the lost house-第9部分

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〃No；〃　said　Ford。　〃I　believe　Prothero　found　him；　and　I　believe　there
may　have　been　a　fight。　But　you　heard　what　Pearsall　said：　'The　man
outside　will　tell。'　If　Cuthbert's　in　a　position　to　tell；　he　is　not
down　an　area　with　a　knife　in　him。〃

He　was　interrupted　by　a　faint　report　from　the　lowest　floor；　as
though　the　door　to　the　street　had　been　sharply　slammed。　Miss　Dale
showed　that　she　also　had　heard　it。

〃My　uncle；〃　she　said；　〃making　his　escape　！〃

〃It　may　be；〃　Ford　answered。

The　report　did　not　suggest　to　him　the　slamming　of　a　door；　but　he
saw　no　reason　for　saying　so　to　the　girl。

With　his　fingers　locked　across　his　knees；　Ford　was　leaning　forward；
his　eyes　frowning；　his　lips　tightly　shut。　At　his　side　the　girl
regarded　him　covertly。　His　broad　shoulders；　almost　touching　hers；
his　strong　jaw　projecting　aggressively；　and　the　alert；　observant
eyes　gave　her　confidence。　For　three　weeks　she　had　been　making　a
fight　single…handed。　But　she　was　now　willing　to　cease　struggling
and　relax。　Quite　happily　she　placed　herself　and　her　safety　in　the
keeping　of　a　stranger。　Half　to　herself；　half　to　the　man；　she
murmured：　〃It　is　like　'The　Sieur　de　Maletroit's　Door。〃'

Without　looking　at　her；　Ford　shook　his　head　and　smiled。

〃No　such　luck；〃　he　corrected　grimly。　〃That　young　man　was　given　a
choice。　The　moment　he　was　willing　to　marry　the　girl　he　could　have
walked　out　of　the　room　free。　I　do　not　recall　Prothero's　saying　I
can　escape　death　by　any　such　charming　alternative。〃　The　girl
interrupted　quickly。

〃No；〃　she　said；　〃you　are　not　at　all　like　that　young　man。　He
stumbled　in　by　chance。　You　came　on　purpose　to　help　me。　It　was　fine；
unselfish。〃

〃It　was　not；〃　returned　Ford。　〃My　motive　was　absolutely　selfish。　It
was　not　to　help　you　I　came；　but　to　be　able　to　tell　about　it　later。
It　is　my　business　to　do　that。　And　before　I　saw　you；　it　was　all　in
the　day's　work。　But　after　I　saw　you　it　was　no　longer　a　part　of　the
day's　work；　it　became　a　matter　of　a　life　time。〃

The　girl　at　his　side　laughed　softly　and　lightly。　〃A　lifetime　is　not
long；〃　she　said；　〃when　you　are　locked　in　a　room　and　a　madman　is
shooting　at　you。　It　may　last　only　an　hour。〃

〃Whether　it　lasts　an　hour　or　many　years；　said　Ford；　〃it　can　mean　to
me　now　only　one　thing〃　He　turned　quickly　and　looked　in　her　face
boldly　and　steadily：　〃You；〃　he　said。

The　girl　did　not　avoid　his　eyes；　but　returned　his　glance　with　one
as　steady　as　his　own。　〃You　are　an　amusing　person；〃　she　said。　〃Do
you　feel　it　is　necessary　to　keep　up　my　courage　with　pretty
speeches？〃

〃I　made　no　pretty　speech；〃　said　Ford。　〃I　proclaimed　a　fact。　You　are
the　most　charming　person　that　ever　came　into　my　life；　and　whether
Prothero　shoots　us　up；　or　whether　we　live　to　get　back　to　God's
country；　you　will　never　leave　it。〃

The　girl　pretended　to　consider　his　speech　critically。　〃It　would　be
almost　a　compliment；〃　she　said；　〃if　it　were　intelligent；　but　when
you　know　nothing　of　meit　is　merely　impertinent。〃

〃I　know　this　much　of　you；　〃　returned　Ford；　calmly；　〃I　know　you　are
fine　and　generous；　for　your　first　speech　to　me；　in　spite　of　your
own　danger；　was　for　my　safety。　I　know　you　are　brave；　for　I　see　you
now　facing　death　without　dismay。〃

He　was　again　suddenly　halted　by；　two　sharp　reports。　They　came　from
the　room　directly　below　them。　It　was　no　longer　possible　to　pretend
to　misinterpret　their　significance。

