XIV
Rive Droit
Falling without presage upon the slumberous hush enveloping the little house marooned in that dead backwater of Paris, the shock of that alarm drove the girl back from the table to the nearest wall, and for a moment held her there, transfixed in panic.
To the wide, staring eyes that questioned his so urgently, Lanyard promptly nodded grave reassurance. He hadnтАЩt stirred since his first, involuntary and almost imperceptible start, and before the last fragment of splintered glass had tinkled on the floor above, he was calming her in the most matter-of-fact manner.
тАЬDonтАЩt be alarmed,тАЭ he said. тАЬItтАЩs nothingтБатАФmerely SolonтАЩs skylight gone smash!тАЭ
тАЬYou call that nothing!тАЭ she cried gustily. тАЬWhat caused it, then?тАЭ
тАЬMy negligence,тАЭ he admitted gloomily. тАЬI might have known that wide spread of glass with the studio electrics on, full-blaze, would give the show away completely. The house is known to be unoccupied; and it wasnтАЩt to be expected that both the police and PopinotтАЩs crew would overlook so shining a mark.тБатАКтБатАж And itтАЩs all my fault, my oversight: I should have thought of it before.тБатАКтБатАж High time I was quitting a game IтАЩve no longer the wit to play by the rules!тАЭ
тАЬBut the police would neverтБатАКтБатАжтАК!тАЭ
тАЬCertainly not. This is PopinotтАЩs gentle method of letting us know heтАЩs on the job. But IтАЩll just have a look, to make sure.тБатАКтБатАж No: stop where you are, please. IтАЩd rather go alone.тАЭ
He swung alertly through to the hall window, pausing there only long enough for an instantaneous glance through the draperiesтБатАФa fugitive survey that discovered the impasse Stanislas no more abandoned to the wind and rain, but tenanted visibly by one at least who lounged beneath the lonely lamppost, a shoulder against it: a featureless civilian silhouette with attention fixed to the little house.
But Lanyard didnтАЩt doubt this one had a dozen fellows stationed within call.тБатАКтБатАж
Springing up the stairs, he paused prudently at the topmost step, one quick glance showing him the huge rent gaping black in the skylight, the second the missile of destruction lying amid a litter of broken glassтБатАФa brick wrapped in newspaper, by the look of it.
Swooping forward, he retrieved this, darted back from the exposed space beneath the shattered skylight, and had no more than cleared the threshold than a second something fell through the gap and buried itself in the parquetry. This was a bullet fired from the roof of one of the adjoining buildings: confirming his prior reasoning that the first missile must have fallen from a height, rather than have been thrown up from the street, to have wrought such destruction with those tough, thick panes of clouded glass.тБатАКтБатАж
Swearing softly to himself, he descended to the kitchen.
тАЬAs I thought,тАЭ he said coolly, exhibiting his find. тАЬTheyтАЩre on the roof of the next houseтБатАФthough theyтАЩve posted a sentry in the street, of course.тАЭ
тАЬBut that second thumpтБатАФ?тАЭ the girl demanded.
тАЬA bullet,тАЭ he said, placing the bundle on the table and cutting the string that bound it: тАЬthey were on the quivive and fired when I showed myself beneath the skylight.тАЭ
тАЬBut I heard no report,тАЭ she objected.
тАЬA Maxim silencer on the gun, I fancy,тАЭ he explained, unwrapping the brick and smoothing out the newspaper.тБатАКтБатАж тАЬGlad you thought to put on your hat before you came down,тАЭ he added, with an approving glance for the girl; тАЬit wonтАЩt be safe to go up to the studio againтБатАФof course.тАЭ
His nonchalance was far less real than it seemed, but helped to steady one who was holding herself together with a struggle, on the verge of nervous collapse.
