children of the whirlwind-第21部分

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ing　personage　that　I've　named　him　Benvenuto　Cellinithough　he's　neither　liar　nor　thief。　He　must　have　told　you　what　I　called　him。〃

So　that　explained　this　password　of　〃Benvenuto　Cellini〃！　〃No；　he　didn't　explain　anything。　There　was　no　time。〃

〃I　don't　know　where　he　is；〃　she　continued；　〃please　don't　tell　me。　I　don't　want　to　know　until　he　wants　me　to　know。〃

Larry　had　been　making　a　swift　appraisal　of　her。　She　was　perhaps　thirty；　fair；　with　golden…brown　hair　held　in　place　by　a　large　comb　of　wrought　gold；　with　violet…blue　eyes；　wearing　a　low…cut　gown　of　violet　chiffon　velvet　and　dull　gold　shoes。　Larry's　instinct　told　him　that　here　was　a　patrician；　a　thoroughbred：　with　poise；　with　a　knowledge　of　the　world；　with　whimsical　humor；　with　a　kindly　understanding　of　people；　with　steel　in　her；　and　with　a　smiling　readiness　for　almost　any　situation。

〃I　think　no　one　will　find　youat　least　for　the　present；〃　her　pleasantly　modulated　voice　continued。　〃There　are　so　many　things　I　want　to　talk　over　with　you。　Perhaps　I　can　help　about　Maggie。　I　hope　you　don't　mind　my　talking　about　her。〃　Larry　could　not　imagine　any　one　taking　offense　at　anything　this　brilliant　apparition　might　possibly　say。　〃But　we'll　put　off　our　talk　until　to…morrow。　It's　late；　and　you're　wet　and　cold；　and　besides；　my　aunt　is　having　one　of　her　bad　spells　and　thinks　she　needs　me。　Judkins　will　see　to　you。　Good…night。〃

〃Good…night；〃　said　Larry。

She　moved　gracefully　outalmost　floated；　Larry　would　have　said。　The　next　moment　the　man　was　with　him　who　had　been　his　escort　here；　and　led　Larry　into　a　spacious　bedroom　with　bath　attached。　Ten　minutes　later　Judkins　made　his　exit；　carrying　Larry's　outer　clothes；　and　another　ten　minutes　later；　after　a　hot　bath；　and　garbed　in　silk　pajamas　which　Judkins　had　produced；　Larry　was　in　the　softest　and　freshest　bed　that　had　ever　held　him。

But　sleep　did　not　come　to　Larry　for　a　long　time。　He　lay　wondering　about　this　golden…haired；　poiseful　Miss　Sherwood。　She　was　undoubtedly　the　woman　in　the　back　of　Hunt's　life。　And　he　wondered　about　Huntwho　he　really　waswhat　had　really　driven　him　into　this　strange　exile。　And　he　wondered　about　Maggiewhat　she　might　be　doingwhat　from　this　strange　new　vantage…point　he　might　do　for　her　and　with　her。　And　he　wondered　how　his　own　complex　situation　was　going　to　work　itself　out。

And　still　wondering；　Larry　at　length　fell　asleep。




CHAPTER　XII


When　Larry　awoke　the　next　morning；　he　blinked　for　several　bewildered　moments　about　his　bedroom；　so　unlike　his　cell　at　Sing　Sing　and　so　unlike　Hunt's　helter…skelter　studio　down　at　the　Duchess's　which　he　had　shared；　before　he　realized　that　this　big；　airy　chamber　and　this　miracle　of　a　bed　on　which　he　lay　were　realities　and　not　a　mere　continuation　of　a　dream　of　fantastic　and　body…flattering　wealth。

Then　his　mind　turned　back　a　page　in　the　book　of　his　life　and　he　lay　considering　the　events　of　the　previous　evening：　the　scene　with　Barney　and　Old　Jimmie　and　Maggie；　their　all　denouncing　him　as　a　police　stool…　pigeon　and　a　squealer；　and　Maggie's　defiant　departure　to　begin　her　long…dreamed…of　career　as　a　leading…woman　and　perhaps　star　in　what　she　saw　as　great　and　thrilling　adventures；　his　own　enforced　and　frenzied　flight；　his　strange　method　of　reaching　this　splendid　apartment；　his　meeting　with　the　handsome；　drink…befuddled　young　man　in　evening　clothes；　his　meeting　with　the　exquisitely　gowned　patrician　Miss　Sherwood；　who　had　received　him　with　the　poise　and　frank　friendliness　of　a　democratic　queen；　and　had　immediately　ordered　him　off　to　bed。

Strange；　all　of　these　things！　But　they　were　all　realities。　And　in　this　new　set　of　circumstances　which　had　come　into　being　in　a　night；　what　was　he　to　do？

