the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第34部分
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picture…dealer； 〃I will give you your check； and then I should like to drive
to your apartments and take a farewell look at the picture。〃
〃I am sorry；〃 the Baron said； 〃but I have had it moved to my art gallery
to be packed。〃
〃Then let's go to the gallery；〃 urged the patron of art。 〃We've just time
before lunch。〃 He rose to his feet； and on the instant the soul of the
picture…dealer was filled with alarm。
In actual words he said： 〃The picture is already boxed and in its lead
coffin。 No doubt by now it is on its way to Liverpool。 I am sorry。〃 But his
thoughts； as Philip easily read them； were： 〃Fancy my letting this vulgar
fool into the Tate Street workshop！ Even HE would know that old masters
are not found in a half…finished state on Chelsea…made frames and
canvases。 Fancy my letting him see those two half…completed Van Dycks；
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the new Hals； the half…dozen Corots。 He would even see his own copy of
Velasquez next to the one exactly like itthe one MacMillan finished
yesterday and that I am sending to Oporto； where next year； in a convent；
we shall 'discover' it。〃
Philip's surprise gave way to intense amusement。 In his delight at the
situation upon which he had stumbled； he laughed aloud。 The two men；
who had risen； surprised at the spectacle of a young man laughing at
nothing； turned and stared。 Philip also rose。
〃Pardon me；〃 he said to Faust； 〃but you spoke so loud I couldn't help
overhearing。 I think we've met before； when I was a reporter on the
Republic。〃
The Pittsburgh millionaire made a pretense； of annoyance。
〃Really！〃 he protested irritably； 〃you reporters butt in everywhere。 No
public man is safe。 Is there no place we can go where you fellows won't
annoy us？〃
〃You can go to the devil for all I care；〃 said Philip； 〃or even to
Pittsburgh！〃
He saw the waiter bearing down upon him with the imitation cocktail；
and moved to meet it。 The millionaire； fearing the reporter would escape
him； hastily changed his tone。 He spoke with effective resignation。
〃However； since you've learned so much；〃 he said； 〃I'll tell you the
whole of it。 I don't want the fact garbled； for it is of international
importance。 Do you know what a Velasquez is？〃
〃Do you？〃 asked Philip。
The millionaire smiled tolerantly。
〃I think I do；〃 he said。 〃And to prove it； I shall tell you something that
will be news to you。 I have just bought a Velasquez that I am going to
place in my art museum。 It is worth three hundred thousand dollars。〃
Philip accepted the cocktail the waiter presented。 It was quite as bad as
he had expected。
〃Now； I shall tell you something；〃 he said； 〃that will be news to you。
You are not buying a Velasquez。 It is no more a Velasquez than this hair oil
is a real cocktail。 It is a bad copy； worth a few dollars。〃
〃How dare you！〃 shouted Faust。 〃Are you mad？〃
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The face of the German turned crimson with rage。
〃Who is this insolent one？〃 he sputtered。
〃I will make you a sporting proposition；〃 said Philip。 〃You can take it；
or leave it。 You two will get into a taxi。 You will drive to this man's studio
in Tate Street。 You will find your Velasquez is there and not on its way to
Liverpool。 And you will find one exactly like it； and a dozen other 'old
masters' half…finished。 I'll bet you a hundred pounds I'm right！ And I'll bet
this man a hundred pounds that he DOESN'T DARE TAKE YOU TO HIS
STUDIO！〃
〃Indeed； I will not；〃 roared the German。 〃It would be to insult myself。〃
〃It would be an easy way to earn a hundred pounds； too；〃 said Philip。
〃How dare you insult the Baron？〃 demanded Faust。 〃What makes you
think〃
〃I don't think； I know！〃 said Philip。 〃For the price of a taxi…cab fare to
Tate Street； you win a hundred pounds。〃
〃We will all three go at once；〃 cried the German。 〃My car is outside。
Wait here。 I will have it brought to the door？〃
Faust protested indignantly。
〃Do not disturb yourself； Baron；〃 he said； 〃just because a fresh
reporter〃
But already the German had reached the hall。 Nor did he stop there。
They saw him； without his hat； rush into Piccadilly； spring into a taxi； and
shout excitedly to the driver。 The next moment he had disappeared。
〃That's the last you'll see of him；〃 said Philip。