тАЬBut what are we to do now?тАЭ she stammered. тАЬIf theyтАЩve surrounded the houseтБатАФ!тАЭ
тАЬDonтАЩt worry: thereтАЩs more than one way out,тАЭ he responded, frowning at the newspaper; тАЬI wouldnтАЩt have picked this place out, otherwise. Nor would Solon have rented it in the first instance had it lacked an emergency exit, in event of creditors.тБатАКтБатАж AhтБатАФthought so!тАЭ
тАЬWhatтБатАФ?тАЭ
тАЬTroyonтАЩs is gone,тАЭ he said, without looking up. тАЬThis is tonightтАЩs Presse.тБатАКтБатАж тАШTotally destroyed by a fire which started at six-thirty this morning and in less than half an hour had reduced the ancient structure to a heap of smoking ashesтАЩ!тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ He ran his eye quickly down the column, selecting salient phrases: тАЬтАКтАШBelieved to have been of incendiary origin though the premises were uninsuredтАЩтБатАФthatтАЩs an intelligent guess!тБатАКтБатАж тАШNarrow escape of guests in theirтАЩ whatyemaycallems.тБатАКтБатАж тАШThree lives believed to have been lostтБатАКтБатАж one body recovered charred almost beyond recognitionтАЩтБатАФbut later identified as RoddyтБатАФpoor devil!тБатАКтБатАж тАШTwo guests missing, Monsieur Lanyard, the well-known connoisseur of art, who occupied the room adjoining that of the unfortunate detective, and Mademoiselle Bannon, daughter of the American millionaire, who himself escaped only by a miracle with his secretary Monsieur Greggs, the latter being overcome by fumesтАЩтБатАФwhat a shame!тБатАКтБатАж тАШPolice and firemen searching the ruinsтАЩтБатАФhm-hmтБатАФтАШextraordinary interest manifested by the Pr├йfecture indicates a suspicion that the building may have been fired to conceal some crime of a political nature.тАЩтАКтАЭ
Crushing the newspaper between his hands, he tossed it into a corner. тАЬThatтАЩs all of importance. Thoughtful of Popinot to let me know, this way! The Pr├йfecture, of course, is humming like a waspтАЩs-nest with the mystery of that telegram, signed with RoddyтАЩs name and handed in at the Bourse an hour or so before he was тАШburned to death.тАЩ Too bad I didnтАЩt know then what I do now; if IтАЩd even remotely suspected GreggsтАЩ association with the Pack was via Bannon.тБатАКтБатАж But whatтАЩs the use? I did my possible, knowing the odds were heavy against success.тАЭ
тАЬWhat was written on the paper?тАЭ the girl demanded obliquely.
He made his eyes blank: тАЬWritten on the paperтБатАФ?тАЭ
тАЬI saw something in red ink at the head of the column. You tried to hide it from me, but I saw.тБатАКтБатАж What was it?тАЭ
тАЬOhтБатАФthat!тАЭ he laughed contemptuously: тАЬjust PopinotтАЩs impudenceтБатАФan invitation to come out and be a good target.тАЭ
She shook her head impatiently: тАЬYouтАЩre not telling me the truth. It was something else, or you wouldnтАЩt have been so anxious to hide it.тАЭ
тАЬOh, but I assure youтБатАФ!тАЭ
тАЬYou canтАЩt. Be honest with me, Mr.┬аLanyard. It was an offer to let you off if youтАЩd give me up to BannonтБатАФwasnтАЩt it?тАЭ
тАЬSomething like that,тАЭ he assented sheepishlyтБатАФтАЬtoo absurd for consideration.тБатАКтБатАж But now weтАЩre due to clear out of this before they find a way in. Not that theyтАЩre likely to risk a raid until theyтАЩve tried starving us out; but it would be as well to put a good distance between us before they find out weтАЩve decamped.тАЭ
He shrugged into his borrowed raincoat, buttoned it to his chin, and turned down the brim of his felt hat; but when he looked up at the girl again, he found she hadnтАЩt moved; rather, she remained as one spellbound, staring less at than through him, her expression inscrutable.
