按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃when you tell her I come as the special ambassador of his
lordship。〃
From a tiny reception…room on the right of the entrance…hall
there issued a feminine exclamation of surprise； not unmixed with
joy； and in the hall the noble lady instantly appeared。
When she saw herself confronted by a stranger； she halted in
embarrassment。 But as； even while she halted； her only thought
had been； 〃Oh！ if he will only ask me to forgive him！〃 Philip
felt no embarrassment whatsoever。 Outside； concealed behind a cab
horse； was the erring but bitterly repentant husband； inside； her
tenderest thoughts racing tumultuously toward him； was an unhappy
child…wife begging to be begged to pardon。
For a New York reporter； and a Harvard graduate of charm and good
manners； it was too easy。
〃I do not know you；〃 said her ladyship。 But even as she spoke she
motioned to the butler to go away。 〃You must be one of his new
friends。〃 Her tone was one of envy。
〃Indeed； I am his newest friend；〃 Philip assured her； 〃but I can
safely say no one knows his thoughts as well as I。 And they are
all of you！〃
The china shepherdess blushed with happiness； but instantly she
shook her head。
〃They tell me I must not believe him；〃 she announced。 〃They tell
me〃
〃Never mind what they tell you；〃 commanded Philip。 〃Listen to ME。
He loves you。 Better than ever before； he loves you。 All he asks
is the chance to tell you so。 You cannot help but believe him。
Who can look at you； and not believe that he loves you！ Let me；〃
he begged； 〃bring him to you。〃 He started from her when；
remembering the somewhat violent thoughts of the youthful
husband； he added hastily： 〃Or perhaps it would be better if you
called him yourself。〃
〃Called him！〃 exclaimed the lady。 〃He is in Paris…at the
raceswith her！〃
〃If they tell you that sort of thing；〃 protested Philip
indignantly； 〃you must listen to me。 He is not in Paris。 He is
not with her。 There never was a her！〃
He drew aside the lace curtains and pointed。 〃He is there
behind that ancient cab horse； praying that you will let him tell
you that not only did he never do it； but； what is much more
important； he will never do it again。〃
The lady herself now timidly drew the curtains apart； and then
more boldly showed herself upon the iron balcony。 Leaning over
the scarlet geraniums； she beckoned with both hands。 The result
was instantaneous。 Philip bolted for the front door； leaving it
open； and； as he darted down the steps； the youthful husband； in
strides resembling those of an ostrich； shot past him。 Philip did
not cease running until he was well out of Berkeley Square。 Then；
not ill…pleased with the adventure； he turned and smiled back at
the house of yellow stucco。
〃Bless you； my children；〃 he murmured； 〃bless you！〃
He continued to the Ritz； and； on crossing Piccadilly to the
quieter entrance to the hotel in Arlington Street； found gathered
around it a considerable crowd drawn up on either side of a red
carpet that stretched down the steps of the hotel to a court
carriage。 A red carpet in June； when all is dry under foot and
the sun is shining gently； can mean only royalty； and in the rear
of the men in the street Philip halted。 He remembered that for a
few days the young King of Asturia and the Queen Mother were at
the Ritz incognito； and； as he never had seen the young man who
so recently and so tragically had been exiled from his own
kingdom； Philip raised himself on tiptoe and stared expectantly。
As easily as he could read their faces could he read the thoughts
of those about him。 They were thoughts of friendly curiosity； of
pity for the exiles； on the part of the policemen who had
hastened from a cross street； of pride at their temporary
responsibility； on the part of the coachman of the court
carriage； of speculation as to the possible amount of his
Majesty's tip。 The thoughts were as harmless and protecting as
the warm sunshine。
And then； suddenly and harshly； like the stroke of a fire bell at
midnight； the harmonious chorus of gentle； hospitable thoughts
was shattered by one that was discordant； evil； menacing。 It was
the thought of a man with a brain diseased； and its purpose was
murder。
〃When they appear at the doorway；〃 spoke the brain of the maniac；
〃I shall lift the bomb from my pocket。 I shall raise it above my
head。 I shall crash it against the stone steps。 It will hurl them
and all of these people into eternity and me with them。 But I
shall LIVEa martyr to the Cause。 And the Cause will flourish！〃
Through the unsuspecting crowd； like a football player diving for
