the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第18章
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
acquaintance； there was an almost psychic accord between his mind and
hers； and he felt himself already answering to her unspoken wish as a ship
to its rudder。
〃The cabin is at your service；〃 said Cleggett； for he understood that she
wished to dress for dinner。 He conducted her； with a touch of formality；
to his own room in the cabin； which he put at her disposal； ordering her
steamer trunks to be placed in it。 Then； taking with him some
necessaries of his own； he withdrew to the forecastle to make a careful
toilet。
It might not have occurred to another man to dress for dinner； but
Cleggett's character was an unusual blend of delicacy and strength； he
perceived subtly that Lady Agatha was of the nature to appreciate this
compliment。 At a moment when her fortunes were at a low ebb what
could more cheer a woman and hearten her than such a mark of
consideration？ Already Cleggett found himself asking what would
please Lady Agatha。
CHAPTER VIII
A FLAME LEAPS OUT OF THE
DARK
Kuroki announced dinner； Cleggett entered the captain's mess room of
the cabin； where the cloth was laid； and a moment later lady Agatha
emerged from the stateroom and gave him her hand with a smile。
If he had thought her beautiful before； when she wore her plain
traveling suit； he thought her radiant now； in the true sense of that much
abused word。 For she flung forth her charm in vital radiations。 If
Cleggett had possessed a common mind he might have phrased it to
himself that she hit a man squarely in the eyes。 Her beauty had that
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
direct and almost aggressive quality that is like a challenge； and with
sophisticated feminine art she had contrived that the dinner gown she
chose for that evening should sound the keynote of her personality like a
leitmotif in an opera。 The costume was a creation of white satin； the
folds caught here and there with strings of pearls。 There was a single
large rose of pink velvet among the draperies of the skirt； a looped girdle
of blue velvet was the only other splash of color。 But the full…leaved；
expanded and matured rose became the vivid epitome and illustration of
the woman herself。 A rope of pearls that hung down to her waist added
the touch of soft luster essential to preserve the picture from the reproach
of being too obvious an assault upon the senses； Cleggett reflected that
another woman might have gone too far and spoiled it all by wearing
diamonds。 Lady Agatha always knew where to stop。
〃I have not been so hungry since I was in Holloway Jail；〃 said Lady
Agatha。 And she ate with a candid gusto that pleased Cleggett； who
loathed in a woman a finical affectation of indifference to food。
When Kuroki brought the coffee she took up her own story again。
There was little more to tell。
Dopey Eddie and Izzy the Cat； it appeared； had mistaken their
instructions。 Two nights after they had been engaged they had appeared
at Lady Agatha's apartment with the oblong box。
〃The horrid creatures brought it into my sitting…room and laid it on the
floor before I could prevent them；〃 said Lady Agatha。
〃'What is this？' I asked them； in bewilderment。
〃They replied that they had killed Reginald Maltravers ACCORDING
TO ORDERS； and had brought him to me。
〃'Orders！' I cried。 'You had no such orders。' Elmer； who lived on
the same floor； was absent temporarily； having taken Teddy out for an
airing。 I was distracted。 I did not know what to do。 'Your orders；〃 I said；
'were toto'〃
She broke off。 〃What was it that Elmer told them to do； and what
was it that they did？〃 she mused； perplexed。 She called Elmer into the
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
cabin。
〃Elmer；〃 she said； 〃exactly what was it that you told your friends to do
to him？ And what was it that they did？ I can never remember the
words。〃
〃Poke him；〃 said Elmer； addressing Cleggett。 〃I tells these ginks to
poke him。 But these ginks tells th' little dame here they t'inks I has said
to croak him。 So they goes an' croaks him。 D' youse get me？〃
Being assured that they got him； Elmer downheartedly withdrew。
〃At any rate；〃 continued Lady Agatha； 〃there was that terrible box
upon my sitting…room floor； and there were those two degraded wretches。
The callous beasts stood above the box apparently quite insensible to the
ethical enormity of their crime。 But they were keen enough to see that it
might be used as a lever with which to force more money from me。 For
when I demanded that they take the box away with them and dispose of it；
they only laughed at me。 They said that they had had enough of that box。
They had delivered the goodsthat was the phrase they usedand they
wanted more money。 And they said they would not leave until they got it。
They threatened； unless I gave them the money at once； to leave the place
and get word to the police of the presence of the box in my apartment。
〃I was in no mental condition to combat and get the better of them。 I
felt myself to be entirely in their power。 I saw only the weakness of my
own position。 I could not； at the moment； see the weak spots in theirs。
Elmer might have advised mebut he was not there。 The miserable
episode ended with my giving them a thousand dollars each； and they left。
〃Alone with that box； my panic increased。 When Elmer returned
with Teddy； I told him what had happened。 He wished to open the box；
having a vague idea that perhaps after all it did not really contain what
they had said was in it。 But I could not bear the thought of its being
opened。 I refused to allow Elmer to look into it。
〃I determined that I would ship the box at once to some fictitious
personage； and then take the next ship back to England。
〃I hastily wrote a card； which I tacked on the box； consigning it to
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Miss Genevieve Pringle； Newark； N。 J。 The name was the first invention
that came into my head。 Newark I had heard of。 I knew vaguely that it
was west of New York； but whether it was twenty miles west or two
thousand miles； I did not stop to think。 I am ignorant of American
geography。
〃But no sooner had the box been taken away than I began to be uneasy。
I was more frightened with it gone than I had been with it present。 I