тАЬWell,тАЭ he venturedтБатАФтАЬif youтАЩre quite ready, Miss ShannonтБатАФ?тАЭ
тАЬMr.┬аLanyard,тАЭ she demanded almost sharplyтБатАФтАЬwhat was the full wording of that message?тАЭ
тАЬIf you must knowтБатАФтАЭ
тАЬI must!тАЭ
He lifted a depreciative shoulder. тАЬIf you like, IтАЩll read it to youтБатАФor, rather, translate it from the thievesтАЩ argot Popinot complimented me by using.тАЭ
тАЬNot necessary,тАЭ she said tersely. тАЬIтАЩll take your word for it.тБатАКтБатАж But you must tell me the truth.тАЭ
тАЬAs you will.тБатАКтБатАж Popinot delicately suggested that if I leave you here, to be reunited to your alleged parentтБатАФif IтАЩll trust to his word of honour, that is, and walk out of the house alone, heтАЩll give me twenty-four hours in which to leave Paris.тАЭ
тАЬThen only I stand between you andтБатАФтАЭ
тАЬMy dear young woman!тАЭ he protested hastily. тАЬPlease donтАЩt run away with any absurd notion like that. Do you imagine IтАЩd consent to treat with such canaille under any circumstances?тАЭ
тАЬAll the same,тАЭ she continued stubbornly, тАЬIтАЩm the stumbling-block. YouтАЩre risking your life for meтБатАФтАЭ
тАЬIтАЩm not,тАЭ he insisted almost angrily.
тАЬYou are,тАЭ she returned with quiet conviction.
тАЬWell!тАЭ he laughedтБатАФтАЬhave it your own way!тБатАКтБатАж But itтАЩs my life, isnтАЩt it? I really donтАЩt see how youтАЩre going to prevent my risking it for anything that may seem to me worth the risk!тАЭ
But she wouldnтАЩt laugh; only her countenance, suddenly bereft of its mutinous expression, softened winninglyтБатАФand her eyes grew very kind to him.
тАЬAs long as itтАЩs understood I understandтБатАФvery well,тАЭ she said quietly; тАЬIтАЩll do as you wish, Mr.┬аLanyard.тАЭ
тАЬGood!тАЭ he cried cheerfully. тАЬI wish, by your leave, to take you out to dinner.тБатАКтБатАж This way, please!тАЭ
Leading through the scullery, he unbarred a low, arched door in one of the walls, discovering the black mouth of a narrow and tunnel-like passageway.
With a word of caution, flash-lamp in his left hand, pistol in right, Lanyard stepped out into the darkness.
In two minutes he was back, with a look of relief.
тАЬAll clear,тАЭ he reported; тАЬI felt pretty sure Popinot knew nothing of this way outтБатАФelse weтАЩd have entertained uninvited guests long since. Now, half a minute.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ
The electric meter occupied a place on the wall of the scullery not far from the door. Prying open its cover, he unscrewed and removed the fuse plug, plunging the entire house in complete darkness.
тАЬThatтАЩll keep тАЩem guessing a while!тАЭ he explained with a chuckle. тАЬTheyтАЩll hesitate a long time before rushing a dark house infested by a desperate armed manтБатАФif I know anything about that mongrel lot!тБатАКтБатАж Besides, when they do get their courage up, the lack of light will stave off discovery of this way of escape.тБатАКтБатАж And now, one word more.тАЭ
A flash of the lamp located her hand. Calmly he possessed himself of it, if without opposition.
тАЬIтАЩve brought you into trouble enough, as it is, through my stupidity,тАЭ he said; тАЬbut for that, this place should have been a refuge to us until we were quite ready to leave Paris. So now we mustnтАЩt forget, before we go out to run God-only-knows-what gauntlet, to fix a rendezvous in event of separation.тБатАКтБатАж Popinot, for instance, may have drawn a cordon around the block; we canтАЩt tell until weтАЩre in the street; if he has, you must leave me to entertain them until youтАЩre safe beyond their reach.тБатАКтБатАж Oh, donтАЩt worry: IтАЩm perfectly well able to take care of myself.тБатАКтБатАж But afterwards, we must know where to find each other. Hotels, caf├йs and restaurants are out of the question: in the first place, weтАЩve barely money enough for our dinner; besides, theyтАЩll be watched closely; as for our embassies and consulates, they arenтАЩt open at all hours, and will likewise be watched. There remainтБатАФunless you can suggest somethingтБатАФonly the churches; and I can think of none better suited to our purposes than the Sacr├й-C┼Уur.тАЭ
Her fingers tightened gently upon his.
