pgw.psmith,journalist-第12部分

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s　left　me　behind。〃
　〃Man　at　that　table　wanted　to　know　if　my　name　was　Windsor；〃　said　Billy。
　〃Ah？〃　said　Psmith；　interested；　〃and　was　it？
　〃Here　he　es。　I　wonder　what　he　wants。　I　don't　know　the　man　from　Adam。〃
　The　stranger　was　threading　his　way　between　the　tables。
　〃Can　I　have　a　word　with　you；　Mr。　Windsor？〃　he　said。
　Billy　looked　at　him　curiously。　Recent　events　had　made　him　wary　of　strangers。
　〃Won't　you　sit　down？〃　he　said。
　A　waiter　was　bringing　a　chair。　The　young　man　seated　himself。
　〃By　the　way；〃　added　Billy；　〃my　friend；　Mr。　Smith。〃
　〃Pleased　to　meet　you；〃　said　the　other。
　〃I　don't　know　your　name；〃　Billy　hesitated。
　〃Never　mind　about　my　name；〃　said　the　stranger。　〃It　won't　be　needed。　Is　Mr。　Smith　on　your　paper？　Excuse　my　asking。〃
　Psmith　bowed。　〃That's　all　right；　then。　I　can　go　ahead。〃　He　bent　forward。
　〃Neither　of　you　gentlemen　are　hard　of　hearing；　eh？〃
　〃In　the　old　prairie　days；〃　said　Psmith；　〃rade　Windsor　was　known　to　the　Indians　as　Boola…Ba…Na…Gosh；　which；　as　you　doubtless　know；　signifies　Big…Chief…Who…Can…Hear…A…Fly…Clear…Its…Throat。　I　too　can　hear　as　well　as　the　next　man。　Why？〃
　〃That's　all　right；　then。　I　don't　want　to　have　to　shout　it。　There's　some　things　it's　better　not　to　yell。〃
　He　turned　to　Billy；　who　had　been　looking　at　him　all　the　while　with　a　bination　of　interest　and　suspicion。　The　man　might　or　might　not　be　friendly。　In　the　meantime；　there　was　no　harm　in　being　on　one's　guard。　Billy's　experience　as　a　cub…reporter　had　given　him　the　knowledge　that　is　only　given　in　its　entirety　to　police　and　newspaper　men：　that　there　are　two　New　Yorks。　One　is　a　modern；　well…policed　city；　through　which　one　may　walk　from　end　to　end　without　encountering　adventure。　The　other　is　a　city　as　full　of　sinister　intrigue；　of　whisperings　and　conspiracies；　of　battle；　murder；　and　sudden　death　in　dark　by…ways；　as　any　town　of　mediaeval　Italy。　Given　certain　conditions；　anything　may　happen　to　any　one　in　New　York。　And　Billy　realised　that　these　conditions　now　prevailed　in　his　own　case。　He　had　e　into　conflict　with　New　York's　underworld。　Circumstances　had　placed　him　below　the　surface；　where　only　his　wits　could　help　him。
　〃It's　about　that　tenement　business；〃　said　the　stranger。
　Billy　bristled。　〃Well；　what　about　it？〃　he　demanded　truculently。
　The　stranger　raised　a　long　and　curiously　delicately　shaped　hand。　〃Don't　bite　at　me；〃　he　said。　〃This　isn't　my　funeral。　I've　no　kick　ing。　I'm　a　friend。〃
　〃Yet　you　don't　tell　us　your　name。〃
　〃Never　mind　my　name。　If　you　were　in　my　line　of　business；　you　wouldn't　be　so　durned　stuck　on　this　name　thing。　Call　me　Smith；　if　you　like。〃
　〃You　could　select　no　nobler　pseudonym；〃　said　Psmith　cordially。
　〃Eh？　Oh；　I　see。　Well；　make　it　Brown；　then。　Anything　you　please。　It　don't　signify。　See　here；　let's　get　back。　About　this　tenement　thing。　You　understand　certain　parties　have　got　it　in　against　you？〃
　〃A　charming　conversationalist；　one　'rade　Parker；　hinted　at　something　of　the　sort；〃　said　Psmith；　〃in　a　recent　interview。　Cosy　Moments；　however；　cannot　be　muzzled。〃
