It was a bad night in London, not wild or turbulent, but swathed to the eyes like an Eastern woman in a soft grey garment of fog. It engulfed1 the walled canyons2 of the city, through which the traffic had roared all day, plugged up the maze3 of dark side-streets, and blotted4 out the open squares. Close to the ground it was thick, viscous5, impenetrable, so that one could not see a yard ahead, and walked ghostlike, adventuring into a strange world.
Occasionally it dispersed6. In front of the Jollity Theatre numbers of arc-lights wrought7 a wavering mist-hung yellow space, into which a constant line of vehicles, like monstrous8 shiny beetles9, emerged from the outer nowhere, disgorged their contents, and were eclipsed again. And pedestrians10 in gay processional streamed across the rudy glistening11 patch like figures on a slide.
Conspicuous12 in the shifting throng13 was a sharp-faced boy, ostensibly selling newspapers, but with a keen eye upon the arriving vehicles. Suddenly he darted14 to the curb15, where an electric coupe had just drawn16 up. A man alighted heavily, and turned to assist a young woman.
For an instant the lad's attention was deflected17 by the radiant vision. The girl, wrapped in a voluminous cloak of ivory colour, was tall and slim, with soft white throat and graceful18 neck; her eyes under shadowy lashes19 were a little narrow, but blue as autumn mist, and sparkling now with amusement.
"Watch your steps, auntie," she warned laughingly, as a plump, elderly, little lady stepped stiffly from the coupe. "These London fogs are dangerous."
The boy stood staring at her, his feet as helpless as if they had taken root to the ground. Suddenly he remembered his mission. His native impudence20 reasserted itself, and he started forward.
"Paper, sir?"
He addressed the man. For a moment it seemed as though he were to be rebuffed, then something in the boy's attitude changed his mind.
As the man fumbled21 in an inner pocket for change, the lad took a swift inventory22. The face beneath the tall hat was a powerful oval, paste-coloured, with thin lips, and heavy lines from nostril23 to jaw24. The eyes were close set and of a turbid25 grey.
"It's him," the boy assured himself, and opened his mouth to speak.
The girl laughed amusedly at the spectacle of her companion's passion for news in this grimy atmosphere, and turned to the young man in evening dress who had just dismissed his taxi and joined the group.
It was the diversion the boy had prayed for. He took a quick step toward the older man.
"T. B. S.," he said, in a soft but distinct undertone.
The man's face blanched26 suddenly, and a coin which he held in his large, white-gloved palm slipped jingling27 to the pavement.
The young messenger stooped and caught it dexterously28.
"T. B. S.," he whispered again, insistently29.
"Here?" the answer came hoarsely30. The man's lips trembled.
"Watchin' this theatre--splits[1] by the million," finished the boy promptly31, and with satisfaction. Under cover of returning the coin, he thrust a slip of white paper into the other's hand.
[Footnote 1: Splits: detectives.]
Then he wheeled, ducked to the girl with a gay little swagger of impudence, threw a lightning glance of scrutiny32 at her young escort, and turning, was lost in the throng.
The whole incident occupied less than a minute, and presently the four were seated in their box, and the gay strains from the overture33 of _The Strand34 Girl_ came floating up to them.
"I wish I were a little street gamin in London," said the girl pensively35, fingering the violets at her corsage. "Think of the adventures! Don't you, Frank?"
Frank Doughton looked across at her with smiling significant eyes, which brought a flush to her cheeks.
"No," he said softly, "I do not!"
The girl laughed at him and shrugged36 her round white shoulders.
"For a young journalist, Frank, you are too obvious--too delightfully37 verdant38. You should study indirection, subtlety39, finesse--study our mutual40 friend Count Poltavo!"
She meant it mischievously41, and produced the effect she desired.
At the name the young man's brow darkened.
"He isn't coming here to-night?" Doughton asked, in aggrieved42 tones.
The girl nodded, her eyes dancing with laughter.
"What can you see in that man, Doris?" he protested. "I'll bet you anything you like that the fellow's a rogue43! A smooth, soft-smiling rascal44! Lady Dinsmore," he appealed to the elder woman, "do you like him?"
"Oh, don't ask Aunt Patricia!" cried the girl. "She thinks him quite the most fascinating man in London. Don't deny it, auntie!"
"I shan't," said the lady, calmly, "for it's true! Count Poltavo"--she paused, to inspect through her lorgnette some new-comers in the opposite box, where she got just a glimpse of a grey dress in the misty45 depths of the box, the whiteness of a gloved hand lying upon the box's edge--"Count Poltavo is the only interesting man in London. He is a genius." She shut her lorgnette with a snap. "It delights me to talk with him. He smiles and murmurs46 gay witticisms47 and quotes Talleyrand and Lucullus, and all the while, in the back of his head, quite out of reach, his real opinions of you are being tabulated48 and ranged neatly49 in a row like bottles on a shelf."
Doris nodded thoughtfully.
"I'd like to take down some of those bottles," she said. "Some day perhaps I shall."
"They're probably labelled poison," remarked Frank viciously. He looked at the girl with a growing sense of injury. Of late she had seemed absolutely changed towards him; and from being his good friend, with established intimacies50, she had turned before his very eyes into an alien, almost an enemy, more beautiful than ever, to be true, but perverse51, mocking, impish. She flouted52 him for his youth, his bluntness, his guileless transparency. But hardest of all to bear was the delicate derision with which she treated his awkward attempts to express his passion for her, to speak of the fever which had taken possession of him, almost against his will. And now, he reflected bitterly, with this velvet53 fop of a count looming54 up as a possible rival, with his _savoir faire_, and his absurd penchant55 for literature and art, what chance had he, a plain Briton, against such odds56?--unless, as he profoundly believed, the chap was a crook57. He determined58 to sound her guardian59.
