the lost road-第49章

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Nelsons；　and　Herbert　and　Charles　were　very　warm　friends。　　Charles
was　of　the　same　lack　of　years　as　was　Herbert；　of　an　enthusiastic
and　sentimental　nature；　and；　like　many　other　young　men；　the　story
of　his　life　also　was　the　lovely　and　much…desired　Aline　Proctor。
It　was　this　coincidence　that　had　made　them　friends　and　that　had
led　Herbert　to　select　Charles　as　the　custodian　of　his　treasure。
As　a　custodian　and　confidant　Charles　especially　appealed　to　his
new　friend；　because；　except　upon　the　stage　and　in　restaurants；
Charles　had　never　seen　Aline　Proctor；　did　not　know　herand
considered　her　so　far　above　him；　so　unattainable；　that　he　had　no
wish　to　seek　her　out。　　Unknown；　he　preferred　to　worship　at　a
distance。　　In　this　determination　Herbert　strongly　encouraged　him。

When　he　turned　over　the　pictures　to　Charles；　Herbert　could　not
resist　showing　them　to　him。　　They　were　in　many　ways　charming。
They　presented　the　queen　of　musical　comedy　in　several　new　roles。
In　one　she　was　in　a　sailor　suit；　giving　an　imitation　of　a　girl
paddling　a　canoe。　　In　another　she　was　in　a　riding…habit　mounted
upon　a　pony　of　which　she　seemed　very　much　afraid。

In　some　she　sat　like　a　siren　among　the　rocks　with　the　waves　and
seaweed　snatching　at　her　feet；　and　in　another　she　crouched
beneath　the　wheel　of　Herbert's　touring　car。　　All　of　the
photographs　were　unprofessional　and　intimate；　and　the
legends　scrawled　across　them　were　even　more　intimate。

〃'As　long　as　this　rock　lasts！'〃　read　Herbert。　　At　arm's　length　he
held　the　picture　for　Cochran　to　see；　and　laughed　bitterly　and
unmirthfully　as　he　had　heard　leading　men　laugh　in　problem　plays。

〃That　is　what　she　wrote；〃　he　mocked〃but　how　long　did　it　last？
Until　she　saw　that　little　red…headed　Albany　playing　polo。　　That
lasted　until　his　mother　heard　of　it。　　She　thought　her　precious
lamb　was　in　the　clutches　of　a　designing　actress；　and　made　the
Foreign　Office　cable　him　home。　　Then　Aline　took　up　one　of　those
army　aviators；　and　chucked　him　for　that　fellow　who　painted　her
portrait；　and　threw　him　over　for　the　lawn…tennis　champion。　　Now
she's　engaged　to　Chester　Griswold；　and　Heaven　pity　her！　Of　course
he's　the　greatest　catch　in　America；　but　he's　a　prig　and　a　snob；　and
he's　so　generous　with　his　money　that　he'll　give　you　five　pennies　for
a　nickel　any　time　you　ask　him。　　He's　got　a　heart　like　the　metre　of　a
taxicab；　and　he's　jealous　as　a　cat。　　Aline　will　have　a　fine　time　with
Chester！　I　knew　him　at　St。　Paul's　and　at　Harvard；　and　he's　got　as
much　red　blood　in　him　as　an　eel！〃

Cochran　sprang　to　the　defense　of　the　lady　of　his　dreams。

〃There　must　be　some　good　in　the　man；〃　he　protested；　〃or　Miss
Proctor…〃

〃Oh；　those　solemn　snobs；〃　declared　Herbert；　〃impress　women　by
just　keeping　still。　　Griswold　pretends　the　reason　he　doesn't　speak
to　you　is　because　he's　too　superior；　but　the　real　reason　is　that
he　knows　whenever　he　opens　his　mouth　he　shows　he　is　an　ass。〃

