the lost road-第11章

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woman　I'm　going　to　marry　was　engaged　to　him　and　I　don't　know
that；　he　has　me　at　a　disadvantage。〃

〃I　don't　see　that　he　has；〃　said　Aline。　　〃If　we　suppose；　for　the　sake
of　argument；　that　to　marry　me　is　desirable；　I　would　say　that　the
man　who　was　going　to　marry　me　had　the　advantage　over　the　one
I　had　declined　to　marry。〃

〃I　want　to　know　who　those　men　are；〃　explained　Griswold；　〃because
I　want　to　avoid　them。　　I　don't　want　to　talk　to　them。　　I　don't　want
even　to　know　them。〃

〃I　don't　see　how　I　can　help　you；〃　said　Aline。　　〃I　haven't　the
slightest　objection　to　telling　you　the　names　of　the　men　I　have
cared　for；　if　I　can　remember　them；　but　I　certainly　do　not　intend
to　tell　you　the　name　of　any　man　who　cared　for　me　enough　to　ask　me
to　marry　him。　　That's　his　secret；　not　minecertainly　not　yours。〃

Griswold　thought　he　was　very　proud。　　He　really　was　very　vain；　and
as　jealousy　is　only　vanity　in　its　nastiest　development　he　was
extremely　jealous。　　So　he　persisted。

〃Will　you　do　this？〃　he　demanded。　　〃If　I　ever　ask　you；　'Is　that　one
of　the　men　you　cared　for？'　will　you　tell　me？〃

〃If　you　wish　it；〃　said　Aline；　〃but　I　can't　see　any　health　in　it。
It　will　only　make　you　uncomfortable。　　So　long　as　you　know　I　have
given　you　the　greatest　and　truest　love　I　am　capable　of；　why
should　you　concern　yourself　with　my　mistakes？〃

〃So　that　I　can　avoid　meeting　what　you　call　your　mistakes；〃　said
Griswold〃　and　being　friendly　with　them。〃

〃I　assure　you；〃　laughed　Aline；　〃it　wouldn't　hurt　you　a　bit　to　be
as　friendly　with　them　as　they'd　let　you。　　Maybe　they　weren't　as
proud　of　their　families　as　you　are；　but　they　made　up　for　that　by
being　a　darned　sight　prouder　of　me！〃

Later；　undismayed　by　this　and　unashamed；　on　two　occasions
Griswold　actually　did　demand　of　Aline　if　a　genial　youth　she　had
just　greeted　joyfully　was　one　of　those　for　whom　she　once　had
cared。

And　Aline　had　replied　promptly　and　truthfully　that　he　was。　　But　in
the　case　of　Charles　Cochran；　Griswold　did　not　ask　Aline　if　he　was
one　of　those　for　whom　she　once　had　cared。　　He　considered　the
affair　with　Cochran　so　serious　that；　in　regard　to　that　man；　he
adopted　a　different　course。

In　digging　rivals　out　of　the　past　his　jealousy　had　made　him
indefatigable；　but　in　all　his　researches　he　never　had　heard　the
name　of　Charles　Cochran。　　That　fact　and　the　added　circumstance
that　Aline　herself　never　had　mentioned　the　man　was　in　his　eyes　so
suspicious　as　to　be　almost　a　damning　evidence　of　deception。　　And
he　argued　that　if　in　the　past　Aline　had　deceived　him　as　to　Charles
Cochran　she　would　continue　to　do　so。　　Accordingly；　instead
of　asking　her　frankly　for　the　truth　he　proceeded　to　lay　traps　for
it。　　And　if　there　is　one　thing　Truth　cannot　abide；　it　is　being
hunted　by　traps。

That　evening　Aline　and　he　were　invited　to　a　supper　in　her　honor；
and　as　he　drove　her　from　the　theatre　to　the　home　of　their　hostess
he　told　her　of　his　search　earlier　in　the　day。

The　electric　light　in　the　limousine　showed　Aline's　face　as
clearly　as　though　it　were　held　in　a　spotlight；　and　as　he　prepared
his　trap　Griswold　regarded　her　jealously。

〃Post　tells　me；〃　he　said；　〃he　has　the　very　man　you　want　for　your
architect。　　He's　sure　you'll　find　him　most　understanding　andand…
…
sympathetic。　　He's　a　young　man　who　is　just　coming　to　the　front；
and　he's　very　popular；　especially　with　women。〃

〃What's　his　being　popular　with　women；〃　asked　Aline；　〃got　to　do
with　his　carrying　out　my　ideas　of　a　house？〃

〃That's　just　it；〃　said　Griswold〃it's　the　woman　who　generally　has
the　most　to　say　as　to　how　her　house　shall　be　built；　and　this　man
understands　woman。　　I　have　reasons　for　believing　he　will　certainly
understand　you！〃

