active service-第8章

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　of　minenot　a　bad　fellow　he　asked　me　for　an　introduction。　　Of　course；　I　told　him　I'd　ask　you。〃

She　made　a　contemptuous　gesture。　　〃Oh；　another　Willie。　　Tell　him　no。　　Tell　him　to　go　home　to　his　family。　　Tell　him　to　run　away。〃

〃He　isn't　a　bad　fellow。　　He〃　said　Coleman　diffidently；　　〃he　would　probably　be　at　the　theatre　every　night　in　a　box。〃

〃yes；　and　get　drunk　and　throw　a　wine　bottle　on　the　　stage　instead　of　a　bouquet。　No；〃　she　declared　positively；　〃I　won't　see　him。〃

Coleman　did　not　seem　to　be　oppressed　by　this　ultimatum。　〃Oh；　all　right。　　I　promised　himthat　was　all。〃

〃Besides；　are　you　in　a　great　hurry　to　get　rid　of　me？〃

〃Rid　of　you？　　Nonsense。〃

They　walked　in　the　shadow。　　〃How　long　are　you　going　to　be　in　London；　Rufus？〃　asked　Nora　softly。

〃Who？　　I？　Oh；　I'm　going　right　off　to　Greece。　　First　train。　　There's　going　to　be　a　war；　you　know。〃

〃A　war？　　Why；　who　is　going　to　fight？　　The　Greeks　　and　thethethe　what？〃

〃The　Turks。　　I'm　going　right　over　there。〃

〃Why；　that's　dreadful；　Rufus；〃　　said　the　girl；　mournfull　and　shocked。　　〃You　might　get　hurt　or　something。〃　　　Presently　she　asked：　〃And　aren't　you　going　to　be　in　　London　any　time　at　all？〃

〃Oh；〃　he　answered；　puffing　out　his　lips；　〃I　may　stop　in　Londom　for　three　or　four　days　on　my　way　home。　　I'm　　not　sure　of　it。〃

〃And　when　will　that　be？〃

〃Oh；　I　can't　tell。　　It　may　be　in　three　or　four　months；　　or　it　may　be　a　year　from　now。　　When　the　war　stops。〃

There　was　a　long　silence　as　the　walked　up　and　down　　the　swaying　deck。

〃Do　you　know；〃　said　Nora　at　last；　〃I　like　you；　Rufus　Coleman。　　I　don't　know　any　good　reason　for　it　either；　unless　it　is　because　you　are　such　a　brute。　　Now；　when　I　was　asking　you　if　you　were　　to　be　in　London　you　were　perfectly　detestable。　　You　know　I　was　　anxious。〃

〃Idetestable？〃　cried　Coleman；　feigning　amazement。　　　〃Why；　what　did　I　say？〃　　　

〃It　isn't　so　much　what　you　said〃　began　Nora　slowlly。　　　Then　she　suddenly　changed　her　manner。　〃Oh；　well；　don't　let's　talk　about　it　any　more。　　It's　too　foolish。　Only…you　are　a　disagreeable　person　sometimes。〃

In　the　morning；　as　the　vessel　steamed　up　the　Irish　channel；　Coleman　was　on　deck；　keeping　furtive　watch　on　the　cabin　stairs。　After　two　hours　of　waiting；　he　scribbled　a　message　on　a　card　and　sent　it　below。　He　received　an　answer　that　Miss　Black　had　a　headache；　and　felt　too　ill　to　come　on　deck。　He　went　to　the　smoking　room。　The　three　card…players　glanced　up；　grinning。　〃What's　the　matter？〃　asked　the　wine　merchant。　〃You　look　angry。〃　As　a　matter　of　fact；　Coleman　had　purposely　wreathed　his　features　in　a　pleasant　and　satisfied　expression；　so　he　was　for　a　moment　furious　at　the　wine　merchant。

〃Confound　the　girl；〃　he　thought　to　himself。　〃She　has　succeeded　in　making　all　these　beggars　laugh　at　me。〃　He　mused　that　if　he　had　another　chance　he　would　show　her　how　disagreeable　or　detestable　or　scampish　he　was　under　some　circumstances。　He　reflected　ruefully　that　the　complacence　with　which　he　had　accepted　the　comradeship　of　the　belle　of　the　　voyage　might　have　been　somewhat　overdone。　Perhaps　he　had　got　a　little　out　of　proportion。　He　was　annoyed　at　the　stares　of　the　other　men　in　the　smoking　room；　who　seemed　now　to　be　reading　his　discomfiture。　As　for　Nora　Black　he　thought　of　her　wistfully　and　angrily　as　a　superb　woman　whose　company　was　honour　and　joy；　a　payment　for　any　sacrifices。

〃　What's　the　matter？　〃　persisted　the　wine　merchant。　〃　You　look　grumpy。〃　Coleman　laughed。　〃　Do　I？〃