Reluctantly　Herbert　turned　over　to　Charles　the　precious　pictures。
〃It　would　be　a　sin　to　destroy　them；　wouldn't　it？〃　he　prompted。

Cochran　agreed　heartily。

〃You　might　even；〃　suggested　Herbert；　〃leave　one　or　two　of　them
about。　　You　have　so　many　of　Aline　already　that　one　more　wouldn't
be　noticed。　　Then　when　I　drop　in　I　could　see　it。〃　　He　smiled
ingratiatingly。

〃But　those　I　have　I　bought；〃　Cochran　pointed　out。　　〃Anybody　can
buy　them；　but　yours　are　personal。　　And　they're　signed。〃

〃No　one　will　notice　that　but　me；〃　protested　Herbert。　　〃Just　one　or
two；〃　he　coaxed…〃stuck　round　among　the　others。　　They'd　give　me　a
heap　of　melancholy　pleasure。〃

Charles　shook　his　head　doubtfully。

〃Your　wife　often　comes　here　with　you；〃　he　said。　　〃I　don't　believe
they'd　give　her　melancholy　pleasure。　　The　question　is；　are　you　married
to　Sally　or　to　Aline　Proctor？〃

〃Oh；　of　course；〃　exclaimed　Herbert〃　if　you　refuse！〃

With　suspicious　haste　Charles　surrendered。

〃I　don't　refuse；〃　he　explained；　〃I　only　ask　if　it's　wise。　　Sally
knows　you　were　once　very　fond　of　Miss　Proctorknows　you　were
engaged　to　her。〃

〃But；〃　protested　Herbert；　〃Sally　sees　your　photographs　of　Aline。
What　difference　can　a　few　more　make？　After　she's　seen　a　dozen
she　gets　used　to　them。〃

No　sooner　had　Herbert　left　him　than　the　custodian　of　the　treasure
himself　selected　the　photographs　he　would　display。　　In　them　the
young　woman　he　hadfrom　the　front　row　of　the　orchestraso
ardently　admired　appeared　in　a　new　light。　　To　Cochran　they　seemed
at　once　to　render　her　more　kindly；　more　approachable；　to　show　her
as　she　really　was；　the　sort　of　girl　any　youth　would　find　it　extremely
difficult　not　to　love。　　Cochran　found　it　extremely　easy。　　The　photographs
gave　his　imagination　all　the　room　it　wanted。　　He　believed　they　also　gave
him　an　insight　into　her　real　character　that　was　denied　to　anybody　else。
He　had　always　credited　her　with　all　the　virtues；　he　now　endowed　her
with　every　charm　of　mind　and　body。　　In　a　week　to　the　two　photographs
he　had　selected　from　the　loan　collection　for　purposes　of　display　and　to
give　Herbert　melancholy　pleasure　he　had　added　three　more。　　In　two
weeks　there　were　half　a　dozen。　　In　a　month；　nobly　framed　in　silver；
in　leather　of　red；　green；　and　blue；　the　entire　collection　smiled　upon　him
from　every　part　of　his　bedroom。　　For　he　now　kept　them　where　no　one
but　himself　could　see　them。　　No　longer　was　he　of　a　mind　to　share
his　borrowed　treasure　with　othersnot　even　with　the　rightful
owner。

Chester　Griswold；　spurred　on　by　Aline　Proctor；　who　wanted　to
build　a　summer　home　on　Long　Island；　was　motoring　with　Post；　of
Post　&　Constant；　in　the　neighborhood　of　Westbury。　　Post　had
pointed　out　several　houses　designed　by　his　firm；　which　he　hoped
might　assist　Griswold　in　making　up　his　mind　as　to　the　kind　of
house　he　wanted；　but　none　they　had　seen　had　satisfied　his　client。

