mg.cyro-第15节

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　　〃Immensely；〃　replied　Exeter。
　　〃So　it　seemed；〃　said　Alicia；　〃the　way　you　two　began　to　chat。　What　in　the　world　did　you　find　to　talk　about？〃
　　〃Paris；〃　stated　Exeter。　〃As　soon　as　Brilliard　learned　that　I　knew　the　city；　it　was　hard　to　stop　his　talking。　He　referred　to　a　lot　of　places　that　I　recognized。　He　was　beginning　anecdotes　when　we　left。〃
　　〃You　should　stop　by　again　and　chat　with　him　for　an　hour。〃
　　〃Perhaps　I　shall。　It　would　be　interesting。　Well；　here's　Royal　Street。　Only　a　block　to　Gallion's。〃
　　
　　BACK　in　his　studio；　Raoul　Brilliard　had　removed　the　portrait　from　its　easel。　He　busied　himself　rearranging　the　studio；　then　spent　a　while　cleaning　palette　and　brushes。　More　than　an　hour　had　passed　before　he　finished。
　　Strolling　from　the　studio；　Brilliard　carefully　locked　the　door　behind　him。
　　He　waved　a　greeting　to　the　artist　across　the　way　and　called　something　in　French。
　　The　other　man　nodded。
　　〃What　did　he　say？〃　inquired　the　model；　after　Brilliard　had　gone　down　the　stairs。
　　〃Just　wanted　me　to　tell　people　he　was　out；〃　replied　the　artist。　〃He's　going　to　Thibault's　for　a　cup　of　chocolate。　He　won't　be　back　for　a　couple　of　hours。〃
　　〃A　couple　of　hours！〃　exclaimed　the　model。　〃That　long　for　a　cup　of　chocolate？〃
　　〃When　Frenchmen　drink　chocolate；〃　chuckled　the　artist；　〃they're　like　the　English　with　their　tea。　They　take　half　the　afternoon　for　the　job。〃
　　
　　　CHAPTER　XII　
　　　THE　SHADOW　DECIDES　
　　DINNER　had　ended　at　the　Gaudrin　mansion。　The　event　had　proven　a　gala　one　for　both　Danforth　Gaudrin　and　his　son　Luke。　Each　had　entertained　a　guest；　both　the　honored　visitors　were　millionaires。
　　Dunwood　Marr　and　Lamont　Cranston　had　found　much　in　mon。　Mutual　acquaintances；　mon　interest　in　aviation　and　love　of　travel　had　been　their　subjects　of　discourse。　Yet　it　had　been　plain　from　the　start　that　their　impressions　had　differed。　Marr　mentioned　the　fact　while　they　were　sipping　coffee　and　lighting　their　cigars。
　　〃I　still　like　seaplanes；　Cranston；〃　he　observed。　〃They　give　you　the　water…thrill　of　a　speed　boat；　bined　with　the　zest　of　flight。　Landings　are　uniform　as　a　rule；　but　choppy　water　can　give　you　all　the　excitement　you　desire。
　　I've　tried　an　autogiro　once。　I　didn't　care　for　it。〃
　　〃You　need　more　experience；〃　returned　Cranston。　〃The　gyro　affords　more　interesting　episodes　than　any　other　type　of　aircraft。　It　bines　certainty　with　uncertainty。〃
　　〃Why　the　uncertainty；　Cranston？　I　thought　they　could　land　safely　anywhere。〃
　　〃They　almost　can。　That　is　why　they　tempt　you　to　try　the　impossible。　Just　as　in　traveling；　Marr。　It　is　one　thing　to　go　through　danger　spots；　keeping　close　to　beaten　paths。　It　is　another　to　throw　yourself　into　the　untrod　byways；　where　danger　can　surround　you。〃
　　〃About　Timbuktu　and　Tibet…you've　spoken　of　those　places；　Cranston。　I've　never　been　to　either。　I　suppose　I　have　missed　thrills　that　you　have　gained。〃
　　〃You　have；　Marr。　And　yet〃…with　Cranston's　thin　smile；　The　Shadow　turned　to　Exeter…〃I　suppose　that　in　Australia；　Exeter；　you　have　had　experiences　that　can　equal　any　of　mine。〃