тАЬI understand,тАЭ she said quietly; тАЬif weтАЩre obliged to separate, IтАЩm to go direct to the Sacr├й-C┼Уur and await you there.тАЭ
тАЬRight!тБатАКтБатАж But letтАЩs hope thereтАЩll be no such necessity.тАЭ
Hand-in-hand like frightened children, these two stole down the tunnel-like passageway, through a forlorn little court cramped between two tall old tenements, and so came out into the gloomy, sinuous and silent rue dтАЩAssas.
Here they encountered few wayfarers; and to these, preoccupied with anxiety to gain shelter from the inclement night, they seemed, no doubt, some student of the Quarter with his sweetheartтБатАФLanyard in his shabby raincoat, striding rapidly, head and shoulders bowed against the driving mist, the girl in her trim Burberry clinging to his arm.тБатАКтБатАж
Avoiding the nearer stations as dangerous, Lanyard steered a roundabout course through byways to the rue de S├иvres station of the Nord-Sud subway; from which in due course they came to the surface again at the place de la Concorde, walked several blocks, took a taxicab, and in less than half an hour after leaving the impasse Stanislas were comfortably ensconced in a cabinet particulier of a little restaurant of modest pretensions just north of Les Halles.
They feasted famously: the cuisine, if bourgeois, was admirable and, better still, well within the resources of LanyardтАЩs emaciated purse. Nor did he fret with consciousness that, when the bill had been paid and the essential tips bestowed, there would remain in his pocket hardly more than cab fare. Supremely self-confident, he harboured no doubts of a smiling futureтБатАФnow that the dark pages in his record had been turned and sealed by a resolution he held irrevocable.
His spirits had mounted to a high pitch, thanks to their successful evasion. He was young, he was in love, he was hungry, he wasтБатАФin shortтБатАФvery much alive. And the consciousness of common peril knitted an enchanting intimacy into their communications. For the first time in his history Lanyard found himself in the company of a woman with whom he daredтБатАФand caredтБатАФto speak without reserve: a circumstance intrinsically intoxicating. And stimulated by her unquestionable interest and sympathy, he did talk without reserve of old TroyonтАЩs and its drudge, Marcel; of Bourke and his wanderings; of the education of the Lone Wolf and his career, less in pride than in relief that it was ended; of the future he must achieve for himself.
And sitting with chin cradled on the backs of her interlaced fingers, the girl listened with such indulgence as women find always for their lovers. Of herself she had little to say: Lanyard filled in to his taste the outlines of the simple history of a young woman of good family obliged to become self-supporting.
And if at times her grave eyes clouded and her attention wandered, it was less in ennui than because of occult trains of thought set astir by some chance word or phrase of LanyardтАЩs.
тАЬIтАЩm boring you,тАЭ he surmised once with quick contrition, waking up to the fact that he had monopolized the conversation for many minutes on end.
She shook a pensive head. тАЬNo, again.тБатАКтБатАж But I wonder, do you appreciate the magnitude of the task youтАЩve undertaken?тАЭ
тАЬPossibly not,тАЭ he conceded arrogantly; тАЬbut it doesnтАЩt matter. The heavier the odds, the greater the incentive to win.тАЭ
тАЬBut,тАЭ she objected, тАЬyouтАЩve told me a curious story of one who never had a chance or incentive to тАШgo straightтАЩтБатАФas you put it. And yet you seem to think that an overnight resolution to reform is all thatтАЩs needed to change all the habits of a lifetime. You persuade me of your sincerity of today; but how will it be with you tomorrowтБатАФand not so much tomorrow as six months from tomorrow, when youтАЩve found the going rough and know youтАЩve only to take one step aside to gain a smooth and easy way?тАЭ
тАЬIf I fail, then, it will be because IтАЩm unfitтБатАФand IтАЩll go under, and never be heard of again.тБатАКтБатАж But I shanтАЩt fail. It seems to me the very fact that I want to go straight is proof enough that IтАЩve something inherently decent in me to build on.тАЭ
тАЬI do believe that, and yetтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ She lowered her head and began to trace a meaningless pattern on the cloth before she resumed. тАЬYouтАЩve given me to understand IтАЩm responsible for your sudden awakening, that itтАЩs because of a regard conceived for me youтАЩre so anxious to become an honest man. SupposeтБатАКтБатАж suppose you were to find outтБатАКтБатАж youтАЩd been mistaken in me?тАЭ
тАЬThat isnтАЩt possible,тАЭ he objected promptly.
