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〃I am only an agent； and am not at liberty to speak。 Could you
describe Gregory？〃
〃Then he is a stranger to you？〃
〃Absolutely。〃
Kitty described Gregor deliberately and at length。 It struck her
that the visitor was becoming bored； though he nodded at times。 She
was glad to hear Bernini's ring。 She excused herself to admit the
Italian。
〃A false alarm；〃 she whispered。 〃Someone inquiring for Gregor。 I
thought it might be well for you to see him。〃
〃I'll work the radiator stuff。〃
〃Very well。〃
Bernini went into the living room and fussed over the steam cock of
the radiator。
〃Nothing the matter with it； miss。 Just stuck。〃
〃Sorry to have troubled you；〃 said the stranger； rising and picking
up his hat。
Bernini went down to the basement； obfuscated； for he knew the
visitor。 He was one of the greatest bankers in New York … that is
to say； in America！ Asking questions about Stefani Gregor！
CHAPTER XVI
About nine o'clock that same night a certain rich man； having
established himself comfortably under the reading lamp； a fine book
in his hands and a fine after…dinner cigar between his teeth； was
exceedingly resentful when his butler knocked； entered； and presented
a card。
〃My orders were that I was not at home to any one。〃
〃Yes； sir。 But he said you would see him because he came to see you
regarding a Mr。 Gregory。〃
〃What？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Damn these newspapers！ 。。。 Wait； wait！〃 the banker called； for
the butler was starting for the door to carry the anathema to the
appointed head。 〃Bring him in。 He's a big bug； and I can't afford
to affront him。〃
〃Yes； sir〃 … with the colourless tone of a perfect servant。
When the visitor entered he stopped just beyond the threshold。 He
remained there even after the butler closed the door。 Blue eye and
gray clashed； two masters of fence who had executed the same stroke。
The banker laughed and Cutty smiled。
〃I suppose；〃 said the banker； 〃you and I ought to sign an armistice；
too。〃
〃Agreed。〃
〃And you've always been rather a puzzle to me。 A rich man； a
gentleman； and yet sticking to the newspaper game。〃
〃And you're a puzzle to me； too。 A rich man； a gentleman； and yet
sticking to the banking game。〃
〃What the devil was our row about？〃
〃Can't quite recall。〃
〃Whatever it was it was the way you went at it。〃
〃A reform was never yet accomplished by purring and pussyfooting；〃
said Cutty。
〃Come over and sit down。 Now； how the devil did you find out about
this Gregory affair？〃 The banker held out his hand； which Cutty
grasped with honest pressure。 〃If you are here in the capacity of a
newspaper man； not a word out of me。 Have a cigar？〃
〃I never smoke anything but pipes that ruin curtains。 You should
have given your name to Miss Conover。〃
〃I was under promise not to explain my business。 But before we
proceed； an answer。 Newspaper？〃
〃No。 I represent the Department of Justice。 And we'll get along
easier when I add that I possess rather unlimited powers under that
head。 How did you happen to stumble into this affair？〃
〃Through Captain Rathbone； my prospective son…in…law； who is in
Coblenz。 A cable arrived this morning； instructing me to proceed
precisely in the manner I did。 Rathbone is an intimate friend of
the man I was actually seeking。 The apartment of this man Gregory
was mentioned to Rathbone in a cable as a possible temporary abiding
place。 What do you want to know？〃
〃Whether or not he is undesirable。〃
〃Decidedly； I should say； desirable。〃
〃You make that statement as an American citizen？〃
〃I do。 I make it unreservedly because my future son…in…law is
rather a difficult man to make friends with。 I am acting merely
as Rathbone's agent。 On the other hand； I should be a cheerful
liar if I told you I wasn't interested。 What do you know？〃
〃Everything；〃 answered Cutty； quietly。
〃You know where this young man is？〃
〃At this moment he is in my apartment； rather seriously battered and
absolutely penniless。〃
〃Well； I'll be tinker…dammed！ You know who he is； of course？〃
〃Yes。 And I want all your information so that I may guide my future
actions accordingly。 If he is really undesirable he shall be
deported the moment he can stand on his two feet。〃
The banker pyramided his fingers； rather pleased to learn that he
could astonish this interesting beggar。 〃He has on account at my
bank half a million dollars。 Originally he had eight hundred
thousand。 The three hundred thousand； under cable orders from
Yokohama； was transferred to our branch in San Francisco。 This was
withdrawn about two weeks ago。 How does that strike you？〃
〃All in a heap；〃 confessed Cutty。 〃When was this fund established
with you？〃
〃Shortly before Kerensky's government blew up。 The funds were in
our London bank。 There was； of course； a lot of red tape； excessive
charges in exchange； and all that。 Anyhow； about eight hundred
thousand arrived。〃
〃What brought him to America？ Why didn't he go to England？ That
would have been the safest haven。〃
〃I can explain that。 He intends to become an American citizen。 Some
time ago he became the owner of a fine cattle ranch in Montana。〃
〃Well； I'll be tinker…dammed； too！〃 exploded Cutty。
〃A young man with these ideas in his head ought eventually to become
a first…rate citizen。 What do you say？〃
〃I am considerably relieved。 His forbears； the blood … 〃
〃His mother was a healthy Italian peasant … a famous singer in her
time。 His fortune； I take it； was his inheritance from her。 She
made a fortune singing in the capitals of Europe and speculating
from time to time。 She sent the boy； at the age of ten； to England。
Afraid of the home influence。 He remained there； under the name of
Hawksley； for something like fourteen years； under the guardianship
of this fellow Gregory。 Of Gregory I know positively nothing。 The
young fellow is； to all purposes； methods of living； points of view；
an Englishman。 Rathbone； who was educated at Oxford； met him there
and they shared quarters。 But it was only in recent years that he
learned the identity of his friend。 In 1914 the young fellow
returned to Russia。 Military obligations。 That's all I know。
Mighty interesting； though。〃
〃I am much obliged to you。 The white elephant becomes a normal drab
pachyderm；〃 said Cutty。
〃Still something of an elephant on your hands。 I see。 Bring him
here if you wish。〃
〃And sic the Bolshevik at your door。〃
〃That's so。 You spoke of his having been beaten and robbed。
Bolshevik？〃
〃Yes。 An old line of reasoning first put into effect by Oliver
Cromwell。 The axe。〃
〃The poor devil！〃
〃Fact。 I'm sorry for him； but I wish he would blow away conveniently。〃
〃Rathbone says he's handsome； gay； but decent； considering。 Humanity
is being knocked about some。 The hour has come for our lawyers to go
back to their offices。 Politics must step aside for business。 We
ought to hang up signs in every state capitol in the country： 'Men
Wanted … Specialists。' A steel man from Pittsburgh； a mining man from
Idaho； a shipowner from Boston； a meat packer from Omaha； a grain man
from Chicago