pgw.piccadillyjim-第13部分

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train　of　thought。　His　heart　began　to　race。　Hypnotic　influences　were　at　work　on　him。
　Why　not？　Could　there　be　a　simpler　solution　of　the　whole　trouble？
　Inside　the　office　he　would　see　a　man　with　whiskers　buying　a　ticket　for　New　York。　The　simplicity　of　the　process　fascinated　him。　All　you　had　to　do　was　to　walk　in；　bend　over　the　counter　while　the　clerk　behind　it　made　dabs　with　a　pencil　at　the　illustrated　plate　of　the　ship's　interior　organs；　and　hand　over　your　money。　A　child　could　do　it；　if　in　funds。　At　this　thought　his　hand　strayed　to　his　trouser…pocket。　A　musical　crackling　of　bank…notes　proceeded　from　the　depths。　His　quarterly　allowance　had　been　paid　to　him　only　a　short　while　before；　and；　though　a　willing　spender；　he　still　retained　a　goodly　portion　of　it。　He　rustled　the　notes　again。　There　was　enough　in　that　pocket　to　buy　three　tickets　to　New　York。　Should　he？　。　。　。　Or；　on　the　other　handalways　look　on　both　sides　of　the　question　should　he　not？
　It　would　certainly　seem　to　be　the　best　thing　for　all　parties　if　he　did　follow　the　impulse。　By　remaining　in　London　he　was　injuring　everybody；　himself　included。　。　。　。　Well；　there　was　no　harm　in　making　enquiries。　Probably　the　boat　was　full　up　anyway。　。　。　。　He　walked　into　the　office。
　〃Have　you　anything　left　on　the　Atlantic　this　trip？〃
　The　clerk　behind　the　counter　was　quite　the　wrong　sort　of　person　for　Jimmy　to　have　had　dealings　with　in　his　present　mood。　What　Jimmy　needed　was　a　grave；　sensible　man　who　would　have　laid　a　hand　on　his　shoulder　and　said　〃Do　nothing　rash；　my　boy！〃　The　clerk　fell　short　of　this　ideal　in　practically　every　particular。　He　was　about　twenty…two；　and　he　seemed　perfectly　enthusiastic　about　the　idea　of　Jimmy　going　to　America。　He　beamed　at　Jimmy。
　〃Plenty　of　room；〃　he　said。　〃Very　few　people　crossing。　Give　you　excellent　acmodation。〃
　〃When　does　the　boat　sail？〃
　〃Eight　to…morrow　morning　from　Liverpool。　Boat…train　leaves　Paddington　six　to…night。〃
　Prudence　came　at　the　eleventh　hour　to　check　Jimmy。　This　was　not　a　matter；　he　perceived；　to　be　decided　recklessly；　on　the　spur　of　a　sudden　impulse。　Above　all；　it　was　not　a　matter　to　be　decided　before　lunch。　An　empty　stomach　breeds　imagination。　He　had　ascertained　that　he　could　sail　on　the　Atlantic　if　he　wished　to。　The　sensible　thing　to　do　now　was　to　go　and　lunch　and　see　how　he　felt　about　it　after　that。　He　thanked　the　clerk；　and　started　to　walk　up　the　Haymarket；　feeling　hard…headed　and　practical；　yet　with　a　strong　premonition　that　he　was　going　to　make　a　fool　of　himself　just　the　same。
　It　was　half…way　up　the　Haymarket　that　he　first　became　conscious　of　the　girl　with　the　red　hair。
　Plunged　in　thought；　he　had　not　noticed　her　before。　And　yet　she　had　been　walking　a　few　paces　in　front　of　him　most　of　the　way。　She　had　e　out　of　Panton　Street；　walking　briskly；　as　one　going　to　keep　a　pleasant　appointment。　She　carried　herself　admirably；　with　a　jaunty　swing。
　Having　bee　conscious　of　this　girl；　Jimmy；　ever　a　warm　admirer　of　the　sex；　began　to　feel　a　certain　interest　stealing　over　him。　With　interest　came　speculation。　He　wondered　who　she　was。　He　wondered　where　she　had　bought　that　excellently　fitting　suit　of　tailor…made　grey。　He　admired　her　back；　and　wondered　whether　her　face；　if　seen；　would　prove　a　disappointment。　Thus　musing；　he　drew　near　to　the　top　of　the　Haymarket；　where　it　ceases　to　be　a　street　and　bees　a　whirlpool　of　rushing　traffic。　And　here　the　girl；　having　paused　and　looked　over　her　shoulder；　stepped　off　the　sidewalk。　As　she　did　so　a　taxi…cab　rounded　the　corner　quickly　from　the　direction　of　Coventry　Street。
