interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第9章
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body onto it。 Lowered his voice； too； for the man and woman were staring
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at him。
〃I'm afraid I didn't quite understand about this afternoon；〃 began Sara
Lee。 〃You spoke about taking a chance。 I am not afraid of danger； if that is
what you mean。〃
〃That； and a little more； mademoiselle；〃 said Henri。 〃But now that I
am here I do not know。
His eyes were keen。 Sara Lee had suddenly a strange feeling that he
was watching the couple who talked over their coffee； and that； oddly
enough； the couple were watching him。 Yet he was apparently giving his
undivided attention to her。
〃Have you walked any to…day？〃 he asked her unexpectedly。
Sara Lee remembered the bus； and； with some bitterness； the two taxis。
〃I haven't had a chance to walk；〃 she said。
〃But you should walk；〃 he said。 〃I … will you walk with me？ Just about
the square； for air？〃 And in a lower tone： 〃It is not necessary that those
two should know the plan； mademoiselle。〃
〃I'll get my coat and hat；〃 Sara Lee said； and proceeded to do so in a
brisk and businesslike fashion。 When she came down Henri was emerging
from the telephone booth。 His face was impassive。 And again when in time
Sara Lee was to know Henri's face better than she had ever known
Harvey's； she was to learn that the masklike look he sometimes wore
meant danger … for somebody。
They went out without further speech into the clear cold night。 Henri；
as if from custom； threw his head back and scanned the sky。 Then they
went on and crossed into the square。
〃The plan；〃 Henri began abruptly； 〃is this： You will be provided to…
morrow with a passport to Boulogne。 You will； if you agree； take the
midnight train for Folkestone。 At the railway station here you will be
searched。 At Folkestone a board； sitting in an office on the quay； will
examine your passport。〃
〃Does any one in Boulogne speak English？〃 Sara Lee inquired
nervously。 Somehow that babel of French at the Savoy had frightened her。
Her little phrase book seemed pitifully inadequate for the great things in
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her mind。
〃That hardly matters；〃 said Henri； smiling faintly。 〃Because I think you
shall not go to Boulogne。〃
〃Not go！〃 She stopped dead； under the monument； and looked up at
him。
〃The place for you to go； to start from； is Calais；〃 Henri explained。 He
paused； to let pass two lovers； a man in khaki and a girl。 〃But Calais is
difficult。 It is under martial law … a closed city。 From Boulogne to Calais
would be perhaps impossible。〃
Sara Lee was American and her methods were direct。
〃How can I get to Calais？〃
〃Will you take the chance I spoke of？〃
〃For goodness' sake；〃 said Sara Lee in an exasperated tone； 〃how can I
tell you until I know what it is？〃
Henri told her。 He even； standing under a street lamp； drew a small
sketch for her； to make it clear。 Sara Lee stood close； watching him； and
some of the lines were not as steady as they might have been。 And in the
midst of it he suddenly stopped。
〃Do you know what it means？〃 he demanded。
〃Yes； of course。〃
〃And you know what date this is？〃
〃The eighteenth of Pebruary。〃
But he saw； after all； that she did not entirely understand。
〃To…night； this eighteenth of February； the Germans commence a
blockade of this coast。 No vessels； if they can prevent them； will leave the
harbors； or if they do； none shall reach the other side！〃
〃Oh！〃 said Sara Lee blankly。
〃We are eager to do as you wish； mademoiselle。 But 〃… he commenced
slowly to tear up the sketch … 〃it is too dangerous。 You are too young。 If
anything should go wrong and I had … No。 We will find another way。〃
He put the fragments of the sketch in his pocket。
〃How long is this blockade to last？〃 Sara Lee asked out of bitter
disappointment。
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He shrugged his shoulders。
〃Who can say？ A week！ A year！ Not at all！〃
〃Then；〃 said Sara Lee with calm deliberation； 〃you might as well get
out your pencil and draw another picture … because I'm going。〃
Far enough away now； the little house at home and the peace that
dwelt therein； and Harvey； and the small white bedroom； and the daily
round of quiet duties。 Sara Lee had set her face toward the east； and the
land of dying men。 And as Henri looked down at her she had again that
poised and eager look； almost of flight； that had brought into Harvey's
love for her just a touch of fear。
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CHAPTER VI
Sara Lee Kennedy was up at dawn the next morning。 There was a very
serious matter to decide； for Henri's plan had included only such hand
luggage as she herself could carry。
