the lost road-第51章

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before　her；　entered　his　bedroom。

He　found　confronting　him　a　tall　and　beautiful　young　woman。　　It　was
not　the　Aline　Proctor　he　knew。　　It　was　not　the　well…poised；　gracious；
and　distinguished　beauty　he　had　seen　gliding　among　the　tables　at
Sherry's　or　throwing　smiles　over　the　footlights。　　This　Aline　Proctor
was　a　very　indignant　young　person；　with　flashing　eyes；　tossing　head；
and　a　stamping　foot。　　Extended　from　her　at　arm's　length；　she　held　a
photograph　of　herself　in　a　heavy　silver　frame；　and；　as　though　it　were
a　weapon；　she　was　brandishing　it　in　the　face　of　Chester　Griswold。
As　Cochran；　in　amazement；　halted　in　the　doorway　she　was　exclaiming：

〃I　told　you　I　didn't　know　Charles　Cochran！　I　tell　you　so　now！　If　you
can't　believe　me…〃

Out　of　the　corner　of　her　flashing　eyes　the　angry　lady　caught　sight　of
Cochran　in　the　doorway。　　She　turned　upon　the　intruder　as　though　she
meant　forcibly　to　eject　him。

〃Who　are　you？〃　she　demanded。　　Her　manner　and　tone　seemed　to　add：
〃And　what　the　deuce　are　you　doing　here？〃

Charles　answered　her　tone。

〃I　am　Charles　Cochran；〃　he　said。　　〃I　live　here。　　This　is　my　house！〃

These　words　had　no　other　effect　upon　Miss　Proctor　than　to　switch
her　indignation　down　another　track。　　She　now　turned　upon　Charles。

〃Then；　if　this　is　your　house；〃　cried　that　angry　young　person；
〃why　have　you　filled　it　with　photographs　of　me　that　belong　to
some　one　else？〃

Charles　saw　that　his　hour　had　come。　　His　sin　had　found　him　out。　　He
felt　that　to　prevaricate　would　be　only　stupid。

Griswold　had　tried　devious　methodsand　look　where　his　devious
methods　had　dumped　him！　Griswold　certainly　was　in　wrong。　　Charles
quickly　determined　to　adopt　a　course　directly　opposite。　　Griswold
had　shown　an　utter　lack　of　confidence　in　Aline。　　Charles　decided
that　he　would　give　her　his　entire　confidence；　would　throw　himself
upon　the　mercy　of　the　court。

〃I　have　those　photographs　in　my　house；　Miss　Proctor；〃　he　said；
〃because　I　have　admired　you　a　long　time。　　They　were　more　like　you
than　those　I　could　buy。　　Having　them　here　has　helped　me　a　lot；　and　it
hasn't　done　you　any　harm。　　You　know　very　well　you　have　anonymous
admirers　all　over　this　country。　　I'm　only　one　of　them。　　If　I　have　offended；
I　have　offended　with　many；　many　thousands。〃

Already　it　has　been　related　that　Cochran　was　very　good　to　look
upon。　　At　the　present　moment；　as　he　spoke　in　respectful；　even
soulful　accents；　meekly　and　penitently　proclaiming　his
long…concealed　admiration；　Miss　Proctor　found　her　indignation
melting　like　an　icicle　in　the　sun。

Still；　she　did　not　hold　herself　cheaply。　　She　was　accustomed　to
such　open　flattery。　　She　would　not　at　once　capitulate。

〃But　these　pictures；〃　she　protested；　〃I　gave　to　a　man　I　knew。　　You
have　no　right　to　them。　　They　are　not　at　all　the　sort　of　picture　I
would　give　to　an　utter　stranger！〃　　With　anxiety　the　lovely　lady
paused　for　a　reply。　　She　hoped　that　the　reply　the　tall　young　man
with　appealing　eyes　would　make　would　be　such　as　to　make　it
possible　for　her　to　forgive　him。

He　was　not　given　time　to　reply。　　With　a　mocking　snort　Griswold
interrupted。　　Aline　and　Charles　had　entirely　forgotten　him。

〃An　utter　stranger！〃　mimicked　Griswold。　　〃Oh；　yes；　he's　an　utter
stranger！　You're　pretty　good　actors；　both　of　you；　but　you　can't
keep　that　up　long；　and　you'd　better　stop　it　now。〃

〃Stop　what？〃　asked　Miss　Proctor。　　Her　tone　was　cold　and　calm；　but
in　her　eyes　was　a　strange　light。　　It　should　have　warned　Griswold
that　he　would　have　been　safer　under　the　bed。

〃Stop　pretending！〃　cried　Griswold。　　〃I　won't　have　it！〃

〃I　don't　understand；〃　said　Miss　Proctor。　　She　spoke　in　the　same
cold　voice；　only　now　it　had　dropped　several　degrees　nearer　freezing。
〃I　don't　think　you　understand　yourself。　　You　won't　have　what？〃

