within the law-第26部分

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　comfort　required　that　she　should　recruit　her　energies　while　there　was　opportunity。　　She　was　not　in　the　least　surprised　that　Dick　had　not　yet　returned；　though　he　had　mentioned　half　an　hour。　　At　the　best；　there　were　many　things　that　might　detain　him；　his　father's　absence　from　the　office；　difficulties　in　making　arrangements　for　his　projected　honeymoon　trip　abroadwhich　would　never　occuror　the　like。　　At　the　worst；　there　was　a　chance　of　finding　his　father　promptly；　and　of　that　father　as　promptly　taking　steps　to　prevent　the　son　from　ever　again　seeing　the　woman　who　had　so　indiscreetly　married　him。　　Yet；　somehow；　Mary　could　not　believe　that　her　husband　would　yield　to　such　paternal　coercion。　　Rather；　she　was　sure　that　he　would　prove　loyal　to　her　whom　he　loved；　through　every　trouble。　　At　the　thought　a　certain　wistfulness　pervaded　her；　and　a　poignant　regret　that　this　particular　man　should　have　been　the　one　chosen　of　fate　to　be　entangled　within　her　mesh　of　revenge。　　There　throbbed　in　her　a　heart…tormenting　realization　that　there　were　in　life　possibilities　infinitely　more　splendid　than　the　joy　of　vengeance。　　She　would　not　confess　the　truth　even　to　her　inmost　soul；　but　the　truth　was　there；　and　set　her　a…tremble　with　vague　fears。　　Nevertheless；　because　she　was　in　perfect　health；　and　was　much　fatigued；　her　introspection　did　not　avail　to　keep　her　awake；　and　within　three　minutes　from　the　time　she　lay　down　she　was　blissfully　unconscious　of　all　things；　both　the　evil　and　the　good；　revenge　and　love。

She　had　slept；　perhaps；　a　half…hour；　when　Fannie　awakened　her。

〃It's　a　man　named　Burke；〃　she　explained；　as　her　mistress　lay　blinking。　　〃And　there's　another　man　with　him。　　They　said　they　must　see　you。〃

By　this　time；　Mary　was　wide…awake；　for　the　name　of　Burke；　the　Police　Inspector；　was　enough　to　startle　her　out　of　drowsiness。

〃Bring　them　in；　in　five　minutes；〃　she　directed。

She　got　up；　slipped　into　a　tea…gown；　bathed　her　eyes　in　cologne；　dressed　her　hair　a　little；　and　went　into　the　drawing…room；　where　the　two　men　had　been　waiting　for　something　more　than　a　quarter　of　an　hourto　the　violent　indignation　of　both。

〃Oh；　here　you　are；　at　last！〃　the　big；　burly　man　cried　as　she　entered。　　The　whole　air　of　him；　though　he　was　in　civilian's　clothes；　proclaimed　the　policeman。

〃Yes；　Inspector；〃　Mary　replied　pleasantly；　as　she　advanced　into　the　room。　　She　gave　a　glance　toward　the　other　visitor；　who　was　of　a　slenderer　form；　with　a　thin；　keen　face；　and　recognized　him　instantly　as　Demarest；　who　had　taken　part　against　her　as　the　lawyer　for　the　store　at　the　time　of　her　trial；　and　who　was　now　holding　the　office　of　District　Attorney。　　She　went　to　the　chair　at　the　desk；　and　seated　herself　in　a　leisurely　fashion　that　increased　the　indignation　of　the　fuming　Inspector。　　She　did　not　trouble　to　ask　her　self…invited　guests　to　sit。

〃To　whom　do　I　owe　the　pleasure　of　this　visit；　Inspector？〃　　she　remarked　coolly。　　It　was　noticeable　that　she　said　whom　and　not　what；　as　if　she　understood　perfectly　that　the　influence　of　some　person　brought　him　on　this　errand。

〃I　have　come　to　have　a　few　quiet　words　with　you；〃　the　Inspector　declared；　in　a　mighty　voice　that　set　the　globes　of　the　chandeliers　a…quiver。　　Mary　disregarded　him；　and　turned　to　the　other　man。