〃Prothero！〃　exclaimed　Ford；　〃and　his　pistol！〃

They　waited　breathlessly　for　what　might　follow：　an　outcry；　the
sound　of　a　body　falling；　a　third　pistol…shot。　But　throughout　the
house　there　was　silence。

〃If　you　really　think　we　are　in　such　danger；〃　declared　Miss　Dale；
〃we　are　wasting　time！〃

〃We　are　NOT　wasting　time；〃　protested　Ford；　〃we　are　really　gaining
time；　for　each　minute　Cuthbert　and　the　police　are　drawing　nearer；
and　to　move　about　only　invites　a　bullet。　And；　what　is　of　more
importance；〃　he　went　on　quickly；　as　though　to　turn　her　mind　from
the　mysterious　pistol…shots；　〃should　we　get　out　of　this　alive；　I
shall　already　have　said　what　under　ordinary　conditions　I　might　not
have　found　the　courage　to　tell　you　in　many　months。〃　He　waited　as
though　hopeful　of　a　reply；　but　Miss　Dale　remained　silent。　〃They
say；〃　continued　Ford；　〃when　a　man　is　drowning　his　whole　life　passes
in　review。　We　are　drowning；　and　yet　I　find　I　can　see　into　the　past
no　further　than　the　last　half…hour。　I　find　life　began　only　then；
when　I　looked　through　the　bars　of　that　window　and　found　YOU！〃

With　the　palm　of　her　hand　the　girl　struck　the　floor　sharply。　〃This
is　neither　the　time；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃nor　the　place　to〃

〃I　did　not　choose　the　place；〃　Ford　pointed　out。　〃It　was　forced　upon
me　with　a　gun。　But　the　TIME　is　excellent。　At　such　a　time　one　speaks
only　what　is　true。〃

〃You　certainly　have　a　strange　sense　of　humor；〃　she　said；　〃but　when
you　are　risking　your　life　to　help　me；　how　can　I　be　angry？〃

〃Of　course　you　can't；〃　Ford　agreed　heartily；　〃you　could　not　be　so
conventional。〃

〃But　I　AM　conventional！〃　protested　Miss　Dale。　〃And　I　am　not　USED　to
having　young　men　tell　me　they　have　'come　into　my　life　to
stay'certainly　not　young　men　who　come　into　my　life　by　way　of　a
trap…door；　and　without　an　introduction；　without　a　name；　without
even　a　hat！　It's　absurd！　It's　not　real！　It's　a　nightmare！〃

〃The　whole　situation　is　absurd！〃　Ford　declared。　〃Here　we　are　in　the
heart　of　London；　surrounded　by　telephones；　taxicabs；　policeat
least；　hope　we　are　surrounded　by　police　and　yet　we　are　crawling
around　the　floor　on　our　hands　and　knees　dodging　bullets。　I　wish　it
were　a　nightmare。　But；　as　it's　not〃he　rose　to　his　feet〃I　think
I'll　try〃

He　was　interrupted　by　a　sharp　blow　upon　the　door　and　the　voice　of
Prothero。

〃You；　navy　officer！〃　he　panted。　〃Come　to　the　door！　Stand　close　to
it　so　that　I　needn't　shout。　Come；　quick！〃

Ford　made　no　answer。　Motioning　to　Miss　Dale　to　remain　where　she
was；　he　ran　noiselessly　to　the　bed；　and　from　beneath　the　mattress
lifted　one　of　the　iron　bars　upon　which　it　rested。　Grasping　it　at
one　end；　he　swung　the　bar　swiftly　as　a　man　tests　the　weight　of　a
baseball　bat。　As　a　weapon　it　seemed　to　satisfy　him；　for　he　smiled。
Then　once　more　he　placed　himself　with　his　back　to　the　wall。　〃Do　you
hear　me？〃　roared　Prothero。

〃I　hear　you！〃　returned　Ford。　〃If　you　want　to　talk　to　me；　open　the
door　and　come　inside。〃

〃Listen　to　me；〃　called　Prothero。　〃If　I　open　the　door　you　may　act
the　fool；　and　I　will　have　to　shoot　you；　and　I　have　made　up　my　mind
to　let　you　live。　You　will　soon　have　this　house　to　yourselves。　In　a
few　moments　I　will　leave　it；　but　where　I　am　going　I'll　need　money；
and　I　want　the　bank…notes　in　that　blue　envelope。〃　Ford　swung　the
iron　club　in　short　half…circles。

