within the law- 第24部分

A　cold　voice　struck　suddenly　through　this　rhapsodizing。　It　was　that　of　the　bride。

〃Where　is　your　father？〃　　she　asked；　without　any　trace　of　emotion。

The　bridegroom　stopped　short；　and　a　deep　blush　spread　itself　over　his　boyish　face。　　His　tone　was　filled　full　to　overflowing　with　compunction　as　he　answered。

〃Oh；　Lord！　I　had　forgotten　all　about　Dad。〃　　He　beamed　on　Mary　with　a　smile　half…ashamed；　half…happy。　　〃I'm　awfully　sorry；〃　he　said　earnestly。　　〃I'll　tell　you　what　we'll　do。　　We'll　send　Dad　a　wireless　from　the　ship；　then　write　him　from　Paris。〃

But　the　confident　tone　brought　no　response　of　agreement　from　Mary。　　On　the　contrary；　her　voice　was；　if　anything；　even　colder　as　she　replied　to　his　suggestion。　She　spoke　with　an　emphasis　that　brooked　no　evasion。

〃What　was　your　promise？　　I　told　you　that　I　wouldn't　go　with　you　until　you　had　brought　your　father　to　me；　and　he　had　wished　us　happiness。〃　　Dick　placed　his　hands　gently　on　his　wife's　shoulders　and　regarded　her　with　a　touch　of　indignation　in　his　gaze。

〃Mary；〃　he　said　reproachfully；　〃you　are　not　going　to　hold　me　to　that　promise？〃　

The　answer　was　given　with　a　decisiveness　that　admitted　of　no　question；　and　there　was　a　hardness　in　her　face　that　emphasized　the　words。

〃I　am　going　to　hold　you　to　that　promise；　Dick。〃

For　a　few　seconds；　the　young　man　stared　at　her　with　troubled　eyes。　　Then　he　moved　impatiently；　and　dropped　his　hands　from　her　shoulders。　　But　his　usual　cheery　smile　came　again；　and　he　shrugged　resignedly。

〃All　right；　Mrs。　Gilder；〃　he　said；　gaily。　　The　sound　of　the　name　provoked　him　to　new　pleasure。　　〃Sounds　fine；　doesn't　it？〃　　he　demanded；　with　an　uxorious　air。

〃Yes；〃　Mary　said；　but　there　was　no　enthusiasm　in　her　tone。

The　husband　went　on　speaking　with　no　apparent　heed　of　his　wife's　indifference。

〃You　pack　up　what　things　you　need；　girlie；〃　he　directed。　〃Just　a　fewbecause　they　sell　clothes　in　Paris。　And　they　are　some　class；　believe　me！　And　meantime；　I'll　run　down　to　Dad's　office；　and　have　him　back　here　in　half　an　hour。　　You　will　be　all　ready；　won't　you？〃　

Mary　answered　quickly；　with　a　little　catching　of　her　breath；　but　still　coldly。

〃Yes；　yes；　I'll　be　ready。　　Go　and　bring　your　father。〃

〃You　bet　I　will；〃　Dick　cried　heartily。　　He　would　have　taken　her　in　his　arms　again；　but　she　evaded　the　caress。　〃What's　the　matter？〃　　he　demanded；　plainly　at　a　loss　to　understand　this　repulse。

〃Nothing！〃　was　the　ambiguous　answer。

〃Just　one！〃　Dick　pleaded。

〃No；〃　the　bride　replied；　and　there　was　determination　in　the　monosyllable。

It　was　evident　that　Dick　perceived　the　futility　of　argument。

〃For　a　married　woman　you　certainly　are　shy；〃　he　replied；　with　a　sly　glance　toward　Aggie；　who　beamed　back　sympathy。　　〃You'll　excuse　me；　won't　you；　Miss　Lynch；。。。　Good…by；　Mrs。　Gilder。〃　　He　made　a　formal　bow　to　his　wife。　　As　he　hurried　to　the　door；　he　expressed　again　his　admiration　for　the　name。　　〃Mrs。　Gilder！　Doesn't　that　sound　immense？〃　　And　with　that　he　was　gone。

