One of my fellows, of course, had been in the cafe all the evening, and from him I obtained confirmation2 of the fact that it had been the Hindu who had been summoned to the telephone and whom I had heard speaking. Instant upon the man at the cafe replacing the telephone and disconnecting, I called up the exchange. They had been warned and were in readiness.
"From what subscriber3 did that call come?" I demanded.
Alas4! another check awaited me. It had originated in a public call office, and "Scorpion" was untraceable by this means!
Despair is not permitted by the traditions of the Service de Surete. Therefore I returned to my flat and recorded the facts of the matter thus far established. I perceived that I had to deal, not with a designing woman, but with some shadowy being of whom she was an instrument. The anomaly of her life was in a measure explained. She sojourned in Paris for a purpose—a mysterious purpose which was concerned (I could not doubt it) with the Grand Duke Ivan. This was not an amorous5 but a political intrigue6.
I communicated, at a late hour, with the senior of the three men watching the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke that evening had sent a handsome piece of jewellery purchased in Rue7 de la Paix to the dancer. It had been returned.
In the morning I met with the good Casimir at his favorite cafe. He had just discovered that Zara el-Khala drove daily to the Bois de Boulogne, alone, and that afternoon the Grand Duke had determined8 to accost9 her during her solitary10 walk. I prepared myself for this event. Arrayed in a workman's blouse and having a modest luncheon11 and a small bottle of wine in a basket, I concealed12 myself in that part of the Bois which was the favourite recreation ground of the dancer, and awaited her appearance.
The Grand Duke appeared first upon the scene, accompanied by Casimir. The latter pointed13 out to him a path through the trees along which Zara el-Khala habitually14 strolled and showed him the point at which she usually rejoined the Hindu who followed along the road with the car. They retired15. I seated myself beneath a tree from whence I could watch the path and the road and began to partake of the repast which I had brought with me.
At about three o'clock the dancer's car appeared, and the girl, veiled as usual, stepped out, and having exchanged a few words with the Indian, began to walk slowly towards me, sometimes pausing to watch a bird in the boughs16 above her and sometimes to examine some wild plant growing beside the way. I ate cheese from the point of a clasp-knife and drank wine out of the bottle.
Suddenly she saw me.
She had cast her veil aside in order to enjoy the cool and fragrant17 air, and as she stopped and regarded me doubtfully where I sat, I saw her beautiful face, undefiled, now, by make-up and unspoiled by the presence of garish18 Eastern ornaments19. Nom d'un nom! but she was truly a lovely woman! My heart went out in sympathy to the poor Grand Duke. Had I received such a mark of favour from her as he had received, and had I then been scorned as now she scorned him, I should have been desperate indeed.
Coming around a bend in the path, then, she stood only a few paces away, looking at me. I touched the peak of my cap.
"Good-day, mademoiselle," I said. "The weather is very beautiful."
"Good-day," she replied.
I continued to eat cheese, and reassured20 she walked on past me. Twenty yards beyond, the Grand Duke was waiting. As I laid down my knife upon the paper which had been wrapped around the bread and cheese, and raised the bottle to my lips, the enamoured nobleman stepped out from the trees and bowed low before Zara el-Khala.
She started back from him—a movement of inimitable grace, like that of a startled gazelle. And even before I had time to get upon my feet she had raised a little silver whistle to her lips and blown a short shrill21 note.
The Grand Duke, endeavouring to seize her hand, was pouring out voluble expressions of adoration22 in execrable French, and Zara el-Khala was retreating step by step. She had quickly thrown the veil about her again. I heard the pad of swiftly running feet. If I was to intervene before the arrival of the Hindu, I must act rapidly. I raced along the path and thrust myself between the Grand Duke and the girl.
"Mademoiselle," I said, "is this gentleman annoying you?"
"How dare you, low pig!" cried the Grand Duke, and with a sweep of his powerful arm he hurled23 me aside.
"Thank you," replied Zara el-Khala with great composure. "But my servant is here."
As I turned, Chunda Lal hurled himself upon the Grand Duke from behind. I had never seen an expression in a man's eyes like that in the eyes of the Hindu at this moment. They blazed like the eyes of a tiger, and his teeth were bared in a savage24 grin which I cannot hope to describe. His lean body seemed to shoot through the air, and he descended25 upon his burly adversary26 as a jungle beast falls upon its prey27. Those long brown fingers clasping his neck, the Grand Duke fell forward upon his face.
"Chunda Lal!" said the dancer.
Kneeling, his right knee thrust between the shoulder blades of the prostrate28 man, the Hindu looked up—and I read murder in those glaring eyes. That he was an accomplished29 wrestler—or perhaps a strangler—I divined from the helplessness of the Grand Duke, who lay inert30, robbed of every power except that of his tongue. He was swearing savagely31.
"Chunda Lal!" said Zara el-Khala again. The Hindu shifted his grip from the neck to the arms of the Grand Duke. He pinioned32 him as is done in jiu-jitsu and forced him to stand upright. It was a curious spectacle—the impotency of this burly nobleman in the hands of his slight adversary. As they swayed to their feet, I thought I saw the glint of metal in the right hand of the Indian, but I could not be sure, for my attention was diverted. At this moment Casimir appeared upon the scene, looking very frightened.
