the titan-第29部分

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ew　that　she　was　treading　on　dangerous　ground；　and　mentally　she　recoiled　from　the　consequences　which　might　follow。　　He　might　leave　her　if　she　fought　him　too　bitterly。　　He　might　treat　her　as　he　had　treated　his　first　wife；　Lillian。

She　studied　her　liege　lord　curiously　these　days；　wondering　if　it　were　true　that　he　had　deserted　her　already；　as　he　had　deserted　his　first　wife　thirteen　years　before；　wondering　if　he　could　really　take　up　with　a　girl　as　common　as　Antoinette　Nowakwondering；　wondering；　wonderinghalf　afraid　and　yet　courageous。　　What　could　be　done　with　him？　If　only　he　still　loved　her　all　would　be　well　yetbut　oh！

The　detective　agency　to　which　she　finally　applied；　after　weeks　of　soul…racking　suspense；　was　one　of　those　disturbingly　human　implements　which　many　are　not　opposed　to　using　on　occasion；　when　it　is　the　only　means　of　solving　a　troublous　problem　of　wounded　feelings　or　jeopardized　interests。　　Aileen；　being　obviously　rich；　was　forthwith　shamefully　overcharged；　but　the　services　agreed　upon　were　well　performed。　　To　her　amazement；　chagrin；　and　distress；　after　a　few　weeks　of　observation　Cowperwood　was　reported　to　have　affairs　not　only　with　Antoinette　Nowak；　whom　she　did　suspect；　but　also　with　Mrs。　Sohlberg。　　And　these　two　affairs　at　one　and　the　same　time。　　For　the　moment　it　left　Aileen　actually　stunned　and　breathless。

The　significance　of　Rita　Sohlberg　to　her　in　this　hour　was　greater　than　that　of　any　woman　before　or　after。　　Of　all　living　things；　women　dread　women　most　of　all；　and　of　all　women　the　clever　and　beautiful。　　Rita　Sohlberg　had　been　growing　on　Aileen　as　a　personage；　for　she　had　obviously　been　prospering　during　this　past　year；　and　her　beauty　had　been　amazingly　enhanced　thereby。　　Once　Aileen　had　encountered　Rita　in　a　light　trap　on　the　Avenue；　very　handsome　and　very　new；　and　she　had　commented　on　it　to　Cowperwood；　whose　reply　had　been：　〃Her　father　must　be　making　some　money。　　Sohlberg　could　never　earn　it　for　her。〃

Aileen　sympathized　with　Harold　because　of　his　temperament；　but　she　knew　that　what　Cowperwood　said　was　true。

Another　time；　at　a　box…party　at　the　theater；　she　had　noted　the　rich　elaborateness　of　Mrs。　Sohlberg's　dainty　frock；　the　endless　pleatings　of　pale　silk；　the　startling　charm　of　the　needlework　and　the　ribbonscountless；　rosetted；　smallthat　meant　hard　work　on　the　part　of　some　one。

〃How　lovely　this　is；〃　she　had　commented。

〃Yes；〃　Rita　had　replied；　airily；　〃I　thought；　don't　you　know；　my　dressmaker　would　never　get　done　working　on　it。〃

It　had　cost；　all　told；　two　hundred　and　twenty　dollars；　and　Cowperwood　had　gladly　paid　the　bill。

Aileen　went　home　at　the　time　thinking　of　Rita's　taste　and　of　how　well　she　had　harmonized　her　materials　to　her　personality。　　She　was　truly　charming。

Now；　however；　when　it　appeared　that　the　same　charm　that　had　appealed　to　her　had　appealed　to　Cowperwood；　she　conceived　an　angry；　animal　opposition　to　it　all。　　Rita　Sohlberg！　Ha！　A　lot　of　satisfaction　she'd　get　knowing　as　she　would　soon；　that　Cowperwood　was　sharing　his　affection　for　her　with　Antoinette　Nowaka　mere　stenographer。　And　a　lot　of　satisfaction　Antoinette　would　getthe　cheap　upstart　when　she　learned；　as　she　would；　that　Cowperwood　loved　her　so　lightly　that　he　would　take　an　apartment　for　Rita　Sohlberg　and　let　a　cheap　hotel　or　an　assignation…house　do　for　her。