Griswold　now　was　frightened；　and　that　made　him　reckless。　　Instead
of　withdrawing　he　plunged　deeper。

〃I　won't　have　you　two　pretending　you　don't　know　each　other；〃　he
blustered。　　〃I　won't　stand　being　fooled！　If　you're　going　to　deceive
me　before　we're　married；　what　will　you　do　after　we're　married？〃

Charles　emitted　a　howl。　　It　was　made　up　of　disgust；　amazement；　and
rage。　　Fiercely　he　turned　upon　Miss　Proctor。

〃Let　me　have　him！〃　he　begged。

〃No！〃　almost　shouted　Miss　Proctor。　　Her　tone　was　no　longer　coldit
was　volcanic。　　Her　eyes；　flashing　beautifully；　were　fixed　upon　Griswold。
She　made　a　gesture　as　though　to　sweep　Charles　out　of　the　room。
〃Please　go！〃　she　demanded。　　〃This　does　not　concern　you。〃

Her　tone　was　one　not　lightly　to　be　disregarded。　　Charles　disregarded　it。

〃It　does　concern　me；〃　he　said　briskly。　　〃Nobody　can　insult　a　woman
in　my　houseyou；　least　of　all！〃　　He　turned　upon　the　greatest　catch
in　America。　　〃Griswold；〃　he　said；　〃I　never　met　this　lady　until　I
came　into　this　room；　but　I　know　her；　understand　her；　value　her
better　than　you'd　understand　her　if　you　knew　her　a　thousand
years！〃

Griswold　allowed　him　to　go　no　farther。

〃I　know　this　much；〃　he　roared：　〃she　was　in　love　with　the　man　who
took　those　photographs；　and　that　man　was　in　love　with　her！　And
you're　that　man！〃

〃What　if　I　am！〃　roared　back　Charles。　　〃Men　always　have　loved　her；
men　always　willbecause　she's　a　fine；　big；　wonderful　woman！　You
can't　see　that；　and　you　never　will。　　You　insulted　her！　Now　I'll　give
you　time　to　apologize　for　that；　and　then　I'll　order　you　out　of　this
house！　And　if　Miss　Proctor　is　the　sort　of　girl　I　think　she　is；　she'll
order　you　out　of　it；　too！〃

Both　men　swung　toward　Miss　Proctor。　　Her　eyes　were　now　smiling
excitedly。　　She　first　turned　them　upon　Charles；　blushing　most
becomingly。

〃Miss　Proctor；〃　she　said；　〃hopes　she　is　the　sort　of　girl
Mr。　Cochran　thinks　she　is。〃　　She　then　turned　upon　the　greatest
catch　in　America。　　〃You　needn't　wait；　Chester；〃　she　said；　〃not
even　to　apologize。〃

Chester　Griswold；　alone　in　his　car；　was　driven　back　to　New　York。
On　the　way　he　invented　a　story　to　explain　why；　at　the　eleventh
hour；　he　had　jilted　Aline　Proctor；　but　when　his　thoughts　reverted
to　the　young　man　he　had　seen　working　with　his　sleeves　rolled　up
he　decided　it　would　be　safer　to　let　Miss　Proctor　tell　of　the　broken
engagement　in　her　own　way。

Charles　would　not　consent　to　drive　his　fair　guest　back　to　New
York　until　she　had　first　honored　him　with　her　presence　at
luncheon。　　It　was　served　for　two；　on　his　veranda；　under　the
climbing　honeysuckles。　　During　the　luncheon　he　told　her　all。

Miss　Proctor；　in　the　light　of　his　five　years　of　devotion；
magnanimously　forgave　him。

〃Such　a　pretty　house！〃　she　exclaimed　as　they　drove　away　from　it。
〃When　Griswold　selected　it　for　our　honeymoon　he　showed　his　first
appreciation　of　what　I　really　like。〃

〃It　is　still　at　your　service！〃　said　Charles。

Miss　Proctor's　eyes　smiled　with　a　strange　light；　but　she　did　not
speak。　　It　was　a　happy　ride；　but　when　Charles　left　her　at　the　door
of　her　apartment…house　he　regarded　sadly　and　with　regret　the
bundle　of　retrieved　photographs　that　she　carried　away。

〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked　kindly。

〃I'm　thinking　of　going　back　to　those　empty　frames；〃　said　Charles；
and　blushed　deeply。　　Miss　Proctor　blushed　also。　　With　delighted
and　guilty　eyes　she　hastily　scanned　the　photographs。　　Snatching　one
from　the　collection；　she　gave　it　to　him　and　then　ran　up　the　steps。

In　the　light　of　the　spring　sunset　the　eyes　of　Charles　devoured
the　photograph　of　which；　at　last；　he　was　the　rightful　owner。　　On
it　was　written：　〃As　long　as　this　rock　lasts！〃

