we two-第66章

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〃A　nurse　came　up　and　claimed　it　and　was　overwhelmingly　grateful　to　you　for　your　rescue。　　She　had　put　the　child　to　bed　early　and　had　gone　for　a　walk　in　the　gardens。　　Oh；　look；　how　the　fire　is　spreading！〃

〃The　scaffolding　is　terribly　against　saving　it；　and　the　wind　is　high；　too；〃　said　Raeburn；　scanning　the　place　all　over　with　his　keen　eyes。　　Then；　as　an　idea　seemed　to　strike　him；　he　suddenly　hurried　forward　once　more；　and　Erica　saw　him　speaking　to　two　fire　brigade　men。　　In　another　minute　the　soldiers　motioned　the　crowd　further　back；　Raeburn　rejoined　Erica；　and；　picking　up　her　portmanteau；　took　her　across　the　road　to　the　steps　of　a　neighboring　hotel。　　〃I've　suggested　that　they　should　cut　down　the　scaffolding；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　the　only　chance　of　saving　the　place。〃

The　whole　of　the　woodwork　was　now　on　fire；　to　cut　it　down　was　a　somewhat　dangerous　task；　but　the　men　worked　gallantly；　and　in　a　few　minutes　the　huge　blazing　frame；　with　its　poles　and　cross　poles；　ladders　and　platforms；　swayed；　quivered；　then　fell　forward　with　a　crash　into　the　garden　beyond。

Raeburn　had；　as　usual；　attracted　to　himself　the　persons　most　worth　talking　to　in　the　crowd；　a　shrewd…looking　inhabitant　of　Innsbruck；　spectacled　and　somewhat　sallow；　but　with　a　face　which　was　full　of　intellect。　　He　learned　that；　although　no　one　could　speak　positively　as　to　the　origin　of　the　fire；　it　was　more　than　probable　that　it　had　been　no　mere　accident。　　The　very　Sunday　before；　at　exactly　the　same　hour；　a　large　factory　had　been　entirely　destroyed　by　fire；　and　it　needed　no　very　deep　thinker　to　discover　that　a　Sunday　evening；　when　every　one　would　be　out…of…doors　keeping　holiday；　and　the　fire　brigade　men　scattered　and　hard　to　summon；　was　the　very　time　for　incendiarism。　　They　learned　much　from　the　shrewd　citizen　about　the　general　condition　of　the　place；　which　seemed　outwardly　too　peaceful　and　prosperous　for　such　wild　and　senseless　outbreaks。

〃If；　as　seems　probable；　this　is　the　act　of　some　crazy　socialist；　he　has　unwittingly　done　harm　to　the　cause　of　reform　in　general；〃　said　Raeburn　to　Erica　when　the　informant　had　passed　on。　　〃Those　papers　for　Hasenbalg　were　important　ones；　and；　if　laid　hold　of　by　unfriendly　hands；　might　do　untold　harm。　　Socialism　is　the　most　foolish　system　on　earth。　　Inevitably　it　turns　to　this　sort　of　violence　when　the　uneducated　have　seized　on　its　main　idea。

〃After　all；　I　believe　they　will　save　the　house；〃　said　Erica。　　〃Just　look　at　those　men　on　the　top；　how　splendidly　they　are　working！〃

It　was；　in　truth；　a　grand；　though　a　very　horrible　sight　to　see　the　dark　forms　toiling　away；　hewing　down　the　burning　rafters　with　an　absolute　disregard　to　their　personal　safety。　　These　were　not　firemen；　but　volunteers　chimney…sweeps；　as　one　of　the　crowd　informed　Raeburn　and　it　was　in　the　main　owing　to　their　exertions　that　the　fire　was　at　length　extinguished。

After　the　excitement　was　over；　they　went　into　the　neighboring　hotel；　where　there　was　some　difficulty　in　obtaining　rooms；　as　all　the　burned…out　people　had　taken　refuge　there。　　However；　the　utmost　hospitality　and　friendliness　prevailed；　and　even　hungry　Englishmen；　cheated　of　their　dinner；　were　patient　for　once；　while　the　overtaxed　waiters　hurried　to　and　fro；　preparing　for　the　second　and　quite　unexpected　table　d'hote。　　Everyone　had　something　to　tell　either　of　his　escape　or　his　losses。　　One　lady　had　seen　her　night　gown　thrown　out　of　the　window；　and　had　managed　adroitly　to　catch　it；　some　one　else　on　rushing　up　to　find　his　purse　had　been　deluged　by　the　fire　engine；　and　Raeburn's　story　of　the　little　German　boy　excited　great　interest。　　The　visitors　were　inclined　to　make　a　hero　of　him。　　Once；　when　he　had　left　the　room；　Erica　heard　a　discussion　about　him　with　no　little　amusement。