〃Come　in　and　get　them！〃　he　called。

〃Don't　trifle　with　me！〃　roared　the　Jew；　〃I　may　change　my　mind。
Shove　the　money　through　the　crack　under　the　door。〃

〃And　get　shot！〃　returned　Ford。　〃Not　bit　like　it！〃

〃If；　in　one　minute；〃　shouted　Prothero；　〃I　don't　see　the　money
coming　through　that　crack；　I'll　begin　shooting　through　this　door；
and　neither　of　you　will　live！〃

Resting　the　bar　in　the　crook　of　his　elbow；　Ford　snatched　the
bank…notes　from　the　envelope；　and；　sticking　them　in　his　pocket；
placed　the　empty　envelope　on　the　floor。　Still　keeping　out　of　range；
and　using　his　iron　bar　as　a　croupier　uses　his　rake；　he　pushed　the
envelope　across　the　carpet　and　under　the　door。　When　half　of　it　had
disappeared　from　the　other　side　of　the　door；　it　was　snatched　from
view。

An　instant　later　there　was　a　scream　of　anger　and　on　a　line　where
Ford　would　have　been；　had　he　knelt　to　shove　the　envelope　under　the
door；　three　bullets　splintered　through　the　panel。

At　the　same　moment　the　girl　caught　him　by　the　wrist。　Unheeding　the
attack　upon　the　door；　her　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　windows。　With
her　free　hand　she　pointed　at　the　one　at　which　Ford　had　first
appeared。　The　blind　was　still　raised　a　few　inches；　and　they　saw
that　the　night　was　lit　with　a　strange　and　brilliant　radiance。　The
storm　had　passed；　and　from　all　the　houses　that　backed　upon　the　one
in　which　they　were　prisoners　lights　blazed　from　every　window；　and
in　each　were　crowded　many　people；　and　upon　the　roof…tops　in
silhouette　from　the　glare　of　the　street　lamps　below；　and　in　the
yards　and　clinging　to　the　walls　that　separated　them；　were　hundreds
of　other　dark；　shadowy　groups　changing　and　swaying。　And　from　them
rose　the　confused；　inarticulate；　terrifying　murmur　of　a　mob。　It　was
as　though　they　were　on　a　race…track　at　night　facing　a　great
grandstand　peopled　with　an　army　of　ghosts。　With　the　girl　at　his
side；　Ford　sprang　to　the　window　and　threw　up　the　blind；　and　as　they
clung　to　the　bars；　peering　into　the　night；　the　light　in　the　room
fell　full　upon　them。　And　in　an　instant　from　the　windows　opposite；
from　the　yards　below；　and　from　the　house…tops　came　a　savage；
exultant　yell　of　welcome；　a　confusion　of　cries'　orders；　entreaties；
a　great　roar　of　warning。　At　the　sound；　Ford　could　feel　the　girl　at
his　side　tremble。

〃What　does　it　mean？〃　she　cried。

〃Cuthbert　has　raised　the　neighborhood！〃　shouted　Ford　jubilantly。
〃Or　else〃he　cried　in　sudden　enlightenment　〃those　shots　we
heard。〃

The　girl　stopped　him　with　a　low　cry　of　fear。　She　thrust　her　arms
between　the　bars　and　pointed。　In　the　yard　below　them　was　the
sloping　roof　of　the　kitchen。　It　stretched　from　the　house　to　the
wall　of　the　back　yard。　Above　the　wall　from　the　yard　beyond　rose　a
ladder；　and；　face　down　upon　the　roof；　awry　and　sprawling。　were　the
motionless　forms　of　two　men。　Their　shining　capes　and　heavy　helmets
proclaimed　their　calling。

〃The　police！〃　exclaimed　Ford。　〃And　the　shots　we　thought　were　for
those　in　the　house　were　for　THEM！　This　is　what　has　happened；〃　he
whispered　eagerly：　〃　Prothero　attacked　Cuthbert。　Cuthbert　gets　away
and　goes　to　the　police。　He　tells　them　you　are　here　a　prisoner；　that
I　am　here　probably　a　prisoner；　and　of　the　attack　upon　himself。　The
police　try　to　make　an　entrance　from　the　streetthat　was　the　first
shot　we　heardand　are　driven　back；　then　they　try　to　creep　in　from
the　yard；　and　those　poor　devils　were　killed。〃

As　he　spoke　a　sudden　silence　had　fallen；　a　silence　as　startling　as
had　been　the　shout　of　warning。　Some　fresh　attack　upon　the　house
which　the　prisoners　could　not　see；　but　w