At　Liverpool；　as　the　steamer　was　being　slowly　warped　to　the　landing　stage　by　some　tugs；　the　passengers　crowded　the　deck　with　their　hand…bags。　Adieus　were　falling　as　dead　leaves　fall　from　a　great　tree。　The　stewards　were　handling　small　hills　of　luggage　marked　with　flaming　red　labels。　The　ship　was　firmly　against　the　dock　before　Miss　Black　came　from　her　cabin。　Coleman　was　at　the　time　gazing　shoreward；　but　his　three　particular　friends　instantly　nudged　him。　〃What？〃　〃There　she　is？〃　〃Oh；　Miss　Black？〃　He　composedly　walked　toward　her。　It　was　impossible　to　tell　whether　she　saw　him　coming　or　whether　it　was　accident；　but　at　any　rate　she　suddenly　turned　and　moved　toward　the　stern　of　the　ship。　Ten　watchful　gossips　had　noted　Coleman's　travel　in　her　direction　and　more　than　half　the　passengers　noted　his　defeat。　He　wheeled　casually　and　returned　to　his　three　friends。　They　were　colic…stricken　with　a　coarse　and　yet　silent　merriment。　Coleman　was　glad　that　the　voyage　was　over。

After　the　polite　business　of　an　English　custom　house；　the　travellers　passed　out　to　the　waiting　train。　A　nimble　little　theatrical　agent　of　some　kind；　sent　from　London；　dashed　forward　to　receive　Miss　Black。　He　had　a　first…class　compartment　engaged　for　her　and　he　bundled　her　and　her　maid　into　it　in　an　　exuberance　of　enthusiasm　and　admiration。。　Coleman　passing　moodily　　along　the　line　of　coaches　heard　Nora's　voice　hailing　him。

〃　Rufus。〃　There　she　was；　framed　in　a　carriage　window；　beautiful　and　smiling　brightly。　Every　near。　by　person　turned　to　contemplate　this　vision。　

〃　Oh；〃　said　Coleman　advancing；　〃　I　thought　I　was　not　going　to　get　a　chance　to　say　good…bye　to　you。〃　He　held　out　his　hand。　〃　Good…bye。〃

She　pouted。　〃　Why；　there's　plenty　of　room　in　this　compartment。〃　Seeing　that　some　forty　people　were　transfixed　in　observation　of　her；　she　moved　a　short　way　back。　〃　Come　on　in　this　compartment；　Rufus；〃　she　said。

〃Thanks。　I　prefer　to　smoke；〃　said　Coleman。　He　went　off　abruptly。

On　the　way　to　London；　he　brooded　in　his　corner　on　the　two　divergent　emotions　he　had　experienced　when　refusing　her　invitation。　At　Euston　Station　in　London；　he　was　directing　a　porter；　who　had　his　luggage；　when　he　heard　Nora　speak　at　his　shoulder。　〃　Well；　Rufus；　you　sulky　boy；〃　she　said；　〃　I　shall　be　at　the　Cecil。　If　you　have　time；　come　and　see　me。〃

〃　Thanks；　I'm　sure；　my　dear　Nora；〃　answered　Coleman　effusively。　〃But　honestly；　I'm　off　for　Greece。〃

A　brougham　was　drawn　up　near　them　and　the　nimble　little　agent　was　waiting。　The　maid　was　directing　the　establishment　of　a　mass　of　luggage　on　and　in　a　four…wheeler　cab。　〃　Well；　put　me　into　my　carriage；　anyhow；〃　said　Nora。　〃　You　will　have　time　for　that。〃

Afterward　she　addressed　him　from　the　dark　interior。　Now；　Rufus；　you　must　come　to　see　me　the　minute　you　strike　London　again…　of　She　hesitated　a　moment　and　then　smiling　gorgeously　upon　him；　she　said：　〃　Brute！　〃







CHAPTER　VIII。

As　soon　as　Coleman　had　planted　his　belongings　in　a　hotel　he　was　bowled　in　a　hansom　briskly　along　the　smoky　Strand；　through　a　dark　city　whose　walls　dripped　like　the　walls　of　a　cave　and　whose　passages　were　only　illuminated　by　flaring　yellow　and　red　signs。

Walkley　the　London　correspondent　of　the　Eclipse；　whirled　from　his　chair　with　a　shout　of　joy　and　relief　…at　sight　of　Coleman。　〃　Cables；〃　he　cried。　〃Nothin'　but　cables！　All　the　people　in　New　York　are　writing　cables　to　you。　The　wires　groan　with　them。　And　we　groan　with　them　too。　They　come　in　here　in　bales。　However；　there　is　no　reason　why　you　should　read　them　all。　Many　are　similar　in　words　and　many　more　are　similar　in　spirit。　The　sense　of　the　whole　thing　is　that　you　get　to　Greece　quickly；　taking　with　you　immense　sums　of　money　and　enormous　powers　over　nations。〃