He　recalled　that　Miss　Sherwood　had　said　that　she　and　he　would　have　their　talk　that　morning。　He　pulled　his　watch　from　under　his　pillow。　It　was　past　nine　o'clock。　He　looked　about　him　for　clothes；　but　saw　only　a　bathrobe。　Then　he　remembered　Judkins　carrying　off　his　rain…soaked　garments；　with　〃Ring　for　me　when　you　wake　up；　sir。〃

Larry　found　an　electric　bell　button　dangling　over　the　top　of　his　bed　by　a　silken　cord。　He　pushed　the　button　and　waited。　Within　two　minutes　the　door　opened；　and　Judkins　entered；　laden　with　fresh　garments。

〃Good…morning；　sir；〃　said　Judkins。　〃Your　own　clothes；　and　some　shirts　and　other　things　I've　borrowed　from　Mr。　Dick。　How　will　you　have　your　bath；　sirhot　or　cold？〃

〃Cold；〃　said　the　bewildered　Larry。

Judkins　disappeared　into　the　great　white…tiled　bathroom；　there　was　the　rush　of　splashing　water　for　a　few　moments；　then　silence；　and　Judkins　reappeared。

〃Your　bath　is　ready；　sir。　I've　laid　out　some　of　Mr。　Dick's　razors。　How　soon　shall　I　bring　you　in　your　breakfast？〃

〃In　about　twenty　minutes；〃　said　Larry。

Exactly　twenty　minutes　later　Judkins　carried　in　a　tray；　and　set　it　on　a　table　beside　a　window　looking　down　into　Park　Avenue。　〃Miss　Sherwood　asked　me　to　tell　you　she　would　see　you　in　the　library　at　ten　o'clock；　sirwhere　she　saw　you　last　night；〃　said　Judkins；　and　noiselessly　was　gone。

Freshly　shaven；　tingling　from　his　bath；　with　a　sense　of　being　garbed　flawlessly；　though　in　garments　partly　alien；　Larry　addressed　himself　to　the　breakfast　of　grapefruit；　omelette；　toast　and　coffee；　served　on　Sevres　china　with　covers　of　old　silver。　In　his　more　prosperous　eras　Larry　had　enjoyed　the　best　private　service　that　the　best　hotels　in　New　York　had　to　sell；　but　their　best　had　been　coarse　and　slovenly　compared　to　this。　He　would　eat　for　a　minute　or　twothen　get　up　and　look　at　his　carefully　dressed　self　in　the　full…length　mirrorthen　gaze　from　his　high；　exclusive　window　down　into　Park　Avenue　with　its　stream　of　cars　comfortably　carrying　their　occupants　toward　ten　o'clock　jobs　in　Wall　or　Broad　Streetsand　then　he　would　return　to　his　breakfast。　This　was　amazingbewildering！

He　was　toward　the　end　of　his　omelette　when　a　knock　sounded　at　his　door。　Thinking　Judkins　had　returned；　he　called；　〃Come　in〃；　but　instead　of　Judkins　the　opening　door　admitted　the　belligerent　young　man　in　rumpled　evening　clothes　of　the　previous　night。　Now　he　wore　a　silk　dressing…gown　of　a　flamboyant　peacock　blue；　his　feet　showed　bare　in　toe　slippers；　his　wavy；　yellowish　hair　had　the　tousled　effect　of　a　very　recent　separation　from　a　pillow。　A　cigarette　depended　from　the　corner　of　his　mouth。

Larry　started　to　rise。　But　the　young　man　arrested　the　motion　with　a　gesture　of　mock　imperativeness。

〃Keep　your　seat；　fair　sir；　I　would　fain　have　speech　with　thee。〃　He　crossed　and　sat　on　a　corner　of　Larry's　table；　one　slippered　foot　dangling；　and　looked　Larry　over　with　an　appraising　eye。　〃Permit　me　to　remark；　sir；〃　he　continued　in　his　grand　manner；　〃that　you　look　as　though　you　might　be　some　one。〃

〃Is　that　what　you　wanted　to　tell　me；　Mr。　Sherwood？〃　queried　Larry。

The　other's　grand　manner　vanished　and　he　grinned。　〃Forget　the　'Mr。　Sherwood；'　or　you'll　make　me　feel　not　at　home　in　my　own　house；〃　he　begged　with　humorous　mournfulness。　〃Call　me　Dick。　Everybody　else　does。　That's　settled。　Now　to　the　reason　for　this　visitation　at　such　an　ungodly　hour。　Sis　has　just　been　in　picking　on　me。　Says　I　was　rude　to　you　last　night。　I　suppose　I　was。　I'd　had　several　from　my　private　stock　early　in　the　evening；　and　several　more　around　in　jovi