rs.undertheandes-第17章

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　We　were　amusing　ourselves　with　an　attempt　to　pry　one　of　the　bits　of　gold　from　the　wall　when　we　heard　a　sound　behind　us。
　We　turned　and　saw　Desiree。
　She　stood　in　the　entrance；　smiling　at　us　as　though　we　had　been　caught　in　her　boudoir　examining　the　articles　on　her　dressing…table。
　She　was　clothed　as　she　had　been　on　the　throne；　a　rope　girdle　held　her　single　garment；　and　her　hair　fell　across　her　shoulders；　reaching　to　her　knees。　Her　arms　and　shoulders　appeared　marvelously　white；　but　they　may　have　been　by　way　of　contrast。
　Harry　sprang　across　to　her　with　a　single　bound。　In　another　moment　his　arms　were　round　her；　she　barely　submitted　to　the　embrace；　but　she　gave　him　her　lips；　then　drew　herself　away　and　crossed　to　me；　extending　her　hands　in　a　sort　of　wavering　doubt。
　But　that　was　no　time　for　hostilities；　and　I　took　the　hands　in　my　own　and　bent　over　them　till　my　lips　touched　the　soft　fingers。
　〃A　visit　from　the　queen！〃　I　said　with　a　smile。　〃This　is　an　honor；　your　majesty。〃
　〃A　doubtful　one；〃　said　Desiree。　〃First　of　all；　my　friend；　I　want　to　congratulate　you　on　your　savoir　faire。　Par　Bleu；　that　was　the　part　of　a　man！〃
　〃But　you！〃　cried　Harry。　〃What　the　deuce　did　you　mean　by　pretending　to　play　the　black？　I　tell　you；　that　was　a　shabby　trick。
　Most　unpleasant　moment　you　gave　us。〃
　Desiree　sent　me　a　quick　glance；　she　was　plainly　surprised　to　find　Harry　in　ignorance　of　what　had　passed　between　us　that　evening　in　the　camp　on　the　mountain。　Wherein　she　was　scarcely　to　be　blamed；　for　her　surprise　came　from　a　deep　knowledge　of　the　ways　of　men。
　〃I　am　beginning　to　know　you；　Paul；〃　she　said；　looking　into　my　eyes。
　〃Now　what's　up？〃　demanded　Harry；　looking　from　her　to　me　and　back　again。　〃For　Heaven's　sake；　don't　talk　riddles。　What　does　that　mean？〃
　But　Desiree　silenced　him　with　a　gesture；　placing　her　fingers　playfully　on　his　lips。　They　were　seated　side　by　side　on　the　granite　couch；　I　stood　in　front　of　them；　and　there　flitted　across　my　memory　a　picture　of　that　morning　scene　in　the　grounds　of　the　Antlers　at　Colorado　Springs；　when　Desiree　and　I　had　had　our　first　battle。
　We　talked；　or；　rather；　Harry　and　Desiree　talked；　and　I　listened。　First　he　insisted　on　a　recital　of　her　experiences　since　her　reckless　dash　into　the　〃cave　of　the　devil；〃　and　she　was　most　obliging；　even　eager；　for　she　had　had　no　one　to　talk　to　for　many　days；　and　she　was　a　woman。　She　found　in　Harry　a　perfect　audience。
　Her　experience　had　been　much　the　same　as　our　own。　She；　too；　had　fallen　down　the　unseen　precipice　into　the　torrent　beneath。
　She　asserted　that　she　had　been　carried　along　by　its　force　scarcely　more　than　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　and　had　been　violently　thrown　upon　a　ledge　of　rock。　It　was　evident　that　this　must　have　been　long　before　the　stream　reached　the　lake　where　Harry　and　I　had　found　each　other；　for　we　had　been　in　the　water　hardly　short　of　an　hour。
　She　had　been　found　on　the　ledge　by　our　hairy　friends；　who　had　carried　her　on　their　backs　for　many　hours。　I　remembered　the　sensations　of　Harry　and　myself；　who　were　men；　and　together；　and　gave　a　shudder　of　sympathy　as　Desiree　described　her　own　horror　and　fear；　and　her　one　attempt　to　escape。
　Still　the　brutes　had　shown　her　no　great　violence；　evidently　recognizing　the　preciousness　of　their　burden。　They　had　carried　her　as　gently　as　possible；　but　had　absolutely　refused　to　allow　her　to　walk。　At　regular　intervals　they　gave　her　an　opportunity　to　rest；　and　food　and　water。
　〃Dried　fish？〃　I　asked　hopefully。
　Desiree　nodded；　with　a　most　expressive　grimace；　and　Harry　burst　into　laughter。
