the red cross girl-第25章

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carriage。　A　red　carpet　in　June；　when　all　is　dry　under　foot　and
the　sun　is　shining　gently；　can　mean　only　royalty；　and　in　the　rear
of　the　men　in　the　street　Philip　halted。　He　remembered　that　for　a
few　days　the　young　King　of　Asturia　and　the　Queen　Mother　were　at
the　Ritz　incognito；　and；　as　he　never　had　seen　the　young　man　who
so　recently　and　so　tragically　had　been　exiled　from　his　own
kingdom；　Philip　raised　himself　on　tiptoe　and　stared　expectantly。

As　easily　as　he　could　read　their　faces　could　he　read　the　thoughts
of　those　about　him。　They　were　thoughts　of　friendly　curiosity；　of
pity　for　the　exiles；　on　the　part　of　the　policemen　who　had
hastened　from　a　cross　street；　of　pride　at　their　temporary
responsibility；　on　the　part　of　the　coachman　of　the　court
carriage；　of　speculation　as　to　the　possible　amount　of　his
Majesty's　tip。　The　thoughts　were　as　harmless　and　protecting　as
the　warm　sunshine。

And　then；　suddenly　and　harshly；　like　the　stroke　of　a　fire　bell　at
midnight；　the　harmonious　chorus　of　gentle；　hospitable　thoughts
was　shattered　by　one　that　was　discordant；　evil；　menacing。　It　was
the　thought　of　a　man　with　a　brain　diseased；　and　its　purpose　was
murder。

〃When　they　appear　at　the　doorway；〃　spoke　the　brain　of　the　maniac；
〃I　shall　lift　the　bomb　from　my　pocket。　I　shall　raise　it　above　my
head。　I　shall　crash　it　against　the　stone　steps。　It　will　hurl　them
and　all　of　these　people　into　eternity　and　me　with　them。　But　I
shall　LIVEa　martyr　to　the　Cause。　And　the　Cause　will　flourish！〃

Through　the　unsuspecting　crowd；　like　a　football　player　diving　for
a　tackle；　Philip　hurled　himself　upon　a　little　dark　man　standing
close　to　the　open　door　of　the　court　carriage。　From　the　rear
Philip　seized　him　around　the　waist　and　locked　his　arms　behind
him；　elbow　to　elbow。　Philip's　face；　appearing　over　the　man's
shoulder；　stared　straight　into　that　of　the　policeman。

〃He　has　a　bomb　in　his　right…hand　pocket！〃　yelled　Philip。　〃I　can
hold　him　while　you　take　it！　But；　for　Heaven's　sake；　don't　drop
it！〃　Philip　turned　upon　the　crowd。　〃Run！　all　of　you！〃　he　shouted。
〃Run　like　the　devil！〃

At　that　instant　the　boy　King　and　his　Queen　Mother；　herself　still
young　and　beautiful；　and　cloaked　with　a　dignity　and　sorrow　that
her　robes　of　mourning　could　not　intensify；　appeared　in　the
doorway。

〃Go　back；　sir！〃　warned　Philip。　〃He　means　to　kill　you！〃

At　the　words　and　at　sight　of　the　struggling　men；　the　great　lady
swayed　helplessly；　her　eyes　filled　with　terror。　Her　son　sprang
protectingly　in　front　of　her。　But　the　danger　was　past。　A　second
policeman　was　now　holding　the　maniac　by　the　wrists；　forcing　his
arms　above　his　head；　Philip's　arms；　like　a　lariat；　were　wound
around　his　chest；　and　from　his　pocket　the　first　policeman
gingerly　drew　forth　a　round；　black　object　of　the　size　of　a　glass
fire…grenade。　He　held　it　high　in　the　air；　and　waved　his　free　hand
warningly。　But　the　warning　was　unobserved。　There　was　no　one
remaining　to　observe　it。　Leaving　the　would…be　assassin　struggling
and　biting　in　the　grasp　of　the　stalwart　policeman；　and　the　other
policeman　unhappily　holding　the　bomb　at　arm's　length；　Philip
sought　to　escape　into　the　Ritz。　But　the　young　King　broke　through
the　circle　of　attendants　and　stopped　him。

〃I　must　thank　you；〃　said　the　boy　eagerly；　〃and　I　wish　you　to　tell
me　how　you　came　to　suspect　the　man's　purpose。〃

Unable　to　speak　the　truth；　Philip；　the　would…be　writer　of
fiction；　began　to　improvise　fluently。

〃To　learn　their　purpose；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃is　my　business。　I　am　of
the　International　Police；　and　in　the　secret　service　of　your
Majesty。〃

〃Then　I　must　know　your　name；〃　said　the　King；　and　added　with　a
dignity　that　was　most　becoming；　〃You　will　find　we　are　not
ungrateful。〃

