active service-第34章

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Later；　the　minister　asked　them　all　to　his　rooms　for　coffee　and　cigarettes；　but　the　professor　and　Mrs。　　Wainwright　apologetically　retired　to　their　own　quarters。　The　minister　and　the　students　made　clouds　of　smoke；　through　which　sang　the　eloquent　descriptions　of　late　adventures。

The　minister　had　spent　days　of　listening　to　questions　from　the　State　Department　at　Washington　as　to　the　whereabouts　of　the　Wainwright　party。　〃I　suppose　you　know　that　you；are　very　prominent　people　in；　the　United　States　just　now　？　Your　pictures　must　have　been　in　all　the　papers；　and　there　must　have　been　columns　printed　about　you。　My　life　here　was　made　almost　insupportable　by　your　friends；　who　consist；　I　should　think；　of　about　half　the　population　of　the　country。　Of　course　they　laid　regular　siege　to　the　de。　partment。　I　am　angry　at　Coleman　for　only　one　thing。　When　he　cabled　the　news　of　your　rescue　to　his　news。　paper　from　Arta；　he　should　have　also　wired　me；　if　only　to　relieve　my　failing　mind。　My　first　news　of　your　escape　was　from　Washington…think　of　that。〃

〃Coleman　had　us　all　on　his　hands　at　Arta；〃　said　Peter　Tounley。　〃　He　was　a　fairly　busy　man。〃

〃　I　suppose　so；〃　said　the　minister。　〃　By　the　way；〃　he　asked　bluntly；　〃what　is　wrong　with　him？　What　did　Mrs。　Wainwright　mean？　〃

They　were　silent　for　a　time；　but　it　seemed　plain　to　him　that　it　was　not　evidence　that　his　question　had　　demoralised　them。　They　seemed　to　be　deliberating　upon　the　form　of　answer。　Ultimately　Peter　Tounley　coughed　behind　his　hand。　〃　You　see；　sir；〃　he　began；　〃　there　is…well；　there　is　a　woman　in　the　case。　Not　that　anybody　would　care　to　speak　of　it　excepting　to　you。　But　that　is　what　is　the　cause　of　things；　and　then；　you　see；　Mrs。　Wainwright　is…well…〃　He　hesitated　a　moment　and　then　completed　his　sentence　in　the　　ingenuous　profanity　of　his　age　and　condition。　〃　She　is　rather　an　extraordinary　old　bird。〃

〃　But　who　is　the　woman　？

〃Why；　it　is　Nora　Blaick；　the　actress。〃　〃Oh；〃　cried　the　minister；　enlightened。　〃　Her　Why；　I　saw　her　here。　She　was　very　beautiful；　but　she　seemed　harmless　enough。　She　was　somewhat…er…　confident；　perhaps；　but　she　did　not　alarm　me。　She　called　upon　me；　and　I　confess　I…why；　she　seemed　charming。〃　〃　She's　sweet　on　little　Rufus。　That's　the　point；〃　said　an　oracular　voice。

〃　Oh；〃　cried　the　host；　suddenly。　〃　I　remember。　She　asked　me　where　he　was。　She　said　she　had　heard　he　was　in　Greece；　and　I　told　her　he　had　gone　knight…　erranting　off　after　you　people。　I　remember　now。　I　suppose　she　posted　after　him　up　to　Arta；　eh　？　〃

〃　That's　it。　And　so　she　asked　you　where　he　was？

〃　Yes。〃

〃　Why；　that　old　flamingo…Mrs。　Wainwright　insists　that　it　was　a　rendezvous。〃

Every　one　exchanged　glances　and　laughed　a　little。　〃　And　did　you　see　any　actual　fighting　？　〃　asked　the　minister。

〃　No。　We　only　beard　it…〃

Afterward；　as　they　were　trooping　up　to　their　rooms；　Peter　Tounley　spoke　musingly。　〃　Well；　it　looks　to　me　now　as　if　Old　Mother　Wainwright　was　just　a　bad…minded　　old　hen。〃

〃　Oh；　I　don't　know。　How　is　one　going　to　tell　what　the　truth　is　？　〃

〃　At　any　rate；　we　are　sure　now　that　Coleman　had　nothing　to　do　with　Nora's　debut　in　Epirus。〃

They　had　talked　much　of　Coleman；　but　in　their　tones　there　always　had　been　a　note　of　indifference　or　　carelessness。　This　matter；　which　to　some　people　was　as　vital　and　fundamental　as　existence；　remained　to　others　who　knew　of　it　only　a　harmless　detail　of　life；　with　no　terrible　powers；　and　its　significance　had　faded　greatly　when　had　ended　the　close　associat。ions　of　the　late　adventure。

After　dinner　the　professor　had　gone　directly　to　his　daughter's　room。　Apparently　she　had　not　moved。　He　knelt　by　the　bedside　again　and　took　one　of　her　hands。　She　was　not　weeping。　She　looked　at　him　and　smiled　through　the　darkness。　〃　Daddy；　I　would　like　to　die；〃　she　said。　〃　I　think…yes…I　would　like　to　die。〃

