The Golden Bough. Gibbs George

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СКАЧАТЬ Max!" cried Zoya Rochal shrilly. "You are a beast."

      Liederman rocked in a moment of silence and then sank into a chair, his fists clasped over his folded arms.

      Rowland regarded him a moment and then as the gaze of the others was turned toward him, took a pace forward, faced them, and after a glance at Khodkine spoke quietly, and with growing assurance, while the smile that always lurked at the corners of his lips seemed to be struggling against his sober demeanor.

      "Messieurs and Mesdames," he said politely, "I am, as this excellent and veracious Herr Liederman has just said, both an adventurer and a soldier of fortune. But if he chooses to turn these words against me I can only reply that I am an adventurer in the greatest cause the world has ever known, a soldier for the fortune of freedom which is to come. I am no diplomat but a soldier of France which stands resolute, undaunted, immovable upon its new frontier. I have been in the cauldron before Verdun and thus am the only one among you who has seen Hell upon this earth. I say to you Messieurs and Mesdames that death is nothing when compared to the tension of nerves tightened like bow-strings. After that I say there is no war that can be right-no Peace that can be wrong." There was a movement of approval and Rowland grinned comfortably and then went on-"Your cause is mine and whatever the means by which you accomplish peace, that is mine also. I will do your bidding if you desire it, but if, as Herr Liederman suggests, the good of your Society is best conserved by my departure I am ready to go upon my way-"

      "Enough, Monsieur!" Zoya Rochal rose and threw out one white hand in a wide gesture. "We need you at Nemi, Monsieur Rowlan'-Is it not so, you others-?"

      She challenged them quietly, but her eyes shot fire at the silent Liederman, who stared up at her from under heavy brows and shrugged.

      "I am out-voted," he said; "I have no more to say."

      "That is well," said Khodkine. He crossed the room and clasped Rowland by the hands, an example which all the others now followed. Tanya had stood at one side, a silent spectator of this scene smiling slightly, aware of her own part in this decision, but watching keenly as they came forward. Madame Rochal was the last to greet the visitor. Their hands met and Rowland bowed over the jeweled fingers.

      "I thank you for your indulgence, Madame," he said.

      "Do not let Herr Liederman disturb you," she whispered, "we are of many minds at Nemi. But the danger lies not in what is said, Monsieur, but what is unsaid."

      "I understand. Perhaps you'll help me-"

      "Perhaps. We shall see."

      And with a deep look into Rowland's eyes, she passed on and joined the others who following Margot, the old woman whom Rowland had seen in the kitchen, went up the stairs to be shown the rooms they were to occupy. For a moment Rowland and Tanya were alone.

      "You think her beautiful?" the girl asked.

      "Magnetic, startling-but beautiful-? The beauté du Diable perhaps, but Mademoiselle-"

      Tanya moved her expressive fingers.

      "She is the most dangerous woman in Europe."

      "You alarm me," he grinned. "The only powder a soldier fears is the Poudre de Riz."

      She smiled.

      "I'm not jesting."

      "Nor I. You warn me against her?"

      "If you love freedom. She is an agent of the Wilhelmstrasse."

      "Ah-I see. But her nationality?"

      "No one knows. What does it matter? She is an actress-a friend of princes, in Russia, in Austria, a go-between, a shuttle-cock playing her own game for her own ends."

      "And Liederman-?"

      "Is it not obvious? Her servitor."

      "But why should she have chosen to accept me without question as the new President of the Order?"

      Tanya was silent a moment, and then:

      "Because, if I may make so bold as to say so," she said, "your guileless appearance marks a line of least resistance best suited to her methods of attack. Kirylo Ivanitch was immune. She thinks to find you less difficult. In other words," she finished dryly, "she means to use you, Monsieur."

      "I shall be guileless, Mademoiselle, as long as I can learn something, but not too guileless to be ungrateful to you." She shrugged and laughed as he glanced toward the stairway whence came the sound of voices.

      Rowland laughed quietly. "I'm pledged to you, to Khodkine and to Madame Rochal. Messieurs Shestov and Barthou are perhaps on my side. Before the hour passes I shall swear allegiance to Signorina Colodna and Herr Liederman," he grinned, "the society of Nemi at least shall be cohesive and I shall be the amalgam."

      "This is no joke."

      "Nevertheless I shall not cry over it-"

      He caught her hand and pressed it in his strong fingers. "Will you let me solve these problems in my own way? If I seem to be guileless, humor me for my simplicity but do not distrust me, Mademoiselle-for of all these who are at Nemi it is you only who shall be my guide."

      "You swear it?" she whispered.

      "Upon my honor."

      Her face flamed suddenly and her glance fell.

      Then he kissed her hand and released her just as Khodkine entered from the garden where what had once been Kirylo Ivanitch had, without ceremony, been put below the ground. But the lines at Monsieur Khodkine's brows were not born of this gruesome informality for it seemed that Nemi turned without question from old gods to new, but of another matter which for some hours had obviously given him inquietude.

      "If Monsieur Rowland will permit," he said gravely turning to Tanya, "Mademoiselle Korasov is best informed to speak of the affairs of Kirylo Ivanitch and of the business pending in the Council-"

      "Shall I leave you, Monsieur?" asked Rowland.

      "Why? You are one of us-our leader-"

      Rowland chose to read something satirical in his ceremonious bow.

      "Well," said the American good-humoredly, "what's the order of business?"

      "The reports from the various central committees which these Councilors represent, appropriations of money to carry on the propaganda and the plans for Russia. But first it is necessary to see into the condition of the affairs of Monsieur Ivanitch. The vault must be opened."

      "The vault?" echoed Rowland.

      Khodkine nodded and glanced at Tanya.

      "The Priest of Nemi is sole custodian of the documents and funds of the order. Only Ivanitch knew the secret of the doors to the vault-" Here he turned suddenly to the girl-"Unless perhaps you, Tatyana-"

      "What should I know, Grisha Khodkine?" she said coolly. "I have merely obeyed orders. Kirylo Ivanitch entrusted me with no such weighty responsibility as this."

      "And yet it is strange, that no record should be left-"

      "Kirylo Ivanitch died without speaking."

      "But you Tatyana were closest СКАЧАТЬ