Philip　smiled　mysteriously　and　shook　his　head。

〃I　said　in　your　secret　service；〃　he　repeated。　〃Did　even　your
Majesty　know　me；　my　usefulness　would　be　at　an　end。〃　He　pointed
toward　the　two　policemen。　〃If　you　desire　to　be　just；　as　well　as
gracious；　those　are　the　men　to　reward。〃

He　slipped　past　the　King　and　through　the　crowd　of　hotel　officials
into　the　hall　and　on　into　the　corridor。

The　arrest　had　taken　place　so　quietly　and　so　quickly　that　through
the　heavy　glass　doors　no　sound　had　penetrated；　and　of　the　fact
that　they　had　been　so　close　to　a　possible　tragedy　those　in　the
corridor　were　still　ignorant。　The　members　of　the　Hungarian
orchestra　were　arranging　their　music；　a　waiter　was　serving　two
men　of　middle　age　with　sherry；　and　two　distinguished…looking
elderly　gentlemen　seated　together　on　a　sofa　were　talking　in
leisurely　whispers。

One　of　the　two　middle…aged　men　was　well　known　to　Philip；　who　as　a
reporter　had　often；　in　New　York；　endeavored　to　interview　him　on
matters　concerning　the　steel　trust。　His　name　was　Faust。　He　was　a
Pennsylvania　Dutchman　from　Pittsburgh；　and　at　one　time　had　been　a
foreman　of　the　night　shift　in　the　same　mills　he　now　controlled。
But　with　a　roar　and　a　spectacular　flash；　not　unlike　one　of　his
own　blast　furnaces；　he　had　soared　to　fame　and　fortune。　He
recognized　Philip　as　one　of　the　bright　young　men　of　the　Republic；
but　in　his　own　opinion　he　was　far　too　self…important　to　betray
that　fact。

Philip　sank　into　an　imitation　Louis　Quatorze　chair　beside　a
fountain　in　imitation　of　one　in　the　apartment　of　the　Pompadour；
and　ordered　what　he　knew　would　be　an　execrable　imitation　of　an
American　cocktail。　While　waiting　for　the　cocktail　and　Lady
Woodcote's　luncheon　party；　Philip；　from　where　he　sat；　could　not
help　but　overhear　the　conversation　of　Faust　and　of　the　man　with
him。　The　latter　was　a　German　with　Hebraic　features　and　a　pointed
beard。　In　loud　tones　he　was　congratulating　the　American　many…time
millionaire　on　having　that　morning　come　into　possession　of　a　rare
and　valuable　masterpiece；　a　hitherto　unknown　and　but　recently
discovered　portrait　of　Philip　IV　by　Velasquez。

Philip　sighed　enviously。

〃Fancy；〃　he　thought；　〃owning　a　Velasquez！　Fancy　having　it　all　to
yourself！　It　must　be　fun　to　be　rich。　It　certainly　is　hell　to　be
poor！〃

The　German；　who　was　evidently　a　picture…dealer；　was　exclaiming　in
tones　of　rapture；　and　nodding　his　head　with　an　air　of　awe　and
solemnity。

〃I　am　telling　you　the　truth；　Mr。　Faust；〃　he　said。　〃In　no　gallery
in　Europe；　no；　not　even　in　the　Prado；　is　there　such　another
Velasquez。　This　is　what　you　are　doing；　Mr。　Faust；　you　are　robbing
Spain。　You　are　robbing　her　of　something　worth　more　to　her　than
Cuba。　And　I　tell　you；　so　soon　as　it　is　known　that　this　Velasquez
is　going　to　your　home　in　Pittsburgh；　every　Spaniard　will　hate　you
and　every　art…collector　will　hate　you；　too。　For　it　is　the　most
wonderful　art　treasure　in　Europe。　And　what　a　bargain；　Mr。　Faust！
What　a　bargain！〃

To　make　sure　that　the　reporter　was　within　hearing；　Mr。　Faust
glanced　in　the　direction　of　Philip　and；　seeing　that　he　had　heard；
frowned　importantly。　That　the　reporter　might　hear　still　more；　he
also　raised　his　voice。

〃Nothing　can　be　called　a　bargain；　Baron；〃　he　said；　〃that　costs
three　hundred　thousand　dollars！〃

Again　he　could　not　resist　glancing　toward　Philip；　and　so　eagerly
that　Philip　deemed　it　would　be　only　polite　to　look　interested。　So
he　obligingly　assumed　a　startled　look；　with　which　he　endeavored
to　mingle　simulations　of　surprise；　awe；　and　envy。

The　next　instant　an　expression　of　real　surprise　overspread　his
features。

Mr。　Faust　continued。　〃If　you　will　come　upstairs；〃　he　said　to　the
picture…dealer；　〃I　will　give　you　your　check；　and　then　I　should
like　to　drive　to　your　apartments　and　take　a　farewell　look　at　the
picture。〃

〃I　am　sorry；〃　the　Baron　said；　〃but　I　have　had　it　moved　to　my　art
gallery　to　be　packed。〃