〃Who　is　the　very　tall；　white…haired　man？〃

〃The　man　who　saved　the　child？　　I　believe　he　must　be　the　Bishop　of　Steneborough；　he　is　traveling　in　the　Tyrol；　I　know；　and　I'm　sure　that　man　is　a　somebody。　　So　much　dignity；　and　such　power　over　everybody！　　Didn't　you　see　the　way　the　captain　of　the　fire　brigade　deferred　to　him？〃

〃Well；　now　I　think　of　it；〃　replied　the　other；　〃he　has　an　earnest；　devotional　sort　of　face；　perhaps　you're　right。　　I'll　speak　to　him　when　he　comes　back。　　Ah！〃　in　a　lower　voice；　〃there　he　is！　　And　Confound　it！　　He's　got　no　gaiters！　　Goodbye　to　my　visions　of　life…long　friendship　and　a　comfortable　living　for　Dick！〃

In　spite　of　his　anxiety　about　the　lost　packet；　Raeburn　laughed　heartily　over　Erica's　account　of　this　conversation。　　He　had　obtained　leave　to　search　the　deserted　hotel；　and　a　little　before　ten　o'clock　they　made　their　way　across　the　square；　over　planks　and　charred　rafters；　broken　glass；　and　pools　of　water；　which　were　hard　to　steer　through　in　the　darkness。　　The　fire　was　now　quite　out；　and　they　were　beginning　to　move　the　furniture　in　again；　but　the　place　had　been　entirely　dismantled；　and　looked　eerie　and　forlorn。　　On　the　staircase　was　a　decapitated　statue；　and　broken　and　crushed　plants　were　strewn　about。　　Erica's　room　was　quite　bare　of　furniture；　nor　could　she　find　any　of　the　things　she　wanted。　　The　pen　with　which　she　had　been　writing　lay　on　the　floor；　and　also　a　Japanese　fan　soaked　with　water；　but　neither　of　these　were　very　serviceable　articles　to　a　person　bereft　of　every　toilet　requisite。

〃I　shall　have　to　lie　down　tonight　like　a　dog；　and　get　up　in　the　morning；　and　shake　myself；〃　she　said；　laughing。

And　probably　a　good　many　people　in　Innsbruck　were　that　evening　in　like　case。

Notwithstanding　the　discomforts；　however；　and　the　past　excitement；　that　was　the　first　night　in　which　Erica　had　really　slept　since　the　day　at　Fiesole；　the　first　night　unbroken　by　dreams　about　Brian；　unhaunted　by　that　blanched；　rigid　face；　which　had　stamped　its　image　indelibly　upon　her　brain　in　the　amphitheatre。　　She　awoke；　too；　without　that　almost　intolerable　dread　of　the　coming　day　which　had　hitherto　made　early　morning　hateful　to　her。　　It　was　everything　to　have　an　actual　and　practicable　duty　ready　to　hand；　everything　to　have　a　busy　present　which　would　crowd　out　past　and　future；　if　only　for　a　few　hours。　　Also；　the　disaster　had　its　comic　side。　　Through　the　thin　partition　she　could　hear　distinctly　the　complaints　of　the　people　in　the　next　room。

〃How　ARE　we　to　get　on　with　no　soap？　　Do　go　and　see　if　James　has　any。〃

Then　came　steps　in　the　passage；　and　a　loud　knock　at　the　opposite　door。

〃James！〃

No　answer。　　A　furiously　loud　second　knock。

〃JAMES！〃

〃What's　the　matter？　　Another　fire？〃

〃Have　you　any　soap？〃

〃Any　what？〃　sleepily。

〃Any　SOAP？〃

Apparently　James　was　not　the　happy　possessor　of　that　necessary　of　life　for　the　steps　retreated；　and　the　bell　was　violently　rung。

〃'What；　no　soap？'〃　exclaimed　Erica；　laughing；　〃'so　he　died；　and　she　very　imprudently　married　the　barber；　etc。'〃

The　chamber　maid　came　to　answer　the　bell。

〃Send　some　one　to　the　nearest　shop；　please；　and　get　me　some　soap。〃

〃And　a　sponge；〃　said　another。

〃And　a　brush　and　comb；〃　said　the　first。

〃Oh！　And　some　hair　pins；〃　echoed　the　other。　　〃Why；　destruction！　　She　doesn't　understand　a　word！　　What's　the　German　for　soap？　Give　me　'Travel　Talk。'〃

〃It's　burned。〃

〃Well；　then；　show　her　the　soap　dish！　　Brush　your　hair　with　your　hands！　　This　is　something　between　Drum　Crambo　and　Mulberry　Bush！〃

