active service-第21章

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n　of　his　sex　came　to　him；　　〃　Oh；　if　she　were　only　a　man　！　〃　she　had　been　a　man；　he　would　have　fallen　upon　her　tooth　and　nail。　Her　motives　for　all　this　impressed　him　not　at　all；　she　was　simply　a　witch　who　bound　him　helpless　with　the　pwer　of　her　femininity；　and　made　him　eat　cinders。　He　was　so　sure　that　his　face　betrayed　him　that　he　did　not　dare　let　her　see　it。　〃　Well；　what　are　you　going　to　do　about　it　？　〃　he　asked；　over　his　shoulder。

〃　0…o…oh；〃　she　drawled；　impudently。　〃Nothing。〃　He　could　see　that　she　was　determined　not　to　be　confessed。　〃　I　may　do　this　or　I　may　do　that。　It　all　depends　upon　your　behaviour；　my　dear　Rufus。〃

As　they　rode　on；　he　deliberated　as　to　the　best　means　of　dealing　with　this　condition。　Suddenly　he　resolved　to　go　with　the　whole　tale　direct　to　Marjory；　and　to　this　end　he　half　wheeled　his　horse。　He　would　reiterate　that　he　loved　her　and　then　explain…　explain　！　He　groaned　when　he　came　to　the　word；　and　ceased　formulation。

The　cavalcade　reached　at　last　the　bank　of　the　Aracthus　river；　with　its　lemon　groves　and　lush　grass。　A　battery　wheeled　before　them　over　the　ancient　bridge　…a　flight　of　short；　broad　cobbled　steps　up　as　far　as　the　centre　of　the　stream　and　a　similar　flight　down　to　the　other　bank。　The　returning　aplomb　of　the　travellers　was　well　illustrated　by　the　professor；　who；　upon　sighting　this　bridge；　murmured　：　〃　Byzantine。〃

This　was　the　first　indication　that　he　had　still　within　him　a　power　to　resume　the　normal。

The　steep　and　narrow　street　was　crowded　with　soldiers；　the　smoky　little　coffee　shops　were　a…babble　with　people　discussing　the　news　from　the　front。　None　seemed　to　heed　the　remarkable　procession　that　wended　its　way　to　the　cable　office。　Here　Coleman　resolutely　took　precedence。　He　knew　that　there　was　no　good　in　expecting　intelligence　out　of　the　chaotic　clerks；　but　he　managed　to　get　upon　the　wires　this　message　：

〃　Eclipse；　New　York：　Got　Wainwright　party；　all　well。　Coleman。〃　The　students　had　struggled　to　send　messages　to　their　people　in　America；　but　they　had　only　succeeded　in　deepening　the　tragic　boredom　of　the　clerks。

When　Coleman　returned　to　the　street　he　thought　that　he　had　seldom　looked　upon　a　more　moving　spectacle　than　the　Wainwright　party　presented　at　that　moment。　Most　of　the　students　were　seated　in　a　row；　dejectedly；　upon　the　kerb。　The　professor　and　Mrs。　Wainwright　looked　like　two　old　pictures；　which；　after　an　existence　in　a　considerate　gloom；　had　been　brought　out　in　their　tawdriness　to　the　clear　light。　Hot　white　dust　covered　everybody；　and　from　out　the　grimy　faces　the　eyes　blinked；　red…fringed　with　sleeplessness。　Desolation　sat　upon　all；　save　Marjory。　She　possessed　some　marvellous　power　of　looking　always　fresh。　This　quality　had　indeed　impressed　the　old　lady　on　the　little　pony　until　she　had　said　to　Nora　Black：　〃That　　girl　would　look　well　anywhere。〃　Nora　Black　had　not　been　amiable　in　her　reply。

Coleman　called　the　professor　and　the　dragoman　for　a　durbar。　The　dragoman　said：　〃Well；　I　can　get　one　carriage；　and　we　can　go　immediate…lee。〃

〃　Carriage　be　blowed！　〃　said　Coleman。　〃　What　these　people　need　is　rest；　sleep。　You　must　find　a　place　at　once。　These　people　can't　remain　in　the　street。〃　He　spoke　in　anger；　as　if　he　had　previously　told　the　dragoman　and　the　latter　had　been　inattentive。　The　man　immediately　departed。

Coleman　remarked　that　there　was　no　course　but　to　remain　in　the　street　until　his　dragoman　had　found　them　a　habitation。　It　was　a　mournful　waiting。　The　students　sat　on　the　kerb。　Once　they　whispered　to　Coleman；　suggesting　a　drink；　but　he　told　them　that　he　knew　only　one　cafe；　the　entrance　of　which　would　be　in　plain　sight　of　the　rest　of　the　party。　The　ladies　talked　together　in　a　group　of　four。　Nora　Black　was　bursting　with　the　fact　that　her　servant　had　hired　rooms　in　Arta　on　their　outcoming　journey；　and　she　wished　Mrs。　Wainwright　and　Marjory　to　come　to　them；　at　least　for　a　time；　but　she　dared　not　risk　a　refusal；　and　she　felt　something　in　Mrs。　Wainwright's　manner　which　led　her　to　be　certain　that　such　would　be　the　answer　to　her　invitation。　Coleman　and　the　professor　strolled　slowly　up　and　down　the　walk。