〃Then　let's　go　to　the　gallery；〃　urged　the　patron　of　art。　〃We've
just　time　before　lunch。〃　He　rose　to　his　feet；　and　on　the　instant
the　soul　of　the　picture…dealer　was　filled　with　alarm。

In　actual　words　he　said：　〃The　picture　is　already　boxed　and　in　its
lead　coffin。　No　doubt　by　now　it　is　on　its　way　to　Liverpool。　I　am
sorry。〃　But　his　thoughts；　as　Philip　easily　read　them；　were：
〃Fancy　my　letting　this　vulgar　fool　into　the　Tate　Street　workshop！
Even　HE　would　know　that　old　masters　are　not　found　in　a
half…finished　state　on　Chelsea…made　frames　and　canvases。　Fancy　my
letting　him　see　those　two　half…completed　Van　Dycks；　the　new　Hals；
the　half…dozen　Corots。　He　would　even　see　his　own　copy　of
Velasquez　next　to　the　one　exactly　like　itthe　one　MacMillan
finished　yesterday　and　that　I　am　sending　to　Oporto；　where　next
year；　in　a　convent；　we　shall　'discover'　it。〃

Philip's　surprise　gave　way　to　intense　amusement。　In　his　delight
at　the　situation　upon　which　he　had　stumbled；　he　laughed　aloud。
The　two　men；　who　had　risen；　surprised　at　the　spectacle　of　a　young
man　laughing　at　nothing；　turned　and　stared。　Philip　also　rose。

〃Pardon　me；〃　he　said　to　Faust；　〃but　you　spoke　so　loud　I　couldn't
help　overhearing。　I　think　we've　met　before；　when　I　was　a　reporter
on　the　Republic。〃

The　Pittsburgh　millionaire　made　a　pretense；　of　annoyance。

〃Really！〃　he　protested　irritably；　〃you　reporters　butt　in
everywhere。　No　public　man　is　safe。　Is　there　no　place　we　can　go
where　you　fellows　won't　annoy　us？〃

〃You　can　go　to　the　devil　for　all　I　care；〃　said　Philip；　〃or　even
to　Pittsburgh！〃

He　saw　the　waiter　bearing　down　upon　him　with　the　imitation
cocktail；　and　moved　to　meet　it。　The　millionaire；　fearing　the
reporter　would　escape　him；　hastily　changed　his　tone。　He　spoke
with　effective　resignation。

〃However；　since　you've　learned　so　much；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　tell　you
the　whole　of　it。　I　don't　want　the　fact　garbled；　for　it　is　of
international　importance。　Do　you　know　what　a　Velasquez　is？〃

〃Do　you？〃　asked　Philip。

The　millionaire　smiled　tolerantly。

〃I　think　I　do；〃　he　said。　〃And　to　prove　it；　I　shall　tell　you
something　that　will　be　news　to　you。　I　have　just　bought　a
Velasquez　that　I　am　going　to　place　in　my　art　museum。　It　is　worth
three　hundred　thousand　dollars。〃

Philip　accepted　the　cocktail　the　waiter　presented。　It　was　quite
as　bad　as　he　had　expected。

〃Now；　I　shall　tell　you　something；〃　he　said；　〃that　will　be　news　to
you。　You　are　not　buying　a　Velasquez。　It　is　no　more　a　Velasquez
than　this　hair　oil　is　a　real　cocktail。　It　is　a　bad　copy；　worth　a
few　dollars。〃

〃How　dare　you！〃　shouted　Faust。　〃Are　you　mad？〃

The　face　of　the　German　turned　crimson　with　rage。

〃Who　is　this　insolent　one？〃　he　sputtered。

〃I　will　make　you　a　sporting　proposition；〃　said　Philip。　〃You　can
take　it；　or　leave　it。　You　two　will　get　into　a　taxi。　You　will
drive　to　this　man's　studio　in　Tate　Street。　You　will　find　your
Velasquez　is　there　and　not　on　its　way　to　Liverpool。　And　you　will
find　one　exactly　like　it；　and　a　dozen　other　'old　masters'
half…finished。　I'll　bet　you　a　hundred　pounds　I'm　right！　And　I'll
bet　this　man　a　hundred　pounds　that　he　DOESN'T　DARE　TAKE　YOU　TO
HIS　STUDIO！〃

〃Indeed；　I　will　not；〃　roared　the　German。　〃It　would　be　to　insult
myself。〃

〃It　would　be　an　easy　way　to　earn　a　hundred　pounds；　too；〃　said
Philip。

〃How　dare　you　insult　the　Baron？〃　demanded　Faust。　〃What　makes　you
think〃

〃I　don't　think；　I　know！〃　said　Philip。　〃For　the　price　of　a
taxi…cab　fare　to　Tate　Street；　you　win　a　hundred　pounds。〃

〃We　will　all　three　go　at　once；〃　cried　the　German。　〃My　car　is
outside。　Wait　here。　I　will　have　it　brought　to　the　door？〃