the yellow crayon-第4部分

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The　difference　between　the　demeanour　of　the　two　men　was　remarkable。

〃You　knew　what　those　letters　meant！　　This　is　a　plot！　　Where　is
Skinner's　report？〃

Mr。　Sabin　raised　his　eyebrows。　　He　signaled　to　the　head…waiter。

〃Be　so　good　as　to　continue　the　service　of　my　dinner；〃　he　ordered。
〃The　champagne　is　a　trifle　too　chilled。　　You　can　take　it　out　of
the　cooler。〃

The　man　bowed；　with　a　curious　side　glance　at　Horser。

〃Certainly；　your　Grace！〃

Horser　was　almost　speechless　with　anger。

〃Are　you　going　to　answer　my　questions？〃　he　demanded　thickly。

〃I　have　no　particular　objection　to　doing　so；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered；
〃but　until　you　can　sit　up　and　compose　yourself　like　an　ordinary
individual；　I　decline　to　enter　into　any　conversation　with　you　at
all。〃

Again　Mr。　Horser　raised　his　voice；　and　the　glare　in　his　eyes　was
like　the　glare　of　a　wild　beast。

〃Do　you　know　who　I　am？〃　he　asked。　　〃Do　you　know　who　you're　talking
to？〃

Mr。　Sabin　looked　at　him　coolly；　and　fingered　his　wineglass。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃I've　a　shocking　memory　for　names；　but　yours　is
…　Mr。　Horser；　isn't　it？　　I　heard　it　for　the　first　time　this　morning；
and　my　memory　will　generally　carry　me　through　four…and…twenty　hours。〃

There　was　a　moment's　silence。　　Horser　was　no　fool。　　He　accepted　his
defeat　and　dropped　the　bully。

〃You're　a　stranger　in　this　city；　Mr。　Sabin；　and　I　guess　you　aren't
altogether　acquainted　with　our　ways　yet；〃　he　said。　　〃But　I　want　you
to　understand　this。　　The　report　which　is　in　your　pocket　has　got　to
be　returned　to　me。　　If　I'd　known　what　I　was　meddling　with　I　wouldn't
have　touched　your　business　for　a　hundred　thousand　dollars。　　It's　got
to　be　returned　to　me；　I　say！〃　he　repeated　in　a　more　threatening　tone。

Mr。　Sabin　helped　himself　to　fish；　and　made　a　careful　examination　of
the　sauce。

〃After　all；〃　he　said　meditatively；　〃I　am　not　sure　that　I　was　wise
in　insisting　upon　a　sauce　piquante。　　I　beg　your　pardon；　Mr。　Horser。
Please　do　not　think　me　inattentive；　but　I　am　very　hungry。　　So；　I
believe；　is　my　friend；　Mr。　Skinner。　　Will　you　not　join　us　…　or
perhaps　you　have　already　dined？〃

There　was　an　ugly　flush　in　Mr。　Horser's　cheeks；　but　he　struggled　to
keep　his　composure。

〃Will　you　give　me　back　that　report？〃

〃When　I　have　read　it；　with　pleasure；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃Before；
no。〃

Mr。　Horser　swallowed　an　exceedingly　vicious　oath。　　He　struck　the
table　lightly　with　his　forefinger。

〃Look　here；〃　he　said。　　〃If　you'd　lived　in　New　York　a　couple　of
years；　even　a　couple　of　months；　you　wouldn't　talk　like　that。　　I　tell
you　that　I　hold　the　government　of　this　city　in　my　right　hand。　　I
don't　want　to　be　unpleasant；　but　if　that　paper　is　not　in　my　hands
by　the　time　you　leave　this　table　I　shall　have　you　arrested　as　you
leave　this　room；　and　the　papers　taken　from　you。〃

〃Dear　me；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃this　is　serious。　　On　what　charge　may　I
ask　should　I　be　exposed　to　this　inconvenience？〃

〃Charge　be　damned！〃　Mr。　Horser　answered。　　〃The　police　don't　want
particulars　from　me。　　When　I　say　do　a　thing　they　do　it。　　They　know
that　if　they　declined　it　would　be　their　last　day　on　the　force。〃

Mr。　Sabin　filled　his　glass　and　leaned　back　in　his　chair。

〃This；〃　he　remarked；　〃is　interesting。　　I　am　always　glad　to　have　the
opportunity　of　gaining　an　insight　into　the　customs　of　different
countries。　　I　had　an　idea　that　America　was　a　country　remarkable　for
the　amount　of　liberty　enjoyed　by　its　inhabitants。　　Your　proposed
course　of　action　seems　scarcely　in　keeping　with　this。〃