Sara Lee care fully laid out on the bed such articles as she could not
possibly do without； and was able to pack into her suitcase less than a
fourth of them。 She had fortunately brought a soft wool sweater； which
required little room。 Undergarments； several blouses； the sweater and a
pair of heavy shoes … that was her equipment； plus such small toilet outfit
as is necessary when a young woman uses no make…up and regards cold
cream only as a remedy for chapped hands。
The maid found her in rather a dismal mood。
〃Going across； miss！〃 she said。 〃Fancy that！〃
〃It's a secret；〃 cautioned Sara Lee。 〃I am really not sure I am going。 I
am only trying to go。〃
The maid； who found Sara Lee and the picture of Harvey on her
dressing table both romantic and appealing； offered to pack。 From the first
moment it was evident that she meant to include the white dress。 Indeed
she packed it first。
〃You never know what's going to happen over there；〃 she asserted。
〃They do say that royalties are everywhere； going about like common
people。 You'd better have a good frock with you。〃
She had an air of subdued excitement； and after she had established the
fact that not only the white frock but slippers and hose also would go in
she went to the door and glanced up and down the passage。 Then she
closed the door。
〃There was queer goings…on here last night； miss；〃 she said cautiously。
〃Spies！〃
〃Oh； no！〃 cried Sara Lee。
〃Spies；〃 she repeated。 〃A man and a woman； pretending to be Belgian
refugees。 They took them away at daylight。 I expect by now they've been
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shot。〃
Sara Lee ate very little breakfast that morning。 All through England it
was confidently believed that spies were shot on discovery； a theory that
has been persistent … and false； save at the battle line … since the beginning
of the war。 And Henri's plan assumed new proportions。 Suppose she made
her attempt and failed？ Suppose they took her for a spy； and that
tomorrow's sun found her facing a firing squad？ Not； indeed； that she had
ever heard of a firing squad； as such。 But she had seen spies shot in the
movies。 They invariably stood in front of a brick wall； with the hero in the
center。
So she absent…mindedly ate her kippered herring； which had been
strongly recommended by the waiter； and tried to think of what a spy
would do； so she might avoid any suspicious movements。 It struck her； too；
that war seemed to have made the people on that side of the ocean
extremely ready with weapons。 They would be quite likely to shoot first
and ask questions afterwards … which would be too late to be helpful。
She remembered Henri； for instance； and the way； without a word； he
had shot the donkey。
That day she wrote Harvey a letter。
〃Dearest：〃 it began； 〃I think I am to leave for France to…night。 Things
seem to be moving nicely； and I am being helped by the Belgian Relief
Commission。 It is composed of Belgians and is at the Savoy Hotel。〃
Here she stopped and cried a little。 What if she should never see
Harvey again … never have his sturdy arms about her？ Harvey gained by
distance。 She remembered only his unfailing kindness and strength and his
love for her。 He seemed； here at the edge of the whirlpool； a sort of eddy
of peace and quiet。 Even then she had no thought of going back until her
work was done； but she did an unusual thing for her； unused to
demonstration of any sort。 She kissed his ring。
Followed directions about sending the money from the church society；
a description of Morley's and Trafalgar Square； an account of tea at the
Travers'； and of the little donkey … without mention； however； of Henri。
She felt that Harvey would not understand Henri。
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But at the end came the passage which poor Harvey read and re…read
when the letter came； and alternately ground his teeth over and kissed。
〃I do love you； Harvey dear。 And I am coming back to you。 I have felt
that I had to do what I am doing； but I am coming back。 That's a promise。
Unless； of course； I should take sick； or something like that； which isn't
likely。〃
There was a long pause in the writing here； but Harvey could not know
that。
〃I shall wear your ring always； and always； Harvey； it will mean to me
that I belong to you。 With dearest love。 〃SARA LEE〃
Then she added a postscript； of course。
〃The War Office is not letting people cross to Calais just now。 But I am
going to do it anyhow。 It is perfectly simple。 And when I get over I shall
write and tell you how。 〃S。 L。〃
It was the next day that an indignant official in the censor's office read
that postscript； and rose in his wrath and sent a third Undersomething…or…
other to look up Sara Lee at Morley's。 But by this time she was embarked
on the big adventure； and by the time a cable reached Calais there
