active service-第35章

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ly。　〃　Are　they　selling　a　game　really　called　that？〃

〃　Yes；　really；〃　replied　Coleman。　〃　And　of　course　you　know　that…er…well；　all　the　Sunday　papers　would　of　course　have　big　illustrated　articles…full　pages…　with　your　photographs　and　general　private　histories　pertaining　mostly　to　things　which　are　none　of　their　business。〃　〃　Yes；　I　suppose　they　would　do　that；〃　admitted　the　professor。　〃　But　I　dare　say　it　may　not　be　as　bad　as　you　suggest。〃

〃　Very　like　not；〃　said　Coleman。　〃　I　put　it　to　you　forcibly　so　that　in　the　future　the　blow　will　not　be　too　cruel。　They　are　often　a　weird　lot。〃

〃　Perhaps　they　can't　find　anything　very　bad　about　us。〃

〃　Oh；　no。　And　besides　the　whole　episode　will　probably　be　forgotten　by　the　time　you　return　to　the　United　States。〃

They　talked　onin　this　way　slowly；　strainedly；　until　they　each　found　that　the　situation　would　soon　become　insupportable。　The　professor　had　come　for　a　distinct　purpose　and　Coleman　knew　it；　they　could　not　sit　there　lying　at　each　other　forever。　Yet　when　he　saw　the　pain　deepening　in　the　professor's　eyes；　the　correspondent　again　ordered　up　his　trivialities。　〃　Funny　thing。　My　paper　has　been　congratulating　me；　you　know；　sir；　in　a　wholesale　fashion；　and　I　think…I　feel　sure…that　they　have　been　exploiting　my　name　all　over　the　country　as　the　Heroic　Rescuer。　There　is　no　sense　in　trying　to　stop　them；　because　they　don't　care　whether　it　is　true　or　not　true。　All　they　want　is　the　privilege　of　howling　out　that　their　correspondent　rescued　　you；　and　they　would　take　that　privilege　without　in　any　ways　worrying　if　I　refused　my　consent。　You　see；　sir？　I　wouldn't　like　you　to　feel　that　I　was　such　a　strident　idiot　as　I　doubtless　am　appearing　now　before　the　public。〃

〃　No；〃　said　the　professor　absently。　It　was　plain　that　he　had　been　a　very　slack　listener。　〃　I…Mr。　Coleman…〃　　he　began。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　answered　Coleman　promptly　and　gently。

It　was　obviously　only　a　recognition　of　the　futility　of　further　dallying　that　was　driving　the　old　man　on…　ward。　He　knew；　of　course；　that　if　he　was　resolved　to　take　this　step；　a　longer　delay　would　simply　make　it　harder　for　him。　The　correspondent；　leaning　forward；　was　watching　him　almost　breathlessly。

〃　Mr。　Coleman；　I　understand…or　at　least　I　am　led　to　believe…that　you…at　one　time；　proposed　marriage　to　my　daughter？　〃

The　faltering　words　did　not　sound　as　if　either　man　had　aught　to　do　with　them。　They　were　an　expression　by　the　tragic　muse　herself。　Coleman's　jaw　fell　and　he　looked　glassily　at　the　professor。　He　said：　〃Yes！〃　But　already　his　blood　was　leaping　as　his　mind　flashed　everywhere　in　speculation。

〃　I　refused　my　consent　to　that　marriage；〃　said　the　old　man　more　easily。　〃　I　do　not　know　if　the　matter　has　remained　important　to　you；　but　at　any　rate；　I…I　retract　my　refusal。〃

Suddenly　the　blank　expression　left　Coleman's　face　and　he　smiled　with　sudden　intelligence；　as　if　informa…　tion　of　what　the　professor　had　been　saying　had　just　reached　him。　In　this　smile　there　was　a　sudden　be。　trayal；　too；　of　something　keen　and　bitter　which　had　lain　hidden　in　the　man's　mind。　He　arose　and　made　a　step　towards　the　professor　and　held　out　his　hand。　〃Sir；　I　thank　yod　from　the　bottom　of　my　heart！〃　And　they　both　seemed　to　note　with　surprise　that　Coleman's　voice　had　broken。

The　professor　had　arisen　to　receive　Coleman's　hand。　His　nerve　was　now　of　iron　and　he　was　very　formal。　〃　I　judge　from　your　tone　that　I　have　not　made　a　mis…　take…somcthing　which　I　feared。〃

Coleman　did　not　seem　to　mind　the　professor's　formality。　〃　Don't　fear　anything。　Won't　you　sit　down　again？　Will　you　have　a　cigar。　*　*　No；　I　couldn't　tell　you　how　glad　I　am。　How　glad　I　am。　I　feel　like　a　fool。　It〃

But　the　professor　fixed　him　with　an　Arctic　eye　and　bluntly　said：　〃　You　love　her　？　〃