As　Charles　walked　to　his　car　his　expression　was　distinctly
thoughtful。




THE　MEN　OF　ZANZIBAR



When　his　hunting　trip　in　Uganda　was　over；　Hemingway　shipped　his
specimens　and　weapons　direct　from　Mombasa　to　New　York；　but　he
himself　journeyed　south　over　the　few　miles　that　stretched　to
Zanzibar。

On　the　outward　trip　the　steamer　had　touched　there；　and　the
little　he　saw　of　the　place　had　so　charmed　him　that　all　the　time
he　was　on　safari　he　promised　himself　he　would　not　return　home
without　revisiting　it。　　On　the　morning　he　arrived　he　had　called
upon　Harris；　his　consul；　to　inquire　about　the　hotel；　and　that
evening　Harris　had　returned　his　call　and　introduced　him　at
the　club。

One　of　the　men　there　asked　Hemingway　what　brought　him　to
Africa；　and　when　he　answered　simply　and　truthfully　that　he　had
come　to　shoot　big　game；　it　was　as　though　he　had　said　something
clever；　and　every　one　smiled。　　On　the　way　back　to　the　hotel；　as
they　felt　their　way　through　the　narrow　slits　in　the　wall　that
served　as　streets；　he　asked　the　consul　why　every　one　had　smiled。

The　consul　laughed　evasively。

〃It's　a　local　joke；〃　he　explained。　　〃A　lot　of　men　come　here　for
reasons　best　kept　to　themselves；　and　they　all　say　what　you　said；
that　they've　come　to　shoot　big　game。　　It's　grown　to　be　a　polite
way　of　telling　a　man　it　is　none　of　his　business。〃

〃But　I　didn't　mean　it　that　way；〃　protested　Hemingway。　　〃I　really
have　been　after　big　game　for　the　last　eight　months。〃

In　the　tone　one　uses　to　quiet　a　drunken　man　or　a　child；　the
consul　answered　soothingly。

〃Of　course；〃　he　assented　〃of　course　you　have。〃　　But　to　show　he
was　not　hopelessly　credulous；　and　to　keep　Hemingway　from
involving　himself　deeper；　he　hinted　tactfully：　　〃Maybe　they
noticed　you　came　ashore　with　only　one　steamer　trunk　and　no
gun…cases。〃　

〃Oh；　that's　easily　explained；〃　laughed　Hemingway。　　〃My　heavy
luggage〃

The　consul　had　reached　his　house　and　his　〃boy〃　was　pounding　upon
it　with　his　heavy　staff。

〃Please　don't　explain　to　me；〃　he　begged。　　〃It's　quite　unnecessary。
Down　here　we're　so　darned　glad　to　see　any　white　man　that　we　don't
ask　anything　of　him　except　that　he　won't　hurry　away。　　We　judge
them　as　they　behave　themselves　here；　we　don't　care　what　they　are
at　home　or　why　they　left　it。〃

Hemingway　was　highly　amused。　　To　find　that　he；　a　respectable；
sport…loving　Hemingway　of　Massachusetts；　should　be　mistaken　for　a
gun…runner；　slave…dealer；　or　escaping　cashier　greatly　delighted
him。

〃All　right！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃I'll　promise　not　to　bore　you　with　my　past；
and　I　agree　to　be　judged　by　Zanzibar　standards。　　I　only　hope　I　can
live　up　to　them；　for　I　see　I　am　going　to　like　the　place　very　much。〃

Hemingway　kept　his　promise。　　He　bored　no　one　with　confidences　as
to　his　ancestors。　　Of　his　past　he　made　a　point　never　to　speak。　　He
preferred　that　the　little　community　into　which　he　had　dropped
should　remain　unenlightened；　should　take　him　as　they　found　him。
Of　the　fact　that　a　college　was　named　after　his　grandfather　and
that　on　his　father's　railroad　he　could　travel　through　many
States；　he　was　discreetly　silent。

The　men　of　Zanzibar　asked　no　questions。　　That　Hemingway　could　play
a　stiff　game　of　tennis；　a　stiffer　game　of　poker；　and；　on　the　piano；　songs
from　home　was　to　them　sufficient　recommendation。　　In　a　week　he　had
become　one　of　the　most　popular　members　of　Zanzibar　society。　　It　was
as　though　he　had　lived　there　always。　　Hemingway　found　himself　reaching
out　to　grasp　the　warmth　of　the　place　as　a　flower　turns　to　the　sun。　　He
discovered　that　for　thirty　years　something　in　him　had　been　cheated。
For　thirty　years　he　had　believed　that　completely　to　satisfy　his　soul　all
he　needed　was　the　gray　stone　walls　and　the　gray…shingled　cabins　under
the　gray　skies　of　New　England；　that　what　in　nature　he　most　loved　was
the　pi