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！
have mentioned to you。〃
〃What； over here to Paris？〃 Mr。 Coulson exclaimed。
〃Not only to Paris；〃 the other replied dryly； 〃but to discover one Mr。 James B。 Coulson； whose health I now have the pleasure of drinking。〃
Mr。 Coulson drained the glass which the waiter had just filled。
〃Well； this licks me！〃 he exclaimed。 〃How any one in their senses could believe that there was any connection between me and Hamilton Fynes or that other young swell； I can't imagine。〃
〃You knew Hamilton Fynes；〃 Mr。 Gaynsforth remarked。 〃That fact came out at the inquest。 You appeared to have known him better than most men。 Mr。 Vanderpole had just left you when he was murdered；that also came out at the inquest。〃
〃Kind of queer； wasn't it；〃 Mr。 Coulson remarked meditatively； 〃how I seemed to get hung up with both of them？ You may also remember that at the inquest Mr。 Vanderpole's business with me was testified to by the chief of his department。〃
〃Certainly；〃 Mr。 Gaynsforth answered。 〃However； that's neither here nor there。 Everything was properly arranged； so far as you were concerned； of course。 That doesn't alter my friend's convictions。 This is a business matter with me； and if the two thousand pounds don't sound attractive enough； well； the amount must be revised； that's all。 But I want you to understand this； Mr。 Coulson； I represent a man or a syndicate； or call it what you will。〃
〃Call it a Government；〃 Mr。 Coulson muttered under his breath。
〃Call it what you will；〃 Mr。 Gaynsforth continued； with an air of not having heard the interruption； 〃we have the money and we want the information。 You can give it to us if you like。 We don't ask for too much。 We don't even ask for the name of the man who committed these crimes。 But we do want to know the nature of those papers； exactly what position Mr。 Hamilton Fynes occupied in the Stamp and Excise Duty department at Washington； and； finally； what the mischief you are doing over here in Paris。〃
〃Have you ordered the supper？〃 Mr。 Coulson inquired anxiously。
〃I have ordered everything you suggested；〃 Mr。 Gaynsforth answered；〃some oysters； a chicken en casserole； lettuce salad； some cheese； and a magnum of Pommery。〃
〃It is understood that you are my host？〃 Mr。 Coulson insisted。
〃Absolutely；〃 his companion declared。 〃I consider it an honor。〃
〃Then；〃 Mr。 Coulson said； pointing out his empty glass to the SOMMELIER； 〃we may as well understand one another。 To you I am Mr。 James B。 Coulson； travelling in patents for woollen machinery。 If you put a quarter of a million of francs upon that table； I am still Mr。 James B。 Coulson； travelling in woollen machinery。 And if you add a million to that； and pile up the notes so high that they touch the ceiling； I remain Mr。 James B。 Coulson； travelling in patents for woollen machinery。 Now； if you'll get that firmly into your head and stick to it and believe it； there's no reason why you and I shouldn't have a pleasant evening。〃
Mr。 Gaynsforth； although he was an Englishman and young； showed himself to be possessed of a sense of humor。 He leaned back in his seat and roared with laughter。
〃Mr。 Coulson；〃 he said； 〃I congratulate you and your employers。 To the lower regions with business！ Help yourself to the oysters and pass the wine。〃
CHAPTER XVIII。 MR。 COULSON IS INDISCREET
On the following morning Mr。 Coulson received what he termed his mail from America。 Locked in his room on the fifth floor of the hotel； he carefully perused the contents of several letters。 A little later he rang and ordered his bill。 At four o'clock he left the Gare du Nord for London。
Like many other great men； Mr。 Coulson was not without his weakness。 He was brave； shrewd； and far…seeing。 He enjoyed excellent health； and he scarcely knew the meaning of the word nerves。 Nevertheless he suffered from seasickness。 The first thing he did； therefore； when aboard the boat at Boulogne； was to bespeak a private cabin。 The steward to whom he made his application shook his head with regret。 The last two had just been engaged。 Mr。 Coulson tried a tip； and then a larger tip； with equal lack of success。 He was about to abandon the effort and retire gloomily to the saloon； when a man who had been standing by； wrapped in a heavy fur overcoat； intervened。
〃I am afraid； sir；〃 he said； 〃that it is I who have just secured the last cabin。 If you care to share it with me； however； I shall be delighted。 As a matter of fact； I use it very little myself。 The night has turned out so fine that I shall probably promenade all the time。〃