〃If　he　understands　me　well　enough　to　give　me　all　the
linen…closets　I　want；〃　said　Aline；　〃he　will　be　perfectly
satisfactory。〃

Before　delivering　his　blow　Griswold　sank　back　into　his　corner　of
the　car；　drew　his　hat　brim　over　his　forehead；　and　fixed　spying
eyes　upon　the　very　lovely　face　of　the　girl　he　had　asked　to　marry
him。

〃His　name；〃　he　said　in　fateful　tones；　〃is　Charles　Cochran！〃

It　was　supposed　to　be　a　body　blow；　but；　to　his　distress；　Aline
neither　started　nor　turned　pale。　　Neither；　for　trying　to　trick
her；　did　she　turn　upon　him　in　reproof　and　anger。　　Instead；　with
alert　eyes；　she　continued　to　peer　out　of　the　window　at　the
electric…light　advertisements　and　her　beloved　Broadway。

〃Well？〃　demanded　Griswold；　his　tone　was　hoarse　and　heavy　with
meaning。

〃Well　what？〃　asked　Aline　pleasantly。

〃How；〃　demanded　Griswold；　〃do　you　like　Charles　Cochran　for　an
architect？〃

〃How　should　I　know？〃　asked　Aline。　　〃I've　not　met　him　yet！〃

She　had　said　it！　And　she　had　said　it　without　the　waver　of　one　of
her　lovely　eyelashes。　　No　wonder　the　public　already　hailed　her　as
a　finished　actress！　Griswold　felt　that　his　worst　fears　were
justified。　　She　had　lied　to　him。　　And；　as　he　knew　she　had　never
before　lied　to　him；　that　now　she　did　so　proved　beyond　hope　of
doubt　that　the　reason　for　it　was　vital；　imperative；　and　compelling。
But　of　his　suspicions　Griswold　gave　no　sign。　　He　would　not　at
once　expose　her。　　He　had　trapped　her；　but　as　yet　she　must　not
know　that。　　He　would　wait　until　he　had　still　further　entangled
heruntil　she　could　not　escape；　and　then；　with　complete　proof
of　her　deceit；　he　would　confront　and　overwhelm　her。

With　this　amiable　purpose　in　mind　he　called　early　the　next　morning
upon　Post　&　Constant　and　asked　to　see　Mr。　Cochran。　　He　wished；
he　said；　to　consult　him　about　the　new　house。　　Post　had　not　yet
reached　the　office；　and　of　Griswold's　visit　with　Post　to　his　house
Cochran　was　still　ignorant。　　He　received　Griswold　most　courteously。
He　felt　that　the　man　who　was　loved　by　the　girl　he　also　had　long　and
hopelessly　worshipped　was　deserving　of　the　highest　consideration。
Griswold　was　less　magnanimous。　　When　he　found　his　rivalfor　as
such　he　beheld　himwas　of　charming　manners　and　gallant　appearance
he　considered　that　fact　an　additional　injury；　but　he　concealed　his
resentment；　for　he　was　going　to　trap　Cochran；　too。

He　found　the　architect　at　work　leaning　over　a　drawing…board；　and
as　they　talked　Cochran　continued　to　stand。　　He　was　in　his　shirt…sleeves；
which　were　rolled　to　his　shoulders；　and　the　breadth　of　those　shoulders
and　the　muscles　of　his　sunburned　arms　were　much　in　evidence。
Griswold　considered　it　a　vulgar　exhibition。

For　over　ten　minutes　they　talked　solely　of　the　proposed　house；
but　not　once　did　Griswold　expose　the　fact　that　he　had　seen　any
more　of　it　than　any　one　might　see　from　the　public　road。　　When　he
rose　to　take　his　leave　he　said：

〃How　would　it　do　if　I　motored　out　Sunday　and　showed　your　house
to　Miss　Proctor？　Sunday　is　the　only　day　she　has　off；　and　if　it　would　not
inconvenience　you〃

The　tender　heart　of　Cochran　leaped　in　wild　tumult；　he　could　not
conceal　his　delight；　nor　did　he　attempt　to　do　so；　and　his　expression
made　it　entirely　unnecessary　for　him　to　assure　Griswold　that　such　a
visit　would　be　entirely　welcome　and　that　they　might　count　on　finding
him　at　home。　　As　though　it　were　an　afterthought；　Griswold　halted　at
the　door　and　said：

〃I　believe　you　are　already　acquainted　with　Miss　Proctor。〃

Cochran；　conscious　of　five　years　of　devotion；　found　that　he　was
blushing；　and　longed　to　strangle　himself。　　Nor　was　the　blush　lost
upon　Griswold。

〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　Cochran；　〃but　I've　not　had　that　honor。　　On　the
stage；　of　course〃

He　shrugged　the　broad　shoulders　deprecatingly；　as　though　to　suggest
that　not　to　know　Miss　Proctor　as　an　artist　argues　oneself　unknown。

