The Golden Bough. Gibbs George

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СКАЧАТЬ pottering about a saddish-looking tree and muttering about escaping slaves. And you ask me to be afraid. Perhaps when I get through being amused there will be time for that. For the present, Madame, will you bear with me and tell me something about yourself?"

      She threw out an arm with a dramatic gesture which showed something of her training. "Ah, I have no patience with you, Philippe Rowlan'," she said, "you are impossible. Think of what I shall tell you, for it is very important. Under the mound below the tree is the treasure-vault of Nemi. It is built of steel, like a bank, and no one may enter it without the secret numbers which open the lock. Those numbers were known only by Kirylo Ivanitch and he is dead."

      "That's unfortunate," said Rowland as she paused. "But you can't blame me."

      "Do you know what is in that vault, Philippe Rowlan'?" she asked.

      "I can't imagine. A pig with a ring in the end of his nose?" he smiled.

      "You still disbelieve? Well, I will tell you. The funds of the Order at this time can amount to little less than twenty-five millions of francs. They are there for you or for anyone with imagination to divert into the proper channels."

      Rowland's eyes in spite of himself had become a little larger.

      "I'm no burglar, Madame. I've done almost everything-but safe cracking is a little out of my line."

      "And yet it is upon you that the responsibility for this money devolves. If it is stolen you will be held accountable."

      "Stolen! Who will steal it?"

      She shrugged. "Who wouldn't-in a righteous cause?" She caught his arm again to emphasize the importance of her words. "To help the cause of Free Institutions in Europe? You! I! Anyone with a cause like that near his heart."

      Rowland flicked his cigarette into the bushes. "I am very dense. There seem to be more causes than one at Nemi, more axes than one to grind. Let me be direct," he said coolly. "Yours-Madame Rochal. What is it?" he asked.

      She glanced at him swiftly.

      "You do not know?"

      "Obviously, or I should not be asking."

      She paused a moment, looking away from him. And then as though coming to a resolution she turned and spoke in a low tone. "These others believe that I am acting for the Social Democrats of Germany, like Max Liederman, but that is not the case."

      "Ah-what then?"

      "I am trusting you, Monsieur-"

      "By the witchery in your eyes, I swear-"

      She paused a moment as though to be sure of her effect. And then in a whisper-

      "I am a secret agent of the Provisional Government of Russia."

      Rowland sat silent a second and then laid his hand over hers while his lips broke into a boyish smile.

      "I knew it, Madame. I was sure of it," he whispered softly. "Our cause is the same. You and I together-what can we not do for Russia and for Freedom."

      He was so ingenuous, so boyish, so handsome. His very youth refreshed her. She sighed and then laughed softly as she raised the back of her hand toward his lips.

      "There," she murmured, "you may kiss my hand."

      But Rowland only glanced at the hand and before Madame Rochal knew what he was about had caught her in his arms and kissed her full upon the lips.

      "Monsieur!" she stammered and drew away from him hurriedly. Rowland followed her glance and turned to find Tanya Korasov standing before them. Rowland sprang to his feet and stood, his head bowed, looking indeed rather crestfallen.

      "Mademoiselle-" he began.

      But she cut him short with a gesture, speaking rapidly and he saw that she was very pale and suffering under some suppressed agitation.

      "Monsieur, you are to come to the house at once. In the name of Freedom-Grisha Khodkine demands it!"

      "I will go at once."

      Tanya had already turned and fled down the path. Rowland had taken only a few paces when Zoya Rochal rushed alongside of him and seized his arm.

      "Be watchful, Philippe Rowlan'!" she whispered tensely, "for it is he whom you have most to fear."

      He laughed softly as he caught her fingers to his lips.

      "Thanks, Madame," he said gaily. "No one shall kill me at Nemi but you. That I promise." And left her standing in the darkness.

      CHAPTER VII

      CAMOUFLAGE

      Rowland's long strides overtook Tanya before she reached the lighted spaces of the lawn. He had called to her but she had not stopped and so as he caught up with her he barred her way down the path.

      "Mademoiselle Korasov," he blurted out eagerly, "just a word-"

      She stopped and faced him, still pale in the moonlight, but quite composed, waiting for him to go on.

      "I-I've been placed in a false light-I would like-"

      "How, Monsieur?" she said indifferently.

      "What you saw, just now-there. Perhaps you think-"

      His words stumbled and at last failed completely, for he saw that she was bent on making explanations difficult.

      "What does it matter to me," she said, "whom you embrace, and why?"

      He felt the sting under her words, and realized that every phrase he uttered only placed him at a greater disadvantage.

      "I can make no explanation," he muttered. "If you think me a fool, I'm sorry. And yet I'll prove that your confidence was not misplaced." Another silence during which Tanya walked onward without sign that she heard him.

      "Madame Rochal has just confided that she is an agent of the Provisional Government in Russia."

      "And you believed her?"

      "No. But she believes that I believe her."

      "Are you sure?" she shrugged. "You are no match for a woman of her antecedents-"

      "I shall meet her with her own weapons."

      "It seems," she said disdainfully, "that you have already begun well."

      "Mademoiselle Korasov-enough of this!" he said firmly and after a swift search of a bush nearby again placed himself in the path in front of her so that she couldn't pass him. "You may think me a philanderer if you like, or a fool, if that pleases you better. But the end is worthy of the means. Already I've found out some of the things I wanted to know. The vault beneath the tree will be robbed unless you and I can prevent."

      Her eyes flashed with sudden attention. He had arrested her interest at last.

      "Ah, you know-?"

      He grinned. "I'm in league with both burglars. I've only consulted two. There may be others."

      "Zoya Rochal?"

      "And СКАЧАТЬ