the return of tarzan-第8章
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Tarzan laughed。 〃You are still but a little girl。 The story
that you have told me cannot reflect in any way upon your
reputation； and were you not a little girl at heart you would
know it。 Go to your husband tonight； and tell him the whole
story； just as you have told it to me。 Unless I am much mistaken
he will laugh at you for your fears； and take immediate steps
to put that precious brother of yours in prison
where he belongs。〃
〃I only wish that I dared；〃 she said； 〃but I am afraid。
I learned early to fear men。 First my father； then Nikolas；
then the fathers in the convent。 Nearly all my friends fear
their husbandswhy should I not fear mine？〃
〃It does not seem right that women should fear men；〃
said Tarzan； an expression of puzzlement on his face。
〃I am better acquainted with the jungle folk； and there it
is more often the other way around； except among the black men；
and they to my mind are in most ways lower in the scale than
the beasts。 No； I cannot understand why civilized women
should fear men； the beings that are created to protect them。
I should hate to think that any woman feared me。〃
〃I do not think that any woman would fear you； my friend；〃
said Olga de Coude softly。 〃I have known you but a short
while； yet though it may seem foolish to say it； you are
the only man I have ever known whom I think that I should
never fearit is strange； too； for you are very strong。
I wondered at the ease with which you handled Nikolas and
Paulvitch that night in my cabin。 It was marvellous。〃
As Tarzan was leaving her a short time later he wondered
a little at the clinging pressure of her hand at parting；
and the firm insistence with which she exacted a promise
from him that he would call again on the morrow。
The memory of her half…veiled eyes and perfect lips as she
had stood smiling up into his face as he bade her good…by
remained with him for the balance of the day。 Olga de
Coude was a very beautiful woman； and Tarzan of the Apes
a very lonely young man； with a heart in him that was in
need of the doctoring that only a woman may provide。
As the countess turned back into the room after Tarzan's
departure； she found herself face to face with Nikolas Rokoff。
〃How long have you been here？〃 she cried； shrinking away from him。
〃Since before your lover came；〃 he answered； with a nasty leer。
〃Stop！〃 she commanded。 〃How dare you say such a thing
to meyour sister！〃
〃Well； my dear Olga； if he is not your lover； accept my
apologies； but it is no fault of yours that he is not。
Had he one…tenth the knowledge of women that I have you
would be in his arms this minute。 He is a stupid fool； Olga。
Why； your every word and act was an open invitation to him；
and he had not the sense to see it。〃
The woman put her hands to her ears。
〃I will not listen。 You are wicked to say such things as that。
No matter what you may threaten me with； you know that I
am a good woman。 After tonight you will not dare to annoy
me； for I shall tell Raoul all。 He will understand； and then；
Monsieur Nikolas； beware！〃
〃You shall tell him nothing；〃 said Rokoff。 〃I have this affair
now； and with the help of one of your servants whom I may trust
it will lack nothing in the telling when the time comes that the
details of the sworn evidence shall be poured into your husband's
ears。 The other affair served its purpose wellwe now have
something tangible to work on； Olga。 A real AFFAIR
and you a trusted wife。 Shame； Olga；〃 and the brute laughed。
So the countess told her count nothing； and matters were
worse than they had been。 From a vague fear her mind was
transferred to a very tangible one。 It may be； too； that
conscience helped to enlarge it out of all proportion。
Chapter 5
The Plot That Failed
For a month Tarzan was a regular and very welcome
devotee at the shrine of the beautiful Countess de Coude。
Often he met other members of the select little coterie that
dropped in for tea of an afternoon。 More often Olga found
devices that would give her an hour of Tarzan alone。
For a time she had been frightened by what Nikolas had
insinuated。 She had not thought of this big； young man
as anything more than friend； but with the suggestion
implanted by the evil words of her brother she had grown to
speculate much upon the strange force which seemed to attract
her toward the gray…eyed stranger。 She did not wish to
love him； nor did she wish his love。
She was much younger than her husband； and without having
realized it she had been craving the haven of a friendship
with one nearer her own age。 Twenty is shy in exchanging
confidences with forty。 Tarzan was but two years
her senior。 He could understand her； she felt。 Then he was
clean and honorable and chivalrous。 She was not afraid of
him。 That she could trust him she had felt instinctively
from the first。
From a distance Rokoff had watched this growing intimacy
with malicious glee。 Ever since he had learned that
Tarzan knew that he was a Russian spy there had been
added to his hatred for the ape…man a great fear that he
would expose him。 He was but waiting now until the moment
was propitious for a master stroke。 He wanted to rid himself
forever of Tarzan； and at the same time reap an ample revenge