〃What　I　want　is　a　cheap　house；〃　explained　the　young　millionaire。
〃I　don't　really　want　a　house　at　all；〃　he　complained。　　〃It's　Miss
Proctor's　idea。　　When　we　are　married　I　intend　to　move　into　my
mother's　town　house；　but　Miss　Proctor　wants　one　for　herself　in
the　country。　　I've　agreed　to　that；　but　it　must　be　small　and　it
must　be　cheap。〃

〃Cheap〃　was　a　word　that　the　clients　of　Post　&　Constant　never
used；　but　Post　knew　the　weaknesses　of　some　of　the　truly　rich；　and
he　knew　also　that　no　house　ever　built　cost　only　what　the
architect　said　it　would　cost。

〃I　know　the　very　house　you　want！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃One　of　our
young　men　owns　it。　　He　made　it　over　from　an　old　farmhouse。　　It's
very　well　arranged；　we've　used　his　ground…plan　several　times　and
it　works　out　splendidly。　　If　he's　not　at　home；　I'11　show　you　over　the
place　myself。　　And　if　you　like　the　house　he's　the　man　to　build　you　one。〃

When　they　reached　Cochran's　home　he　was　at　Garden　City　playing
golf；　but　the　servant　knew　Mr。　Post；　and　to　him　and　his　client
threw　open　every　room　in　the　house。

〃Now；　this；〃　exclaimed　the　architect　enthusiastically；　〃is　the
master's　bedroom。　　In　your　case　it　would　probably　be　your　wife's
room　and　you　would　occupy　the　one　adjoining；　which　Cochran　now
uses　as　a　guest…room。　　As　you　see；　they　are　entirely　cut　off　from…〃

Mr。　Griswold　did　not　see。　　Up　to　that　moment　he　had　given　every
appearance　of　being　both　bored　and　sulky。　　Now　his　attention　was
entirely　engagedbut　not　upon　the　admirable　simplicity　of　Mr。
Cochran's　ground…plan；　as　Mr。　Post　had　hoped。　　Instead；　the　eyes
of　the　greatest　catch　in　America　were　intently　regarding　a　display
of　photographs　that　smiled　back　at　him　from　every　corner　of　the
room。　　Not　only　did　he　regard　these　photographs　with　a　savage　glare；
but　he　approached　them　and　carefully　studied　the　inscriptions　scrawled
across　the　face　of　each。

Post　himself　cast　a　glance　at　the　nearest　photographs；　and　then
hastily　manoeuvred　his　client　into　the　hall　and　closed　the　door。

〃We　will　now；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃visit　the　butler's　pantry；　which
opens　upon　the　dining…room　and　kitchen；　thus　saving〃

But　Griswold　did　not　hear　him。　　Without　giving　another　glance　at
the　house　he　stamped　out　of　it　and；　plumping　himself　down　in　the
motor…car；　banged　the　door。　　Not　until　Post　had　driven　him　well
into　New　York　did　he　make　any　comment。

〃What　did　you　say；〃　he　then　demanded；　〃is　the　name　of　the　man　who
owns　that　last　house　we　saw？〃

Post　told　him。

〃I　never　heard　of　him！〃　said　Griswold　as　though　he　were
delivering　young　Cochran's　death　sentence。　　〃Who　is　he？〃

〃He's　an　architect　in　our　office；〃　said　Post。　　〃We　think　a　lot　of
him。　　He'll　leave　us　soon；　of　course。　　The　best　ones　always　do。　　His
work　is　very　popular。　　So　is　he。〃

〃I　never　heard　of　him；〃　repeated　Griswold。　　Then；　with　sudden
heat；　he　added　savagely：　〃But　I　mean　to　to…night。〃

When　Griswold　had　first　persuaded　Aline　Proctor　to　engage　herself
to　him　he　had　suggested　that；　to　avoid　embarrassment；　she　should
tell　him　the　names　of　the　other　men　to　whom　she　had　been　engaged。

〃What　kind　of　embarrassment　would　that　avoid？〃

〃If　I　am　talking　to　a　man；〃　said　Griswold；　〃and　he　knows　the
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