There　was　silence　in　the　drawing…room　until　the　two　women　heard　the　closing　of　the　outer　door　of　the　apartment。　Then；　at　last；　Aggie　relieved　her　pent…up　emotions　in　a　huge　sigh　that　was　near　a　groan。

〃Oh　Gawd！〃　she　gasped。　　〃The　poor　simp！〃　



CHAPTER　XIII。　THE　ADVENT　OF　GRIGGS。　

Later　on；　Garson；　learning　from　the　maid　that　Dick　Gilder　had　left；　returned；　just　as　Mary　was　glancing　over　the　release；　with　which　General　Hastings　was　to　be　compensated；　along　with　the　return　of　his　letters；　for　his　payment　of　ten　thousand　dollars　to　Miss　Agnes　Lynch。

〃Hello；　Joe；〃　Mary　said　graciously　as　the　forger　entered。　　Then　she　spoke　crisply　to　Agnes。　　〃And　now　you　must　get　ready。　　You　are　to　be　at　Harris's　office　with　this　document　at　four　o'clock；　and　remember　that　you　are　to　let　the　lawyer　manage　everything。〃

Aggie　twisted　her　doll…like　face　into　a　grimace。

〃It　gets　my　angora　that　I'll　have　to　miss　Pa　Gilder's　being　led　like　a　lamb　to　the　slaughter…house。〃　　And　that　was　the　nearest　the　little　adventuress　ever　came　to　making　a　Biblical　quotation。

〃Anyhow；〃　she　protested；　〃I　don't　see　the　use　of　all　this　monkey　business　here。　　All　I　want　is　the　coin。〃　　But　she　hurried　obediently；　nevertheless；　to　get　ready　for　the　start。

Garson　regarded　Mary　quizzically。

〃It's　lucky　for　her　that　she　met　you；〃　he　said。　　〃She's　got　no　more　brains　than　a　gnat。〃

〃And　brains　are　mighty　useful　things；　even　in　our　business；〃　Mary　replied　seriously；　〃particularly　in　our　business。〃

〃I　should　say　they　were；〃　Garson　agreed。　　〃You　have　proved　that。〃

Aggie　came　back；　putting　on　her　gloves；　and　cocking　her　small　head　very　primly　under　the　enormous　hat　that　was　garnished　with　costliest　plumes。　　It　was　thus　that　she　consoled　herself　in　a　measure　for　the　business　of　the　occasionin　lieu　of　cracked　ice　from　Tiffany's　at　one　hundred　and　fifty　a　carat。　　Mary　gave　over　the　release；　and　Aggie；　still　grumbling；　deposited　it　in　her　handbag。

〃It　seems　to　me　we're　going　through　a　lot　of　red　tape；〃　she　said　spitefully。

Mary；　from　her　chair　at　the　desk；　regarded　the　malcontent　with　a　smile；　but　her　tone　was　crisp　as　she　answered。

〃Listen；　Agnes。　　The　last　time　you　tried　to　make　a　man　give　up　part　of　his　money　it　resulted　in　your　going　to　prison　for　two　years。〃

Aggie　sniffed；　as　if　such　an　outcome　were　the　merest　bagatelle。

〃But　that　way　was　so　exciting；〃　she　urged；　not　at　all　convinced。

〃And　this　way　is　so　safe；〃　Mary　rejoined；　sharply。　〃Besides；　my　dear；　you　would　not　get　the　money。　　My　way　will。　　Your　way　was　blackmail；　mine　is　not。　　Understand？〃　

〃Oh；　sure；〃　Aggie　replied；　grimly；　on　her　way　to　the　door。　　〃It's　clear　as　Pittsburgh。〃　　With　that　sarcasm　directed　against　legal　subtleties；　she　tripped　daintily　out；　an　entirely　ravishing　vision；　if　somewhat　garish　as　to　raiment；　and　soon　in　the　glances　of　admiration　that　every　man　cast　on　her　guileless…seeming　beauty；　she　forgot　that　she　had　ever　been　annoyed。

Garson's　comment　as　she　departed　was　uttered　with　his　accustomed　bluntness。

〃Solid　ivory！〃　

〃She's　a　darling；　anyway！〃　Mary　declared；　smiling。　〃You　really　don't　half…appreciate　her；　Joe！〃　