The　whole　day　was　not　unlike　a　fatiguing　game　of　hide…and…seek；　and　had　it　not　been　for　Raeburn's　great　anxiety；　it　would　have　been　exceedingly　amusing。　　Everything　was　now　inside　the　hotel　again；　but　of　course　in　the　wildest　confusion。　　The　personal　property　of　the　visitors　was　placed；　as　it　came　to　light；　in　the　hall　porter's　little　room；　but　things　were　to　be　met　with　in　all　directions。　　At　ten　o'clock；　one　of　Raeburn's　boots　was　found　on　the　third　story；　in　the　evening；　its　fellow　turned　up　in　the　entrance　hall。　　Distracted　tourists　were　to　be　seen　in　all　directions；　burrowing　under　heaps　of　clothes；　or　vainly　opening　cupboards　and　drawers；　and　the　delight　of　finding　even　the　most　trifling　possession　was　great。　　For　hours　Raeburn　and　Erica　searched　for　the　lost　papers　in　vain。　　At　length；　in　the　evening；　the　coat　was　found；　but；　alas！　The　pocket　was　empty。

〃The　envelope　must　have　been　taken　out；〃　said　Erica。　　〃Was　it　directed？〃

〃Unfortunately；　yes；〃　said　Raeburn。　　〃But；　after　all；　there　is　still　a　chance　that　it　may　have　tumbled　out　as　the　coat　fell。　　If　so；　we　may　find　it　elsewhere。　　I've　great　faith　in　the　honesty　of　these　Innsbruck　people；　notwithstanding　the　craze　of　some　of　them　that　property　is　theft。　　That　worthy　man　yesterday　was　right；　I　expect。　　I　hear　that　the　proprietor　had　had　a　threatening　letter　not　long　ago　to　this　effect：

〃'Sein　thun　unser　Dreissig；　Schuren　thun　wir　fleissig。　Dem　Armen　that's　nichts　Dem　Reichen　schad's　nichts。

That　is　tolerably　unmistakable；　I　think。　　I'll　have　it　in　next　week's　'Idol；'　with　an　article　on　the　folly　of　socialism。〃

Judicious　offers　of　reward　failed　to　bring　the　papers　to　light；　and　Raeburn　was　so　much　vexed　about　it；　and　so　determined　to　search　every　nook　and　cranny　of　the　hotel；　that　it　was　hard　to　get　him　away　even　for　meals。　　Erica　could　not　help　feeling　that　it　was　hard　that　the　brief　days　of　relaxation　he　had　allowed　himself　should　be　so　entirely　spoiled。

〃Now；　if　I　were　a　model　daughter；　I　should　dream　where　to　find　the　thing；〃　she　said；　laughingly；　as　she　wished　him　good　night。

She　did　not　dream　at　all；　but　she　was　up　as　soon　as　it　was　light；　searching　once　more　with　minute　faithfulness　in　every　part　of　the　hotel。　　At　length　she　came　to　a　room　piled　from　floor　to　ceiling　with　linen；　blankets；　and　coverlets。

〃Have　all　these　been　shaken？〃　she　asked　of　the　maid　servant　who　had　been　helping　her。

〃Well；　not　shaken；　I　think；〃　owned　the　servant。　　〃We　were　in　a　hurry；　you　see；　but　they　are　all　fresh　folded。〃

〃It　might　have　slipped　into　one　of　them；〃　said　Erica。　　〃Help　me　to　shake　every　one　of　these；　and　I　will　give　you　two　gulden。〃

It　was　hard　work；　and　somewhat　hopeless　work；　but　Erica　set　about　it　with　all　the　earnestness　and　thoroughness　of　her　Raeburn　nature；　and　at　length　came　her　reward。　　At　the　very　bottom　of　the　huge　pile　they　came　to　a　counterpane；　and；　as　they　opened　it；　out　fell　the　large；　thick　envelope　directed　to　Herr　Hasenbalg。　　With　a　cry　of　joy；　Erica　snatched　it　up；　pressed　double　the　reward　into　the　hands　of　the　delighted　servant；　and　flew　in　search　of　her　father。　　She　found　him　groping　in　a　great　heap　of　miscellaneous　goods　in　the　porter's　room。

〃I've　found　my　razors；〃　he　said；　looking　up；　〃and　every　twopenny…halfpenny　thing　out　of　my　traveling　bag；　but　the　papers；　of　course；　are　nowhere。〃

〃What's　your　definition　of　'nowhere'？〃　asked　Erica；　laughingly　covering　his　eyes　while　she　slipped　the　envelope　into　his　hand。

His　look　of　relief　made　her　happier　than　she　had　been　for　days。　　He　stood　up　quickly；　and　turned　the　envelope　over　to　see　that　it　had　not　been　tampered　with。

〃This　is　my　definition　of　a　dear；　good　bairn；〃　he　said；　putting　his　hand　on　her　head。　　〃You　have　taken　a　hundred…weight　off　my　heart；　Eric。　　Where　did　you　find　it？〃

She　described　her　search　to　him。

〃Well；　now；　nothing　will　satisfy　me　but　a　mountain；〃　said　Raeburn。　　〃Are　you　too　tired？　　We　could　have　a　good　climb　before　dinner。〃

〃Oh；　let　us！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃I　have　had　such　a　longing　to