hr.thecarpetbaggers-第18章

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　Max　nodded　his　head。　〃Ma'am。〃
　Miss　Pluvier　walked　around　him；　looking　at　him　from　all　angles。　〃He　seems　rather　young；〃　she　said　doubtfully。
　〃He's　extremely　capable；　I　assure　you；〃　the　gambler　said。　〃He's　a　veteran　of　the　recent　war　with　Spain。〃
　She　raised　her　hand　carelessly；　interrupting　his　speech。　〃I'm　sure　his　qualifications　are　satisfactory　if　you　remend　him；〃　she　said。　〃But　he　does　seem　rather　dirty。〃
　〃I　just　rode　in　from　Florida；　ma'am；〃　Max　said；　finding　his　voice。
　〃His　figure　is　rather　good；　though。〃　She　continued　as　if　he　hadn't　spoken。　She　walked　around　him　again。　〃Very　broad　shoulders；　almost　no　hips　at　all。　He　should　wear　clothes　well。　I　think　he'll　do。〃
　She　walked　back　to　the　dressing　table　where　she　had　been　standing。　She　turned　to　face　them。　〃Young　man；〃　she　asked；　〃do　you　know　what　you're　supposed　to　do？〃　
　Max　shook　his　head。　〃No；　ma'am。〃
　〃You're　to　be　my　bodyguard；〃　she　said　matter…of…factly。　〃I　have　a　rather　large　establishment　here。　Downstairs；　we　have　several　gaming　rooms　for　gentlemen。　Of　course；　we　provide　other　discreet　entertainments。　Our　house　enjoys　the　highest　reputation　in　the　South　and　as　a　result；　many　people　are　envious　of　us。　Sometimes；　these　people　go　to　extremes　in　their　desire　to　cause　trouble。　My　friends　have　persuaded　me　to　seek　protection。〃
　〃I　see；　ma'am；〃　Max　said。
　Her　voice　became　more　businesslike。　〃My　hours　will　be　your　hours；〃　she　said；　〃and　you　will　live　here　with　us。　Your　wages　will　be　a　hundred　dollars　a　month。　Twenty　dollars　a　month　will　be　deducted　for　room　and　board。　And　under　no　circumstances　are　you　to　have　anything　to　do　with　any　of　the　young　ladies　who　reside　here。〃
　Max　nodded。　〃Yes；　ma'am。〃
　Miss　Pluvier　smiled。　She　turned　to　the　gambler。　〃Now；　if　you　will　be　kind　enough　to　take　him　to　your　tailor　and　have　six　suits　made　for　him　…　three　white　and　three　black　…　I　think　everything　will　be　in　order。〃
　The　gambler　smiled。　〃I'll　attend　to　it　right　away。〃
　Max　followed　him。　At　the　door；　he　stopped　and　looked　back。　She　was　seated　at　the　dressing　table　in　front　of　the　mirror；　brushing　her　hair。　Her　eyes　glanced　up　and　caught　his。　〃Thank　you；　ma'am；〃　he　said。
　〃Please　call　me　Miss　Pluvier；〃　she　said　coldly。
　
　It　was　after　three　o'clock　one　morning　when　Max　came　into　the　foyer　from　the　gaming　rooms　on　his　nightly　tour　of　inspection。　Already；　the　cleaning　women　were　busy　in　the　downstairs　rooms。　He　paused　at　the　front　door。
　〃Everythin'　locked　up；　Jacob？〃　he　asked　the　tall　Negro　doorman。
　〃Tighter'n　a　drum；　Mistuh　Sand。〃
　〃Good；〃　Max　smiled　as　he　started　for　the　staircase；　then　stopped　and　looked　back。　〃Did　Mr。　Darcy　leave？〃
　〃No；　suh；〃　the　Negro　replied。　〃He　spendin'　the　night　with　Miss　Eleanor。　You　don'　have　to　worry；　though。　I　move　'em　to　the　gol'　room。〃
　Max　nodded　and　started　up　the　staircase。　Darcy　had　been　his　only　problem　the　last　few　months。　The　young　man　was　determined　not　to　be　satisfied　until　he　had　spent　a　night　with　the　mistress　of　the　house。　And　tonight　he　had　been　rather　unpleasant　about　it。
　Max　stopped　at　the　top　of　the　stairway。　He　knocked　at　a　door　and　went　in。　His　employer　was　seated　at　her　dressing　table；　a　maid　brushing　her　hair。　Her　eyes　met　his　in　the　mirror。
　〃Everythin's　locked　up；　Miss　Pluvier；〃　he　said。　
　Her　eyebrows　raised　questioningly。　〃Darcy？〃　
　〃In　the　gold　room　with　Eleanor　at　the　other　end　of　the　house。〃　
　〃Bon。〃　She　nodded。
　Max　stood　there　looking　at　her；　his　face　troubled。　She　saw　his　expression　in　the　mirror　and　waved　the　maid　from　the　room。　〃You　are　disturbed；　chéri？〃
　He　nodded。　〃It's　Darcy；〃　he　admitted。　〃I　don't　like　the　way　he's　actin'。　I　think　we　ought　to　bar　him。〃
　〃La。〃　She　laughed。　〃We　can't　do　that。　The　family　is　too　important。〃