〃Anyhow；　I　appreciate　that　hat；〃　was　the　reply；　with　a　dry　chuckle。

〃Mr。　Griggs；〃　Fannie　announced。　　There　was　a　smile　on　the　face　of　the　maid；　which　was　explained　a　minute　later　when；　in　accordance　with　her　mistress's　order；　the　visitor　was　shown　into　the　drawing…room；　for　his　presence　was　of　an　elegance　so　extraordinary　as　to　attract　attention　anywhereand　mirth　as　well　from　ribald　observers。

Meantime；　Garson　had　explained　to　Mary。

〃It's　English　Eddieyou　met　him　once。　　I　wonder　what　he　wants？　　Probably　got　a　trick　for　me。　　We　often　used　to　work　together。〃

〃Nothing　without　my　consent；〃　Mary　warned。

〃Oh；　no；　no；　sure　not！〃　Garson　agreed。

Further　discussion　was　cut　short　by　the　appearance　of　English　Eddie　himself；　a　tall；　handsome　man　in　the　early　thirties；　who　paused　just　within　the　doorway；　and　delivered　to　Mary　a　bow　that　was　the　perfection　of　elegance。　Mary　made　no　effort　to　restrain　the　smile　caused　by　the　costume　of　Mr。　Griggs。　　Yet；　there　was　no　violation　of　the　canons　of　good　taste；　except　in　the　aggregate。　From　spats　to　hat；　from　walking　coat　to　gloves；　everything　was　perfect　of　its　kind。　　Only；　there　was　an　over…elaboration；　so　that　the　ensemble　was　flamboyant。　And　the　man's　manners　precisely　harmonized　with　his　clothes；　whereby　the　whole　effect　was　emphasized　and　rendered　bizarre。　　Garson　took　one　amazed　look；　and　then　rocked　with　laughter。

Griggs　regarded　his　former　associate　reproachfully　for　a　moment；　and　then　grinned　in　frank　sympathy。

〃Really；　Mr。　Griggs；　you　quite　overcome　me；〃　Mary　said；　half…apologetically。

The　visitor　cast　a　self…satisfied　glance　over　his　garb。

〃I　think　it's　rather　neat；　myself。〃　　He　had　some　reputation　in　the　under…world　for　his　manner　of　dressing；　and　he　regarded　this　latest　achievement　as　his　masterpiece。

〃Sure　some　duds！〃　Garson　admitted；　checking　his　merriment。

〃From　your　costume；〃　Mary　suggested；　〃one　might　judge　that　this　is　purely　a　social　call。　　Is　it？〃　

〃Well；　not　exactly；〃　Griggs　answered　with　a　smile。

〃So　I　fancied；〃　his　hostess　replied。　　〃So；　sit　down；　please；　and　tell　us　all　about　it。〃

While　she　was　speaking；　Garson　went　to　the　various　doors；　and　made　sure　that　all　were　shut；　then　he　took　a　seat　in　a　chair　near　that　which　Griggs　occupied　by　the　desk；　so　that　the　three　were　close　together；　and　could　speak　softly。

English　Eddie　wasted　no　time　in　getting　to　the　point。

〃Now；　look　here；〃　he　said；　rapidly。　　〃I've　got　the　greatest　game　in　the　world。。。。　Two　years　ago；　a　set　of　Gothic　tapestries；　worth　three　hundred　thousand　dollars　and　a　set　of　Fragonard　panels；　worth　nearly　as　much　more；　were　plucked　from　a　chateau　in　France　and　smuggled　into　this　country。〃

〃I　have　never　heard　of　that；〃　Mary　said；　with　some　interest。

〃No；〃　Griggs　replied。　　〃You　naturally　wouldn't；　for　the　simple　reason　that　it's　been　kept　on　the　dead　quiet。〃

〃Are　them　things　really　worth　that　much？〃　　Garson　exclaimed。

〃Sometimes　more；〃　Mary　answered。　　〃Morgan　has　a　set　of　Gothic　tapestries　worth　half　a　million　dollars。〃

Garson　uttered　an　ejaculation　of　disgust。

〃He　pays　half　a　million　dollars　for　a　set　of　rugs！〃　There　was　a　no