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！
One may break the speed laws in New York if one has the speed； and if one has the ability to get away with it。 This car had both。 Never before had Larry driven so rapidly within New York City limits； he knew this； that any trailing taxicab would be lost behind。 At Two… Hundred…and…Forty…Fifth Street the car swung into Van Cortland Park； and switched off all lights。 Two minutes later they halted in a dark stretch of one of the by…roads of the Park。
〃We'll be stopping only a minute； sir； to put on our right number plates；〃 the man opened the door to explain。
Within the minute they were away again； now proceeding more leisurely； in the easy manner of a private car going about its private business though the interior of the car was discreetly dark and Larry huddled discreetly into a corner。 Thus they drove over the Grand Boulevards and recrossed the Harlem River and presently drew up in front of a great apartment house in Park Avenue。
The man opened the door。 〃Walk right in； sir； as though you belong here。 The doorman and the elevatorman are prepared。〃
They might be prepared； but Larry certainly was not； and he shot up the elevator to the top floor with mounting bewilderment。 The man unlocked the door of an apartment； ushered Larry in； took his wet hat； then ushered the dazed Larry through the corner of a dim…lit drawing… room and through another door。
〃You are to wait here； sir；〃 said the man； and quietly withdrew。
Larry looked about him。 He took in but a few details； but he knew enough about the better fittings of life to realize that he was in the presence of both money and the best of taste。 He noted the log fire in the broad fireplace； comfortable chairs； the imported rugs on the gleaming floor； the shelves of books which climbed to the ceiling； a quaint writing…desk in one corner which seemed to belong to another country and another century； but which was perfectly at home in this room。
On the desk he saw standing a leather…framed photograph which seemed familiar。 He crossed and picked it up。 Indeed it was familiar！ It was a photograph of Hunt： of Hunt； not in the shabby； shapeless garments he wore down at the Duchess's； but Hunt accoutered as might be a man accustomed to such a room as thisthough in this picture there was the same strong chin； the same belligerent good…natured eyes。
Now how and where did that impecunious； rough…neck painter fit into
But the dazed question Larry was asking was interrupted by a voice from the doorthe thick voice of a man：
〃Who the hell 'r' you？〃
Larry whirled about。 In the doorway stood a tall； bellicose young gentleman of perhaps twenty…four or five； in evening dress； flushed of face； holding unsteadily to the door…jamb。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said Larry。
〃'N' what the hell you doin' here？〃 continued the belligerent young gentleman。
〃I'd be obliged to you if you could tell me；〃 said Larry。
〃Tryin' to stall； 'r' you；〃 declared the young gentleman with a scowling profundity。 〃No go。 Got to come out your corner 'n' fight。 'N' I'm goin' lick you。〃
The young man crossed unsteadily to Larry and took a fighting pose。
〃Put 'em up！〃 he ordered。
This was certainly a night of strange adventure； thought Larry。 His wild escapehis coming to this unknown placeand now this befuddled young fellow intent upon battle with him。
〃Let's fight to…morrow；〃 Larry suggested soothingly。
〃Put 'em up！〃 ordered the other。 〃If you don't know what you're doin' here； I'll show you what you're doin' here！〃
But he was not to show Larry； for while he was uttering his last words； trying to steady himself in a crouch for the delivery of a blow； a voice sounded sharply from the doorwaya woman's voice：
〃Dick！〃
The young man slowly turned。 But Larry had seen her first。 He had no chance to take her in； that first moment； beyond noting that she was slender and young and exquisitely gowned； for she swept straight across to them。
〃Dick； you're drunk again！〃 she exclaimed。
〃Wrong； sis；〃 he corrected in an injured tone。 〃It's same drunk。〃
〃Dick； you go to bed！〃
〃Now； sis〃
〃You go to bed！〃
The young man wavered before her commanding gaze。 〃Jus's you say jus's you say；〃 he mumbled； and went unsteadily toward the door。
The young woman watched him out； and then turned her troubled face back to Larry。 〃I'm sorry Dick behaved to you as he did。〃
And then before Larry could make answer； her clouded look was gone。 〃So you're here at last； Mr。 Brainard。〃 She held her hand out； smiling a smile that by some magic seemed to envelop him within an immediate friendship。
〃I'm Miss Sherwood。〃 He noted that the slender； tapering hand had almost a man's strength of grip。 〃You needn't tell me anything about yourself；〃 she added； 〃for I already know a lotall I need to know： about youand about Maggie Carlisle。 You see an hour ago a messenger brought me a long letter he'd written about you。〃 And she nodded to the photograph Larry was still holding。
〃Youyou know him？〃 Larry stammered。
She answered with a whimsical smile： 〃Yes。 Isn't he a grand； foolish old dear？ He's such a roistering； bragging 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。 With