〃His actions are certainly peculiar；〃 gasped the millionaire。 〃He did not
wait for us。 He didn't even wait for his hat！ I think； after all； I had better go
to Tate Street。〃
〃Do so；〃 said Philip； 〃and save yourself three hundred thousand dollars；
and from the laughter of two continents。 You'll find me here at lunch。 If
I'm wrong； I'll pay you a hundred pounds。〃
〃You should come with me；〃 said Faust。 〃It is only fair to yourself。〃
〃I'll take your word for what you find in the studio；〃 said Philip。 〃I
cannot go。 This is my busy day。〃
Without further words； the millionaire collected his hat and stick； and；
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in his turn； entered a taxi…cab and disappeared。
Philip returned to the Louis Quatorze chair and lit a cigarette。 Save for
the two elderly gentlemen on the sofa； the lounge was still empty； and his
reflections were undisturbed。 He shook his head sadly。
〃Surely；〃 Philip thought； 〃the French chap was right who said words
were given us to conceal our thoughts。 What a strange world it would be if
every one possessed my power。 Deception would be quite futile and lying
would become a lost art。 I wonder；〃 he mused cynically； 〃is any one quite
honest？ Does any one speak as he thinks and think as he speaks？〃
At once came a direct answer to his question。 The two elderly
gentlemen had risen and； before separating； had halted a few feet from
him。
〃I sincerely hope； Sir John；〃 said one of the two； 〃that you have no
regrets。 I hope you believe that I have advised you in the best interests of
all？〃
〃I do； indeed；〃 the other replied heartily 〃We shall be thought entirely
selfish； but you know and I know that what we have done is for the benefit
of the shareholders。〃
Philip was pleased to find that the thoughts of each of the old
gentlemen ran hand in hand with his spoken words。 〃Here； at least；〃 he
said to himself； 〃are two honest men。〃
As though loath to part； the two gentlemen still lingered。
〃And I hope；〃 continued the one addressed as Sir John； 〃that you
approve of my holding back the public announcement of the combine until
the afternoon。 It will give the shareholders a better chance。 Had we given
out the news in this morning's papers the stockbrokers would have〃
〃It was most wise；〃 interrupted the other。 〃Most just。〃
The one called Sir John bowed himself away； leaving the other still
standing at the steps of the lounge。 With his hands behind his back； his
chin sunk on his chest； he remained； gazing at nothing； his thoughts far
away。
Philip found them thoughts of curious interest。 They were concerned
with three flags。 Now； the gentleman considered them separately； and
Philip saw the emblems painted clearly in colors； fluttering and flattened
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by the breeze。 Again； the gentleman considered them in various
combinations； but always； in whatever order his mind arranged them； of
the three his heart spoke always to the same flag； as the heart of a mother
reaches toward her firstborn。
Then the thoughts were diverted； and in his mind's eye the old
gentleman was watching the launching of a little schooner from a shipyard
on the Clyde。 At her main flew one of the three flagsa flag with a red
cross on a white ground。 With thoughts tender and grateful； he followed
her to strange； hot ports； through hurricanes and tidal waves； he saw her
return again and again to the London docks； laden with odorous coffee；
mahogany； red rubber； and raw bullion。 He saw sister ships follow in her
wake to every port in the South Sea； saw steam packets take the place of
the ships with sails； saw the steam packets give way to great ocean liners；
each a floating village； each equipped； as no village is equipped； with a
giant power house； thousands of electric lamps； suite after suite of silk…
lined boudoirs； with the floating harps that vibrate to a love message three
hundred miles away； to the fierce call for help from a sinking ship。 But at
the main of each great vessel there still flew the same house…flagthe red
cross on the field of whiteonly now in the arms of the cross there nestled
proudly a royal crown。
Philip cast a scared glance at the old gentleman； and raced down the
corridor to the telephone。
Of all the young Englishmen he knew； Maddox was his best friend and
a stock…broke