But　in　spite　of　this　savage　exultation　her　thoughts　kept　coming　back　to　herself；　to　her　own　predicament；　to　torture　and　destroy　her。　　Cowperwood；　the　liar！　Cowperwood；　the　pretender！　Cowperwood；　the　sneak！　At　one　moment　she　conceived　a　kind　of　horror　of　the　man　because　of　all　his　protestations　to　her；　at　the　next　a　ragebitter；　swelling；　at　the　next　a　pathetic　realization　of　her　own　altered　position。　　　Say　what　one　will；　to　take　the　love　of　a　man　like　Cowperwood　away　from　a　woman　like　Aileen　was　to　leave　her　high　and　dry　on　land；　as　a　fish　out　of　its　native　element；　to　take　all　the　wind　out　of　her　sailsalmost　to　kill　her。　　Whatever　position　she　had　once　thought　to　hold　through　him；　was　now　jeopardized。　　Whatever　joy　or　glory　she　had　had　in　being　Mrs。　Frank　Algernon　Cowperwood；　it　was　now　tarnished。　　She　sat　in　her　room；　this　same　day　after　the　detectives　had　given　their　report；　a　tired　look　in　her　eyes；　the　first　set　lines　her　pretty　mouth　had　ever　known　showing　about　it；　her　past　and　her　future　whirling　painfully　and　nebulously　in　her　brain。　　Suddenly　she　got　up；　and；　seeing　Cowperwood's　picture　on　her　dresser；　his　still　impressive　eyes　contemplating　her；　she　seized　it　and　threw　it　on　the　floor；　stamping　on　his　handsome　face　with　her　pretty　foot；　and　raging　at　him　in　her　heart。　　The　dog！　The　brute！　Her　brain　was　full　of　the　thought　of　Rita's　white　arms　about　him；　of　his　lips　to　hers。　　The　spectacle　of　Rita's　fluffy　gowns；　her　enticing　costumes；　was　in　her　eyes。　　Rita　should　not　have　him；　she　should　not　have　anything　connected　with　him；　nor；　for　that　matter；　Antoinette　Nowak；　eitherthe　wretched　upstart；　the　hireling。　　To　think　he　should　stoop　to　an　office　stenographer！　Once　on　that　thought；　she　decided　that　he　should　not　be　allowed　to　have　a　woman　as　an　assistant　any　more。　　He　owed　it　to　her　to　love　her　after　all　she　had　done　for　him；　the　coward；　and　to　let　other　women　alone。　　Her　brain　whirled　with　strange　thoughts。　　She　was　really　not　sane　in　her　present　state。　　She　was　so　wrought　up　by　her　prospective　loss　that　she　could　only　think　of　rash；　impossible；　destructive　things　to　do。　　She　dressed　swiftly；　feverishly；　and；　calling　a　closed　carriage　from　the　coach…house；　ordered　herself　to　be　driven　to　the　New　Arts　Building。　　She　would　show　this　rosy　cat　of　a　woman；　this　smiling　piece　of　impertinence；　this　she…devil；　whether　she　would　lure　Cowperwood　away。　　She　meditated　as　she　rode。　She　would　not　sit　back　and　be　robbed　as　Mrs。　Cowperwood　had　been　by　her。　　Never！　He　could　not　treat　her　that　way。　　She　would　die　first！　She　would　kill　Rita　Sohlberg　and　Antoinette　Nowak　and　Cowperwood　and　herself　first。　　She　would　prefer　to　die　that　way　rather　than　lose　his　love。　　Oh　yes；　a　thousand　times！　Fortunately；　Rita　Sohlberg　was　not　at　the　New　Arts　Building；　or　Sohlberg；　either。　They　had　gone　to　a　reception。　　Nor　was　she　at　the　apartment　on　the　North　Side；　where；　under　the　name　of　Jacobs；　as　Aileen　had　been　informed　by　the　detectives；　she　and　Cowperwood　kept　occasional　tryst。　　Aileen　hesitated　for　a　moment；　feeling　it　useless　to　wait；　then　she　ordered　the　coachman　to　drive　to　her　husband's　office。　It　was　now　nearly　five　o'clock。　　Antoinette　and　Cowperwood　had　both　gone；　but　she　did　not　know　it。　　She　changed　her　mind；　however；　before　she　reached　the　officefor　it　was　Rita　Sohlberg　she　wished　to　reach　firstand　ordered　her　coachman　to　drive　back　to　the　Sohlberg　studio。　　But　still　they　had　not　returned。　　In　a　kind　of　aimless　rage　she　went　home；　wondering　how　she　should　reach　Rita　Sohlberg　first　and　alone。　　Then；　to　her　savage　delight；　the　game　walked　into　her　bag。　　The　Sohlbergs；　returning　home　at　six　o'clock　from　some　reception　farther　out　Michigan　Avenue；　had　stopped；　at　the　wish　of　Harold；　merely　to　pass　the　time　of　day　with　Mrs。　Cowperwood。　　Rita　was　exquisite　in　a　pale…blue　and　lavender　concoction；　with　silver　braid　worked　in　here　and　there。　　　Her　gloves　and　shoes　were　pungent　bits　of　romance；　her　hat　a　dream　of　graceful　lines。　　At　the　sight　of　her；　Aileen；　who　was　still　in　the　hall　and　had　opened　the　door　herself；　fairly　burned　to　seize　her　by　the　throat　and　strike　her；　but　she　restrained　herself　sufficiently　to　say；　〃Come　in。〃　She　still　had　sense　enough　and　self…possession　enough　to　conceal　her　wrath　and　to　close　the　door。　　Beside　his　wife　Harold　was　standing；　offensively　smug　and　inefficient　in　the　fashionable　frock…coat　and　silk　hat　of　the　time；　a　restraining　influence　as　yet。　　He　was　bowing　and　smiling：