a tackle； Philip hurled himself upon a little dark man standing
close to the open door of the court carriage。 From the rear
Philip seized him around the waist and locked his arms behind
him； elbow to elbow。 Philip's face； appearing over the man's
shoulder； stared straight into that of the policeman。
〃He has a bomb in his right…hand pocket！〃 yelled Philip。 〃I can
hold him while you take it！ But； for Heaven's sake； don't drop
it！〃 Philip turned upon the crowd。 〃Run！ all of you！〃 he shouted。
〃Run like the devil！〃
At that instant the boy King and his Queen Mother； herself still
young and beautiful； and cloaked with a dignity and sorrow that
her robes of mourning could not intensify； appeared in the
doorway。
〃Go back； sir！〃 warned Philip。 〃He means to kill you！〃
At the words and at sight of the struggling men； the great lady
swayed helplessly； her eyes filled with terror。 Her son sprang
protectingly in front of her。 But the danger was past。 A second
policeman was now holding the maniac by the wrists； forcing his
arms above his head； Philip's arms； like a lariat； were wound
around his chest； and from his pocket the first policeman
gingerly drew forth a round； black object of the size of a glass
fire…grenade。 He held it high in the air； and waved his free hand
warningly。 But the warning was unobserved。 There was no one
remaining to observe it。 Leaving the would…be assassin struggling
and biting in the grasp of the stalwart policeman； and the other
policeman unhappily holding the bomb at arm's length； Philip
sought to escape into the Ritz。 But the young King broke through
the circle of attendants and stopped him。
〃I must thank you；〃 said the boy eagerly； 〃and I wish you to tell
me how you came to suspect the man's purpose。〃
Unable to speak the truth； Philip； the would…be writer of
fiction； began to improvise fluently。
〃To learn their purpose； sir；〃 he said； 〃is my business。 I am of
the International Police； and in the secret service of your
Majesty。〃
〃Then I must know your name；〃 said the King； and added with a
dignity that was most becoming； 〃You will find we are not
ungrateful。〃
Philip smiled mysteriously and shook his head。
〃I said in your secret service；〃 he repeated。 〃Did even your
Majesty know me； my usefulness would be at an end。〃 He pointed
toward the two policemen。 〃If you desire to be just； as well as
gracious； those are the men to reward。〃
He slipped past the King and through the crowd of hotel officials
into the hall and on into the corridor。
The arrest had taken place so quietly and so quickly that through
the heavy glass doors no sound had penetrated； and of the fact
that they had been so close to a possible tragedy those in the
corridor were still ignorant。 The members of the Hungarian
orchestra were arranging their music； a waiter was serving two
men of middle age with sherry； and two distinguished…looking
elderly gentlemen seated together on a sofa were talking in
leisurely whispers。
One of the two middle…aged men was well known to Philip； who as a
reporter had often； in New York； endeavored to interview him on
matters concerning the steel trust。 His name was Faust。 He was a
Pennsylvania Dutchman from Pittsburgh； and at one time had been a
foreman of the night shift in the same mills he now controlled。
But with a roar and a spectacular flash； not unlike one of his
own blast furnaces； he had soared to fame and fortune。 He
recognized Philip as one of the bright young men of the Republic；
but in his own opinion he was far too self…important to betray
that fact。
Philip sank into an imitation Louis Quatorze chair beside a
fountain in imitation of one in the apartment of the Pompadour；
and ordered what he knew would be an execrable imitation of an
American cocktail。 While waiting for the cocktail and Lady
Woodcote's luncheon party； Philip； from where he sat； could not
help but overhear the conversation of Faust and of the man with
him。 The latter was a German with Hebraic features and a pointed
beard。 In loud tones he was congratulating the American many…time
millionaire on having that morning come into possession of a rare
and valuable masterpiece； a hitherto unknown and but recently
discovered portrait of Philip IV by Velasquez。
Philip sighed enviously。
〃Fancy；〃 he thought； 〃owning a Velasquez！ Fancy having it all to
yourself！ It must be fun to be rich。 It certainly is hell to be
poor！〃
The German； who was evidently a picture…dealer； was exclaiming in
tones of rapture； and nodding his head with an air of awe and
solemnity。
〃I am telling you the truth； Mr。 Fa