dh.theglasskey-第25部分

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　horribly　up　to　date　as　ours　has　bee。〃
　He　made　a　little　bow　to　acknowledge　her　approval。　〃I　think　it's　rather　nice　and；　as　you　can　see；　there's　no　one　here　to　eavesdrop　on　us　unless　they're　stowed　away　in　a　closet；　which　isn't　likely。〃
　She　drew　herself　up　and　looked　straight　into　his　eyes。　〃I　did　not　think　of　that。　We　may　not　agree；　may　even　beeor　now　beenemies；　but　I　know　you're　a　gentleman；　or　I　shouldn't　be　here。〃
　He　asked　in　an　amused　tone：　〃You　mean　I've　learned　not　to　wear　tan　shoes　with　blue　suits？　Things　like　that？〃
　〃I　don't　mean　things　like　that。〃
　He　smiled。　〃Then　you're　wrong。　I'm　a　gambler　and　a　politician's　hanger…on。〃
　〃I'm　not　wrong。〃　A　pleading　expression　came　into　her　eyes。　〃Please　don't　let　us　quarrel；　at　least　not　until　we　must。〃
　〃I'm　sorry。〃　His　smile　was　apologetic　now。　〃Won't　you　sit　down？〃
　She　sat　down。　He　sat　in　another　wide　red　chair　facing　her。　He　said：　〃Now　you　were　going　to　tell　me　what　happened　at　your　house　the　night　your　brother　was　killed。〃
　〃Yes；〃　issuing　from　her　mouth；　was　barely　audible。　Her　face　became　pink　and　she　transferred　her　gaze　to　the　floor。　When　she　raised　her　eyes　again　they　were　shy。　Embarrassment　clogged　her　voice：　〃I　wanted　you　to　know。　You　are　Paul's　friend　and　thatthat　may　make　you　my　enemy；　but　I　think　when　you　know　what　happenedwhen　you　know　the　truth　you'll　not　beat　least　not　be　my　enemy。　I　don't　know。　Perhaps　you'll　But　you　ought　to　know。　Then　you　can　decide。　And　he　hasn't　told　you。〃　She　looked　intently　at　him　so　that　shyness　went　out　of　her　eyes。　〃Has　he？〃
　〃I　don't　know　what　happened　at　your　house　that　night；〃　he　said。　〃He　didn't　tell　me。〃
　She　leaned　towards　him　quickly　to　ask：　〃Doesn't　that　show　it's　something　he　wants　to　conceal；　something　he　has　to　conceal？〃
　He　moved　his　shoulders。　〃Suppose　it　does？〃　His　voice　was　unexcited；　uneager。
　She　frowned。　〃But　you　must　see　Never　mind　that　now。　I'll　tell　you　what　happened　and　you　can　see　it　for　yourself。〃　She　continued　to　lean　far　forward；　staring　at　his　face　with　intent　brown　eyes。　〃He　came　to　dinner；　the　first　time　we'd　had　him　to　dinner。〃
　〃I　knew　that；〃　Ned　Beaumont　said；　〃and　your　brother　wasn't　there。〃
　〃Taylor　wasn't　at　the　dinner…table；〃　she　corrected　him　earnestly；　〃but　he　was　up　in　his　room。　Only　Father；　Paul；　and　I　were　at　the　table。　Taylor　was　going　out　to　dinner。　Hehe　wouldn't　eat　with　Paul　because　of　the　trouble　they'd　had　about　Opal。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　nodded　attentively　without　warmth。
　〃After　dinner　Paul　and　I　were　alone　for　a　little　while　inin　the　room　where　you　and　I　talked　last　night　and　he　suddenly　put　his　arms　around　me　and　kissed　me。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　laughed；　not　loudly；　but　with　abrupt　irrepressible　merriment。
　Janet　Henry　looked　at　him　in　surprise。
　He　modified　his　laugh　to　a　smile　and　said：　〃I'm　sorry。　Go　on。　I'll　tell　you　later　why　I　laughed。〃　But　when　she　would　have　gone　on　he　said：　〃Wait。　Did　he　say　anything　when　he　kissed　you？〃
　〃No。　That　is；　he　may　have；　but　nothing　I　understood。〃　Perplexity　was　deepening　in　her　face。　〃Why？〃
　Ned　Beaumont　laughed　again。　〃He　ought　to've　said　something　about　his　pound　of　flesh。　It　was　probably　my　fault。　I　had　been　trying　to　persuade　him　not　to　support　your　father　in　the　election；　had　told　him　that　your　father　was　using　you　as　bait　to　catch　his　support；　and　had　advised　him　that　if　he　was　willing　to　be　bought　that　way　he　ought　to　be　sure　and　collect　his　pound　of　flesh　ahead　of　the　election　or　he'd　never　get　it。〃
