pgw.adamselindistress-第7章

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　The　girl　nodded。
　〃Then　it　was　Percy！　I　knew　I　wasn't　mistaken。〃
　〃Percy？〃
　〃That　is　his　name。〃
　〃It　would　be！　I　could　have　betted　on　it。〃
　〃What　happened　then？〃
　〃I　reasoned　with　the　man；　but　didn't　seem　to　soothe　him；　and　finally　he　made　a　grab　for　the　door…handle；　so　I　knocked　off　his　hat；　and　while　he　was　retrieving　it　we　moved　on　and　escaped。〃
　The　girl　gave　another　silver　peal　of　laughter。
　〃Oh；　what　a　shame　I　couldn't　see　it。　But　how　resourceful　of　you！　How　did　you　happen　to　think　of　it？〃
　〃It　just　came　to　me；〃　said　George　modestly。
　A　serious　look　came　into　the　girl's　face。　The　smile　died　out　of　her　eyes。　She　shivered。
　〃When　I　think　how　some　men　might　have　behaved　in　your　place！〃
　〃Oh；　no。　Any　man　would　have　done　just　what　I　did。　Surely；　knocking　off　Percy's　hat　was　an　act　of　simple　courtesy　which　anyone　would　have　performed　automatically！〃
　〃You　might　have　been　some　awful　bounder。　Or；　what　would　have　been　almost　worse；　a　slow…witted　idiot　who　would　have　stopped　to　ask　questions　before　doing　anything。　To　think　I　should　have　had　the　luck　to　pick　you　out　of　all　London！〃
　〃I've　been　looking　on　it　as　a　piece　of　luckbut　entirely　from　my　viewpoint。〃
　She　put　a　small　hand　on　his　arm；　and　spoke　earnestly。
　〃Mr。　Bevan；　you　mustn't　think　that；　because　I've　been　laughing　a　good　deal　and　have　seemed　to　treat　all　this　as　a　joke；　you　haven't　saved　me　from　real　trouble。　If　you　hadn't　been　there　and　hadn't　acted　with　such　presence　of　mind；　it　would　have　been　terrible！〃
　〃But　surely；　if　that　fellow　was　annoying　you；　you　could　have　called　a　policeman？〃
　〃Oh；　it　wasn't　anything　like　that。　It　was　much；　much　worse。　　But　I　mustn't　go　on　like　this。　It　isn't　fair　on　you。〃　Her　eyes　lit　up　again　with　the　old　shining　smile。　〃I　know　you　have　no　curiosity　about　me；　but　still　there's　no　knowing　whether　I　might　not　arouse　some　if　I　went　on　piling　up　the　mystery。　And　the　silly　part　is　that　really　there's　no　mystery　at　all。　It's　just　that　I　can't　tell　anyone　about　it。〃
　〃That　very　fact　seems　to　me　to　constitute　the　makings　of　a　pretty　fair　mystery。〃
　〃Well；　what　I　mean　is；　I'm　not　a　princess　in　disguise　trying　to　escape　from　anarchists；　or　anything　like　those　things　you　read　about　in　books。　I'm　just　in　a　perfectly　simple　piece　of　trouble。　You　would　be　bored　to　death　if　I　told　you　about　it。〃
　〃Try　me。〃
　She　shook　her　head。
　〃No。　Besides；　here　we　are。〃　The　cab　had　stopped　at　the　hotel；　and　a　missionaire　was　already　opening　the　door。　　〃Now；　if　you　haven't　repented　of　your　rash　offer　and　really　are　going　to　be　so　awfully　kind　as　to　let　me　have　that　money；　would　you　mind　rushing　off　and　getting　it；　because　I　must　hurry。　I　can　just　catch　a　good　train；　and　it's　hours　to　the　next。〃
　〃Will　you　wait　here？　I'll　be　back　in　a　moment。〃
　〃Very　well。〃
　The　last　George　saw　of　her　was　another　of　those　exhilarating　smiles　of　hers。　It　was　literally　the　last　he　saw　of　her；　for；　when　he　returned　not　more　than　two　minutes　later；　the　cab　had　gone；　the　girl　had　gone；　and　the　world　was　empty。
　To　him；　gaping　at　this　wholly　unforeseen　calamity　the　missionaire　vouchsafed　information。
　〃The　young　lady　took　the　cab　on；　sir。〃
　〃Took　the　cab　on？〃
　〃Almost　immediately　after　you　had　gone；　sir；　she　got　in　again　and　told　the　man　to　drive　to　Waterloo。〃
　George　could　make　nothing　of　it。　He　stood　there　in　silent　perplexity；　and　might　have　continued　to　stand　indefinitely；　had　not　his　mind　been　distracted　by　a　dictatorial　voice　at　his　elbow。
　〃You；　sir！　Dammit！〃
　A　second　taxi…cab　had　pulled　up；　and　from　it　a　stout；　scarlet…　faced　young　man　had　sprung。　One　glance　told　George　all。　　The　hunt　was　up　once　more。　The　bloodhound　had　picked　up　the　trail。　Percy　was　in　again！
