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Three； then； hung fire for the present。 Funny； how this idea stuck
in his head； that Hawksley was a menace to Kitty。 One of those fool
ideas； probably； but worth trying out。
Problem Four。 That night； all on his own； he would make an attempt
to enter that old house sandwiched between the two vacant warehouses。
Through pressure of authority he had obtained keys to both warehouses。
There would be a trap on the roof of that house。 Doubtless it would
be covered with tin； fairly impregnable if latched below。 But he
could find out。 From the third…floor windows of either warehouse
the drop was not more than six feet。 If anywhere in town poor old
Stefani Gregor would be in one of those rooms。 But to storm the
house frontally； without being absolutely sure； would be folly。
Gregor would be killed。 The house was in fact an insane asylum；
occupied by super…insane men。 Warned； they were capable of blowing
the house to kingdom come； themselves with it。
Problem Five was a mere vanishing point。 He doubted if he would
ever see those emeralds。 What an infernal pity！
He built a coronet and leaned back； a wisp of smoke darting up from
the bowl of his pipe。
〃I say； you know； but that's a ripping game to play！〃 drawled a
tired voice over his shoulder。
Cutty turned his head； to behold Hawksley； shaven； pale； and
handsome； wrapped in a bed quilt and swaying slightly。
〃What the deuce are you doing out of your room？〃 growled Cutty； but
with the growl of a friendly dog。
Hawksley dropped into a chair weakly。 〃End of my rope。 Got to talk
to someone。 Go dotty； else。 Questions。 Skull aches with 'em。 Want
to know whether this is a foretaste of the life I have a right to
live … or the beginning of death。 Be a good sport； and let's have
it out。〃
〃What is it you wish to know？〃 asked Cutty； gently。 The poor beggar！
〃Where I am。 Who you are。 What happened to me。 What is going to
happen to me；〃 rather breathlessly。 〃Don't want any more suspense。
Don't want to look over my shoulder any more。 Straight ahead。 All
the cards on the table； please。〃
Cutty rose and pushed the invalid's chair to a window and drew another
up beside it。
〃My word； the top of the world！ Bally odd roost。〃
〃You will find it safer here than you would on the shores of Kaspuskoi
More；〃 replied Cutty； gravely。 〃The Caspian wouldn't be a healthy place
for you now。〃
With wide eyes Hawksley stared across the shining； wavering roofs。 A
pause。 〃What do you know？〃 he asked； faintly。
〃Everything。 But wait！〃 Cutty fetched one of the photographs and laid
it upon the young man's knees。 〃Know who this is … Two…Hawks？〃
A strained； tense gesture as Hawksley seized the photograph； then
his chin sank slowly to his chest。 A moment later Cutty was
profoundly astonished to see something sparkle on its way down the
bed quilt。 Tears！
〃I'm sorry！〃 cried Cutty； troubled and embarrassed。 〃I'm terribly
sorry！ I should have had the decency to wait a day or two。〃
〃On the contrary； thank you！〃 Hawksley flung up his head。 〃Nothing
in all God's muddied world could be more timely … the face of my
mother！ I am not ashamed of these tears。 I am not afraid to die。
I am not even afraid to live。 But all the things I loved … the
familiar earth； the human beings； my dog … gone。 I am alone。〃
〃I'm sorry；〃 repeated Cutty； a bit choked up。 This was honest
misery and it affected him deeply。 He felt himself singularly drawn。
〃I want to live。 Because I am young？ No。 I want to prove to the
shades of those who loved me that I am fit to go on。 So my identity
is known to you？〃 … dejectedly。
〃Yes。 You wish me to forget what I know？〃
〃Will you？〃 … eagerly。 〃Will you forget that I am anything but a
naked； friendless human being？〃
〃Yes。 But your enemies know。〃
〃I rather fancy they will keep the truth to themselves。 Let them
publish my identity； and a hundred havens would be offered。 Your
Government would protect me。〃
〃It is doing so now； indirectly。 But why do you not want it known？〃
〃Freedom！ Would I have it if known？ Could I trust anybody？ Would
it not be essentially the old life in a new land？ I want a new life
in a new land。 I want to be born again。 I want to be what you
patently are； an American。 That is why I risked life a hundred
times in coming all these miles； why I sit in this chair before you；
with the room rocking because they battered in my head。 I do not
offer a human wreck； an illiterate mind； in exchange for citizenship。
I bring a tolerably decent manhood。 Try me！ Always I have admired
you people。 Always we Russians have。 But there is no Russia now
that I can ever return to！〃 Hawksley's head drooped again and his
bloodshot eyes closed。
Cutty sensed confusion； indecision； all his deductions were upset
in the face of this strange appeal。 Russian； born of an Italian
mother and speaking Oxford English as if it were his birthright； and
wanting citizenship！ Wasn't ashamed of his tears； wasn't afraid to
die or to live！ Cutty searched quickly for a new handhold to his
antagonism； but he found only straws。 He was honest enough to
realize that he had built this antagonism upon a want； a desire；
there was no foundation for it。 Downright likeable。 A chap who had
gone through so much； who was in such a pitiable condition； would
not have the wit to manufacture character； camouflage his soul。
〃Hang it！〃 he said； briskly。 〃You shall have your chance。 Talk like
that will carry a man anywhere in this country。 You shall stay here
until you are strong again。 Then some night I'll put you on your
train for Montana。 You want to ask questions。 I'll save you the
trouble by telling you what I know。〃
But his narrative contained no mention of the emeralds。 Why？ A bit
conscience…stricken because； if he could； he was going to rob his
guest on the basis that findings is keepings？ Cutty wasn't ready to
analyze the omission。 Perhaps he wanted Hawksley himself to inquire
about the stones； test him out。 If he asked frankly that would
signify that he had brought the stones in honestly； paid his
obligations to the Customs。 Otherwise； smuggling； and in that event
conscience wouldn't matter； the emeralds became a game anybody could
take a hand in … anybody who considered the United States Customs an
infringement upon human rights。
What a devil of a call those stones had for him！ Did they mean
anything to Hawksley aside from their intrinsic value？ But for the
nebulous idea； originally； that the emeralds were mixed up somewhere
in this adventure； Cutty knew that he would have sent Hawksley to a
hospital； left him to his fate； and never known who he was。
All through the narration Hawksley listened motionless； with his eyes
closed； possibly to keep the wavering instability of the walls from
interfering with his assimilation of this astonishing series of fact。
〃Found you insensible on the floor；〃 concluded Cutty； 〃hoisted you to
my shoulders； took you to the street … and here you are！〃
Hawksley opened his eyes。 〃I say； you know； what a devil of an old
Sherlock you must be！ And you carried me on your shoulders across t