the wheels of chance-第13章

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ble；　but　the　blisters　on　his　vanity　asserted　themselves。　The　fact　is；　he　was；　under　this　standing　irritation；　getting　down　to　the　natural　man　in　himself　for　once；　and　the　natural　man　in　himself；　in　spite　of　Oxford　and　the　junior　Reviewers'　Club；　was　a　Palaeolithic　creature　of　simple　tastes　and　violent　methods。　〃I'll　be　level　with　you　yet；〃　ran　like　a　plough　through　the　soil　of　his　thoughts。

Then　there　was　this　infernal　detective。　Bechamel　had　told　his　wife　he　was　going　to　Davos　to　see　Carter。　To　that　he　had　fancied　she　was　reconciled；　but　how　she　would　take　this　exploit　was　entirely　problematical。　She　was　a　woman　of　peculiar　moral　views；　and　she　measured　marital　infidelity　largely　by　its　proximity　to　herself。　Out　of　her　sight；　and　more　particularly　out　of　the　sight　of　the　other　women　of　her　set；　vice　of　the　recognised　description　was；　perhaps；　permissible　to　those　contemptible　weaklings；　men；　but　this　was　Evil　on　the　High　Roads。　She　was　bound　to　make　a　fuss；　and　these　fusses　invariably　took　the　final　form　of　a　tightness　of　money　for　Bechamel。　Albeit；　and　he　felt　it　was　heroic　of　him　to　resolve　so；　it　was　worth　doing　if　it　was　to　be　done。　His　imagination　worked　on　a　kind　of　matronly　Valkyrie；　and　the　noise　of　pursuit　and　vengeance　was　in　the　air。　The　idyll　still　had　the　front　of　the　stage。　That　accursed　detective；　it　seemed；　had　been　thrown　off　the　scent；　and　that；　at　any　rate；　gave　a　night's　respite。　But　things　must　be　brought　to　an　issue　forthwith。

By　eight　o'clock　in　the　evening；　in　a　little　dining…room　in　the　Vicuna　Hotel；　Bognor；　the　crisis　had　come；　and　Jessie；　flushed　and　angry　in　the　face　and　with　her　heart　sinking；　faced　him　again　for　her　last　st；ruggle　with　him。　He　had　tricked　her　this　time；　effectually；　and　luck　had　been　on　his　side。　She　was　booked　as　Mrs。　Beaumont。　Save　for　her　refusal　to　enter　their　room；　and　her　eccentricity　of　eating　with　unwashed　hands；　she　had　so　far　kept　up　the　appearances　of　things　before　the　waiter。　But　the　dinner　was　grim　enough。　Now　in　turn　she　appealed　to　his　better　nature　and　made　extravagant　statements　of　her　plans　to　fool　him。

He　was　white　and　vicious　by　this　time；　and　his　anger　quivered　through　his　pose　of　brilliant　wickedness。

〃I　will　go　to　the　station；〃　she　said。　〃I　will　go　back〃

〃The　last　train　for　anywhere　leaves　at　7。42。〃

〃I　will　appeal　to　the　police〃

〃You　don't　know　them。〃

〃I　will　tell　these　hotel　people。〃

〃They　will　turn　you　out　of　doors。　You're　in　such　a　thoroughly　false　position　now。　They　don't　understand　unconventionality；　down　here。〃

She　stamped　her　foot。　〃If　I　wander　about　the　streets　all　night〃　she　said。

〃You　who　have　never　been　out　alone　after　dusk？　Do　you　know　what　the　streets　of　a　charming　little　holiday　resort　are　like〃

〃I　don't　care；〃　she　said。　〃I　can　go　to　the　clergyman　here。〃

〃He's　a　charming　man。　Unmarried。　And　men　are　really　more　alike　than　you　think。　And　anyhow〃

〃Well？〃

〃How　CAN　you　explain　the　last　two　nights　to　anyone　now？　The　mischief　is　done；　Jessie。〃

〃You　CUR；〃　she　said；　and　suddenly　put　her　hand　to　her　breast。　He　thought　she　meant　to　faint；　but　she　stood；　with　the　colour　gone　from　her　face。

〃No；〃　he　said。　〃I　love　you。〃

〃Love！〃　said　she。

〃Yeslove。〃

〃There　are　ways　yet；〃　she　said；　after　a　pause。

〃Not　for　you。　You　are　too　full　of　life　and　hope　yet　for；　what　is　it？not　the　dark　arch　nor　the　black　flowing　river。　Don't　you　think　of　it。　You'll　only　shirk　it　when　the　moment　comes；　and　turn　it　all　into　comedy。〃

She　turned　round　abruptly　from　him　and　stood　looking　out　across　the　parade　at　the　shining　sea　over　which　the　afterglow　of　day　fled　before　the　rising　moon。　He　maintained　his　attitude。　The　blinds　were　still　up；　for　she　had　told　the　waiter　not　to　draw　them。　There　was　silence　for　some　moments。　