She smiled upon him wistfullyтБатАФand leniently from her remote coign of superior intuitive knowledge of human nature.
тАЬBut if it wereтБатАФ?тАЭ
тАЬThenтБатАФI think,тАЭ he said soberlyтБатАФтАЬI think IтАЩd feel as though there were nothing but emptiness beneath my feet!тАЭ
тАЬAnd youтАЩd backslideтБатАФ?тАЭ
тАЬHow can I tell?тАЭ he expostulated. тАЬItтАЩs not a fair question. I donтАЩt know what IтАЩd do, but I do know it would need something damnable to shake my faith in you!тАЭ
тАЬYou think so now,тАЭ she said tolerantly. тАЬBut if appearances were against meтБатАФтАЭ
тАЬTheyтАЩd have to be black!тАЭ
тАЬIf you found I had deceived youтБатАФ?тАЭ
тАЬMiss Shannon!тАЭ He threw an arm across the table and suddenly imprisoned her hand. тАЬThereтАЩs no use beating about the bush. YouтАЩve got to knowтБатАФтАЭ
She drew back suddenly with a frightened look and a monosyllable of sharp protest: тАЬNo!тАЭ
тАЬBut you must listen to me. I want you to understand.тБатАКтБатАж Bourke used to say to me: тАШThe man who lets love into his life opens a door no mortal hand can closeтБатАФand God only knows what will follow in!тАЩ And Bourke was right.тБатАКтБатАж Now that door is open in my heart, and I think that whatever follows in wonтАЩt be evil or degrading.тБатАКтБатАж Oh, IтАЩve said it a dozen different ways of indirection, but I may as well say it squarely now: I love you; itтАЩs love of you makes me want to go straightтБатАФthe hope that when IтАЩve proved myself youтАЩll maybe let me ask you to marry me.тБатАКтБатАж Perhaps youтАЩre in love with a better man today; IтАЩm willing to chance that; a year brings many changes. Perhaps thereтАЩs something I donтАЩt fathom in your doubting my strength and constancy. Only the outcome can declare that. But please understand this: if I fail to make good, it will be no fault of yours; it will be because IтАЩm unfit and have proved it.тБатАКтБатАж All I ask is what youтАЩve generously promised me: opportunity to come to you at the end of the year and make my report.тБатАКтБатАж And then, if you will, you can say no to the question IтАЩll ask you and I shanтАЩt resent it, and it wonтАЩt ruin me; for if a man can stick to a purpose for a year, he can stick to it forever, with or without the love of the woman he loves.тАЭ
She heard him out without attempt at interruption, but her answer was prefaced by a sad little shake of her head.
тАЬThatтАЩs what makes it so hard, so terribly hard,тАЭ she said.тБатАКтБатАж тАЬOf course IтАЩve understood you. All that youтАЩve said by indirection, and much besides, has had its meaning to me. And IтАЩm glad and proud of the honour you offer me. But I canтАЩt accept it; I can never accept itтБатАФnot now nor a year from now. It wouldnтАЩt be fair to let you go on hoping I might some time consent to marry you.тБатАКтБатАж For thatтАЩs impossible.тАЭ
тАЬYouтБатАФforgive meтБатАФyouтАЩre not already married?тАЭ
тАЬNo.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ
тАЬOr promised?тАЭ
тАЬNo.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ
тАЬOr in love with someone else?тАЭ
Again she told him, gently, тАЬNo.тАЭ
His face cleared. He squared his shoulders. He even mustered up a smile.
тАЬThen it isnтАЩt impossible. No human obstacle exists that time canтАЩt overthrow. In spite of all you say, I shall go on hoping with all my heart and soul and strength.тАЭ
тАЬBut you donтАЩt understandтБатАФтАЭ
тАЬCan you tell meтБатАФmake me understand?тАЭ
After a long pause, she told him once more, and very sadly: тАЬNo.тАЭ