　Then　of　the　elevation　to　her　evident　authority。　Brought　before　the　king；　she　had　inspired　the　most　profound　wonder　and　curiosity。　Easy；　indeed；　to　understand　how　the　whiteness　of　her　skin　and　the　beauty　of　her　form　and　face　had　awakened　the　keenest　admiration　in　the　breast　of　that　black　and　hairy　monarch。　He　had　shown　her　the　most　perfect　respect；　and　she　had　played　up　to　the　role　of　goddess　by　displaying　to　the　utmost　her　indifferent　contempt　for　royalty　and　its　favors。
　Here　her　remarks　grew　general　and　evasive；　and　when　pressed　with　questions　she　refused　details。　She　declared　that　nothing　had　happened；　she　had　been　fed　and　fawned　upon；　nor　been　annoyed　by　any　violence　or　unwele　attentions。
　〃That　is　really　too　bad；〃　said　I；　with　a　smile。　〃I　was；　then；　mistaken　when　I　said　'your　majesty'？〃
　〃Faugh！〃　said　Desiree。　〃That　is　hardly　witty。　For　a　time　I　was　amused；　but　I　am　being　bored。　And　yet…〃
　〃Well？〃
　〃I…don't…know。　They　are　mine；　if　you　know　what　I　mean。
　Eh；　bien；　since　you　ask　me…for　I　see　the　question　in　your　eye；　friend　Paul…I　am　content。　If　the　world　is　behind　me　forever；　so　be　it。　Yes；　they　are　unattractive　to　the　eye；　but　they　have　power。　And　they　worship　me。〃
　〃Desiree！〃　cried　Harry　in　astonishment；　and　I　was　myself　a　little　startled。
　〃Why　not？〃　she　demanded。　〃They　are　men。　And　besides；　it　is　impossible　for　us　to　return。　With　all　your　cleverness；　M。　Paul；　can　you　find　the　sunlight？　To　remain　is　a　necessity；　we　must　make　the　best　of　it；　and　I　repeat　that　I　am　satisfied。〃
　〃That's　bally　rot；〃　said　Harry；　turning　on　her　hotly。
　〃Satisfied？　You　are　nothing　of　the　sort。　I'll　tell　you　one　thing　…Paul　and　I　are　going　to　find　our　way　out　of　this；　and　you　are　ing　with　us。〃
　For　reply　Desiree　laughed　at　him…a　laugh　that　plainly　said；　〃I　am　my　own　mind；　and　obey　no　other。〃　It　is　one　of　the　most　familiar　cards　of　the　woman　of　beauty；　and　the　most　effective。　It　conquered　Harry。
　He　gazed　at　her　for　a　long　moment　in　silence；　while　his　eyes　filled　with　an　expression　which　one　man　should　never　show　to　another　man。　It　is　the　betrayal　of　the　masculine　sex　and　the　triumph　of　the　feminine。
　Suddenly　he　threw　himself　on　his　knees　before　her　and　took　her　hands　in　his　own。　She　attempted　to　withdraw　them；　he　clasped　her　about　the　waist。
　〃Do　you　not　love　me；　Desiree？〃　he　cried；　and　his　lips　sought　hers。
　They　met；　Desiree　ceased　to　struggle。
　At　that　moment　I　heard　a　sound…the　faintest　sound…behind　me。
　I　turned。
　The　king　of　the　Incas　was　standing　within　the　doorway；　surveying　the　lovers　with　beadlike；　sparkling　eyes。
　
　Chapter　XI。
　A　ROYAL　VISITOR。
　
　If　it　had　not　been　for　the　manifest　danger；　I　could　have　laughed　aloud　at　what　I　read　in　the　eyes　of　the　king。　Was　it　not　supremely　ridiculous　for　Desiree　Le　Mire；　who　had　been　sought　after　by　the　great　and　the　wealthy　and　the　powerful　of　all　Europe；　to　be　regarded　with　desire　by　that　ugly　dwarf？　And　it　was　there；　unmistakably。
　I　sang　out　a　sharp　warning；　but　it　was　unnecessary；　Desiree　had　already　caught　sight　of　the　royal　visitor。　She　pushed　Harry　from　her　bodily。　He　sprang　to　his　feet　in　angry　surprise；　then；　enlightened　by　the　confusion　in　her　face；　turned　quickly　and　swore　as　he；　too；　saw　the　intruder。
　How　critical　the　situation　was　I　did　not　know；　despite　Desiree's　assertions。　His　eyes　were　human　and　easily　read；　they　held　jealousy；　and　when　power　is　jealous　there　is　danger。
　But　Desiree　proved　herself　equal　to　the　occasion。　She　remained　seated　on　the　granite　couch　for　a　long　minute　without　moving；　confusion　left　her　eyes　as　she　gazed　at　us　apparently　with　the　utmost　posure；　but　I　who　knew　her　could　see　that　her　brain　was　working　with　the　rapidity　of　lightning。　Then　her　glance　passed　to　the　figure　at　the　doorway；　and　with　a　gesture　manding　and　truly　royal　in　its　simplicity；　she　held　her　hand　forth；　palm　down；　to　the　Inca　king。