　　〃Hardly；〃　replied　Exeter；　With　a　shake　of　his　head。　〃I　suppose　you　refer　to　the　regions　where　the　Bushmen　are　found。　I've　kept　clear　of　those　districts；　Mr。　Cranston。　I've　spent　most　of　my　life　in　Melbourne　and　Sydney；　except　for　a　few　trips　to　England。〃
　　〃You　were　in　Paris；　Reggie；〃　reminded　Alicia。
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Exeter。　〃I　always　stopped　there　ing　home　from　England。　Long　stops；　too。　Months　at　a　time。　No；　Mr。　Cranston；　outside　of　a　vacation　in　Tasmania；　I've　had　very　little　taste　of　outdoor　life。〃
　　Conversation　lagged。　Alicia　arose　and　suggested　that　the　guests　sojourn　on　the　veranda。　Exeter　accepted。　Marr　and　Cranston　remained　with　Luke　and　his　father；　to　finish　their　cigars。
　　〃Even　Mexico　is　too　wild　for　me；〃　remarked　Marr。　〃Those　trips　that　I　made　across　the　mountains　to　my　mines　in　Hidalgo　were　slow　and　troublesome。　Bandits　were　a　constant　menace。〃
　　〃Why　didn't　you　go　by　seaplane？〃　came　Cranston's　question。
　　〃Impossible；〃　replied　Marr。　〃No　place　for　a　landing。〃
　　〃Which　shows　the　merits　of　the　autogiro；　Marr。　I　flew　into　Mexico；　some　time　ago；　and　landed　perfectly　in　a　forgotten　valley；　right　into　the　midst　of　a　surviving　Aztec　tribe；　on　the　flat　rock　where　they　were　holding　a　religious　ceremony。〃　（See：　Vol。　IV；　No。　6；　〃Six　Men　of　Evil。〃）
　　〃Amazing！　How　did　you　escape　death？〃
　　〃They　took　me　for　an　ancient　god。　A　messenger　from　the　moon。　They　gave　me　a　marvelous　emerald　as　a　token　of　their　esteem。　They　greatly　regretted　my　departure。〃
　　〃What　an　experience！〃
　　〃Perhaps　we　might　fly　together　to　Hidalgo。　I　should　like　to　see　those　mines　of　yours。〃
　　〃It's　a　go；　Cranston。　But　not　until　a　month　from　now。　I　have　arranged　a　yachting　cruise　from　Florida。〃
　　
　　〃IN　the　Nautilus？〃　inquired　Danforth　Gaudrin。
　　〃Yes；〃　replied　Marr。　〃After　I　flew　back　to　Florida；　I　told　my　friends　that　I　had　purchased　the　Nautilus。　They　were　enthusiastic　and　induced　me　to　plan　a　cruise。　That　is　why　I　sent　my　seaplane　back　alone。　I　shall　return　to　Florida　in　the　Nautilus。〃
　　〃Father's　yacht；〃　explained　Luke；　to　Cranston；　〃Mr。　Marr　bought　it　about　a　month　ago。〃
　　〃After　it　was　chartered；〃　put　in　Danforth　Gaudrin。　〃A　London　scientist　…
　　Professor　Pearson　Babcock…acquired　the　Nautilus　for　a　coral…hunting　cruise。
　　We　expect　the　yacht　to　arrive　in　Lake　Pontchartrain　within　a　few　days。〃
　　〃It　es　up　that　way　from　the　Gulf；　you　know；〃　added　Luke。　〃Through　the　channels。〃
　　〃Too　bad　you　are　leaving　for　New　York　tomorrow；〃　remarked　Marr。
　　〃Otherwise；　Cranston；　I　should　insist　that　you　go　by　way　of　Florida　with　me。　I　intend　to　go　to　Miami；　and　the　trip　around　the　Keys　should　prove　most　interesting。〃
　　〃I　should　like　to　take　it；　Marr；〃　agreed　The　Shadow。　〃But　my　stay　in　New　Orleans　is　necessarily　limited。　However；　I　shall　return　South　and　will　meet　you　in　Florida；　after　your　ing　cruise　is　ended。〃
　　
　　OUT　on　the　veranda；　Alicia　Gaudrin　was　talking　to　Reginald　Exeter。　The　girl　was　discussing　the　artist　whom　they　had　met　that　noon。