At　last　he　spoke　in　as　persuasive　a　voice　as　he　could　summon。　〃Take　it　sensibly；　Jessie。　Why　should　we；　who　have　so　much　in　common；　quarrel　into　melodrama？　I　swear　I　love　you。　You　are　all　that　is　bright　and　desirable　to　me。　I　am　stronger　than　you；　older；　man　to　your　woman。　To　find　YOU　tooconventional！〃

She　looked　at　him　over　her　shoulder；　and　he　noticed　with　a　twinge　of　delight　how　her　little　chin　came　out　beneath　the　curve　of　her　cheek。

〃MAN！〃　she　said。　〃Man　to　MY　woman！　Do　MEN　lie？　Would　a　MAN　use　his　five　and　thirty　years'　experience　to　outwit　a　girl　of　seventeen？　Man　to　my　woman　indeed！　That　surely　is　the　last　insult！〃

〃Your　repartee　is　admirable；　Jessie。　I　should　say　they　do；　thoughall　that　and　more　also　when　their　hearts　were　set　on　such　a　girl　as　yourself。　For　God's　sake　drop　this　shrewishness！　Why　should　you　be　sodifficult　to　me？　Here　am　I　with　MY　reputation；　MY　career；　at　your　feet。　Look　here；　Jessieon　my　honour；　I　will　marry　you〃

〃God　forbid；〃　she　said；　so　promptly　that　she　never　learnt　he　had　a　wife；　even　then。　It　occurred　to　him　then　for　the　first　time；　in　the　flash　of　her　retort；　that　she　did　not　know　he　was　married。

〃'Tis　only　a　pre…nuptial　settlement；〃　he　said；　following　that　hint。　

He　paused。

〃You　must　be　sensible。　The　thing's　your　own　doing。　Come　out　on　the　beach　now　the　beach　here　is　splendid；　and　the　moon　will　soon　be　high。〃

〃_I_　WON'T〃　she　said；　stamping　her　foot。

〃Well；　well〃

〃Oh！　leave　me　alone。　Let　me　think〃

〃Think；〃　he　said；　〃if　you　want　to。　It's　your　cry　always。　But　you　can't　save　yourself　by　thinking；　my　dear　girl。　You　can't　save　yourself　in　any　way　now。　If　saving　it　isthis　parsimony〃

〃Oh；　gogo。〃

〃Very　well。　I　will　go。　I　will　go　and　smoke　a　cigar。　And　think　of　you；　dear。　。　。　。　But　do　you　think　I　should　do　all　this　if　I　did　not　care？〃

〃Go；〃　she　whispered；　without　glancing　round。　She　continued　to　stare　out　of　the　window。　He　stood　looking　at　her　for　a　moment；　with　a　strange　light　in　his　eyes。　He　made　a　step　towards　her。　〃I　HAVE　you；〃；　he　said。　〃You　are　mine。　Nettedcaught。　But　mine。〃　He　would　have　gone　up　to　her　and　laid　his　hand　upon　her；　but　he　did　not　dare　to　do　that　yet。　〃I　have　you　in　my　hand；〃　he　said；　〃in　my　power。　Do　you　hearPOWER！〃

She　remained　impassive。　He　stared　at　her　for　half　a　minute；　and　then；　with　a　superb　gesture　that　was　lost　upon　her；　went　to　the　door。　Surely　the　instinctive　abasement　of　her　sex　before　Strength　was　upon　his　side。　He　told　himself　that　his　battle　was　won。　She　heard　the　handle　move　and　the　catch　click　as　the　door　closed　behind　him。　



XXII

And　now　without　in　the　twilight　behold　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　his　cheeks　hot；　his　eye　bright！　His　brain　is　in　a　tumult。　The　nervous；　obsequious　Hoopdriver；　to　whom　I　introduced　you　some　days　since；　has　undergone　a　wonderful　change。　Ever　since　he　lost　that　'spoor'　in　Chichester；　he　has　been　tormented　by　the　most　horrible　visions　of　the　shameful　insults　that　may　be　happening。　The　strangeness　of　new　surroundings　has　been　working　to　strip　off　the　habitual　servile　from　him。　Here　was　moonlight　rising　over　the　memory　of　a　red　sunset；　dark　shadows　and　glowing　orange　lamps；　beauty　somewhere　mysteriously　rapt　away　from　him；　tangible　wrong　in　a　brown　suit　and　an　unpleasant　face；　flouting　him。　Mr。　Hoopdriver　for　the　time；　was　in　the　world　of　Romance　and　Knight…errantry；　divinely　forgetful　of　his　social　position　or　hers；　forgetting；　too；　for　the　time　any　of　the　wretched　timidities　that　had　tied　him　long　since　behind　the　counter　in　his　proper　place。　He　was　angry　and　adventurous。　It　was　all　about　him；　this　vivid　drama　he　had　fallen　into；　and　it　was　eluding　him。　He　was　far　too　grimly　in　earnest　to　pick　up　that　lost　thread　and　make　a　play　of　it　now。　The　man　was　living。　He　did　not　pose　when　he　alighted　at　the　cof　ee　tavern　even；　nor　when　he　made　his　hasty　meal。