For　a　long　time　the　old　man　was　silent；　but　he　arose　at　last　with　a　definite　abruptness　and　said　hoarsely　〃　Wait！　〃

Mrs。　Wainwright　was　standing　before　her　mirror　with　her　elbows　thrust　out　at　angles　above　her　head；　while　her　fingers　moved　in　a　disarrangement　of　'her　hair。　In　the　glass　she　saw　a　reflection　of　her　husband　coming　from　Marjory's　room；　and　his　face　was　set　with　some　kind　of　alarming　purpose。　She　turned　to　watch　him　actually；　but　he　walked　toward　the　door　into　the　corridor　and　did　not　in　any　wise　heed　her。

〃　Harrison！　〃　she　called。　〃　Where　are　you　going？　〃

He　turned　a　troubled　face　upon　her；　and；　as　if　she　had　hailed　him　in　his　sleep；　he　vacantly　said：　〃What　？　〃

〃Where　are　you　going？〃　she　demanded　with　increasing　　trepidation。

He　dropped　heavily　into　a　chair。　〃Going？〃　he　repeated。

She　was　angry。　〃Yes！　Going？　Where　are　you　going？　〃

〃I　am　going…〃　he　answered；　〃I　am　going　to　see　Rufus　Coleman。〃

Mrs。　Wainwright　gave　voice　to　a　muffled　scream。　〃　Not　about　Marjory　？　〃

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃about　Marjory。〃

It　was　now　Mrs。　Wainwright's　turn　to　look　at　her　husband　with　an　air　of　stupefaction　as　if　he　had　opened　up　to　her　visions　of　imbecility　of　which　she　had　not　even　dreamed。　〃　About　Marjory！〃　she　gurgled。　Then　suddenly　her　wrath　flamed　out。　〃Well；　upon　my　word；　Harrison　Wainwright；　you　are；　of　all　men　in　the　world；　the　most　silly　and　stupid。　You　are　absolutely　beyond　belief。　Of　all　projects！　And　what　do　you　think　Marjory　would　have　to　say　of　it　if　she　knew　it　？　I　suppose　you　think　she　would　like　it　？　Why；　I　tell　you　she　would　keep　her　right　hand　in　the　fire　until　it　was　burned　off　before　she　would　allow　you　to　do　such　a　thing。〃

〃　She　must　never　know　it；〃　responded　the　professor；　in　dull　misery。

〃　Then　think　of　yourself！　Think　of　the　shame　of　it！　The　shame　of　it　！　〃

The　professor　raised　his　eyes　for　an　ironical　glance　at　his　wife。　〃　Oh　I　have　thought　of　the　shame　of　it！〃

〃　And　you'll　accomplish　nothing；〃　cried　Mrs。　Wain…　wright。　〃　You'll　accomplish　nothing。　He'll　only　laugh　at　you。〃

〃　If　he　laughs　at　me；　he　will　laugh　at　nothing　but　a　poor；　weak；　unworldly　old　man。　It　is　my　duty　to　go。〃

Mrs。　Wainwright　opened　her　mouth　as　if　she　was　about　to　shriek。　After　choking　a　moment　she　said：　〃　Your　duty？　Your　duty　to　go　and　bend　the　knee　to　that　man？　Yourduty？〃

〃'It　is　my　duty　to　go；〃'　he　repeated　humbly。　〃If　I　can　find　even　one　chance　for　my　daughter's　happi…　ness　in　a　personal　sacrifice。　He　can　do　no　more　than　he　can　do　no　more　than　make　me　a　little　sadder。〃

His　wife　evidently　understood　his　humility　as　a　tribute　to　her　arguments　and　a　clear　indication　that　she　had　fatally　undermined　his　original　intention。　〃　Oh；　he　would　have　made　you　sadder；〃　she　quoth　grimly。　〃No　fear！　Why；　it　was　the　most　insane　idea　I　ever　heard　of。〃

The　professor　arose　wearily。　〃　Well；　I　must　be　going　to　this　work。　It　is　a　thing　to　have　ended　quickly。〃　There　was　something　almost　biblical　in　his　manner。

〃　Harrison！　〃　burst　out　his　wife　in　amazed　lamenta…　tion。　You　are　not　really　going　to　do　it？　Not　really！〃

〃　I　am　going　to　do　it；〃　he　answered。

〃　Well；　there！　〃　ejaculated　Mrs。　Wainwright　to　the　heavens。　She　was；　so　to　speak；　prostrate。　〃　Well；　there！　〃