for the humiliations and defeats that he had suffered
at his hands。
Tarzan was nearer to contentment than he had been since
the peace and tranquility of his jungle had been broken in
upon by the advent of the marooned Porter party。 He enjoyed
the pleasant social intercourse with Olga's friends； while
the friendship which had sprung up between the fair countess
and himself was a source of never…ending delight。 It broke
in upon and dispersed his gloomy thoughts； and served as a
balm to his lacerated heart。
Sometimes D'Arnot accompanied him on his visits to the
De Coude home； for he had long known both Olga and the
count。 Occasionally De Coude dropped in； but the
multitudinous affairs of his official position and the
never…ending demands of politics kept him from home
usually until late at night。
Rokoff spied upon Tarzan almost constantly； waiting for the
time that he should call at the De Coude palace at night；
but in this he was doomed to disappointment。 On several
occasions Tarzan accompanied the countess to her home
after the opera； but he invariably left her at the entrance
much to the disgust of the lady's devoted brother。
Finding that it seemed impossible to trap Tarzan through
any voluntary act of his own； Rokoff and Paulvitch put their
heads together to hatch a plan that would trap the ape…man
in all the circumstantial evidence of a compromising position。
For days they watched the papers as well as the movements
of De Coude and Tarzan。 At length they were rewarded。
A morning paper made brief mention of a smoker that was
to be given on the following evening by the German minister。
De Coude's name was among those of the invited guests。
If he attended this meant that he would be absent from
his home until after midnight。
On the night of the banquet Paulvitch waited at the curb
before the residence of the German minister； where he could
scan the face of each guest that arrived。 He had not long
to wait before De Coude descended from his car and passed him。
That was enough。 Paulvitch hastened back to his quarters；
where Rokoff awaited him。 There they waited until after
eleven； then Paulvitch took down the receiver of their telephone。
He called a number。
〃The apartments of Lieutenant D'Arnot？〃 he asked； when
he had obtained his connection。
〃A message for Monsieur Tarzan； if he will be so kind as
to step to the telephone。〃
For a minute there was silence。
〃Monsieur Tarzan？〃
〃Ah； yes； monsieur； this is Francoisin the service of
the Countess de Coude。 Possibly monsieur does poor Francois
the honor to recall himyes？
〃Yes； monsieur。 I have a message； an urgent message from
the countess。 She asks that you hasten to her at onceshe
is in trouble； monsieur。
〃No； monsieur； poor Francois does not know。 Shall I
tell madame that monsieur will be here shortly？
〃Thank you； monsieur。 The good God will bless you。〃
Paulvitch hung up the receiver and turned to grin at Rokoff。
〃It will take him thirty minutes to get there。 If you
reach the German minister's in fifteen； De Coude should arrive
at his home in about forty…five minutes。 It all depends
upon whether the fool will remain fifteen minutes after he
finds that a trick has been played upon him； but unless I am
mistaken Olga will be loath to let him go in so short a time
as that。 Here is the note for De Coude。 Hasten！〃
Paulvitch lost no time in reaching the German minister's。
At the door he handed the note to a footman。 〃This is for the
Count de Coude。 It is very urgent。 You must see that it is
placed in his hands at once；〃 and he dropped a piece of silver
into the willing hand of the servant。 Then he returned
to his quarters。
A moment later De Coude was apologizing to his host as he
tore open the envelope。 What he read left his face white and
his hand trembling。
MONSIEUR LE COUNT DE COUDE：
One who wishes to save the honor of your name takes this
means to warn you that the sanctity of your home is this
minute in jeopardy。
A certain man who for months has been a constant visitor
there during your absence is now with your wife。 If
you go at once to your countess' boudoir you will find
them together。
A FRIEND。
Twenty minutes after Paulvitch had called Tarzan； Rokoff
obtained a connection with Olga's private line。 Her maid
answered the telephone which was in the countess' boudoir。
〃But madame has retired；〃 said the maid； in answer to Rokoff's
request to speak with her。
〃This is a very urgent message for the countess' ears
alone；〃 replied Rokoff。 〃Tell her that she must arise and
slip something about her and come to the telephone。 I shall
call up again in five minutes。〃 Then he hung up his receiver。
A moment later Paulvitch entered。
〃The count has the message？〃 asked Rokoff。
〃He should be on his way to his home by now；〃 replied Paulvitch。
〃Good！ My lady will be sitting in her boudoir； very much
in negligee； about now。 In a minute the faithful Jacques will
escort Monsieur Tarzan into her presence without announcing him。
It will take a few minutes for explanations。 Olga will
look very alluring in the filmy creation that is her night…
dress； and the clinging robe which but half conceals the
charms that the former does not conceal at all。 Olga will be
surprised； but not displeased。
〃If there is a drop of red blood in the man the count
will break