"Mr. Farrington," he asked aloud, "what do _you_ think--hallo!" He sprang up suddenly and thrust out a supporting arm.
Farrington had risen, and stood swaying slightly upon his feet. He was frightfully pale, and his countenance60 was contracted as if in pain. He lifted a wavering hand to his head.
With a supreme61 effort he steadied himself.
"Doris," he asked quickly, "I meant to ask you--where did you leave Lady Constance?"
The girl looked up in surprise.
"I haven't seen her to-day--she went down to Great Bradley last night--didn't she, auntie?"
The elder woman nodded.
"Mannish, and not a little discourteous62 _I_ think," she said, "leaving her guests and motoring through the fog to the country. I sometimes think Constance Dex is a trifle mad."
"I wish I could share your views," said Farrington, grimly.
He turned abruptly63 to Doughton.
"Look after Doris," he said. "I have remembered--an engagement."
He beckoned64 Frank, with a scarcely perceptible gesture, and the two men passed out of the box.
"Have you discovered anything?" he asked, when they were outside.
"About what?" asked Frank, innocently.
A grim smile broke the tense lines of Mr. Farrington's face.
"Really!" he said, drily, "for a young man engaged in most important investigations65 you are casual."
"Oh!--the Tollington business," said the other. "No, Mr. Farrington, I have found nothing. I don't think it is my game really--investigating and discovering people. I'm a pretty good short story writer but a pretty rotten detective. Of course, it is awfully66 kind of you to have given me the job----"
"Don't talk nonsense," snapped the older man. "It isn't kindness--it's self-interest. Somewhere in this country is the heir to the Tollington millions. I am one of the trustees to that estate and I am naturally keen on discovering the man who will relieve me of my responsibility. There is a hundred pounds awaiting the individual who unearths67 this heir."
He glanced at his watch.
"There is one other thing I want to speak to you about--and that is Doris."
They stood in the little corridor which ran at the back of the boxes, and Frank wondered why he had chosen this moment to discuss such urgent and intimate matters. He was grateful enough to the millionaire for the commission he had given him--though with the information to go upon, looking for the missing Tollington heir was analogous68 to seeking the proverbial needle--but grateful for the opportunity which even this association gave him for meeting Doris Gray, he was quite content to continue the search indefinitely.
"You know my views," the other went on--he glanced at his watch again. "I want Doris to marry you. She is a dear girl, the only human being in the world for whom I have any affection." His voice trembled, and none could doubt his sincerity69. "Somehow I am getting nervous about things--that shooting which I witnessed the other night has made me jumpy--go in and win."
He offered a cold hand to the other, and Frank took it, then, with a little jerk of his head, and a muttered "shan't be gone long," he passed into the vestibule, and out into the foggy street. A shrill70 whistle brought a taxi from the gloom.
"The Savoy," said Farrington. He sprang in, and the cab started with a jerk.
A minute later he thrust his head from the window.
"You may drop me here," he called. He descended71 and paid his fare. "I'll walk the rest of the way," he remarked casually72.
"Bit thickish on foot to-night, sir," offered the driver respectfully. "Better let me set you down at the hotel." But his fare was already lost in the enveloping73 mist.
Farrington wrapped his muffler closely about his chin, pulled down his hat to shadow his eyes, and hurried along like a man with a set destination.
Presently he halted and signalled to another cab, crawling along close to the curb.
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engulfed
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| v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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canyons
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| n.峡谷( canyon的名词复数 ) | |
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maze
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| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
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blotted
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| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
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viscous
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| adj.粘滞的，粘性的 | |
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dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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beetles
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| n.甲虫( beetle的名词复数 ) | |
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pedestrians
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| n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 ) | |
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glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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deflected
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| 偏离的 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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inventory
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| n.详细目录，存货清单 | |
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nostril
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| n.鼻孔 | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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turbid
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| adj.混浊的，泥水的，浓的 | |
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blanched
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| v.使变白( blanch的过去式 )；使（植物）不见阳光而变白；酸洗（金属）使有光泽；用沸水烫（杏仁等）以便去皮 | |
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jingling
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| 叮当声 | |
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dexterously
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| adv.巧妙地，敏捷地 | |
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insistently
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| ad.坚持地 | |
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hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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overture
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| n.前奏曲、序曲，提议，提案，初步交涉 | |
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strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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pensively
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| adv.沉思地，焦虑地 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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delightfully
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| 大喜，欣然 | |
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verdant
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| adj.翠绿的，青翠的，生疏的，不老练的 | |
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subtlety
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| n.微妙，敏锐，精巧；微妙之处，细微的区别 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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mischievously
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| adv.有害地；淘气地 | |
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aggrieved
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| adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词) | |
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rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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murmurs
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| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
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witticisms
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| n.妙语，俏皮话( witticism的名词复数 ) | |
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tabulated
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| 把（数字、事实）列成表( tabulate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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intimacies
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| 亲密( intimacy的名词复数 )； 密切； 亲昵的言行； 性行为 | |
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perverse
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| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
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flouted
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| v.藐视，轻视( flout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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penchant
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| n.爱好，嗜好；（强烈的）倾向 | |
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odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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discourteous
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| adj.不恭的，不敬的 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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investigations
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| （正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究 | |
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awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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unearths
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| 发掘或挖出某物( unearth的第三人称单数 )； 搜寻到某事物，发现并披露 | |
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analogous
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| adj.相似的；类似的 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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enveloping
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的现在分词 ) | |
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