〃What　are　you　going　to　do？　　Come；　I've　got　to　have　an　answer。〃

〃I　don't　quite　understand；〃　Mr。　Sabin　remarked；　with　a　puzzled　look；
〃what　your　official　position　is　in　connection　with　the　police。〃

Mr。　Horser's　face　was　a　very　ugly　sight。　　〃Oh；　curse　my　official
position；〃　he　exclaimed　thickly。　　〃If　you　want　proof　of　what　I　say
you　shall　have　it　in　less　than　five　minutes。　　Skinner；　be　off　and
fetch　a　couple　of　constables。〃

〃I　really　must　protest；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃Mr。　Skinner　is　my　guest；
and　I　will　not　have　him　treated　in　this　fashion；　just　as　the
terrapin　is　coming　in；　too。　　Sit　down；　Mr。　Skinner；　sit　down。　　I
will　settle　this　matter　with　you　in　my　room；　Mr。　Horser；　after　I
have　dined。　　I　will　not　even　discuss　it　before。〃

Mr。　Horser　opened　his　mouth　twice；　and　closed　it　again。　　He　knew
that　his　opponent　was　simply　playing　to　gain　time；　but；　after　all；
he　held　the　trump　card。　　He　could　afford　to　wait。　　He　turned　to　a
waiter　and　ordered　a　cigar。　　Mr。　Sabin　and　Mr。　Skinner　continued
their　dinner。

Conversation　was　a　little　difficult；　though　Mr。　Sabin　showed　no
signs　of　an　impaired　appetite。　　Skinner　was　white　with　fear；　and
glanced　every　now　and　then　nervously　at　his　chief。　　Mr。　Horser
smoked　without　ceasing；　and　maintained　an　ominous　silence。　　Mr。
Sabin　at　last；　with　a　sigh；　rose；　and　lighting　a　cigarette；　took
his　stick　from　the　waiter　and　prepared　to　leave。

〃I　fear；　Mr。　Horser；〃　he　remarked；　〃that　your　presence　has　scarcely
contributed　to　the　cheerfulness　of　our　repast。　　Mr。　Skinner；　am　I
to　be　favoured　with　your　company　also　upstairs？〃

Horser　clutched　that　gentleman's　arm　and　whispered　a　few　words　in
his　ear。

〃Mr。　Skinner；〃　he　said；　〃will　join　us　presently。　　What　is　your
number？〃

〃336；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃You　will　excuse　my　somewhat　slow
progress。〃

They　crossed　the　hall　and　entered　the　elevator。　　Mr。　Horser's　face
began　to　clear。　　In　a　moment　or　two　they　would　be　in　Mr。　Sabin's
sitting…room…alone。　　He　regarded　with　satisfaction　the　other's　slim；
delicate　figure　and　the　limp　with　which　he　moved。　　He　felt　that　the
danger　was　already　over。


CHAPTER　V

BUT；　after　all；　things　did　not　exactly　turn　out　as　Mr。　Horser　had
imagined。　　The　sight　of　the　empty　room　and　the　closed　door　were
satisfactory　enough；　and　he　did　not　hesitate　for　a　moment。

〃Look　here；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃you　and　I　are　going　to　settle　this
matter　quick。　　Whatever　you　paid　Skinner　you　can　have　back　again。
But　I'm　going　to　have　that　report。〃

He　took　a　quick　step　forward　with　uplifted　hand　…　and　looked　into
the　shining　muzzle　of　a　tiny　revolver。　　Behind　it　Mr。　Sabin's　face；
no　longer　pleasant　and　courteous；　had　taken　to　itself　some　very
grim　lines。

〃I　am　a　weak　man；　Mr。　Horser；　but　I　am　never　without　the　means　of
self…defence；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said　in　a　still；　cold　tone。　　〃Be　so　good
as　to　sit　down　in　that　easy…chair。〃

Mr。　Horser　hesitated。　　For　one　moment　he　stood　as　though　about　to
carry　out　his　first　intention。　　He　stood　glaring　at　his　opponent；
his　face　contracted　into　a　snarl；　his　whole　appearance　hideous；
almost　bestial。　　Mr。　Sabin　smiled　upon　him　contemptuously　…　the
maddening；　compelling　smile　of　the　born　aristocrat。