　〃Well？〃　said　Billy。
　〃You're　up　against　a　big　proposition。〃
　〃We　can　look　after　ourselves。〃
　〃Gum！　you'll　need　to。　The　man　behind　is　a　big　bug。〃
　Billy　leaned　forward　eagerly。
　〃Who　is　he？〃
　The　other　shrugged　his　shoulders。
　〃I　don't　know。　You　wouldn't　expect　a　man　like　that　to　give　himself　away。〃
　〃Then　how　do　you　know　he's　a　big　bug？〃
　〃Precisely；〃　said　Psmith。　〃On　what　system　have　you　estimated　the　size　of　the　gentleman's　bughood？〃
　The　stranger　lit　a　cigar。
　〃By　the　number　of　dollars　he　was　ready　to　put　up　to　have　you　done　in。〃
　Billy's　eyes　snapped。
　〃Oh？〃　he　said。　〃And　which　gang　has　he　given　the　job　to？〃
　〃I　wish　I　could　tell　you。　Hehis　agent；　that　iscame　to　Bat　Jarvis。〃
　〃The　cat…expert？〃　said　Psmith。　〃A　man　of　singularly　winsome　personality。〃
　〃Bat　turned　the　job　down。〃
　〃Why　was　that？〃　inquired　Billy。
　〃He　said　he　needed　the　money　as　much　as　the　next　man；　but　when　he　found　out　who　he　was　supposed　to　lay　for；　he　gave　his　job　the　frozen　face。　Said　you　were　a　friend　of　his　and　none　of　his　fellows　were　going　to　put　a　finger　on　you。　I　don't　know　what　you've　been　doing　to　Bat；　but　he's　certainly　Willie　the　Long…Lost　Brother　with　you。〃
　〃A　powerful　argument　in　favour　of　kindness　to　animals！〃　said　Psmith。　〃rade　Windsor　came　into　possession　of　one　of　rade　Jarvis's　celebrated　stud　of　cats。　What　did　he　do？　Instead　of　having　the　animal　made　into　a　nourishing　soup；　he　restored　it　to　its　bereaved　owner。　Observe　the　sequel。　He　is　now　as　a　prize　tortoiseshell　to　rade　Jarvis。〃
　〃So　Bat　wouldn't　stand　for　it？〃　said　Billy。
　〃Not　on　his　life。　Turned　it　down　without　a　blink。　And　he　sent　me　along　to　find　you　and　tell　you　so。〃
　〃We　are　much　obliged　to　rade　Jarvis；〃　said　Psmith。〃
　〃He　told　me　to　tell　you　to　watch　out；　because　another　gang　is　dead　sure　to　take　on　the　job。　But　he　said　you　were　to　know　he　wasn't　mixed　up　in　it。　He　also　said　that　any　time　you　were　in　bad；　he'd　do　his　best　for　you。　You've　certainly　made　the　biggest　kind　of　hit　with　Bat。　I　haven't　seen　him　so　worked　up　over　a　thing　in　years。　Well；　that's　all；　I　reckon。　Guess　I'll　be　pushing　along。　I've　a　date　to　keep。　Glad　to　have　met　you。　Glad　to　have　met　you；　Mr。　Smith。　Pardon　me；　you　have　an　insect　on　your　coat。〃
　He　flicked　at　Psmith's　coat　with　a　quick　movement。　Psmith　thanked　him　gravely。
　〃Good　night；〃　concluded　the　stranger；　moving　off。　For　a　few　moments　after　he　had　gone；　Psmith　and　Billy　sat　smoking　in　silence。　They　had　plenty　to　think　about。
　〃How's　the　time　going？〃　asked　Billy　at　length。　Psmith　felt　for　his　watch；　and　looked　at　Billy　with　some　sadness。
　〃I　am　sorry　to　say；　rade　Windsor〃
　〃Hullo；〃　said　Billy；　〃here's　that　man　ing　back　again。〃
　The　stranger　came　up　to　their　table；　wearing　a　light　overcoat　over　his　dress　clothes。　From　the　pocket　of　this　he　produced　a　gold　watch。
　〃Force　of　habit；〃　he　said　apologetically；　handing　it　to　Psmith。　〃You'll　pardon　me。　Good　night；　gentlemen；　again。〃
　
　　CHAPTER　XII
　A　RED　TAXIMETER
　