The　question　steadied　Coleman　at　once。　He　looked　undauntedly　straight　into　the　professor's　face。　He　simply　said：　〃　I　love　her！　〃

〃　You　love　her　？　〃　repeated　the　professor。

〃　I　love　her；〃　repeated　Coleman。

After　some　seconds　of　pregnant　silence；　the　professor　arose。　〃　Well；　if　she　cares　to　give　her　life　to　you　I　will　allow　it；　but　I　must　say　that　I　do　not　consider　you　nearly　good　enough。　Good…night。〃　He　smiled　faintly　as　he　held　out　his　hand。

〃　Good…night；　sir；〃　said　Coleman。　〃　And　I　can't　tell；　you；　now…〃

Mrs。　Wainwright；　in　her　room　was　languishing　in　a　chair　and　applying　to　her　brow　a　handkerch…ief　wet　with　cologne　water。　She；　kept　her　feverish　glarice　upon　the　door。　Remembering　well　the　manner　of　her　husband　when　he　went　out　she　could　hardly　identify　him　when　he　came　in。　Serenity；　composure；　even　self…satisfaction；　was　written　upon　him。　He；　paid　no　attention　to　her；　but　going　to　a　chair　sat　down　with　a　groan　of　contentment。

〃　Well　？　〃　cried　Mrs。　Wainwright；　starting　up。　〃　Well　？　〃

〃　Well…what　？　〃　he　asked。

She　waved　her　hand　impatiently。　〃　Harrison；　don't　be　absurd。　You　know　perfectly　well　what　I　mean。　It　is　a　pity　you　couldn't　think　of　the　anxiety　I　have　been　in。〃　She　was　going　to　weep。

〃Oh；　I'll　tell　you　after　awhile；〃　he　said　stretching　out　his　legs　with　the　complacency　of　a　rich　merchant　after　a　successful　day。

〃No！　Tell　me　now；〃　she　implored　him。　〃Can't　you　see　I've　worried　myself　nearly　to　death？〃　She　was　not　going　to　weep；　she　was　going　to　wax　angry。

〃Well；　to　tell　the　truth；〃　said　the　professor　with　considerable　pomposity；　〃　I've　arranged　it。　Didn't　think　I　could　do　it　at　first；　but　it　turned　out　　　〃

〃I　Arranged　it；〃'　wailed　Mrs。　Wainwright。　〃　Arranged　what？　〃

It　here　seemed　to　strike　the　professor　suddenly　that　he　was　not　such　a　flaming　example　for　　diplomatists　as　he　might　have　imagined。　〃　Arranged；〃　he　stammered。　〃　Arranged　。〃

〃　Arranged　what？　〃

〃　Why；　I　fixed…I　fixed　it　up。〃

〃　Fixed　what　up？　〃

〃It…it…〃　began　the　professor。　Then　he　swelled　with　indignation。　〃　Why；　can't　you　understand　anything　at　all？　I…I　fixed　it。〃

〃　Fixed　what？　〃

〃　Fixed　it。　Fixed　it　with　Coleman。〃

〃　Fixed　what　with　Coleman？

The　professor's　wrath　now　took　control　of　him。　〃Thunder　and　lightenin'　！　You　seem　to　jump　at　the　conclusion　that　I've　made　some　horrible　mistake。　For　goodness'　sake；　give　me　credit　for　a　particle　of　sense。〃

〃　What　did　you　do？　〃　she　asked　in　a　sepulchral　voice。

〃　Well；〃　said　the　professor；　in　a　burning　defiance；　〃　I'll　tell　you　what　I　did。　I　went　to　Coleman　and　told　him　that　once…as　he　of　course　knew…I　had　re…　fused　his　marriage　with　my　daughter；　but　that　now…〃

〃　Grrr；〃　said　Mrs。　Wainwright。

〃　But　that　now…〃　continued　the　professor；　〃　I　retracted　that　refusal。〃

〃　Mercy　on　us！　〃　cried　Mrs。　Wainwright；　throwing　herself　back　in　the　chair。　〃　Mercy　on　us！　What　fools　men　are！〃

〃　Now；　wait　a　minute…〃　But　Mrs。　Wainwright　began　to　croon：　〃　Oh；　if　Marjory　should　hear　of　this！　Oh；　if　she　should　hear　of　it！　just　let　her。　Hear…〃

〃　But　she　must　not；〃　cried　the　professor；　tigerishly。　just　you　dare！　〃　And　the　woman　saw　before　her　a　man　whose　eyes　were　lit　with　a　flame　which　almost　expressed　a　temporary　hatred。

The　professor　had　left　Coleman　so　abruptly　that　the　correspondent　found　himself　murmuring　half。　coherent　gratitude　to　the　closed　door　of　his　room。　Amazement　soon　began　to　be　mastered　by　exultation。　He　flung　himself　upon　the　brandy　and　soda　and　nego…　tiated　a　strong　glass。　Pacing。　the　room　with　nervous　steps；　he　caught　a　vision　of　himself　in　a　tall　mirror。　He　halted　before　it。　〃　Well；　well；〃　he　said。　〃　Rufus；　you're　a　grand　man。　There　is　not　your　equal　anywhere。　You　are　a　great；　bold；　strong　player；　fit　to　sit　down　to　a　game　with　the　…best。〃

