第 37 节
作者:月寒      更新:2024-04-14 09:15      字数:9322
  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
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  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
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  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;
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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