〃　Well；　my　work　is　over；　sir；〃　said　Coleman。　〃　My　paper　told　me　to　find　you；　and；　through　no　virtue　of　my　own；　I　found　you。　I　am　very　glad　of　it。　I　don't　know　of　anything　in　my　life　that　has　given　me　greater　pleasure。〃

The　professor　was　himself　again　in　so　far　as　he　had　lost　all　manner　of　dependence。　But　still　he　could　not　yet　be　bumptious。　〃　Mr。　Coleman；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　placed　under　life…long　obligation　to　you。　*　*　*　I　am　not　thinking　of　myself　so　much。　*　*　*　My　wife　and　daughter…〃　His　gratitude　was　so　genuine　that　he　could　not　finish　its　expression。

〃　Oh；　don't　speak　of　it；〃　said　Coleman。　〃　I　really　didn't　do　anything　at　all。〃

The　dragoman　finally　returned　and　led　them　all　to　a　house　which　he　had　rented　for　gold。　In　the　great；　bare；　upper　chamber　the　students　dropped　wearily　to　the　floor；　while　the　woman　of　the　house　took　the　Wainwrights　to　a　more　secluded　apartment。；　As　the　door　closed　on　them；　Coleman　turned　like　a　flash。

〃　Have　a　drink；〃　he　said。　The　students　arose　around　him　like　the　wave　of　a　flood。　〃You　bet。〃　In　the　absence　of　changes　of　clothing；　ordinary　food；　the　possibility　of　a　bath；　and　in　the　presence　of　great　weariness　and　dust；　Coleman's　whisky　seemed　to　them　a　glistening　luxury。　Afterward　they　laid　down　as　if　to　sleep；　but　in　reality　they　were　too　dirty　and　too　fagged　to　sleep。　They　simply　lay　murmuring　Peter　Tounley　even　developed　a　small　fever。

It　was　at　this　time　that　Coleman。　suddenly　discovered　his　acute　interest　in　the　progressive　troubles　of　his　affair　of　the　heart　had　placed　the　business　of　his　newspaper　in　the　rear　of　his　mind。　The　greater　part　of　the　next　hour　he　spent　in　getting　off　to　New　York　that　dispatch　which　created　so　much　excitement　for　him　later。　Afterward　he　was　free　to　reflect　moodily　upon　the　ability　of　Nora　Black　to　distress　him。　She；　with　her　retinue；　had　disappeared　toward　her　own　rooms。　At　dusk　he　went　into　the　street；　and　was　edified　to　see　Nora's　dragoman　dodging　along　in　his　wake。　He　thought　that　this　was　simply　another　manifestation　of　Nora's　interest　in　his　movements；　and　so　he　turned　a　corner；　and　there　pausing；　waited　until　the　dragoman　spun　around　directly　into　his　arms。　But　it　seemed　that　the　man　had　a　note　to　deliver；　and　this　was　only　his　Oriental　way　of　doing　it。

The　note　read：　〃　Come　and　dine　with　me　to…night。〃　It　was；　not　a　request。　It　was　peremptory。　〃All　right；〃　he　said；　scowling　at　the　man。

He　did　not　go　at　once；　for　he　wished　to　reflect　for　a　time　and　find　if　he　could　not　evolve　some　weapons　of　his　own。　It　seemed　to　him　that　all　the　others　were　liberally　supplied　with　weapons。

A　clear；　cold　night　had　come　upon　the　earth　when　he　signified　to　the　lurking　dragoman　that　he　was　in　readiness　to　depart　with　him　to　Nora's　abode。　They　passed　finally　into　a　dark　court…yard；　up　a　winding　staircase；　across　an　embowered　balcony；　and　Coleman　entered　alone　a　room　where　there　were　lights。