　She　laughed　again　happily　and　came　toward　him。　She　placed　her　arms　around　his　neck　and　kissed　him。　〃My　young　Indien　is　jealous。〃　She　smiled。　〃Do　not　worry　about　him。　He　will　forget　about　it　soon。　All　young　men　do。　I　have　seen　it　happen　before。〃
　A　little　while　later；　he　lay　beside　her　on　the　big　white　bed；　his　eyes　delighting　in　the　wonder　of　her　lovely　body。　He　felt　her　fingers　stroking　him　gently；　reawakening　the　fires　inside　him。　He　closed　his　eyes。
　He　felt　her　soft　lips　brushing　his　flesh；　her　whispering　voice　seemed　to　float　upward　to　him。　〃Mon　coeur；　mon　indien；　mon　chéri。〃　He　heard　the　soft　sounds　of　her　pleasure　as　she　raised　her　lips　from　him。　Through　his　almost　closed　lids　he　could　see　the　blurred　sensuality　of　her　face。
　〃The　weapon　you　carry　has　turned　into　a　cannon；〃　she　murmured；　her　fingers　still　stroking　him　gently。
　His　hand　reached　out　and　stroked　her　hair。　An　expression　of　almost　frightened　ecstasy　came　into　her　face　and　he　closed　his　eyes。　He　could　feel　the　trembling　begin　deep　inside　him。　How　could　a　woman　know　so　much？　From　what　deep　spring　could　such　a　fountain　of　pleasure　e？　He　caught　his　breath。　It　was　almost　unbearable；　this　strange　delight。　It　was　like　nothing　he　had　ever　known。
　There　was　a　soft　sound　at　the　door。　He　turned　his　head　slightly；　wondering　what　it　could　be。　Suddenly；　the　door　burst　open　and　Darcy　was　there　in　the　room。
　He　felt　her　roll　away　from　him　as　he　sat　up；　then　her　voice　from　the　foot　of　the　bed：　〃Get　out　of　here；　you　damned　idiot！〃
　Darcy　stared　at　her　stupidly。　He　weaved　slightly；　his　eyes　bewildered。　His　hand　came　out　of　his　pocket　and　a　shower　of　bills　fell　to　the　floor。　〃See；　I　brought　a　thousand　dollars　with　me；〃　he　said　drunkenly。
　She　got　out　of　the　bed。　She　stormed　toward　him　regally；　unaware　of　her　nudity。　She　raised　a　hand；　pointing　to　the　door。　〃Get　out；　I　said！〃
　Darcy　just　stood　there　staring　at　her。　〃My　God；〃　he　mumbled　huskily。　〃I　want　you。〃
　Max　finally　found　his　voice。　〃You　heard　Miss　Pluvier；〃　he　said。　〃Get　out。〃
　For　the　first　time；　Darcy　became　aware　of　him。　His　face　began　to　flush　with　anger。　〃You；〃　he　said　thickly。　〃You！　All　the　time　I　was　begging；　pleading；　it　was　you。　You　were　laughing　at　me　all　the　time！〃
　A　knife　appeared　in　his　hand　suddenly。　He　thrust　quickly　and　Max　rolled　off　the　bed　to　the　floor　as　the　knife　stabbed　the　satin　sheets。　Max　snatched　a　pillow　from　the　bed　and　held　it　in　front　of　him　as　he　backed　toward　the　chair　from　which　his　gun　hung。
　Darcy's　eyes　were　glazed　with　rage。　〃You　were　laughing　all　the　time；〃　he　mumbled。　〃Every　time　you　did　it　you　were　laughing　at　me。〃
　〃You　better　get　out　of　here　before　you　get　hurt；〃　Max　said。
　Darcy　shook　his　head。　〃And　have　you　laugh　at　me　some　more？　Oh；　no。　This　time　I'm　going　to　do　the　laughing。〃
　He　lunged　with　the　knife　again。　This　time　it　caught　in　the　pillow　and　he　fell　against　Max；　who　was　shoved　against　the　wall。　The　gun　went　off；　and　a　look　of　surprise　came　over　Darcy's　face　as　he　slumped　to　his　knees；　then　sprawled　out　on　the　floor。　The　naked　woman　stared　at　Max。　Quickly　she　knelt　beside　Darcy。　She　reached　for　his　pulse；　then　dropped　his　hand。　〃You　didn't　have　to　kill　him；　you　fool！〃　she　said　angrily。
　Max　looked　at　her。　Her　breasts　heaved　excitedly　and　there　was　a　fine　moisture　in　the　valley　between　them。　He　had　never　seen　her　look　so　beautiful。　〃What　was　I　supposed　to　do？〃　he　asked。　〃He　was　in'　at　me　with　a　knife！〃
　〃You　could　have　knocked　him　out！〃　she　snapped。
　〃What　was　I　supposed　to　hit　him　with？〃　he　snapped　back；　feeling　the　anger　rise　in　him。　〃My　cannon？〃
　She　stood　very　still　for　a　moment；　staring　at　him。　Then　she　turned　and　walked　to　the　door。　She　looked　out　into　the　hallway。　The　house　was　quiet。　The　shot　had　been　muffled　by　the　pillow。　Slowly　she　closed　the　door　and　came　back　toward　him。
