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〃What's that to do with it so long as convention is satisfied？〃
Cutty was so shaken and confused that he missed the tragic irony of
the voice。 All the receptive avenues to his brain seemed to have
shut down suddenly。 He was conscious only of the clitter…clatter。
Marry Kitty！
〃You can't settle money on her；〃 went on Hawksley； 〃without scandal。
You can't offer her anything without offending her。 And you can't
let her go to rust without having her bit of good times。〃
〃Utterly impossible；〃 said Cutty； to the idea rather than to his
tormentor。
〃Oh； of course； if you have an affair … No； God forgive me； I don't
mean that！ I'm a damned ingrate！ But your bringing up those stones
and knocking off the top of all the misery piling up in my heart！ I
was only trying to hurt you； hurt myself； everybody。 Please have a
little patience with me； for I've come out of hell！〃 Hawksley turned
aside his head。
〃Buck up；〃 said Cutty； his blazing wrath dropping to a smoulder。
〃I'll fetch those togs。〃
What had the boy done to fill him with such tragic bitterness？ Was
he Two…Hawks？ Cutty dismissed this doubt instantly。 He recalled
the episode of the boy's conduct when confronted by the photograph
of his mother。 No human being could be a play actor in such a
moment。 The boy's emotion had been deep and real。 Cutty recognized
the fact that he had become as a block in the middle of a Chinese
puzzle； only Fate could move him to his appointed place。
But offer marriage to Kitty so that he could provide for her！
Mechanically he rummaged his clothes press for the suit he was to
take to Hawksley。 Well； why not？ He could settle five thousand a
year on her。 His departure for the Balkans … he might be gone a
year or more … could be legally construed as desertion。 And with
pretty clothes and freedom she would soon find some young chap to
her liking。 But would a girl like Kitty see it from his point of
view？ The marriage could take place an hour or two before he went
aboard his ship。 Hang it； Hawksley wasn't so far off。 Kitty
couldn't possibly be offended if he laid the business squarely on
the table。 To provide for Molly's girl！
When Kuroki announced that breakfast was ready； Cutty went into the
living room for Kitty； whom he bad not yet seen。 He found her by a
window fascinated by the splendour of the panorama as seen in the
morning light。 Not a vestige of the tears and disorder in which
he had left her。 What had been behind those tears？ Dainty and
refreshing； to the eye as though she had stepped out of a bandbox。
Compromised？ That was utter rot！ Wasn't Miss Frances here？
Clitter…clatter； clitter…clatter。 But Cutty was not aware that it
was no longer in his head but in his heart。
〃Breakfast is served； Your Highness；〃 he announced with a grave
salaam。
Kitty pirouetted。 For some reason she could not explain to herself
she wanted to laugh； sing； dance。 Perhaps it was because she was
only twenty…four。 Or it might have had its origin in the tonicky
awakening among all these beautiful furnishings。
She assumed a haughty expression … such as the Duchess of Gerolstein
assumes when she appoints the private to the office of generalissimo
… and with a careless wave of the hand said： 〃Summon His Highness！〃
CHAPTER XXIV
Between Cutty's heart and his throat there was very little space at
that moment for the propelment of sound。 Kitty Conover had
innocently … he understood that almost immediately and recovered
his mental balance … Kitty had innocently thrown a bomb at his feet。
It did not matter that it was a dud。 The result was the same。 For
a second； then； all the terror； all the astounding suspension of
thought and action attending the arrival of a shell on the
battlefield were his。 As an aftermath he would have liked very
much to sit down。 Instead； maintaining the mock gravity of his
expression； he offered his arm； which Kitty accepted； still the
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein。 Pompously they marched into the
dining room。 But as Kitty saw Hawksley she dropped the air
confusedly； and hesitated。 〃Good gracious！〃 she whispered。
〃What's the matter？〃 Cutty whispered in turn。
〃My clothes！〃
〃What's the matter with 'em？〃
〃I slept in them！〃
If that wasn't like a woman！ It did not matter how she might look
to an old codger； aetat。 fifty…two； he didn't count。 But a handsome
young chap； now； in white flannels and sport shirt； his head
bound picturesquely …
〃Don't let that bother you；〃 he said。 〃Those duds of his are mine。〃