〃　Well；　when　does　the　row　begin？　〃

〃　The　most　astute　journalists　in　Europe　have　been　predicting　a　general　European　smash…up　every　year　since　1878；〃　said　Walkley；　〃　and　the　prophets　weep。　The　English　are　the　only　people　who　can　pull　off　wars　on　schedule　time；　and　they　have　to　do　it　in　odd　corners　of　the　globe。　I　fear　the　war　business　is　　getting　tuckered。　There　is　sorrow　in　the　lodges　of　the　lone　wolves；　　the　war　correspondents。　However；　my　boy；　don't　bury　your　face　in　your　blanket。　This　Greek　business　looks　very　promising；　very　promising。〃　He　then　began　to　proclaim　trains　and　connections。　〃　Dover；　Calais；　Paris；　Brindisi；　Corfu；　Patras；　Athens。　That　is　your　game。　You　are　supposed　to　sky…rocket　yourself　over　that　route　in　the　shortest　possible　time；　but　you　would　gain　no　time　by　starting　before　to…morrow；　so　you　can　cool　your　heels　here　in　London　until　then。　I　wish　I　was　going　along。〃

Coleman　returned　to　his　hotel；　a　knight　impatient　and　savage　at　being　kept　for　a　time　out　of　the　saddle。　He　went　for　a　late　supper　to　the　grill　room　and　as　he　was　seated　there　alone；　a　party　of　four　or　five　people　came　to　occupy　the　table　directly　behind　him。　They　talked　a　great　deal　even　before　they　arrayed　them。　selves　at　the　table；　and　he　at　once　recognised　the　voice　of　Nora　Black。　She　was　queening　it；　apparently；　over　a　little　band　of　awed　masculine　worshippers。

Either　by　accident　or　for　some　curious　reason；　she　took　a　chair　back　to　back　with　Coleman's　chair。　Her　sleeve　of　fragrant　stuff　almost　touched　his　shoulder　and　he　felt　appealing　to　him　seductively　a　perfume　of　orris　root　and　violet。　He　was　drinking　bottled　stout　with　his　chop；　be　sat　with　a　face　of　wood。

〃　Oh；　the　little　lord　？　〃　Nora　was　crying　to　some　slave。　〃Now；　do　you　know；　he　won't　do　at　all。　He　is　too　awfully　charming。　He　sits　and　ruminates　for　fifteen　minutes　and　then　he　pays　me　a　lovely　compliment。　Then　he　ruminates　for　another　fifteen　minutes　and　cooks　up　another　fine　thing。　It　is　too　tiresome。　Do　you　know　what　kind　of　man。　I　like？　〃　she　asked　softly　and　confidentially。　And　here　she　sank　back　in　her　chair　until。　Coleman　knew　from　the　tingle　that　her　head　was　but　a　few　inches　from　his　head。　Her；　sleeve　touched　him。　He　turned　more　wooden　under　the　spell　of　the　orris　root　and　violet。　Her　courtiers　thought　it　all　a　graceful　pose；　but　Coleman　believed　otherwise。　Her　voice　sank　to　the　liquid；　siren　note　of　a　succubus。　〃　Do　you　know　what　kind　of　a　man　I　like？　Really　like？　I　like　a　man　that　a　woman　can't　bend　in　a　thousand　different　ways　in　five　minutes。　He　must　have　some　steel　in　him。　He　obliges　me　to　admire　him　the　most　when　he　remains　stolid；　stolid　to　me　lures。　Ah；　that　is　the　only　kind　of　a　man　who　cap　ever　break　a　heart　among　us　women　of　the　world。　His　stolidity　is　not　real；　no；　it　is　mere　art；　but　it　is　a　highly　finished　art　and　often　enough　we　can't　cut　through　it。　Really　we　can't。　And；　then　we　may　actually　come　toercare　for　the　man。　Really　we　may。　Isn't　it　funny？〃

Alt　the　end　Coleman　arose　and　strolled　out　of　the。　room；　smoking　a　cigarette。　He　did　not　betray；　a　sign。　Before。　the　door　clashed　softly　behind　him；　　Nora　laughed　a　little　defiantly；　perhaps　　a　little　loudly。　It　made　every　man　in　the　grill…room　perk　up　his　ears。　　As　for　her　courtiers；　they　were　entranced。　In　her　description　of　the　conquering　man；　she　had　easily　contrived　that　each　one　of　them　wondered　if　she　might　not　mean　him。　Each　man　was　perfectly　sure　that　he　had　plenty　of　steel　in　his　composition　and　that　seemed　to　be　a　main　point。

Coleman　delayed　for　a　time　in　the　smoking　room　and　then　went　to　his　own　quarters。　In　reality　he　was　Somewhat　puzzled　in　his　mind　by　a　projection　of　the　beauties　of　Nora　Black　upon　his　desire　for　Greece　and　Marjory；　His　thoughts　formed　a　duality。　Once　he　was　on　the　point　of　sending　his　card　to　Nora　Black's　parlour；　inasmuch　as　Greece　was　very　distant　and　he　could　not　start　until　the　morrow。　But　he　suspected　that　he　was　holding　the　interest　of　the　actress　because　of　his　recent　appearance　of　impregnable　serenity　in　the　presence　of　her　fascinations。　If　he　now　sent　his　card；　it　was　a　form　of　surrender　and　he　knew　her　to　be　one　to　t