A　moment　later　it　struck　him　that　he　had　appropriated　too　much。　If　the　professor　had　paid　him　a　visit　and　made　a　wonderful　announcement；　he；　Coleman；　had　not　been　the　engine　of　it。　And　then　he　enunciated　　clearly　something　in　his　mind　which；　even　in　a　vague　form；　had　been　responsible　for　much　of　his　early　elation。　Marjory　herself　had　compassed　this　thing。　With　shame　he　rejected　a　first　wild　and　preposterous　idea　that　she　had　sent　her　father　to　him。　He　reflected　　that　a　man　who　for　an　instant　could　conceive　such　a　thing　was　a　natural…born　idiot。　With　an　equal　feeling；　he　rejected　also　an　idea　that　she　could　have　known　anything　of　her　father's　purpose。　If　she　had　known　of　his　purpose；　there　would　have　been　no　visit。

What；　then；　was　the　cause？　Coleman　soon　decided　that　the　professor　had　witnessed　some　demonstration　of　Marjory's　emotion　which　had　been　sufficiently　severe　in　its　character　to　force　him　to　the　extraordinary　　visit。　But　then　this　also　was　wild　and　preposterous。　　That　coldly　beautiful　goddess　would　not　have　given　a　demonstration　of　emotion　over　Rufus　Coleman　sufficiently　alarming　to　have　forced　her　father　on　such　an　errand。　That　was　impossible。　No；　he　was　wrong；　Marjory　even　indirectly；　could　not　be　connected　with　the　visit。　As　he　arrived　at　this　decision；　the　enthusiasm　passed　out　of　him　and　he　wore　a　doleful；　monkish　face。

〃Well；　what；　then；　was　the　cause？〃　After　eliminating　Marjory　from　the　discussion　waging　in　his　mind；　he　found　it　hard　to　hit　upon　anything　rational。　The　only　remaining　theory　was　to　the　effect　that　the　professor；　having　a　very　high　sense　of　the　correspond。　ent's　help　in　the　escape　of　the　Wainwright　party；　had　decided　that　the　only　way　to　express　his　gratitude　was　to　revoke　a　certain　decision　which　he　now　could　see　had　been　unfair。　The　retort　to　this　theory　seemed　to　be　that　if　the　professor　had　had　such　a　fine　conception　of　the　services　rendered　by　Coleman；　he　had　had　ample　time　to　display　his　appreciation　on　the　road　to　Arta　and　on　the　road　down　from　Arta。　There　was　no　necessity　for　his　waiting　until　their　arrival　in　Athens。　It　was　impossible　to　concede　that　the　professor's　emotion　could　be　anew　one；　if　he　had　it　now；　he　must　have　had　it　in　far　stronger　measure　directly　after　he　had　been　hauled　out　of　danger。

So；　it　may　be　seen　that　after　Coleman　had　eliminated　Marjory　from　the　discussion　that　was　waging　in　his　mind；　he　had　practically　succeeded　in　eliminating　the　professor　as　well。　This；　he　thought；　mournfully；　was　eliminating　with　a　vengeance。　If　he　dissolved　all　the　factors　he　could　hardly　proceed。

The　mind　of　a　lover　moves　in　a　circle；　or　at　least　on　a　more　circular　course　than　other　minds；　some　of　which　at　times　even　seem　to　move　almost　in　a　straight　line。　Presently；　Coleman　was　at　the　point　where　he　bad　started；　and　he　did　not　pause　until　he　reached　that　theory　which　asserted　that　the　professor　had　been　inspired　to　his　visit　by　some　sight　or　knowledge　of　Marjory　in　distress。　Of　course；　Coleman　was　wistfully　　desirous　of　proving　to　himself　the　truth　of　this　theory。

The　palpable　agitation　of　the　professor　during　the　interview　seemed　to　support　it。　If　he　had　come　on　a　mere　journey　of　conscience；　he　would　have　hardly　appeared　as　a　white　and　trembling　old；　man。　But　then；　said　Coleman；　he　himself　probably　exaggerated　this　idea　of　the　professor's　appearance。　It　might　have　been　that　he　was　only　sour　and　distressed　over　the　performance　of　a　very　disagreeable　duty。

The　correspondent　paced　his　room　and　smoked。　Sometimes　he　halted　at　the　little　table　where　was　the　brandy　and　soda。　He　thought　so　hard　that　sometimes　it　seemed　that　Marjory　had　been　to　him　to　propose　marriage；　and　at　other　times　it　seemed　that　there　had　been　no　visit　from　any　one　at　all。

A　desire　to　talk　to　somebody　was　upon　him。　He　stroll