His；　feet　were　scarcely　over　the　threshold　before　he　had　concluded　that　the　tigress　was　now　going　to　try　some　velvet　purring。　He　noted　that　the　arts　of　the　stage　had　not　been　thought　too　cheaply　obvious　for　use。　Nora　sat　facing　the　door。　A　bit　of　yellow　silk　had　been　twisted　about　the　crude　shape　of　the　lamp；　and　it　made　the　play　of　light；　amber…like；　shadowy　and　yet　perfectly　clear；　the　light　which　women　love。　She　was　arrayed　in　a　puzzling　gown　of　that　kind　of　Gre…　cian　silk　which　is　so　docile　that　one　can　pull　yards　of　it　through　a　ring。　It　was　of　the　colour　of　new　straw。　Her　chin　was　leaned　pensively　upon　her　palm　and　the　light　fell　on　a　pearly　rounded　forearm。　She　was　looking　at　him　with　a　pair　of　famous　eyes；　azure；　per…　haps…certainly　purple　at　times…and　it　may　be；　black　at　odd　moments…a　pair　of　eyes　that　had　made　many　an　honest　man's　heart　jump　if　he　thought　they　were　looking　at　him。　It　was　a　vision；　yes；　but　Coleman's　cynical　knowledge　of　drama　overpowered　his　sense　of　its　beauty。　He　broke　out　brutally；　in　the　phrases　of　the　American　street。　〃Your　dragoman　is　a　rubber…neck。　　If　he　keeps　darking　me　I　will　simply　have　to　kick　the　stuffing　out　of　him。〃

She　was　alone　in　the　room。　Her　old　lady　had　been　instructed　to　have　a　headache　and　send　apologies。　She　was　not　disturbed　by　Coleman's　words。　〃Sit　down；　Rufus；　and　have　a　cigarette；　and　don't　be　cross；　because　I　won't　stand　it。〃

He　obeyed　her　glumly。　She　had　placed　his　chair　where　not　a　charm　of　her　could　be　lost　upon　an　observant　man。　Evidently　she　did　not　purpose　to　allow　him　to　irritate　her　away　from　her　original　plan。　Purring　was　now　her　method；　and　none　of　his　insolence　could　achieve　a　growl　from　the　tigress。　She　arose；　saying　softly：　〃You　look　tired；　almost　ill；　poor　boy。　I　will　give　you　some　brandy。　I　have　almost　everything　that　I　could　think　to　make　those　Daylight　people　buy。〃　With　a　sweep　of　her　hand　she　indicated　the　astonishing　opulence　of　the　possessions　in　different　parts　of　the　room。

As　she　stood　over　him　with　the　brandy　there　came　through　the　smoke　of　his　cigarette　the　perfume　of　orris…root　and　violet。

A　servant　began　to　arrange　the　little　cold　dinner　on　a　camp　table；　and　Coleman　saw　with　an　enthusiasm　which　he　could　not　fully　master；　four　quart　bottles　of　a　notable　brand　of　champagne　placed　in　a　rank　on　the　floor。

At　dinner　Nora　was　sisterly。　She　watched　him；　waited　upon　him；　treated　him　to　an　affectionate　inti。　macy　for　which　he　knew　a　thousand　men　who　would　have　hated　him。　The　champagne　was　cold。

Slowly　he　melted。　By　the　time　that　the　boy　came　with　little　cups　of　Turkish　coffee　he　was　at　least　amiable。　Nora　talked　dreamily。　〃　The　dragoman　says　this　room　used　to　be　part　of　the　harem　long　ago。〃　She　shot　him　a　watchful　glance；　as　if　she　had　expected　the　fact　to　affect　him。　〃Seems　curious；　doesn't　it？　A　harem。　Fancy　that。〃　He　smoked　one　cigar　and　then　discarded　tobacco；　for　the　perfume　of　orris…root　and　violet　was　making　him　meditate。　Nora　talked　on　in　a　low　voice。　She　knew　that；　through　half…closed　lids；　he　was　looking　at　her　in　steady　speculation。　She　knew　that　she　was　conquering；　but　no　movement　of　hers　betrayed　an　elation。　With　the　most　exquisite　art　she　aided　his　contemplation；　baring　to　him；　for　instance；　the　glories　of　a　statuesque　neck；　doing　it　all　with　the　manner　of　a　splendid　and　fabulous　virgin　who　knew　not　that　there　was　such　a　thing　as　shame。　Her　stockings　were　of　black　silk。

Coleman　presently　answered　her　only　in　monosyllable；　making　small　distinction　between　yes　and　no。　He　simply　sat　watching　her　with　eyes　in　which　there　were　two　little　covetous　steel…coloured　flames。

He　was　thinking；　〃To　go　to　the　devil…to　go　to　the　devil…to　go　to　the　devil　with　this　girl　is　not　a　bad　fate…not　a　bad　fate…not　a　bad　fate。〃





CHAPTER　XVII。

〃　Come　out　on　the　balcony；〃　cooed　Nora。　〃There　are　some　funny　old　storks　on　top　of　some　chimneys　near　here　and　they　clatter　like　mad　all　day　and　night。〃

They　moved　together　out　to　the　balcony；　but　Nora　retreated　with　a　little　cry　when　she　felt　the　coldness　of　the　night。　She　said　that　she　would　get　a　cloak。　Coleman　was　not　unlike　a　man　in　a　dream。　He　walked　to　the　rail　of　the　balcony　where　a　great　vine　climbed　toward　the　roof。　He　noted　that　it　was　dotted　with。　blossoms；　which　in　the　deep　purple　of　the　Oriental