　He　stood　there　watching　the　blurred；　sensual　look　e　back　into　her　face。　She　sank　to　her　knees　before　him；　and　he　felt　her　lips　press　against　his　thighs。　〃Do　not　be　angry　with　Anne…Louise；　my　stalwart；　wild　stallion；〃　she　whispered。　〃Make　love　to　me。〃
　He　reached　down　to　lift　her　to　the　bed。　But　she　held　his　arms。　〃No；〃　she　said；　pulling　him　down　to　the　floor　beside　her。　〃Here。〃
　They　made　love　for　the　last　time　on　the　floor；　lying　next　to　a　dead　man。　In　the　morning；　Anne…Louise　Pluvier　calmly　turned　him　over　to　the　police。
　
　10
　
　THE　EAST；　WEST　AND　SOUTH　OF　THE　PRISON　WAS　bounded　by　a　swamp；　along　which　the　cypresses　rose　high　and　spilled　their　leaves　onto　the　murky　surface　of　the　water。　The　only　way　out　was　to　the　north；　across　the　rice　paddies　tended　by　Cajun　tenant　farmers。　There　was　a　small　village　eighteen　miles　north　of　the　prison　and　it　was　here　that　most　prisoners　trying　to　escape　were　caught　and　brought　back　to　the　prison　by　the　Cajuns　for　the　ten…dollar　bounty　offered　by　the　state。　Those　who　were　not　caught　were　presumed　dead　in　the　swamp。　There　had　been　only　two　such　cases　reported　in　the　prison's　twenty　years　of　operation。
　One　morning　in　May；　after　Max　had　been　there　a　few　months；　the　guard　checking　out　his　hut　reported　to　one　of　the　trusties　the　absence　of　a　prisoner　named　Jim　Reeves。　
　The　trusty　looked　around。　〃He　ain't　here？〃　
　〃He　ain't　out　in　the　latrines；　neither；〃　the　guard　said。　〃I　looked。〃
　〃He's　gone；　then；〃　the　trusty　said。　〃I　reckon　he　went　over　the　wall　in　the　night。〃
　〃That　Jim　Reeves　sure　is　a　fool；〃　the　guard　said　softly。　He　turned　on　his　heel。　〃I　better　go　tell　the　warden。〃
　They　were　lined　up　in　front　of　the　kitchen；　getting　their　coffee　and　grits；　when　Max　saw　one　of　the　guards　ride　out　of　the　prison　and　start　up　the　road　toward　the　village。
　He　sat　down　against　the　wall　of　one　of　the　huts　and　watched　the　guard　disappear　up　the　road　while　he　ate。　Mike；　the　giant　Negro　trusty　who　had　given　him　ten　lashes　the　day　he　arrived；　came　over　and　sat　down　beside　him。
　Max　looked　over　at　the　trusty。　〃That　all　the　fuss　they　make　over　a　man　gettin'　out？〃
　Mike　nodded；　his　mouth　filled　with　grits。　〃What　you　expec'　them　to　do？〃　he　asked。　〃They'll　git　him　back。　You　wait　and　see。〃
　He　was　right。　The　next　morning；　while　they　were　at　breakfast　again；　Jim　Reeves　came　back。　He　was　sitting　in　a　wagon　between　two　Cajuns；　who　carried　their　long　rifles　in　the　crooks　of　their　arms。　The　prisoners　looked　up　at　him　silently　as　he　rode　by。
　When　they　came　back　from　their　work　in　the　evening；　Jim　Reeves　was　tied　naked　to　the　whipping　post。　Silently　the　trusties　led　the　prisoners　to　the　pound；　so　that　they　could　view　the　punishment　before　they　had　their　meal。
　The　warden　stood　there　until　all　the　prisoners　were　in　line。　〃You　men　know　the　penalty　for　attempted　escape　…　ten　lashes　and　fifteen　days　in　the　cage　for　each　day　out。〃　He　turned　to　Mike；　standing　next　to　him。　〃I　don't　want　him　knocked　out。　He　must　be　conscious　so　he　can　rue　the　folly　of　his　action。〃
　Mike　nodded　stolidly　and　stepped　forward。　The　muscles　along　his　back　rippled　and　the　long　snake　wrapped　itself　lightly　around　the　prisoner。　It　seemed　to　caress　him　almost　gently；　but　when　Mike　lifted　it　from　the　victim's　back；　a　long　red　welt　of　blood　bubbled　and　rose　to　the　surface。
　A　moment　later；　the　prisoner　screamed。　The　snake　rippled　around　him　again。　This　time；　his　scream　was　pure　agony。　The　prisoner　fainted　three　times　before　the　lashing　was　pleted。　Each　time；　the　warden　stepped　forward　and　had　a　pail　of　water　thrown　into　his　face　to　revive　him；　then　ordered　the　lashing　continued。
　At　the　end；　Jim　Reeves　hung　there　from　the　post；　unconscious。　Blood　dripped　down　his　back　f