　Like　an　obedient　trained　monkey　he　trotted　across　the　intervening　space；　grasped　her　soft　white　hand　in　his　monstrous　paw；　and　touched　his　lips　to　her　fingers。
　That　was　all；　but　it　spoke　volumes　to　one　who　could　divine　the　springs　of　action。　I　remember　that　at　the　time　there　shot　through　my　mind　a　story　I　had　heard　concerning　Desiree　in　Paris。　The　Duke　of　Bellarmine；　then　her　protector；　had　one　evening　entered　her　splendid　apartment　on　the　Rue　Jonteur…furnished；　of　course；　by　himself…and　had　found　his　divinity　entertaining　one　Jules　Chavot；　a　young　and　beautiful　poet。　Whereupon　he　had　launched　forth　into　the　most　bitter　reproaches　and　scornful　denunciations。
　〃Monsieur；〃　Desiree　had　said；　with　the　look　of　a　queen　outraged；　when　he　had　finished；　〃you　are　annoying。　Little　Chavot　amuses　me。　You　are　aware　that　I　never　refuse　myself　anything　which　I　consider　necessary　to　my　amusement；　and　just　now　I　find　you　very　dull。〃
　And　the　noble　duke；　conquered　by　that　glance　of　fire　and　those　terrible　words；　had　retired　with　humble　apologies；　after　receiving　a　gracious　permission　to　call　on　the　following　day！
　In　short；　Desiree　was　irresistible；　the　subjection　of　the　Inca　king　was　but　another　of　her　triumphs；　and　not　the　most　remarkable。
　And　then　I　looked　at　Harry；　and　was　aware　of　a　new　danger。　He　was　glaring　at　the　Inca　with　eyes　which　told　their　own　story　of　the　fire　within；　and　which　were　waiting　only　for　suspicion　to　bee　certainty。　I　called　to　him：
　〃Harry！　Hold　fast！〃
　He　glanced　at　me；　gave　a　short　laugh；　and　nodded。
　Then　came　Desiree's　voice；　in　a　low　tone　of　warning：
　〃On　your　knees！〃
　Her　meaning　was　clear；　it　was　to　us　she　spoke。　The　king　had　turned　from　her　and　was　regarding　us　steadily　with　eyes　so　nearly　closed　that　their　meaning　was　impenetrable。　Harry　and　I　glanced　at　each　other　and　remained　standing。　Then　Desiree's　voice　again：
　〃Harry！　If　you　love　me！〃
　It　was　the　appeal　to　a　child；　but　love　is　young。　Immediately　Harry　dropped　to　his　knees；　facing　the　king；　and　I　followed　him；　wondering　at　myself。　To　this　day　I　do　not　know　what　the　pelling　force　was　that　pulled　me　down。　Was　it　another　instance　of　the　power　of　Desiree？
　For　perhaps　a　minute　we　remained　motionless　on　our　knees　while　the　king　stood　gazing　at　us；　it　seemed　to　me　with　an　air　of　doubt。
　Then　slowly；　and　with　a　gait　that　smacked　of　majesty　despite　his　ungainly　appearance　and　diminutive　stature；　he　stalked　across　to　the　doorway　and　disappeared　in　the　corridor　without。
　Harry　and　I　looked　at　each　other；　kneeling　like　two　heathen　idols；　and　burst　into　unrestrained　laughter。　But　with　it　was　mixed　a　portion　of　anger；　and　I　turned　to　Desiree。
　〃In　the　name　of　Heaven；　was　that　necessary？〃
　〃You　do　it　very　prettily；〃　said　she；　with　a　smile。
　〃That　is　well；　but　I　don't　care　to　repeat　it。　Harry；　for　the　sake　of　my　dignity；　employ　a　little　discretion。　And　what　do　you　suppose　the　beggar　will　do　about　it？〃
　〃Nothing；〃　said　Desiree；　shrugging　her　shoulders。　〃Only　he　must　be　pacified。　I　must　go。　I　wonder　if　you　know　you　are　lodged　in　the　royal　apartments？　His　majesty's　room…he　has　but　one…is　in　the　corridor　to　the　left　of　this。
　〃Mine　is　on　the　right…and　he　is　probably　stamping　the　place　to　pieces　at　this　moment。〃　She　left　the　granite　couch　and　advanced　half　way　to　the　door。　〃Au　revoir；　messieurs。　Till　later…I　shall　e　to　see　you。〃
　The　next　moment　she　was　gone。
　Harry　and　I；　left　alone；　had　enough　to　think　and　talk　about；　but　there　was　ten　minutes　of　silence　before　we　spoke。　I　sat　on　one　of　the　stone　seats；　wondering　what　the　result　would　be…if　any…of　the　king's　visit　and　his　discovery。
　Harry　paced　up　and　down　the　length　of　the　apartment　with　lowered　head。　Presently　he　spoke　abruptly：
　〃Paul；　I　want　to　know　exactly　what　you　think　of　our　chances　for　getting　out　of　this。〃
　〃Why…〃　I　hesitated。　〃Harry；　I　don't　know。〃