〃If you will allow me to divide the expense；〃 Mr。 Coulson replied； 〃I shall be exceedingly obliged to you； and will accept your offer。 I am； unfortunately； a bad sailor。〃
〃That is as you will； sir；〃 the gentleman answered。 〃The amount is only trifling。〃
The night was a bright one； but there was a heavy sea running； and even in the harbor the boat was rocking。 Mr。 Coulson groaned as he made his way across the threshold of the cabin。
〃I am going to have a horrible time；〃 he said frankly。 〃I am afraid you'll repent your offer before you've done with me。〃
His new friend smiled。
〃I have never been seasick in my life；〃 he said； 〃and I only engage a cabin for fear of wet weather。 A fine night like this I shall not trouble you； so pray be as ill as you like。〃
〃It's nothing to laugh at；〃 Mr。 Coulson remarked gloomily。
〃Let me give you a little advice；〃 his friend said； 〃and I can assure you that I know something of these matters； for I have been on the sea a great deal。 Let me mix you a stiff brandy and soda。 Drink it down and eat only a dry biscuit。 I have some brandy of my own here。〃
〃Nothing does me any good；〃 Mr。 Coulson groaned。
〃This；〃 the stranger remarked； producing a flask from his case and dividing the liquor into equal parts； 〃may send you to sleep。 If so； you'll be across before you wake up。 〃Here's luck！〃
Mr。 Coulson drained his glass。 His companion was in the act of raising his to his lips when the ship gave a roll； his elbow caught the back of a chair； and the tumbler slipped from his fingers。
〃It's of no consequence；〃 he declared； ringing for the steward。 〃I'll go into the smoking room and get a drink。 I was only going to have some to keep you company。 As a matter of fact； I prefer whiskey。〃
Mr。 Coulson sat down upon the berth。 He seemed indisposed for speech。
〃I'll leave you now； then；〃 his friend said； buttoning his coat around him。 〃You lie flat down on your back； and I think you'll find yourself all right。〃
〃That brandy；〃 Mr。 Coulson muttered； 〃was infernally… strong。〃
His companion smiled and went out。 In a quarter of an hour he returned and locked the door。 They were out in the Channel now； and the boat was pitching heavily。 Mr。 James B。 Coulson； however； knew nothing of it。 He was sleeping like one who wakes only for the Judgment Day。 Over his coat and waistcoat the other man's fingers travelled with curious dexterity。 The oilskin case in which Mr。 Coulson was in the habit of keeping his private correspondence was reached in a very few minutes。 The stranger turned out the letters and read them； one by one； until he came to the one he sought。 He held it for a short time in his hand； looked at the address with a faint smile； and slipped his fingers lightly along the gummed edge of the envelope。
〃No seal；〃 he said softly to himself。 〃My friend Mr。 Coulson plays the game of travelling agent to perfection。〃
He glided out of the cabin with the letter in his hand。 In about ten minutes he returned。 Mr。 Coulson was still sleeping。 He replaced the letter； pressing down the envelope carefully。
〃My friend；〃 he whispered； looking down upon Mr。 Coulson's uneasy figure； 〃on the whole； I have been perhaps a little premature。 I think you had better deliver this document to its proper destination。 If only there was to have been a written answer； we might have met again！ It would have been most interesting。〃
He slipped the oilskin case back into the exact position in which he had found it； and watched his companion for several minutes in silence。 Then he went to his dressing bag and from a phial mixed a little draught。 Lifting the sleeping man's head； he forced it down his throat。
〃I think；〃 he said； 〃I think； Mr。 Coulson； that you had better wake up。〃
He unlocked the door and resumed his promenade of the deck。 In the bows he stood for some time； leaning with folded arms against a pillar； his eyes fixed upon the line of lights ahead。 The great waves now leaped into the moonlight； the wind sang in the rigging and came booming across the waters； the salt spray stung his cheeks。 High above his head； the slender mast； with its Marconi attachment； swang and dived； reached out for the stars； and fell away with a shudder。 The man who watched； stood and dreamed until the voyage was almost over。 Then he turned on his heel and went back to see how his cabin companion was faring。
Mr。 Coulson was sitting on the edge of his bunk。 He had awakened with a terrible headache and a sense of some hideous indiscretion。 It was not until he had examined every paper in his pocket and all his money that he had begun to feel more comfortable。 And in the meantime he had forgotten altogether to be seasick。
〃W