As　Bechamel　crossed　from　the　Vicuna　towards　the　esplanade；　Hoopdriver；　disappointed　and　exasperated；　came　hurrying　round　the　corner　from　the　Temperance　Hotel。　At　the　sight　of　Bechamel；　his　heart　jumped；　and　the　tension　of　his　angry　suspense　exploded　into；　rather　than　gave　place　to；　an　excited　activity　of　mind。　They　were　at　the　Vicuna；　and　she　was　there　now　alone。　It　was　the　occasion　he　sought。　But　he　would　give　Chance　no　chance　against　him。　He　went　back　round　the　corner；　sat　down　on　the　seat；　and　watched　Bechamel　recede　into　the　dimness　up　the　esplanade；　before　he　got　up　and　walked　into　the　hotel　entrance。　〃A　lady　cyclist　in　grey；〃　he　asked　for；　and　followed　boldly　on　the　waiter's　heels。　The　door　of　the　dining…room　was　opening　before　he　felt　a　qualm。　And　then　suddenly　he　was　nearly　minded　to　turn　and　run　for　it；　and　his　features　seemed　to　him　to　be　convulsed。

She　turned　with　a　start；　and　looked　at　him　with　something　between　terror　and　hope　in　her　eyes。

〃Can　Ihave　a　few　wordswith　you；　alone？〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　controlling　his　breath　with　difficulty。　She　hesitated；　and　then　motioned　the　waiter　to　withdraw。

Mr。　Hoopdriver　watched　the　door　shut。　He　had　intended　to　step　out　into　the　middle　of　the　room；　fold　his　arms　and　say；　〃You　are　in　trouble。　I　am　a　Friend。　Trust　me。〃　Instead　of　which　he　stood　panting　and　then　spoke　with　sudden　familiarity；　hastily；　guiltily：　〃Look　here。　I　don't　know　what　the　juice　is　up；　but　I　think　there's　something　wrong。　Excuse　my　intrudingif　it　isn't　so。　I'll　do　anything　you　like　to　help　you　out　of　the　scrapeif　you're　in　one。　That's　my　meaning；　I　believe。　What　can　I　do？　I　would　do　anything　to　help　you。〃

Her　brow　puckered；　as　she　watched　him　make；　with　infinite　emotion；　this　remarkable　speech。　〃YOU！〃　she　said。　She　was　tumultuously　weighing　possibilities　in　her　mind；　and　he　had　scarcely　ceased　when　she　had　made　her　resolve。

She　stepped　a　pace　forward。　〃You　are　a　gentleman；〃　she　said。

〃Yes；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　

〃Can　I　trust　you？〃

She　did　not　wait　for　his　assurance。　〃I　must　leave　this　hotel　at　once。　Come　here。〃

She　took　his　arm　and　led　him　to　the　window。

〃You　can　just　see　the　gate。　It　is　still　open。　Through　that　are　our　bicycles。　Go　down；　get　them　out；　and　I　will　come　down　to　you。　Dare　you？

〃Get　your　bicycle　out　in　the　road？〃

〃Both。　Mine　alone　is　no　good。　At　once。　Dare　you？〃

〃Which　way？〃

〃Go　out　by　the　front　door　and　round。　I　will　follow　in　one　minute。〃

〃Right！〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　and　went。

He　had　to　get　those　bicycles。　Had　he　been　told　to　go　out　and　kill　Bechamel　he　would　have　done　it。　His　head　was　a　MaeIstrom　now。　He　walked　out　of　the　hotel；　along　the　front；　and　into　the　big；　blackshadowed　coach　yard。　He　looked　round。　There　were　no　bicycles　visible。　Then　a　man　emerged　from　the　dark；　a　short　man　in　a　short；　black；　shiny　jacket。　Hoopdriver　was　caught。　He　made　no　attempt　to　turn　and　run　for　it。　〃I've　been　giving　your　machines　a　wipe　over；　sir；〃　said　the　man；　recognising　the　suit；　and　touching　his　cap。　Hoopdriver's　intelligence　now　was　a　soaring　eagle；　he　swooped　on　the　situation　at　once。　〃That's　right；〃　he　said；　and　added；　before　the　pause　became　marked；　〃Where　is　mine？　I　want　to　look　at　the　chain。〃

The　man　led　him　into　an　open　shed；　and　went　fumbling　for　a　lantern。　Hoopdriver　moved　the　lady's　machine　out　of　his　way　to　the　door；　and　then　laid　hands　on　the　man's　machine　and　wheeled　it　out　of　the　shed　into　the　yard。　The　gate　stood　open　and　beyond　was　the　pale　road　and　a　clump　of　trees　black　in　the　twilight。　He　stooped　and　examined　the　chain　with　trembling　fingers。　How　was　it　to　be　done？　Something　behind　the　gate　seemed　to　flutter。　The　man　must　be　got　rid　of　anyhow。

〃I　say；〃