Griswold　pretended　to　be　puzzled。　　As　though　endeavoring　to　recall
a　past　conversation　he　frowned。

〃But　Aline；〃　he　said；　〃told　me　she　had　met　you…met　you　at　Bar
Harbor。〃　　In　the　fatal　photographs　the　familiar　landfalls　of　Bar
Harbor　had　been　easily　recognized。

The　young　architect　shook　his　head。

〃It　must　be　another　Cochran；〃　he　suggested。　　〃I　have　never　been　in
Bar　Harbor。〃

With　the　evidence　of　the　photographs　before　him　this　last
statement　was　a　verdict　of　guilty；　and　Griswold；　not　with　the
idea　of　giving　Cochran　a　last　chance　to　be　honest；　but　to　cause
him　to　dig　the　pit　still　deeper；　continued　to　lead　him　on。　　〃Maybe
she　meant　York　Harbor？〃

Again　Cochran　shook　his　head　and　laughed。

〃Believe　me；〃　he　said；　〃if　I'd　ever　met　Miss　Proctor　anywhere　I
wouldn't　forget　it！〃

Ten　minutes　later　Griswold　was　talking　to　Aline　over　the　telephone。
He　intended　to　force　matters。　　He　would　show　Aline　she　could　neither
trifle　with　nor　deceive　Chester　Griswold；　but　the　thought　that　he　had
been　deceived　was　not　what　most　hurt　him。　　What　hurt　him　was　to
think　that　Aline　had　preferred　a　man　who　looked　like　an　advertisement
for　ready…made　clothes　and　who　worked　in　his　shirt…sleeves。

Griswold　took　it　for　granted　that　any　woman　would　be　glad　to　marry　him。
So　many　had　been　willing　to　do　so　that　he　was　convinced；　when　one　of
them　was　not；　it　was　not　because　there　was　anything　wrong　with　him；
but　because　the　girl　herself　lacked　taste　and　perception。

That　the　others　had　been　in　any　degree　moved　by　his　many　millions
had　never　suggested　itself。　　He　was　convinced　each　had　loved　him　for
himself　alone；　and　if　Aline；　after　meeting　him；　would　still　consider　any
one　else；　it　was　evident　something　was　very　wrong　with　Aline。　　He　was
determined　that　she　must　be　chastenedmust　be　brought　to　a　proper
appreciation　of　her　good　fortune　and　of　his　condescension。

On　being　called　to　the　telephone　at　ten　in　the　morning；　Aline
demanded　to　know　what　could　excuse　Griswold　for　rousing　her
in　the　middle　of　the　night！

Griswold　replied　that；　though　the　day　was　young；　it　also　was
charming；　that　on　Sunday　there　might　be　rain；　and　that　if　she
desired　to　see　the　house　he　and　Post　thought　would　most　suit　her；
he　and　his　car　would　be　delighted　to　convey　her　to　it。　　They　could
make　the　run　in　an　hour；　lunch　with　friends　at　Westbury；　and
return　in　plenty　of　time　for　the　theatre。　　Aline　was　delighted　at
the　sudden　interest　Griswold　was　showing　in　the　new　house。
Without　a　moment's　hesitation　she　walked　into　the　trap。　　She
would　go；　she　declared；　with　pleasure。　　In　an　hour　he　should
call　for　her。

Exactly　an　hour　later　Post　arrived　at　his　office。　　He　went　directly
to　Cochran。

〃Charles；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　afraid　I　got　you　into　trouble　yesterday。
I　took　a　client　to　see　your　house。　　You　have　often　let　us　do　it　before；
but　since　I　was　there　last　you've　made　some　changes。　　In　your　bedroom〃
Post　stopped。

Cochran's　naive　habit　of　blushing　told　him　it　was　not　necessary
to　proceed。　　In　tones　of　rage　and　mortification　Cochran　swore
explosively；　Post　was　relieved　to　find　he　was　swearing　at　himself。

〃I　ought　to　be　horsewhipped！〃　roared　Cochran。　　〃I'll　never　forgive
myself！　Who；〃　he　demanded；　〃saw　the　pictures？　Was　it　a　man　or　a
woman？〃

Post　laughed　unhappily。

〃It　was　Chester　Griswold。〃

A　remarkable　change　came　over　Cochran。　　Instead　of　sobering　him；
as　Post　supposed　it　would；　the　information　made　him　even　more
angryonly　now　his　anger　was　transferred　from　himself　to　Griswold。

〃The　blankety…blank　bounder！〃　yelled　Cochran。　　〃That　was　what　he
wanted！　That's　why　he　came　here！〃

〃Here！〃　demanded　Post。

〃Not　an　hour　ago；〃　cried　Cochran。　　〃He　asked　me　about　Bar　Harbor。
He　sa