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That is to say； Kitty already had a glimmer of the startling truth。
The initial misstep on his part had been made upon her pronouncement
of the name Stefani Gregor。 He hadn't been able to control his
surprise。 And yesterday； having frankly admitted that he knew
Gregor； all that was needed to complete the circle was that
advertisement。 Cutty tore his hair； literally。 The very door he
hoped she might overlook he had thrown open to her。
Thaddeus of Warsaw。 But it should not be。 He would continue to
offer a haven to that chap； but no nonsense。 None of that sinister
and unfortunate blood should meddle with Kitty Conover's happiness。
Her self…appointed guardian would attend to that。
He realized that his attitude was rather inexplicable； but there
were some adventures which hypnotized women； and one of this sort
was now unfolding for Kitty。 That she had her share of common
sense was negligible in face of the facts that she was imaginative
and romantical and adventuresome； and that for the first time she
was riding one of the great middle currents in human events。 She
was Molly's girl； Cutty was going to look out for her。
Mighty odd that this fear for her should have sprung into being that
night； quite illogically。 Prescience？ He could not say。 Perhaps
it was a borrowed instinct … fatherly； the same instinct that would
have stirred her father into action … the protection of that dearest
to him。
If he told her who Hawksley really was； that would intrigue her。 If
he made a mystery of the affair； that； too； would intrigue her。 And
there you were； 'twixt the devil and the deep blue sea。 Hang it；
what evil luck had stirred him to tell her about those emeralds？
Already she was building a story to satisfy her dramatic fancy。 Two
and two made four … which signified that she was her father's
daughter； that she would not rest until she had explored every corner
of this dark room。 Wanting to keep her out of it； and then dragging
her into it through his cupidity。 Devil take those emeralds！ Always
the same； trouble wherever they were。
The real danger would rise during the convalescence。 Kitty would be
contriving to drop in frequently； not to see Hawksley especially； but
her initial success in playing hide and seek with secret agents；
friendly and otherwise； had tickled her fancy。 For a while it would
be an exciting game； then it might become only a means to an end。
Well； it should not be。
Was there a girl！ Already Hawksley had recorded her beauty。 Very
well； the first sign of sentimental nonsense； and out he should go；
Karlov or no Karlov。 Kitty wasn't going to know any hurt in this
affair。 That much was decided。
Cutty stormed into his study； growling audibly。 He filled a pipe
and smoked savagely。 Another side； Kitty's entrance into the drama
promised to spoil his own fun； he would have to play two games
instead of one。 A fine muddle！
He came to a stand before one of the windows and saw the glory of
the morning flashing from the myriad spires and towers and roofs；
and wondered why artists bothered about cows in pastures。
Touching his knees was an antique Florentine bridal chest； with
exquisite carving and massive lock。 He threw back the lid and
disclosed a miscellany never seen by any eye save his own。 It was
all the garret he had。 He dug into it and at length resurrected
the photograph of a woman whose face was both roguish and beautiful。
He sat on the floor a la Turk and studied the face； his own tender
and wistful。 No resemblance to Kitty except in the eyes。 How
often he had gone to her with the question burning his lips； only
to carry it away unspoken！ He turned over the photograph and read：
〃To the nicest man I know。 With love from Molly。〃 With love。 And
he had stepped aside for Tommy Conover！
By George！ He dropped the photograph into the chest； let down the
lid； and rose to his feet。 Not a bad idea； that。 To intrigue Kitty
himself； to smother her with attentions and gallantries； to give her
out of his wide experience； and to play the game until this intruder
was on his way elsewhere。
He could do it； and he based his assurance upon his experiences and
observations。 Never a squire of dames； he knew the part。 He had
played the game occasionally in the capitals of Europe when there
had been some information he had particularly desired。 Clever；
scheming women； too。 A clever； passably good…looking elderly man
could make himself peculiarly attractive to young women and women in
the thirties。 Dazzlement for the young； the man who knew all about
life； the trivial little courtesies a younger man generally forgot；
the moving of chairs； the holding of wraps； the gray hairs which
served to invite trust and confidence； which lulled the eternal
feminine fear of the male。 To the older women； no callow youth but
a man of discernment； discretion； wit and fancy and daring； who
remembered birthdays husbands forgot； who was always round when
wanted。
There was no vanity back of these premises。 Cutty was merely
reaching about for an expedient to thwart what to his anticipatory
mind promised to be an inevitability。 Of course the glamour would
not last； it never did； but he felt he could sustain it until
yonder chap was off and away。
That evening at five…thirty Kitty received a box of beautiful roses；
with Cutty's card。
〃Oh； the lovely things！〃 she cried。
She kissed them and set them in a big copper jug； arranged and
rearranged them for the simple pleasure it afforded her。 What a
dear man this Cutty was； to have thought of her in this fashion！
Her father's friend； her mother's； and now hers； she had inherited
him。 This thought caused her to smile； but there were tears in her
eyes。 A garden some day to play in； this mad city far away； a home
of her own； would it ever happen？
The bell rang。 She wasn't going to like this caller for taking her
away from these roses； the first she had received in a long time
… roses she could keep and not toss out the window。 For it must not
be understood that Kitty was never besieged。
Outside stood a well…dressed gentleman； older than Cutty； with
shrewd； inquiring gray eyes and a face with strong salients。
〃Pardon me； but I am looking for a man by the name of Stephen
Gregory。 I was referred by the janitor to you。 You are Miss
Conover？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Kitty。 〃Will you come in？〃 She ushered the stranger
into the living room and indicated a chair。 〃Please excuse me for a
moment。〃 Kitty went into her bedroom and touched the danger button；
which would summon Bernini。 She wanted her watchdog to see the
visitor。 She returned to the living room。 〃What is it you wish to
know？〃
〃Where I may find this Gregory。〃
〃That nobody seems able to answer。 He was carried away from here in
an ambulance； but we have been unable to locate the hospital。 If
you will leave your name … 〃
〃That is not necessary。 I am out of bounds； you might say； and I'd
rather my name should be left out of the affair； which is rather
peculiar。〃
〃In what way？〃
〃I am only an agent； and am not at liberty to speak。 Could you
describe Gregory？〃
〃Then he is