　For　the　first　time　since　he　had　bee　aware　of　her　flight；　George　was　thankful　that　the　girl　had　disappeared。　He　perceived　that　he　had　too　quickly　eliminated　Percy　from　the　list　of　the　Things　That　Matter。　Engrossed　with　his　own　affairs；　and　having　regarded　their　late　skirmish　as　a　decisive　battle　from　which　there　would　be　no　rallying；　he　had　overlooked　the　possibility　of　this　annoying　and　unnecessary　person　following　them　in　another　caba　task　which；　in　the　congested；　slow…moving　traffic；　must　have　been　a　perfectly　simple　one。　Well；　here　he　was；　his　soul　manifestly　all　stirred　up　and　his　blood…pressure　at　a　far　higher　figure　than　his　doctor　would　have　approved　of；　and　the　matter　would　have　to　be　opened　all　over　again。
　〃Now　then！〃　said　the　stout　young　man。
　George　regarded　him　with　a　critical　and　unfriendly　eye。　He　disliked　this　fatty　degeneration　excessively。　Looking　him　up　and　down；　he　could　find　no　point　about　him　that　gave　him　the　least　pleasure；　with　the　single　exception　of　the　state　of　his　hat；　in　the　side　of　which　he　was　rejoiced　to　perceive　there　was　a　large　and　unshapely　dent。
　〃You　thought　you　had　shaken　me　off！　You　thought　you'd　given　me　the　slip！　Well；　you're　wrong！〃
　George　eyed　him　coldly。
　〃I　know　what's　the　matter　with　you；〃　he　said。　〃Someone's　been　feeding　you　meat。〃
　The　young　man　bubbled　with　fury。　His　face　turned　a　deeper　scarlet。　He　gesticulated。
　〃You　blackguard！　Where's　my　sister？〃
　At　this　extraordinary　remark　the　world　rocked　about　George　dizzily。　The　words　upset　his　entire　diagnosis　of　the　situation。　　Until　that　moment　he　had　looked　upon　this　man　as　a　Lothario；　a　pursuer　of　damsels。　That　the　other　could　possibly　have　any　right　on　his　side　had　never　occurred　to　him。　He　felt　unmanned　by　the　shock。　It　seemed　to　cut　the　ground　from　under　his　feet。
　〃Your　sister！〃
　〃You　heard　what　I　said。　Where　is　she？〃
　George　was　still　endeavouring　to　adjust　his　scattered　faculties。　He　felt　foolish　and　apologetic。　He　had　imagined　himself　unassailably　in　the　right；　and　it　now　appeared　that　he　was　in　the　wrong。
　For　a　moment　he　was　about　to　bee　conciliatory。　Then　the　recollection　of　the　girl's　panic　and　her　hints　at　some　trouble　which　threatened　herpresumably　through　the　medium　of　this　man；　brother　or　no　brotherchecked　him。　He　did　not　know　what　it　was　all　about；　but　the　one　thing　that　did　stand　out　clearly　in　the　welter　of　confused　happenings　was　the　girl's　need　for　his　assistance。　Whatever　might　be　the　rights　of　the　case；　he　was　her　acplice；　and　must　behave　as　such。
　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about；〃　he　said。
　The　young　man　shook　a　large；　gloved　fist　in　his　face。
　〃You　blackguard！〃
　A　rich；　deep；　soft；　soothing　voice　slid　into　the　heated　scene　like　the　Holy　Grail　sliding　athwart　a　sunbeam。
　〃What's　all　this？〃
　A　vast　policeman　had　materialized　from　nowhere。　He　stood　beside　them；　a　living　statue　of　Vigilant　Authority。　One　thumb　rested　easily　on　his　broad　belt。　The　fingers　of　the　other　hand　caressed　lightly　a　moustache　that　had　caused　more　heart…burnings　among　the　gentler　sex　than　any　other　two　moustaches　in　the　C…division。　The　eyes　above　the　moustache　were　stern　and　questioning。
　〃What's　all　this？〃
　George　liked　policemen。　He　knew　the　way　to　treat　them。　　His　voice；　when　he　replied；　had　precisely　the　correct　note　of　respectful　deference　which　the　Force　likes　to　hear。
　〃I　really　couldn't　say；　officer；〃　he　said；　with　just　that　air　of　having　in　a　time　of　trouble　found　a　kind　elder　brother　to　help　him　out　of　his　difficulties　which　made　the　constable　his　ally　on　the　spot。　〃I　was　standing　here；　when　this　man　suddenly　made　his　extraordinary　attack　on　me。　I　wish　you　would　ask　him　to　go　away。〃
　The　policeman　tapped　the　stout　young　man　on　the　shoulder。
　〃This　won't　do；　you　know！〃　he　said　austerely。　〃This　sort　o'　thing　won't　do；　'ere；　you　know！〃