　She　opened　her　eyes　wide　and　there　was　less　perplexity　in　them。
　He　said：　〃That　was　that　afternoon；　though　I　didn't　think　I'd　had　much　luck　putting　it　over。〃　He　wrinkled　his　forehead。　〃What　did　you　do　to　him？　He　was　meaning　to　marry　you　and　was　chock…full　of　respect　and　what　not　for　you　and　you　must　have　rubbed　him　pretty　thoroughly　the　wrong　way　to　make　him　jump　at　you　like　that。〃
　〃I　didn't　do　anything　to　him；〃　she　replied　slowly；　〃though　it　had　been　a　difficult　evening。　None　of　us　was　fortable。　I　thoughtI　tried　not　to　show　thatwellthat　I　resented　having　to　entertain　him。　He　wasn't　at　ease；　I　know；　and　I　suppose　thathis　embarrassmentand　perhaps　a　suspicion　that　you　had　been　right　made　him〃　She　finished　the　sentence　with　a　brief　quick　outward　motion　of　both　hands。
　Ned　Beaumont　nodded。　〃What　happened　then？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　was　furious；　of　course；　and　left　him。〃
　〃Didn't　you　say　anything　to　him？〃　Ned　Beaumont's　eyes　twinkled　with　imperfectly　hidden　mirth。
　〃No；　and　he　didn't　say　anything　I　could　hear。　I　went　upstairs　and　met　Father　ing　down。　While　I　was　telling　him　what　had　happened　I　was　as　angry　with　Father　as　with　Paul；　because　it　was　Father's　fault　that　Paul　was　therewe　heard　Paul　going　out　the　front　door。　And　then　Taylor　came　down　from　his　room。〃　Her　face　became　white　and　tense；　her　voice　husky　with　emotion。　〃He　had　heard　me　talking　to　Father　and　he　asked　me　what　had　happened；　but　I　left　him　there　with　Father　and　went　on　to　my　room；　too　angry　to　talk　any　more　about　it。　And　I　didn't　see　either　of　them　again　until　Father　came　to　my　room　and　told　me　Taylor　had　had　been　killed。〃　She　stopped　talking　and　looked　white…faced　at　Ned　Beaumont；　twisting　her　fingers　together；　awaiting　his　response　to　her　story。
　His　response　was　a　cool　question：　〃Well；　what　of　it？〃
　〃What　of　it？〃　she　repeated　in　amazement。　〃Don't　you　see？　How　could　I　help　knowing　then　that　Taylor　had　run　out　after　Paul　and　had　caught　up　with　him　and　had　been　killed　by　him？　He　was　furious　and〃　Her　face　brightened。　〃You　know　his　hat　wasn't　found。　He　was　too　much　in　a　hurrytoo　angryto　stop　for　his　hat。　He〃
　Ned　Beaumont　shook　his　head　slowly　from　side　to　side　and　interrupted　her。　His　voice　held　nothing　but　certainty。　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃That　won't　do。　Paul　wouldn't've　had　to　kill　Taylor　and　he　wouldn't've　done　it。　He　could　have　managed　him　with　one　hand　and　he　doesn't　lose　his　head　in　a　fight。　I　know　that。　I've　seen　Paul　fight　and　I've　fought　with　him。　That　won't　do。〃　He　drew　eyelids　closer　together　around　eyes　that　had　bee　stony。　〃But　suppose　he　did？　I　mean　accidentally；　though　I　can't　believe　even　that。　But　could　you　make　anything　out　of　it　except　self…defense？〃
　She　raised　her　head　scornfully。　〃If　it　were　self…defense；　why　should　he　hide　it？〃
　Ned　Beaumont　seemed　unimpressed。　〃He　wants　to　marry　von；〃　he　explained。　〃It　wouldn't　help　him　much　to　admit　he'd　killed　your　brother　even〃　He　chuckled。　〃I'm　getting　as　bad　as　you　are。　Paul　didn't　kill　him；　Miss　Henry。〃
　Her　eyes　were　stony　as　his　had　been。　She　looked　at　him　and　did　not　speak。
　His　expression　became　thoughtful。　He　asked：　〃You've　only〃he　wriggled　the　fingers　of　one　hand〃the　two　and　two　you　think　you've　put　together　to　tell　you　that　your　brother　ran　out　after　Paul　that　night？〃