〃How　do　you　do；　Mr。　Demarest？〃　　she　said；　evenly。　〃It's　four　years　since　we　met；　and　they've　made　you　District　Attorney　since　then。　　Allow　me　to　congratulate　you。〃

Demarest's　keen　face　took　on　an　expression　of　perplexity。

〃I'm　puzzled；〃　he　confessed。　　〃There　is　something　familiar；　somehow；　about　you；　and　yet〃　He　scrutinized　appreciatively　the　loveliness　of　the　girl　with　her　classically　beautiful　face；　that　was　still　individual　in　its　charm；　the　slim　graces　of　the　tall；　lissome　form。　　〃I　should　have　remembered　you。　　I　don't　understand　it。〃

〃Can't　you　guess？〃　　Mary　questioned；　somberly。　〃Search　your　memory；　Mr。　Demarest。〃

Of　a　sudden；　the　face　of　the　District　Attorney　lightened。

〃Why；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃you　areit　can't　beyesyou　are　the　girl；　you're　the　Mary　Turner　whom　Ioh；　I　know　you　now。〃

There　was　an　enigmatic　smile　bending　the　scarlet　lips　as　she　answered。

〃I'm　the　girl　you　mean；　Mr。　Demarest；　but；　for　the　rest；　you　don't　know　menot　at　all！〃　

The　burly　figure　of　the　Inspector　of　Police；　which　had　loomed　motionless　during　this　colloquy；　now　advanced　a　step；　and　the　big　voice　boomed　threatening。　It　was　very　rough　and　weighted　with　authority。

〃Young　woman；〃　Burke　said；　peremptorily；　〃the　Twentieth　Century　Limited　leaves　Grand　Central　Station　at　four　o'clock。　　It　arrives　in　Chicago　at　eight…fifty…five　to…morrow　morning。〃　　He　pulled　a　massive　gold　watch　from　his　waistcoat　pocket；　glanced　at　it；　thrust　it　back；　and　concluded　ponderously：　〃You　will　just　about　have　time　to　catch　that　train。〃

Mary　regarded　the　stockily　built　officer　with　a　half…amused　contempt；　which　she　was　at　no　pains　to　conceal。

〃Working　for　the　New　York　Central　now？〃　　she　asked　blandly。

The　gibe　made　the　Inspector　furious。

〃I'm　working　for　the　good　of　New　York　City；〃　he　answered　venomously。

Mary　let　a　ripple　of　cadenced　laughter　escape　her。

〃Since　when？〃　　she　questioned。

A　little　smile　twisted　the　lips　of　the　District　Attorney；　but　he　caught　himself　quickly；　and　spoke　with　stern　gravity。

〃Miss　Turner；　I　think　you　will　find　that　a　different　tone　will　serve　you　better。〃

〃Oh；　let　her　talk；〃　Burke　interjected　angrily。　　〃She's　only　got　a　few　minutes　anyway。〃

Mary　remained　unperturbed。

〃Very　well；　then；〃　she　said　genially；　〃let　us　be　comfortable　during　that　little　period。〃　　She　made　a　gesture　of　invitation　toward　chairs；　which　Burke　disdained　to　accept；　but　Demarest　seated　himself。

〃You'd　better　be　packing　your　trunk；〃　the　Inspector　rumbled。

〃But　why？〃　　Mary　inquired；　with　a　tantalizing　assumption　of　innocence。　　〃I'm　not　going　away。〃

〃On　the　Twentieth　Century　Limited；　this　afternoon；〃　the　Inspector　declared；　in　a　voice　of　growing　wrath。

〃Oh；　dear；　no！〃　Mary's　assertion　was　made　very　quietly；　but　with　an　underlying　firmness　that　irritated　the　official　beyond　endurance。

〃I　say　yes！〃　The　answer　was　a　bellow。

Mary　appeared　distressed；　not　frightened。　　Her　words　were　an　ironic　protest　against　the　man's　obstreperous　noisiness；　no　more。