〃Oh。〃　This　sound　was　neither　an　〃oh〃　nor　an　〃ah；〃　but　a　kind　of　Danish　inflected　〃awe；〃　which　was　usually　not　unpleasing　to　hear。　〃How　are　you；　once　more；　Meeses　Cowperwood？　It　eez　sudge　a　pleasure　to　see　you　againawe。〃

〃Won't　you　two　just　go　in　the　reception…room　a　moment；〃　said　Aileen；　almost　hoarsely。　　〃I'll　be　right　in。　　I　want　to　get　something。〃　Then；　as　an　afterthought；　she　called　very　sweetly：　〃Oh；　Mrs。　Sohlberg；　won't　you　come　up　to　my　room　for　a　moment？　I　have　something　I　want　to　show　you。

Rita　responded　promptly。　　She　always　felt　it　incumbent　upon　her　to　be　very　nice　to　Aileen。

〃We　have　only　a　moment　to　stay；〃　she　replied；　archly　and　sweetly；　and　coming　out　in　the　hall；　〃but　I'll　come　up。〃

Aileen　stayed　to　see　her　go　first；　then　followed　up…stairs　swiftly；　surely；　entered　after　Rita；　and　closed　the　door。　　With　a　courage　and　rage　born　of　a　purely　animal　despair；　she　turned　and　locked　it；　then　she　wheeled　swiftly；　her　eyes　lit　with　a　savage　fire；　her　cheeks　pale；　but　later　aflame；　her　hands；　her　fingers　working　in　a　strange；　unconscious　way。

〃So；〃　she　said；　looking　at　Rita；　and　coming　toward　her　quickly　and　angrily；　〃you'll　steal　my　husband；　will　you？　You'll　live　in　a　secret　apartment；　will　you？　You'll　come　here　smiling　and　lying　to　me；　will　you？　You　beast！　You　cat！　You　prostitute！　I'll　show　you　now！　You　tow…headed　beast！　I　know　you　now　for　what　you　are！　I'll　teach　you　once　for　all！　Take　that；　and　that；　and　that！〃

Suiting　action　to　word；　Aileen　had　descended　upon　her　whirlwind；　animal　fashion；　striking；　scratching；　choking；　tearing　her　visitor's　hat　from　her　head；　ripping　the　laces　from　her　neck；　beating　her　in　the　face；　and　clutching　violently　at　her　hair　and　throat　to　choke　and　mar　her　beauty　if　she　could。　　For　the　moment　she　was　really　crazy　with　rage。

By　the　suddenness　of　this　onslaught　Rita　Sohlberg　was　taken　back　completely。　　It　all　came　so　swiftly；　so　terribly；　she　scarcely　realized　what　was　happening　before　the　storm　was　upon　her。　　There　was　no　time　for　arguments；　pleas；　anything。　　Terrified；　shamed；　nonplussed；　she　went　down　quite　limply　under　this　almost　lightning　attack。　　When　Aileen　began　to　strike　her　she　attempted　in　vain　to　defend　herself；　uttering　at　the　same　time　piercing　screams　which　could　be　heard　throughout　the　house。　　She　screamed　shrilly；　strangely；　like　a　wild　dying　animal。　　On　the　instant　all　her　fine；　civilized　poise　had　deserted　her。　　From　the　sweetness　and　delicacy　of　the　reception　atmospherethe　polite　cooings；　posturings；　and　mo