　〃That　is　enough；〃　she　insisted。　〃He　did。　He　must've。　Otherwise　why；　otherwise　what　would　he　have　been　doing　down　there　in　China　Street　bare…headed？〃
　〃Your　father　didn't　see　him　go　out？〃
　〃No。　He　didn't　know　it　either　until　we　heard〃
　He　interrupted　her。　〃Does　he　agree　with　you？〃
　〃He　must；〃　she　cried。　〃It's　unmistakable。　He　must；　no　matter　what　he　says；　just　as　you　must。〃　Tears　were　in　her　eyes　now。　〃You　can't　expect　me　to　believe　that　you　don't；　Mr。　Beaumont。　I　don't　know　what　you　knew　before。　You　found　Taylor　dead。　I　don't　know　what　else　you　found；　but　now　you　must　know　the　truth。〃
　Ned　Beaumont's　hands　began　to　tremble。　He　slumped　farther　down　in　his　chair　so　he　could　thrust　his　hands　into　his　trousers…pockets。　His　face　was　tranquil　except　for　hard　lines　of　strain　around　his　mouth。　He　said：　〃I　found　him　dead。　There　was　nobody　else　there。　I　didn't　find　anything　else。〃
　〃You　have　now；〃　she　said。
　His　mouth　twitched　under　his　dark　mustache。　His　eyes　became　hot　with　anger。　He　spoke　in　a　low；　harsh；　deliberately　bitter　voice：　〃I　know　whoever　killed　your　brother　did　the　world　a　favor。〃
　She　shrank　back　in　her　chair　with　a　hand　thrown　up　to　her　throat；　at　first；　but　almost　immediately　the　horror　went　out　of　her　face　and　she　sat　upright　and　looked　passionately　at　him。　She　said　softly：　〃I　know。　You're　Paul's　friend。　It　hurts。〃
　He　lowered　his　head　a　little　and　muttered：　〃It　was　a　rotten　thing　to　say。　It　was　silly。〃　He　smiled　wryly。　〃You　see　I　was　right　about　not　being　a　gentleman。〃　He　stopped　smiling　and　shame　went　out　of　his　eyes　leaving　them　clear　and　steady。　He　said　in　a　quiet　voice：　〃You're　right　about　my　being　Paul's　friend。　I'm　that　no　matter　who　he　killed。〃
　After　a　long　moment　of　earnest　staring　at　him　she　spoke　in　a　small　flat　voice：　〃Then　this　is　useless？　I　thought　if　I　could　show　you　the　truth〃　She　broke　off　with　a　hopeless　gesture　in　which　hands；　shoulders；　and　head　took　part。
　He　moved　his　head　slowly　from　side　to　side。
　She　sighed　and　stood　up　holding　out　her　hand。　〃I'm　sorry　and　disappointed；　but　we　needn't　be　enemies；　need　we？〃
　He　rose　facing　her；　but　did　not　take　her　hand。　He　said：　〃The　part　of　you　that's　tricked　Paul　and　is　trying　to　trick　him　is　my　enemy。〃
　She　held　her　hand　there　while　asking：　〃And　the　other　part　of　me；　the　part　that　hasn't　anything　to　do　with　that？〃
　He　took　her　hand　and　bowed　over　it。
　
　
　4
　
　When　Janet　Henry　had　gone　Ned　Beaumont　went　to　his　telephone；　called　a　number；　and　said：　〃Hello；　this　is　Mr。　Beaumont。　Has　Mr。　Madvig　e　in　yet？　。　。　。　When　he　es　will　you　tell　him　I　called　and　will　be　in　to　see　him？　。　。　。　Yes；　thanks。〃
　He　looked　at　his　wrist…watch。　It　was　a　little　after　one　o'clock。　He　lit　a　cigar　and　sat　down　at　a　window；　smoking　and　staring　at　the　grey　church　across　the　street。　Out…blown　cigar…smoke　recoiled　from　the　window…panes　in　grey　clouds　over　his　head。　His　teeth　crushed　the　end　of　his　cigar。　He　sat　there　for　ten　minutes；　until　his　telephone…bell　rang。
　He　went　to　the　telephone。　〃Hello。　。　。　。　Yes；　Harry。　。　。　。　Sure。　Where　are　you？　。　。　。　I'm　ing　downtown。　Wait　there　for　me。　。　。　Half　an　hour。　。　。　。　Right。〃
　He　threw　his　cigar　into　the　fireplace；　put　on　his　hat　and　overcoat；　and　went　out。　I…he　walked　six　blocks　to　a　restaurant；　ate　a　salad　and　rolls；　drank　a　cup　of　coffee；　walked　four　blocks　to　a　small　hotel　named　Majestic；　and　rode　to　the　fourth　floor　in　an　elevator　operated　by　an　undersized　youth　who　called　him　Ned　and　asked　what　he　thought　of　the　third　race。
　Ned　Beaumont　thought　and　said：　〃Lord　Byron　ought　to　do　it。〃