〃I　thought　you　wanted　quiet　words　with　me。〃

Burke　went　toward　her；　in　a　rage。

〃Now；　look　here；　Mollie〃　he　began　harshly。

On　the　instant；　Mary　was　on　her　feet；　facing　him；　and　there　was　a　gleam　in　her　eyes　as　they　met　his　that　bade　him　pause。

〃Miss　Turner；　if　you　don't　mind。〃　　She　laughed　slightly。　　〃For　the　present；　anyway。〃　　She　reseated　herself　tranquilly。

Burke　was　checked；　but　he　retained　his　severity　of　bearing。

〃I'm　giving　you　your　orders。　　You　will　either　go　to　Chicago；　or　you'll　go　up　the　river。〃

Mary　answered　in　a　voice　charged　with　cynicism。

〃If　you　can　convict　me。　　Pray；　notice　that　little　word　'if'。〃

The　District　Attorney　interposed　very　suavely。

〃I　did　once；　remember。〃

〃But　you　can't　do　it　again；〃　Mary　declared；　with　an　assurance　that　excited　the　astonishment　of　the　police　official。

〃How　do　you　know　he　can't？〃　　he　blustered。

Mary　laughed　in　a　cadence　of　genial　merriment。

〃Because；〃　she　replied　gaily；　〃if　he　could；　he　would　have　had　me　in　prison　some　time　ago。〃

Burke　winced；　but　he　made　shift　to　conceal　his　realization　of　the　truth　she　had　stated　to　him。

〃Huh！〃　he　exclaimed　gruffly。　　〃I've　seen　them　go　up　pretty　easy。〃

Mary　met　the　assertion　with　a　serenity　that　was　baffling。

〃The　poor　ones；〃　she　vouchsafed；　〃not　those　that　have　money。　　I　have　money；　plenty　of　moneynow。〃

〃Money　you　stole！〃　the　Inspector　returned；　brutally。

〃Oh；　dear；　no！〃　Mary　cried；　with　a　fine　show　of　virtuous　indignation。

〃What　about　the　thirty　thousand　dollars　you　got　on　that　partnership　swindle？〃　　Burke　asked；　sneering。　　〃I　s'pose　you　didn't　steal　that！〃　

〃Certainly　not；〃　was　the　ready　reply。　　〃The　man　advertised　for　a　partner　in　a　business　sure　to　bring　big　and　safe　returns。　　I　answered。　　The　business　proposed　was　to　buy　a　tract　of　land；　and　subdivide　it。　　The　deeds　to　the　land　were　all　forged；　and　the　supposed　seller　was　his　confederate；　with　whom　he　was　to　divide　the　money。　We　formed　a　partnership；　with　a　capital　of　sixty　thousand　dollars。　　We　paid　the　money　into　the　bank；　and　then　at　once　I　drew　it　out。　　You　see；　he　wanted　to　get　my　money　illegally；　but　instead　I　managed　to　get　his　legally。　　For　it　was　legal　for　me　to　draw　that　moneywasn't　it；　Mr。　Demarest？〃　

The　District　Attorney　by　an　effort　retained　his　severe　expression　of　righteous　disapprobation；　but　he　admitted　the　truth　of　her　contention。

〃Unfortunately；　yes；〃　he　said　gravely。　　〃A　partner　has　the　right　to　draw　out　any；　or　all；　of　the　partnership　funds。〃

〃And　I　was　a　partner；〃　Mary　said　contentedly。　　〃You；　see；　Inspector；　you　wrong　meyou　do；　really！　I'm　not　a　swindler；　I'm　a　financier。〃

Burke　sneered　scornfully。

〃Well；〃　he　roared；　〃you'll　never　pull　another　one　on　me。　　You　can　gamble　on　that！〃　

Mary　permitted　herself　to　laugh　mockingly　in　the　face　of　the　badgered　official。

〃Thank　you　for　telling　me；〃　she　said；　graciously。　〃And　let　me　say；　incidentally；　that　Miss　Lynch　at　the　present　moment　is　painlessly　extracting　ten　thousand　dollars　from　Gen