Thus Maitrank chuckled3 over his invitation. He was going to take his vengeance4 for the trick played on him in his own good time. He had purposely kept out of the way of the Countess. He set the cables in motion, and after a due response or two he was closeted with the head of, a smart firm of lawyers in Ely Place.
"You are quite sure of my position?" he croaked5.
"Quite, sir," the lawyer responded. "According to the papers drawn6 up at the time, you can take possession and demand your money at any moment. You are in the same position as a landlord distraining for rent. If you want us to act----"
"I do," Maitrank snapped. "I wish you to act at eleven o'clock tomorrow night. No need to stare at me like that, sir. I know what I am doing. And I am prepared to pay you handsomely for your services."
The lawyer bowed his strange client out. He had only to obey instructions. He went back to his desk pondering on the sensation that society was going to get shortly. Maitrank went straight away to Lawrence.
"I have done what you asked," he said curtly7. "You are a wonderful man, you novelist; see you at our dear friend the Countess's tomorrow. Good night."
By the time that Maitrank had bowed with humility8 over the hand of his hostess the following evening nearly all fashionable London had gathered in those spacious9 suites10 of rooms. The decorations were superb, unique; there was no better music to be obtained in Europe. Folk were talking with bated breath of the great chef who had come from Paris to superintend his supper.
It was the crowning glory of a wonderful woman's career. She stood smiling before her guests in a dress that had cost Worth a sleepless11 night. A duke was just congratulating her upon her good taste. A couple of gorgeous footmen were casting back the curtains of the supper room. Down below in the hall something like an altercation12 seemed to be going on.
"It's a man, my lady," a blushing footman stammered13. "He declines to go away. I called in a policeman, and he showed him a paper, after which the police went, saying it seemed all right and legal or something like that. The fellow says he must see you."
Perhaps a creditor14 beyond all patience and in desperate need of money. Leona Lalage sailed out of the room into the hall, where two seedy-looking men awaited her.
"Well, what is it you want tonight?" she demanded, haughtily15.
A long slip of paper was thrust into her hand. Her quick brain grasped the significance. Maitrand had struck, and struck hard. These men were in possession for nearly ￡100,000--vulgar bailiffs such as come and sell the goods of poor people who cannot pay their rent. Leona Lalage remembered now the conditions under which she had borrowed money from Maitrank. He had her in his power. It seemed a vile16 thing to do when she had put him off with the very jewels from about her neck. And she was powerless--she could not have these men turned into the street. Most of her guests would understand sooner or later. Tomorrow this would be public property. Once the tongue of rumour17 started the crash was bound to follow.
Leona Lalage looked round her helplessly for the first time in her life. Maitrank stood there grinning like a hideous18 mask enjoying her confusion. He had come to enjoy this where a more sensitive man would have stayed away. Revenge to him was nothing unless he could feast his eyes upon it.
"You scoundrel, you cur!" she hissed19. "If I had a weapon in my hand, I would kill you and die happy. Why have you done this thing?"
"Why do you foist20 me off with paste jewels?" Maitrank asked, coolly. "Ah you may stare with amazement21! You are a very clever actress, madam."
"Paste?" Lalage gasped22. "Paste! Why for their sake--impossible!"
"I will sell them to you for the price of your bouquet," said Maitrank. "It is my turn now. Won't you have your guests in to supper?"
The Countess looked round her helplessly. The sound of the music, the ripple23 of laughter, the murmur24 of voices maddened her. She knew that the crash must come some time, but she had not dreamt of a humiliation25 like this. Lawrence came sauntering down the steps. She flew to him.
Could he help her. She was in great trouble, and she knew that she could trust him. She owed Maitrank a lot of money; he had chosen to humiliate26 her by actually putting these vulgar bailiffs in tonight, of all times. Those pleading eyes would have melted a heart of stone. Lawrence seemed to be greatly distressed27.
"I fancy I can see a way out of the difficulty," he said. "I do not wish to pry28 into your affairs, but in a novelist's business one gets to know things. And I, too, am in a great quandary29. Do you recollect30 the flower farm near Ajaccio?"
"I am going mad," Leona whispered. "To allude31 to that tonight! Well, I have got on in the world like other people. No need to allude to that. What can it possibly have to do with the matter?"
"One never knows," said Lawrence. "But I see you remember. You also remember the marvellous secret of the tuberose scent32. For my own purposes I require a little of it, my story demands it. I am talking business now. Give me the little bottle from the Antoinette cabinet in your boudoir, and I will get rid of those men for you."
Slowly Leona Lalage took the speaker in from head to foot. Her face had grown deadly pale. But she could make nothing of Lawrence's face. All the same, it was quite evident that he meant every word that he said.
"You shall have it," she said suddenly. "How you got to know so much of my history you shall tell me presently. But the tuberose is yours."
She flashed along the hall. Directly she was gone Lawrence signalled to Maitrank, who stood in the background. The latter produced a letter which he handed to the foremost of the two intruders.
"As you see, this is from the solicitor33 who employs you," he said. "If I like to change my mind, and ask you to go you are to obey. I ask you to go. Say nothing of this, and I will see you are suitably rewarded in the morning."
The man looked and nodded. He winked34 at his companion, and together they strode out of the house. With a silent laugh Maitrank crept up the stairs.
"I trust you," he croaked. "You promised me a better vengeance than I could get for myself. See that I get it."
"More for the sake of others you shall get it," Lawrence cried. "It's flattering to the vanity of a novelist to have a millionaire for one of his puppets."
The Countess came sweeping35 back again with one tiny phial in her hand. Lawrence did not need to look to see that it was the right one. Unknown to the Countess, he had had it in his possession before.
"There!" she cried. "And now to keep your part of the compact. If you have got round Maitrank you are a genius. Where are the men?"
"Gone!" said Lawrence. "I waved my hand and they have departed. Nobody but us three has any knowledge of the truth."
A quiet sigh escaped from the listener. She smiled again.
"It is a debt I can never repay," she said. "Will you stay after the others have gone and tell me how you learnt my early history?"
"That is just what I should like to do," Lawrence said coolly.
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1
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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veracious
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| adj.诚实可靠的 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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croaked
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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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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curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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suites
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| n.套( suite的名词复数 )；一套房间；一套家具；一套公寓 | |
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sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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altercation
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| n.争吵，争论 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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creditor
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| n.债仅人，债主，贷方 | |
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haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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foist
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| vt.把…强塞给，骗卖给 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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humiliate
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| v.使羞辱，使丢脸[同]disgrace | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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pry
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| vi.窥(刺)探，打听；vt.撬动(开，起) | |
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quandary
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| n.困惑，进迟两难之境 | |
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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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allude
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| v.提及，暗指 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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33
solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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34
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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