07-the wife of a king-第5章

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cynosure　of　all　eyes；　and　answered　him　in　English。　She　showed

neither　fright　nor　anger；　and　Malemute　Kid　chuckled　at　her　well…bred

equanimity。　The　King　felt　baffled；　defeated；　his　common　Siwash　wife

had　passed　beyond　him。

　　'Come！'　he　said　finally。　'Come　on　home。'

　　'I　beg　pardon；'　she　replied；　'I　have　agreed　to　go　to　supper　with　Mr。

Harrington。　Besides；　there's　no　end　of　dances　promised。'

　　Harrington　extended　his　arm　to　lead　her　away。　He　evinced　not　the

slightest　disinclination　toward　showing　his　back；　but　Malemute　Kid　had

by　this　time　edged　in　closer。　The　Circle　City　King　was　stunned。

Twice　his　hand　dropped　to　his　belt；　and　twice　the　Kid　gathered　himself

to　spring；　but　the　retreating　couple　passed　through　the　supper…room

door　where　canned　oysters　were　spread　at　five　dollars　the　plate。　The

crowd　sighed　audibly；　broke　up　into　couples；　and　followed　them。

Freda　pouted　and　went　in　with　Cal　Galbraith；　but　she　had　a　good

heart　and　a　sure　tongue；　and　she　spoiled　his　oysters　for　him。　What　she

said　is　of　no　importance；　but　his　face　went　red　and　white　at

intervals；　and　he　swore　repeatedly　and　savagely　at　himself。

　　The　supper…room　was　filled　with　a　pandemonium　of　voices；　which

ceased　suddenly　as　Cal　Galbraith　stepped　over　to　his　wife's　table。

Since　the　unmasking　considerable　weights　of　dust　had　been　placed　as　to

the　outcome。　Everybody　watched　with　breathless　interest。

Harrington's　blue　eyes　were　steady；　but　under　the　overhanging

tablecloth　a　Smith　&　Wesson　balanced　on　his　knee。　Madeline　looked

up；　casually；　with　little　interest。

　　'May…　may　I　have　the　next　round　dance　with　you？'　the　King　stuttered。

　　The　wife　of　the　King　glanced　at　her　card　and　inclined　her　head。