　〃Take　your　hands　off　me！〃　snorted　Percy。
　A　frown　appeared　on　the　Olympian　brow。　Jove　reached　for　his　thunderbolts。
　〃'Ullo！　'Ullo！　'Ullo！〃　he　said　in　a　shocked　voice；　as　of　a　god　defied　by　a　mortal。　〃'Ullo！　'Ullo！　'Ul…lo！〃
　His　fingers　fell　on　Percy's　shoulder　again；　but　this　time　not　in　a　mere　warning　tap。　They　rested　where　they　fellin　an　iron　clutch。
　〃It　won't　do；　you　know；〃　he　said。　〃This　sort　o'　thing　won't　do！〃　Madness　came　upon　the　stout　young　man。　mon　prudence　and　the　lessons　of　a　carefully…taught　youth　fell　from　him　like　a　garment。　With　an　incoherent　howl　he　wriggled　round　and　punched　the　policeman　smartly　in　the　stomach。
　〃Ho！〃　quoth　the　outraged　officer；　suddenly　being　human。　　His　left　hand　removed　itself　from　the　belt；　and　he　got　a　businesslike　grip　on　his　adversary's　collar。　〃Will　you　e　along　with　me！〃
　It　was　amazing。　The　thing　had　happened　in　such　an　incredibly　brief　space　of　time。　One　moment；　it　seemed　to　George；　he　was　the　centre　of　a　nasty　row　in　one　of　the　most　public　spots　in　London；　the　next；　the　focus　had　shifted；　he　had　ceased　to　matter；　and　the　entire　attention　of　the　metropolis　was　focused　on　his　late　assailant；　as；　urged　by　the　arm　of　the　Law；　he　made　that　journey　to　Vine　Street　Police　Station　which　so　many　a　better　man　than　he　had　trod。
　George　watched　the　pair　as　they　moved　up　the　Haymarket；　followed　by　a　growing　and　increasingly　absorbed　crowd；　then　he　turned　into　the　hotel。
　〃This；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃is　the　middle　of　a　perfect　day！　　And　I　thought　London　dull！〃
　
　CHAPTER　5。
　
　George　awoke　next　morning　with　a　misty　sense　that　somehow　the　world　had　changed。　As　the　last　remnants　of　sleep　left　him；　he　was　aware　of　a　vague　excitement。　Then　he　sat　up　in　bed　with　a　jerk。　He　had　remembered　that　he　was　in　love。
　There　was　no　doubt　about　it。　A　curious　happiness　pervaded　his　entire　being。　He　felt　young　and　active。　Everything　was　emphatically　for　the　best　in　this　best　of　all　possible　worlds。　　The　sun　was　shining。　Even　the　sound　of　someone　in　the　street　below　whistling　one　of　his　old　positions；　of　which　he　had　heartily　sickened　twelve　months　before；　was　pleasant　to　his　ears；　and　this　in　spite　of　the　fact　that　the　unseen　whistler　only　touched　the　key　in　odd　spots　and　had　a　poor　memory　for　tunes。　George　sprang　lightly　out　of　bed；　and　turned　on　the　cold　tap　in　the　bathroom。　While　he　lathered　his　face　for　its　morning　shave　he　beamed　at　himself　in　the　mirror。
　It　had　e　at　last。　The　Real　Thing。
　George　had　never　been　in　love　before。　Not　really　in　love。　　True；　from　the　age　of　fifteen；　he　had　been　in　varying　degrees　of　intensity　attracted　sentimentally　by　the　opposite　sex。　Indeed；　at　that　period　of　life　of　which　Mr。　Booth　Tarkington　has　written　so　searchinglythe　age　of　seventeenhe　had　been　in　love　with　practically　every　female　he　met　and　with　dozens　whom　he　had　only　seen　in　the　distance；　but　ripening　years　had　mellowed　his　taste　and　robbed　him　of　that　fine　romantic　catholicity。　During　the　last　five　years　women　had　found　him　more　or　less　cold。　　It　was　the　nature　of　his　profession　that　had　largely　brought　about　this　cooling　of　the　emotions。　To　a　man　who；　like　George；　has　worked　year　in　and　year　out　at　the　position　of　musical　edies；　woman　es　to　lose　many　of　those　attractive　qualities　which　ensnare　the　ordinary　male。　To　George；　of　late　years；　it　had　begun　to　seem　that　the　salient　feature　of　woman　as　a　sex　was　her　disposition　to　kick。　For　five　years　he　had　been　wandering　in　a　world　of　women；　many　of　them　beautiful；　all　of　them　superficially　attractive；　who　had　left　no　other　impress　on　his　memory　except　the　vigour　and　frequency　with　which　they　had　kicked。　　Some　had　kicked　about　their　musical　numbers；　some　about　their　love…scenes；　some　had　grumbled　about　t