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！
street。 And his thoughts were these： 〃She is the best that ever
lived； and I am the most ungrateful of fools。 How happy were we
in the house of yellow stucco！ Only now； when she has closed its
doors to me； do I know how happy！ If she would give me another
chance； never again would I distress or deceive her。〃
So far had the young man progressed in his thoughts when an
automobile of surprising smartness swept around the corner and
drew up in front of the house of yellow stucco； and from it
descended a charming young person。 She was of the Dresden…
shepherdess type； with large blue eyes of haunting beauty and
innocence。
〃My wife！〃 exclaimed the blond youth at the railings。 And
instantly he dodged behind a horse that； while still attached to
a four…wheeler； was contentedly eating from a nose…bag。
With a key the Dresden shepherdess opened the door to the yellow
house and disappeared。
The calling of the reporter trains him in audacity； and to act
quickly。 He shares the troubles of so many people that to the
troubles of other people he becomes callous； and often will rush
in where friends of the family fear to tread。 Although Philip was
not now acting as a reporter； he acted quickly。 Hardly had the
door closed upon the young lady than he had mounted the steps and
rung the visitor's bell。 As he did so； he could not resist
casting a triumphant glance in the direction of the outlawed
husband。 And； in turn； what the outcast husband； peering from
across the back of the cab horse； thought of Philip； of his
clothes； of his general appearance； and of the manner in which he
would delight to alter all of them； was quickly communicated to
the American。 They were thoughts of a nature so violent and
uncomplimentary that Philip hastily cut off all connection。
As Philip did not know the name of the Dresden…china doll； it was
fortunate that on opening the door； the butler promptly
announced：
〃Her ladyship is not receiving。〃
〃Her ladyship will； I think； receive me；〃 said Philip pleasantly；
〃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