　The　agreeable　surprise　of　finding　the　girl's　face　fully　as　attractive　as　her　back　had　stimulated　Jimmy；　so　that　he　was　keyed　up　for　the　exhibition　of　swift　presence…of…mind。　He　jumped　forward　and　caught　her　arm；　and　swung　her　to　one　side　as　the　cab　rattled　past；　its　driver　thinking　hard　thoughts　to　himself。　The　whole　episode　was　an　affair　of　seconds。
　〃Thank　you；〃　said　the　girl。
　She　rubbed　the　arm　which　he　had　seized　with　rather　a　rueful　expression。　She　was　a　little　white；　and　her　breath　came　quickly。
　〃I　hope　I　didn't　hurt　you；〃　said　Jimmy。
　〃You　did。　Very　much。　But　the　taxi　would　have　hurt　me　more。〃
　She　laughed。　She　looked　very　attractive　when　she　laughed。　She　had　a　small；　piquant；　vivacious　face。　Jimmy；　as　he　looked　at　it；　had　an　odd　feeling　that　he　had　seen　her　beforewhen　and　where　he　did　not　know。　That　mass　of　red…gold　hair　seemed　curiously　familiar。　Somewhere　in　the　hinterland　of　his　mind　there　lurked　a　memory；　but　he　could　not　bring　it　into　the　open。　As　for　the　girl；　if　she　had　ever　met　him　before；　she　showed　no　signs　of　recollecting　it。　Jimmy　decided　that；　if　he　had　seen　her；　it　must　have　been　in　his　reporter　days。　She　was　plainly　an　American；　and　he　occasionally　had　the　feeling　that　he　had　seen　every　one　in　America　when　he　had　worked　for　the　Chronicle。
　〃That's　right；〃　he　said　approvingly。　〃Always　look　on　the　bright　side。〃
　〃I　only　arrived　in　London　yesterday；〃　said　the　girl；　〃and　I　haven't　got　used　to　your　keeping…to…the…left　rules。　I　don't　suppose　I　shall　ever　get　back　to　New　York　alive。　Perhaps；　as　you　have　saved　my　life；　you　wouldn't　mind　doing　me　another　service。　Can　you　tell　me　which　is　the　nearest　and　safest　way　to　a　restaurant　called　the　Regent　Grill？〃
　〃It's　just　over　there；　at　the　corner　of　Regent　Street。　As　to　the　safest　way；　if　I　were　you　I　should　cross　over　at　the　top　of　the　street　there　and　then　work　round　westward。　Otherwise　you　will　have　to　cross　Piccadilly　Circus。〃
　〃I　absolutely　refuse　even　to　try　to　cross　Piccadilly　Circus。　Thank　you　very　much。　I　will　follow　your　advice。　I　hope　I　shall　get　there。　It　doesn't　seem　at　all　likely。〃
　She　gave　him　a　little　nod；　and　moved　away。　Jimmy　turned　into　that　drug…store　at　the　top　of　the　Haymarket　at　which　so　many　Londoners　have　found　healing　and　fort　on　the　morning　after；　and　bought　the　pink　drink　for　which　his　system　had　been　craving　since　he　rose　from　bed。　He　wondered　why；　as　he　drained　it；　he　should　feel　ashamed　and　guilty。
　A　few　minutes　later　he　found　himself；　with　mild　surprise；　going　down　the　steps　of　the　Regent　Grill。　It　was　the　last　place　he　had　had　in　his　mind　when　he　had　left　the　steamship　pany's　offices　in　quest　of　lunch。　He　had　intended　to　seek　out　some　quiet；　restful　nook　where　he　could　be　alone　with　his　thoughts。　If　anybody　had　told　him　then　that　five　minutes　later　he　would　be　placing　himself　of　his　own　free　will　within　the　range　of　a　restaurant　orchestra　playing　〃My　Little　Grey　Home　in　the　West〃and　the　orchestra　at　the　Regent　played　little　elsehe　would　not　have　believed　him。
　Restaurants　in　all　large　cities　have　their　ups　and　downs。　At　this　time　the　Regent　Grill　was　enjoying　one　of　those　bursts　of　popularity　for　which　restaurateurs　pray　to　whatever　strange　gods　they　worship。　The　more　prosperous　section　of　London's　Bohemia　flocked　to　it　daily。　When　Jimmy　had　deposited　his　hat　with　the　robber…band　who　had　their　cave　just　inside　the　main　entrance　and　had　entered　the　grill…room；　he　found　it　congested。　There　did　not　appear　to　be　a　single　unoccupied　table。