　THE　Astor　Hotel　faces　on　to　Times　Square。　A　few　paces　to　the　right　of　the　main　entrance　the　Times　Building　towers　to　the　sky；　and　at　the　foot　of　this　the　stream　of　traffic　breaks；　forming　two　channels。　To　the　right　of　the　building　is　Seventh　Avenue；　quiet；　dark；　and　dull。　To　the　left　is　Broadway；　the　Great　White　Way；　the　longest；　straightest；　brightest；　wickedest　street　in　the　world。
　Psmith　and　Billy；　having　left　the　Astor；　started　to　walk　down　Broadway　to　Billy's　lodgings　in　Fourteenth　Street。　The　usual　crowd　was　drifting　slowly　up　and　down　in　the　glare　of　the　white　lights。
　They　had　reached　Herald　Square；　when　a　voice　behind　them　exclaimed；　〃Why；　it's　Mr。　Windsor！〃
　They　wheeled　round。　A　flashily　dressed　man　was　standing　with　outstetched　hand。
　〃I　saw　you　e　out　of　the　Astor；〃　he　said　cheerily。　〃I　said　to　myself；　'I　know　that　man。'　Darned　if　I　could　put　a　name　to　you；　though。　So　I　just　followed　you　along；　and　right　here　it　came　to　me。〃
　〃It　did；　did　it？〃　said　Billy　politely。
　〃It　did；　sir。　I've　never　set　eyes　on　you　before；　but　I've　seen　so　many　photographs　of　you　that　I　reckon　we're　old　friends。　I　know　your　father　very　well；　Mr。　Windsor。　He　showed　me　the　photographs。　You　may　have　heard　him　speak　of　meJack　Lake？　How　is　the　old　man？　Seen　him　lately？〃
　〃Not　for　some　time。　He　was　well　when　he　last　wrote。〃
　〃Good　for　him。　He　would　be。　Tough　as　a　plank；　old　Joe　Windsor。　We　always　called　him　Joe。〃
　〃You'd　have　known　him　down　in　Missouri；　of　course？〃　said　Billy。
　〃That's　right。　In　Missouri。　We　were　side…partners　for　years。　Now；　see　here；　Mr。　Windsor；　it's　early　yet。　Won't　you　and　your　friend　e　along　with　me　and　have　a　smoke　and　a　chat？　I　live　right　here　in　Thirty…Third　Street。　I'd　be　right　glad　for　you　to　e。〃
　〃I　don't　doubt　it；〃　said　Billy；　〃but　I'm　afraid　you'll　have　to　excuse　us。〃
　〃In　a　hurry；　are　you？〃
　〃Not　in　the　least。〃
　〃Then　e　right　along。〃
　〃No；　thanks。〃
　〃Say；　why　not？　It's　only　a　step。〃
　〃Because　we　don't　want　to。　Good　night。〃
　He　turned；　and　started　to　walk　away。　The　other　stood　for　a　moment；　staring；　then　crossed　the　road。
　Psmith　broke　the　silence。
　〃Correct　me　if　I　am　wrong；　rade　Windsor；〃　he　said　tentatively；　〃but　were　you　not　a　trifleshall　we　say　abrupt？with　the　old　family　friend？〃
　Billy　Windsor　laughed。
　〃If　my　father's　name　was　Joseph；〃　he　said；　〃instead　of　being　William；　the　same　as　mine；　and　if　he'd　ever　been　in　Missouri　in　his　life；　which　he　hasn't；　and　if　I'd　been　photographed　since　I　was　a　kid；　which　I　haven't　been；　I　might　have　gone　along。　As　it　was；　I　thought　it　better　not　to。〃
　〃These　are　deep　waters；　rade　Windsor。　Do　you　mean　to　intimate？〃
　〃If　they　can't　do　any　better　than　that；　we　shan't　have　much　to　worry　us。　What　do　they　take　us　for；　I　wonder？　Farmers？　Playing　off　a　ic…supplement　bluff　like　that　on　us！〃
　There　was　honest　indignation　in　Billy's　voice。
　〃You　think；　then；　that　if　we　had　accepted　rade　Lake's　invitation；　and　gone　along　for　a　smoke　and　a　chat；　the　chat　would　not　have　been　of　the　pleasantest　nature？〃
　〃We　should　have　been　put　out　of　business。〃
　〃I　have　heard　so　much；〃　said　Psmith；　thoughtfully；　〃of　the　lavish　hospitality　of　the　American。〃
　〃Taxi；　sir？〃
　A　red　taximeter　cab　was　crawling　down　the　roa