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〃Run like the devil！〃
At that instant the boy King and his Queen Mother； herself still
young and beautiful； and cloaked with a dignity and sorrow that
her robes of mourning could not intensify； appeared in the
doorway。
〃Go back； sir！〃 warned Philip。 〃He means to kill you！〃
At the words and at sight of the struggling men； the great lady
swayed helplessly； her eyes filled with terror。 Her son sprang
protectingly in front of her。 But the danger was past。 A second
policeman was now holding the maniac by the wrists； forcing his
arms above his head； Philip's arms； like a lariat； were wound
around his chest； and from his pocket the first policeman
gingerly drew forth a round； black object of the size of a glass
fire…grenade。 He held it high in the air； and waved his free hand
warningly。 But the warning was unobserved。 There was no one
remaining to observe it。 Leaving the would…be assassin struggling
and biting in the grasp of the stalwart policeman； and the other
policeman unhappily holding the bomb at arm's length； Philip
sought to escape into the Ritz。 But the young King broke through
the circle of attendants and stopped him。
〃I must thank you；〃 said the boy eagerly； 〃and I wish you to tell
me how you came to suspect the man's purpose。〃
Unable to speak the truth； Philip； the would…be writer of
fiction； began to improvise fluently。
〃To learn their purpose； sir；〃 he said； 〃is my business。 I am of
the International Police； and in the secret service of your
Majesty。〃
〃Then I must know your name；〃 said the King； and added with a
dignity that was most becoming； 〃You will find we are not
ungrateful。〃
Philip smiled mysteriously and shook his head。
〃I said in your secret service；〃 he repeated。 〃Did even your
Majesty know me； my usefulness would be at an end。〃 He pointed
toward the two policemen。 〃If you desire to be just； as well as
gracious； those are the men to reward。〃
He slipped past the King and through the crowd of hotel officials
into the hall and on into the corridor。
The arrest had taken place so quietly and so quickly that through
the heavy glass doors no sound had penetrated； and of the fact
that they had been so close to a possible tragedy those in the
corridor were still ignorant。 The members of the Hungarian
orchestra were arranging their music； a waiter was serving two
men of middle age with sherry； and two distinguished…looking
elderly gentlemen seated together on a sofa were talking in
leisurely whispers。
One of the two middle…aged men was well known to Philip； who as a
reporter had often； in New York； endeavored to interview him on
matters concerning the steel trust。 His name was Faust。 He was a
Pennsylvania Dutchman from Pittsburgh； and at one time had been a
foreman of the night shift in the same mills he now controlled。
But with a roar and a spectacular flash； not unlike one of his
own blast furnaces； he had soared to fame and fortune。 He
recognized Philip as one of the bright young men of the Republic；
but in his own opinion he was far too self…important to betray
that fact。
Philip sank into an imitation Louis Quatorze chair beside a
fountain in imitation of one in the apartment of the Pompadour；
and ordered what he knew would be an execrable imitation of an
American cocktail。 While waiting for the cocktail and Lady
Woodcote's luncheon party； Philip； from where he sat； could not
help but overhear the conversation of Faust and of the man with
him。 The latter was a German with Hebraic features and a pointed
beard。 In loud tones he was congratulating the American many…time
millionaire on having that morning come into possession of a rare
and valuable masterpiece； a hitherto unknown and but recently
discovered portrait of Philip IV by Velasquez。
Philip sighed enviously。
〃Fancy；〃 he thought； 〃owning a Velasquez！ Fancy having it all to
yourself！ It must be fun to be rich。 It certainly is hell to be
poor！〃
The German； who was evidently a picture…dealer； was exclaiming in
tones of rapture； and nodding his head with an air of awe and
solemnity。
〃I am telling you the truth； Mr。 Faust；〃 he said。 〃In no gallery
in Europe； no； not even in the Prado； is there such another
Velasquez。 This is what you are doing； Mr。 Faust； you are robbing
Spain。 You are robbing her of something worth more to her than
Cuba。 And I tell you； so soon as it is known that this Velasquez
is going to your home in Pittsburgh； every Spaniard will hate you
and every art…collector will hate you； too。 For it is the most
wonderful art treasure in Europe。 And what a bargain； Mr。 Faust！
What a bargain！〃
To make sure that the reporter was within hearing； Mr。 Faust
glanced in the direction of Philip and； seeing that he had heard；
frowned importantly。 That the reporter might hear still more； he
also raised his voice。
〃Nothing can be called a bargain； Baron；〃 he said； 〃that costs
three hundred thousand dollars！〃
Again he could not resist glancing toward Philip； and so eagerly
that Philip deemed it would be only polite to look interested。 So
he obligingly assumed a startled look； with which he endeavored
to mingle simulations of surprise； awe； and envy。
The next instant an expression of real surprise overspread his
features。
Mr。 Faust continued。 〃If you will come upstairs；〃 he said to the
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； 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
coc