　From　where　he　stood　he　could　see　the　girl　of　the　red…gold　hair。　Her　back　was　towards　him；　and　she　was　sitting　at　a　table　against　one　of　the　pillars　with　a　little　man　with　eye…glasses；　a　handsome　woman　in　the　forties；　and　a　small　stout　boy　who　was　skirmishing　with　the　olives。　As　Jimmy　hesitated；　the　vigilant　head…waiter；　who　knew　him　well；　perceived　him；　and　hurried　up。
　〃In　one　moment；　Mister　Crockaire！〃　he　said；　and　began　to　scatter　mands　among　the　underlings。　〃I　will　place　a　table　for　you　in　the　aisle。〃
　〃Next　to　that　pillar；　please；〃　said　Jimmy。
　The　underlings　had　produced　a　small　tableapparently　from　up　their　sleeves；　and　were　draping　it　in　a　cloth。　Jimmy　sat　down　and　gave　his　order。　Ordering　was　going　on　at　the　other　table。　The　little　man　seemed　depressed　at　the　discovery　that　corn　on　the　cob　and　soft…shelled　crabs　were　not　to　be　obtained；　and　his　wife's　reception　of　the　news　that　clams　were　not　included　in　the　Regent's　bill…of…fair　was　so　indignant　that　one　would　have　said　that　she　regarded　the　fact　as　evidence　that　Great　Britain　was　going　to　pieces　and　would　shortly　lose　her　place　as　a　world　power。
　A　selection　having　finally　been　agreed　upon；　the　orchestra　struck　up　〃My　Little　Grey　Home　in　the　West；〃　and　no　attempt　was　made　to　pete　with　it。　When　the　last　lingering　strains　had　died　away　and　the　violinist…leader；　having　straightened　out　the　kinks　in　his　person　which　the　rendition　of　the　melody　never　failed　to　produce；　had　bowed　for　the　last　time；　a　clear；　musical　voice　spoke　from　the　other　side　of　the　pillar。
　〃Jimmy　Crocker　is　a　worm！〃
　Jimmy　spilled　his　cocktail。　It　might　have　been　the　voice　of　Conscience。
　〃I　despise　him　more　than　any　one　on　earth。　I　hate　to　think　that　he's　an　American。〃
　Jimmy　drank　the　few　drops　that　remained　in　his　glass；　partly　to　make　sure　of　them；　partly　as　a　restorative。　It　is　an　unnerving　thing　to　be　despised　by　a　red…haired　girl　whose　life　you　have　just　saved。　To　Jimmy　it　was　not　only　unnerving；　it　was　uncanny。　This　girl　had　not　known　him　when　they　met　on　the　street　a　few　moments　before。　How　then　was　she　able　to　display　such　intimate　acquaintance　with　his　character　now　as　to　describe　himjustly　enoughas　a　worm？　Mingled　with　the　mystery　of　the　thing　was　its　pathos。　The　thought　that　a　girl　could　be　as　pretty　as　this　one　and　yet　dislike　him　so　much　was　one　of　the　saddest　things　Jimmy　had　ever　e　across。　It　was　like　one　of　those　Things　Which　Make　Me　Weep　In　This　Great　City　so　dear　to　the　hearts　of　the　sob…writers　of　his　late　newspaper。
　A　waiter　bustled　up　with　a　high…ball。　Jimmy　thanked　him　with　his　eyes。　He　needed　it。　He　raised　it　to　his　lips。
　〃He's　always　drinking〃
　He　set　it　down　hurriedly。
　〃and　making　a　disgraceful　exhibition　of　himself　in　public！　I　always　think　Jimmy　Crocker〃
　Jimmy　began　to　wish　that　somebody　would　stop　this　girl。　Why　couldn't　the　little　man　change　the　subject　to　the　weather；　or　that　stout　child　start　prattling　about　some　general　topic？　Surely　a　boy　of　that　age；　newly　arrived　in　London；　must　have　all　sorts　of　things　to　prattle　about？　But　the　little　man　was　dealing　strenuously　with　a　breaded　cutlet；　while　the　stout　boy；　grimly　silent；　surrounded　fish…pie　in　the　forthright　manner　of　a　starving　python。　As　fo