　　〃Monsieur　Brilliard　admires　me　as　a　type；〃　explained　Alicia。　〃When　I　met　him　at　Esther　Letkin's；　he　became　quite　enthusiastic　about　doing　my　portrait。　I　told　him　that　I　could　not　afford　to　pay　for　one。〃
　　〃But　he　remained　insistent？〃　inquired　Exeter。
　　〃Yes；〃　replied　Alicia。　〃He　told　me　that　he　was　here　for　a　vacation。
　　Painting　only　as　he　chose。　The　matter　of　money　was　inconsequential。　He　had　already　turned　down　some　attractive　offers；　on　the　contrary；　he　was　doing　portraits　without　charge。　Doesn't　that　strike　you　as　a　bit　odd？〃
　　〃Not　at　all；〃　declared　Exeter。　〃All　artists　are　temperamental。　Brilliard　apparently　has　a　reputation。　Painting　only　for　a　price　would　go　against　his　grain。〃
　　〃Then　you　think　that　I　am　right　in　allowing　him　to　do　my　portrait？〃
　　〃Absolutely；　Alicia。　I　must　congratulate　Brilliard　upon　his　rare　judgment。〃
　　〃In　choosing　a　setting？〃
　　〃No；　in　choosing　a　subject。〃
　　The　girl　smiled　as　she　heard　Exeter's　flattery。　The　young　man　reached　out　and　received　the　girl's　hand。　He　drew　closer　to　her　chair。
　　〃The　others　will　soon　be　here；　Reggie；〃　reminded　the　girl。　〃Perhaps　we　should　be　found　in　formal　conversation。　Talking　about　seaplanes；　or　yachts。〃
　　〃I　suppose　so。〃　Exeter　arose　and　strolled　across　the　veranda。　〃Speaking　of　yachts；　Alicia；　the　Nautilus　should　soon　be　due。　Has　your　father　heard　any　new　word　from　the　captain？〃
　　〃Only　that　the　Nautilus　is　homeward　bound。〃
　　〃From　where？〃
　　〃Some　island　in　the　Gulf　of　Mexico…where　Professor　Babcock　had　divers　plunging　for　his　precious　coral。〃
　　〃Funny　old　duck；　the　professor。　Seemed　so　distressed　about　leaving　me　here　that　I　promised　him　I'd　wait　about　until　he　returned　from　the　cruise。〃
　　〃And　after　he　gets　back？〃
　　〃Then　I'll　have　no　excuse　for　staying　here。〃
　　〃You　have　a　reason；　Reggie。　The　reason　is　that　you　are　always　wele　here。〃
　　〃There's　another　reason；　Alicia。〃
　　〃I　should　like　to　hear　it；　Reggie。〃
　　〃Because〃…the　man　paused　close　by　the　girl's　chair…〃because；　Alicia；　I　love　you…〃
　　
　　ALICIA'S　gaze　was　straight　into　Exeter's　eyes。　As　the　man　paused；　almost　hesitant　in　declaring　his　love；　the　girl　smiled　and　nodded；　then　quickly　raised　her　finger　to　her　lips。
　　Anticipating　some　interruption；　Exeter　stepped　away　and　turned　toward　the　door　that　led　from　the　house。　He　saw　the　others　ing　toward　the　porch。
　　Marr　and　Cranston　stepped　into　view；　then　Danforth　Gaudrin　and　his　son　Luke。　The　four　joined　Exeter　and　Alicia。　New　conversation　began。　Soon　Luke　had　an　opportunity　for　remarks。
　　〃Sorry　my　friend　Lence　couldn't　be　here；〃　he　said。　〃You'd　like　Tracy。　He's　a　fine　chap。　I'll　invite　him　out　when　I　hear　from　him。　He　might　be　up　at　the　Club　Caprice　tonight。　I　was　going　to　suggest　a　run　up　there。　What　say；　governor〃…he　turned　to　his　father…〃don't　you　feel　sporting　enough　to　pay　a　visit？〃
　　〃I　have　no　objections　to　the　Club　Caprice；〃　responded　Danforth　Gaudrin。
　　〃But　I　do　consider　it　a　mistake　for　young　men　of　limited　means　to　squander　what　money　they　do　possess。　In　my　youthful　days；　I　did　not　indulge　in　too　much　gambling。　It　ceases　to　bee　a　pleasure　when　one