〃Sit　down！〃

Mr。　Horser　sat　down；　whereupon　Mr。　Sabin　followed　suit。

〃Now　what　have　you　to　say　to　me？〃　　Mr。　Sabin　asked　quietly。

〃I　want　that　report；〃　was　the　dogged　answer。

〃You　will　not　have　it；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃You　can　take　that
for　granted。　　You　shall　not　take　it　from　me　by　force；　and　I　will
see　that　you　do　not　charm　it　out　of　my　pocket　by　other　means。　　The
information　which　it　contains　is　of　the　utmost　possible　importance
to　me。　　I　have　bought　it　and　paid　for　it；　and　I　shall　use　it。〃

Mr。　Horser　moistened　his　dry　lips。

〃I　will　give　you；〃　he　said；　〃twenty　thousand　dollars　for　its　return。〃

Mr。　Sabin　laughed　softly。

〃You　bid　high；〃　he　said。　　〃I　begin　to　suspect　that　our　friends　on
the　other　side　of　the　water　have　been　more　than　ordinarily　kind　to
you。〃

〃I　will　give　you　…　forty　thousand　dollars。〃

Mr。　Sabin　raised　his　eyebrows。

〃So　much？　　After　all；　that　sounds　more　like　fear　than　anything。
You　cannot　hope　to　make　a　profitable　deal　out　of　that。　　Dear　me！
It　seems　only　a　few　minutes　ago　that　I　heard　your　interesting　friend；
Mr。　Skinner；　shake　with　laughter　at　the　mention　of　such　a　thing　as
a　secret　society。〃

〃Skinner　is　a　blasted　fool；〃　Horser　exclaimed　fiercely。　　〃Listen
here；　Mr。　Sabin。　　You　can　read　that　report　if　you　must；　but；　as
I'm　a　living　man　you'll　not　stir　from　New　York　if　you　do。　　I'll
make　your　life　a　hell　for　you。　　Don't　you　understand　that　no　one
but　a　born　fool　would　dare　to　quarrel　with　me　in　this　city？　　I
hold　the　prison　keys；　the　police　are　mine。　　I　shall　make　my　own
charge；　whatever　I　choose；　and　they　shall　prove　it　for　me。〃

Mr。　Sabin　shook　his　head。

〃This　sounds　very　shocking；〃　he　remarked。　　〃I　had　no　idea　that　the
largest　city　of　the　most　enlightened　country　in　the　world　was　in
such　a　sorry　plight。〃

〃Oh；　curse　your　sarcasm；〃　Mr。　Horser　said。　　〃I'm　talking　facts；　and
you've　got　to　know　them。　　Will　you　give　up　that　report？　　You　can
find　out　all　there　is　in　it　for　yourself。　　But　I'm　going　to　give　it
you　straight。　　If　I　don't　have　that　report　back　unread；　you'll　never
leave　New　York。〃

Mr。　Sabin　was　genuinely　amused。

〃My　good　fellow；〃　he　said；　〃you　have　made　yourself　a　notorious
person　in　this　country　by　dint　of　incessant　bullying　and　bribing
and　corruption　of　every　sort。　　You　may　possess　all　the　powers　you
claim。　　Your　only　mistake　seems　to　be　that　you　are　too　thick…headed
to　know　when　you　are　overmatched。　　I　have　been　a　diplomatist　all　my
life；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　rising　slowly　to　his　feet；　and　with　a　sudden
intent　look　upon　his　face；　〃and　if　I　were　to　be　outwitted　by　such　a
novice　as　you　I　should　deserve　to　end　my　days　…　in　New　York。〃

Mr。　Horser　rose　also　to　his　feet。　　A　smile　of　triumph　was　on　his
lips。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃we　…　　Come　in！　　Come　in！〃　　The　door　was　thrown
open。　　Skinner　and　two　policemen　entered。　　Mr。　Sabin　leaned　towards
the　wall；　and　in　a　second　the　room　was　plunged　in　darkness。

〃Turn　on　the　lights！〃　Skinner　shouted。　　〃Seize　him！　　He's　in　that
corner。　　Use　your　clubs！〃　Horser　bawled。　　〃Stand　by　the　door　one
of　you。　　Damnation；　where　is　that　switch？〃

He　found　it　with　a　shout　of　triumph。　　Lights　flared　out　in　the　room。
They　stared　around　into　every　corner。　　Mr。　Sabin　was　not　there。
Then　Horser　saw　the　door　leading　into　the　bed…chamber；　and　flung
himself　against　it　with　a　hoarse　cry　of　rage。

〃Break　it　open！〃　he　cried　to　the　policemen。

They　hammered　upon　it　with　their　clubs。　　Mr。　Sabin's　quiet　voice
came　to　them　from　the　other　side。

〃Pray　do　not　disturb　me；　gentlemen；〃　he　said。　　〃I