As　the　professor　passed　out　of　the　door　she　cried　beseechingly　but　futilely　after　him。　〃　Harrison。〃　In　a　mechanical　way　she　turned　then　back　to　the　mirror　and　resumed　the　disarrangement　of　her　hair。　She　ad…　dressed　her　image。　〃　Well；　of　all　stupid　creatures　under　the　sun；　men　are　the　very　worst！　〃　And　her　image　said　this　to　her　even　as　she　informed　it；　and　afterward　　they　stared　at　each　other　in　a　profound　and　tragic　reception　and　acceptance　of　this　great　truth。　Presently　she　began　to　consider　the　advisability　of　going　to　Marjdry　with　the　whole　story。　Really；　Harrison　　must　not　be　allowed　to　go　on　blundering　until　the　whole　world　heard　that　Marjory　was　trying　to　break　her　heart　over　that　common　scamp　of　a　Coleman。　It　seemed　to　be　about　time　for　her；　Mrs。　Wainwright；　to　come　into　the　situation　and　mend　matters。




CHAPTER　XXVIL

WHEN　the　professor　arrived　before　Coleman's　door；　he　paused　a　moment　and　looked　at　it。　Previously；　he　could　not　have　imagined　that　a　simple　door　would　ever　so　affect　him。　Every　line　of　it　seemed　to　express　cold　superiority　and　disdain。　It　was　only　the　door　of　a　former　student；　one　of　his　old　boys；　whom；　as　the　need　arrived；　he　had　whipped　with　his　satire　in　the　class　rooms　at　Washurst　until　the　mental　blood　had　come；　and　all　without　a　conception　of　his　ultimately　arriving　before　the　door　of　this　boy　in　the　attitude　of　a　supplicant。　Hewould　not　say　it；　Coleman　probably　would　not　say　it；　but…they　would　both　know　it。　A　single　thought　of　it；　made　him　feel　like　running　away。　He　would　never　dare　to　knock　on　that　door。　It　would　be　too　monstrous。　And　even　as　he　decided　that　he　was　afraid　to　knock；　he　knocked。

Coleman's　voice　said；　〃Come　in。〃　The　professor　opened　the　door。　The　correspondent；　without　a　coat；　was　seated　at　a　paper…littered　table。　　Near　his　elbow；　upon　another　table；　was　a　tray　from　which　he　had　evidently　dined　and　also　a　brandy　bottle　with　several　recumbent　bottles　of　soda。　Although　he　had　so　lately　arrived　at　the　hotel　he　had　contrived　to　diffuse　his　traps　over　the　room　in　an　organised　disarray　which　represented　a　long　and　careless　occupation　if　it　did　not　represent　t'le　scene　of　a　scuffle。　His　pipe　was　in　his　mouth。

After　a　first　murmur　of　surprise；　he　arose　and　reached　in　some　haste　for　his　coat。　〃　Come　in；　professor；　come　in；〃　he　cried；　wriggling　deeper　into　his　jacket　as　he　held　out　his　hand。　He　had　laid　aside　his　pipe　and　had　also　been　very　successful　in　flinging　a　newspaper　so　that　it　hid　the　brandy　and　soda。　This　act　was　a　feat　of　deference　to　the　professor's　well　known　principles。

〃Won't　you　sit　down；　sir　？　〃　said　Coleman　cordially。　His　quick　glance　of　surprise　had　been　immediately　suppressed　and　his　manner　was　now　as　if　the　pro…　fessor's　call　was　a　common　matter。

〃　Thank　you；　Mr。　Coleman；　I…yes；　I　will　sit　down；〃。　replied　the　old　man。　His　hand　shook　as　he　laid　it　on　the　back　of　the　chair　and　steadied　himself　down　into　it。　〃　Thank　you！〃　…

Coleman　looked　at　him　with　a　great　deal　of　ex…　pectation。

〃　Mr。　Coleman　！　〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃　I〃

He　halted　then　and　passed　his　hand　over　his　face。　His　eyes　did　not　seem　to　rest　once　upon　Coleman；　but　they　occupied　themselves　in　furtive　and　frightened　glances　over　the　room。　Coleman　could　make　neither　head　nor　tail　of　the　affair。　He　would　not　have　believed　any　man's　statement　that　the　professor　could　act　in　such　an　extraordinary　fashion。　〃　Yes；　sir；〃　he　said　again　suggestively。　The　simple　strategy　resulted　in　a　silence　that　was　actually　awkward。　Coleman；　despite　his　bewilderment；　hastened　into　a　preserving　gossip。　〃　I've　had　a　great　many　cables　waiting　for　me　for　heaven　knows…　how　long　and　others　have　been　arriving　in　flocks　to…night。　You　have　no　idea　of　the　row　in　America；　professor。　Why；　everybody　must　have　gone　wild　over　the　lost　sheep。　My　paper　has　cabled　some　things　that　are　evidently　for　you。　For　instance；　here　is　one　that　says　a　new　puzzle…game　called　Find　the　Wainwright　Party　has　had　a　big　success。　Think　of　that；　would　you。〃　Coleman　grinned　at　the　professor。　〃　Find　the　Wainwright　Party；　a　new　puzzle…game。〃

The　professor　had　seemed　grateful　for　Coleman's　tangent　off　into　matters　of　a　light　vein。　〃　Yes？〃　he　said；　almost　eagerly。　〃　Are　they　selling　a　game　really　called　that？〃

〃　Yes；　really；〃　re