hawksley's honesty in the matter of the customs。
But immediately this sense of resentment caused him to chuckle。
Certainly some ancestor of his had been a Black Bart or a Galloping
Dick。
He would put a few straight questions to Hawksley； however。 To have
lost all those precious stones and not to have inquired about them
was a bit foggy； wasn't normal； human。 Unless … bang on the plexus
came the thought！ … the beggar had hidden them himself。 He had been
exceedingly clever in hiding the wallet。 Come to think of it； he
hadn't mentioned that； either。 Of course he had hidden the stones
… either in Gregor's apartment or m Kitty's。 Blind as a bat。 Now
he understood why Karlov had made a prisoner of Coles。 The old
buzzard had sensed a trap and had countered it。 The way of the
transgressor was hard。 His punishment for entertaining a looter's
idea would be work when he wanted to loaf and enjoy himself。
Arriving at Hawksley's door he was confronted by a spectacle not
without its humorous touch： The nurse extending a bowl and Hawksley
staring at the
sky beyond the window； stonily。
〃But you must！〃 insisted Miss Frances。
〃Chops or beefsteak！〃
〃It will give you nausea。〃
〃Permit me to find out。 Dash it； I'm hungry！〃 Hawksley declared。
〃I'm no fever patient。 A smart rap on the head； nothing more than
that。 Healthy food will draw the blood down from there。 Haven't
lost anything but a few hours of consciousness； and you treat me
as though I'd been jolly well peppered with shrapnel and gassed。
Touch that stuff？ Rather not！ Chops or beefsteak！〃
〃Let him have it； Miss Frances；〃 advised Cutty from the doorway。
〃But it's unusual；〃 replied the nurse as a final protest。
〃Give it a try。 Is he strong enough to sit up through breakfast？〃
〃He's really not fit。 But if he insists on doing the one he might
as well do the other。〃
〃Righto！〃 … from the patient。
〃Will you tell Kuroki to make it a beefsteak breakfast for four？
I know how Mr。 Hawksley feels。 Been through the same bout。〃 Cutty
wanted Miss Frances out of the room。
〃Very well。 Only； I've warned him。〃 Miss Frances left； somewhat
miffed。
〃Thanks；〃 said Hawksley； smiling。 〃She thinks I'm a canary。〃
〃Whereas you're an eagle。〃
〃Or a vulture。〃
Cutty chew up a chair。 〃Frankly； I believe a good breakfast will
put you a peg up。〃
〃A beefsteak！〃 Hawksley stared ecstatically at the ceiling。 〃You
see； I'm naturally tough。 Always went in for rough sports … football；
rowing； boxing。 Poor old Stefani's idea； and not so bad； either。 Of
course he was always worrying about my hands； but I always took great
care to keep them soft and pliant。 Which sounds rummy； considering
the pounding I used to give and take。 My word； I used to go to bed
with my hands done up in ointments like a professional beauty！ Of
course I'm dizzy yet； and the bally spot is sore； but solid food
and some exercise will have me off your hands in no time。 I don't
fancy being coddled； y'know。 I've been trouble enough。〃
〃Don't let that worry you。 I'll bring some togs in； flannels and
soft shirts。 We're about the same height。 Anyhow； the difference
won't be noticeable in flannels。 I've had to tell Miss Conover a
bit of fiction。 I'll tell you； so if need arises you can back me up。
When Cutty finished his romance Hawksley frowned。 〃All said and
done； if I'm not that splendid old chap's protege； what am I？ But
for his patience and kindness I'd have run true to the blood。 He
was with me at the balancing age； when a chap becomes a man or a
rotter。 He actually gave up a brilliant career because of me。 He
is a great musician； with that strange faculty of taking souls out
of people and untwisting them。 I have the gift； too； in a way； but
there's always a bit of the devil in me when I play。 Natural bent；
I fancy。 And they've killed him！〃
〃No；〃 said Cutty； slowly。 〃But this is for your ear alone： He's
alive； and one of these days