Still； Cutty was grateful for this little diversion。 As he drew
back Kitty's chair he was wholly himself again。 At once he dictated
the trend of the conversation； moved it whither he willed； into
strange channels； gave them all a glimpse of his amazing versatility；
with vivid shafts of humour to light up corners。
Kuroki； who had travelled far with his master these ten years；
sometimes paused in his rounds to nod affirmatively。
Hawksley listened intently； wondering a bit。 What was the dear old
beggar's idea； throwing such fireworks round at breakfast？ He stole
a glance at Kitty to see how she was taking it … and caught her
stealing a glance at him。 Instantly both switched back to Cutty。
Shortly the little comedy was repeated because neither could resist
the invisible force of some half…conscious inquiry。 Third time；
they smiled unembarrassedly。 Mind you； they were both hanging upon
Cutty's words； only their eyes were like little children at church；
restless。 It was spring。
Without being exactly conscious of what he was doing； Hawksley began
to dress Kitty … that is； he visualized her in ball gowns； in sports；
in furs。 He put her on horses； in opera boxes； in limousines。 But
in none of these pictures could he hold her； she insisted upon
returning to her kitchen to fry bacon and eggs。
Then came a twisted thought； rejected only to return； a surprising
thought； so alluring that the sense of shame； of chivalry； could not
press it back。 Cutty's words began to flow into one ear and out of
the other； without sense。 There was in his heart … put there by
the recollection of the jewels … an indescribable bitterness； a
desperate cynicism that urged him to strike out； careless of friend
or foe。 Who could say what would happen to him when he left here？
A flash of spring madness； then to go forth devil…may…care。
She was really beautiful； full of unsuspected fire。 To fan it into
white flame。 The whole affair would depend upon whether she cared
for music。 If she did he would pluck the soul out of her。 She had
saved his life。 Well； what of that？ He had broken yonder man's
bread and eaten his salt。 Still； what of that？ Hadn't he come from
a race of scoundrels？ The blood … he had smothered and repressed
it all his life … to unleash it once； happen what might。 If she
were really fond of music！
Once again Kitty's glance roved back to Hawksley。 This time she
encountered a concentration in his unwavering stare。 She did not
quite like it。 Perhaps he was only thinking about something and
wasn't actually seeing her。 Still； it quieted down the fluttering
gayety of her mood。 There was a sun spot of her own that became
visible whenever her interest in Cutty's monologue lagged。 Perhaps
Hawksley had his sun spot。
〃And so；〃 she heard Cutty say。 〃Mr。 Hawksley is going to become
an American citizen。 Kitty； what are some of the principles of good
citizenship？〃
〃To be nice to policemen。 Not to meddle with politics； because it
is vulgar。 To vote perfunctorily。 To 'let George do it' when there
are reforms to be brought about。 To keep your hat on when the flag
goes by because otherwise you will attract attention。 To find fault
without being able to offer remedies。 To keep in debt because life
here in America would be monotonous without bill collectors。〃
Cutty interrupted with a laugh。 〃Kitty； you'll 'scare Hawksley off
the map！〃
〃Let him know the worst at once；〃 retorted Kitty； flashing a smile
at the victim。
〃Spoofing me … what？〃 said Hawksley； appealing to his host。
This quality of light irony in a woman was a distinct novelty to
Hawksley。 She had humour； then？ So much the better。 An added
zest to the game he was planning。 He recalled now that she was
not of the clinging kind either。 A woman with a humorous turn of
mind was ten times more elusive than a purely sentimental one。
Give him an hour or two with that old Amati … if she really cared
for music！ She would be coming to the apartment again … some
afternoon； when his host was out of the way。 Better still； he
would call her by telephone； the plea of loneliness。 Scoundrel？
Of course he was。 He was not denying that。 He would embark
upon this affair without the smug varnish of self…lies。 Fire … to
play with it！
He ate his portion of beefsteak； potatoes； and toast； and emptied
his coffee cup。 It was really the first substantial meal he had
had in many hours。 A feeling of satisfaction began to permeate
him。 He smiled at Miss Frances； who shook her head dubiously。 She
could not quite make him out pathologically。 Perhaps she had been
treating him as shell…shoc