Suddenly releasing his hold altogether, the Hindu glaring into the empurpled face of the Grand Duke, shot out one arm and pointed with a quivering finger along the path.
"Go!" he said.
The Grand Duke clenched33 his fists, looked from face to face as if calculating his chances, then shrugged34 his shoulders, very deliberately35 wiped his neck and wrists, where the Indian had held him, with a large silk handkerchief and threw the handkerchief on the ground. I saw a speck36 of blood upon the silk. Without another glance he walked away, Casimir following sheepishly. It is needless, perhaps, to add that Casimir had not recognized me.
"Can I be of any assistance to mademoiselle?" I asked.
"Thank you—no," she replied.
She placed five francs in my hand and set off rapidly through the trees in the direction of the road, her bloodthirsty but faithful attendant at her heels!
I stood scratching my head and looking after her.
That afternoon I posted a man acquainted with Hindustani to tap any message which might be sent to or from the cafe used by Chunda Lal. I learned that the Grand Duke had taken a stage box at the Montmartre theatre at which the dancer was appearing, and I decided38 that I would be present also.
A great surprise was in store for me.
Zara el-Khala had at this time established a reputation which extended beyond those circles from which the regular patrons of this establishment were exclusively drawn39 and which had begun to penetrate40 to all parts of Paris. You will remember that it was the extraordinary circumstance of her remaining at this obscure place of entertainment so long which had first interested me in the lady. I had learned that she had rejected a number of professional offers, and, as I have already stated, I had assured myself of this unusual attitude by presenting the card of a well-known Paris agency—and being refused admittance.
Now, as I leaned upon the rail at the back of the auditorium41 and the time for the dancer's appearance grew near, I could not fail to observe that there was a sprinkling of evening-dress in the stalls and that the two boxes already occupied boasted the presence of parties of well-known men of fashion. Then the Grand Duke entered as a troupe42 of acrobats43 finished their performance. Zara el-Khala was next upon the programme. I glanced at the Grand Duke and thought that he looked pale and unwell.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "I greatly regret to announce that Mlle. Zara el-Kahla is indisposed and unable to appear. We have succeeded in obtaining the services——"
Of whom he had succeeded in obtaining the services I never heard, for the rougher section of the audience rose at him like a menacing wave! They had come to see the Egyptian dancer and they would have their money back! It was a swindle; they would smash the theatre!
If one had doubted the great and growing popularity of Zara el-Kahla, this demonstration46 must have proved convincing. Over the heads of the excited audience, I saw the Grand Duke rise as if to retire. The other box parties were also standing47 up and talking angrily.
"Why was it not announced outside the theatre?" someone shouted. "We did not know until twenty minutes ago!" cried the manager in accents of despair.
I hurried from the theatre and took a taxicab to the hotel of the dancer. Running into the hall, I thrust a card in the hand of a concierge48 who stood there.
"Announce to Mlle. Zara el-Khala that I must see her at once," I said.
The man smiled and returned the card to me.
"Mlle. Zara el-Khala left Paris at seven o'clock, monsieur!"
"What! I cried—left Paris!"
"But certainly. Her baskets were taken to the Gare du Nord an hour earlier by her servant and she went off by the seven-fifty rapid for Calais. The theatre people were here asking for her an hour ago."
I hurried to my office to obtain the latest reports of my men, I had lost touch with them, you understand, during the latter part of the afternoon and evening. I found there the utmost confusion. They had been seeking me all over Paris to inform me that Zara el-Khala had left. Two men had followed her and had telephoned from Calais for instructions. She had crossed by the night mail for Dover. It was already too late to instruct the English police.
For a few hours I had relaxed my usual vigilance—and this was the result. What could I do? Zara el-Khala had committed no crime, but her sudden flight—for it looked like flight you will agree—was highly suspicious. And as I sat there in my office filled with all sorts of misgivings49, in ran one of the men engaged in watching the Grand Duke.
The Grand Duke had been seized with illness as he left his box in the
Montmartre theatre and had died before his car could reach the hotel!
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收听单词发音
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1
scorpion
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| n.蝎子，心黑的人，蝎子鞭 | |
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confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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subscriber
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| n.用户，订户；（慈善机关等的）定期捐款者；预约者；签署者 | |
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4
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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5
amorous
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| adj.多情的；有关爱情的 | |
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intrigue
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| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
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7
rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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8
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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accost
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| v.向人搭话，打招呼 | |
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10
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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11
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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12
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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13
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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habitually
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| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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16
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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17
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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18
garish
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| adj.华丽而俗气的，华而不实的 | |
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19
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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20
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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adoration
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| n.爱慕，崇拜 | |
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23
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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24
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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28
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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29
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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30
inert
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| adj.无活动能力的，惰性的；迟钝的 | |
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31
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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32
pinioned
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| v.抓住[捆住]（双臂）( pinion的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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36
speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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37
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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38
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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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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40
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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41
auditorium
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| n.观众席，听众席；会堂，礼堂 | |
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42
troupe
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| n.剧团，戏班；杂技团；马戏团 | |
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43
acrobats
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| n.杂技演员( acrobat的名词复数 )；立场观点善变的人，主张、政见等变化无常的人 | |
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44
tableau
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| n.画面，活人画（舞台上活人扮的静态画面） | |
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45
perturbed
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| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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47
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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48
concierge
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| n.管理员；门房 | |
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49
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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