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forget all about your paternal forbears。〃
Handsome beggar； thought Cutty； but evidently born under the opal。
An inexplicable resentment against his guest stirred his heart。 He
resented his youth； his ease of manner； his fluency in the common
tongue。 He was theoretically a Britisher； he thought British；
approached subjects from a British point of view。 A Britisher
… except when he had that fiddle tucked under his chin。 Then
Cutty admitted he did not know what he was。 Devil take him！
There must have been something electrical in Cutty's resentment；
for the object of it felt it subtly； and it fired his own。 He
resented the freedom of action that had always been denied him；
resented his host's mental and physical superiority。 Did Cutty
care for the girl； or was he playing the game as it had been
suggested to him？ Money and freedom。 But then； it was in no
sense a barter； she would be giving nothing； and the old beggar
would be asking nothing。 His suggestion！ He laughed。
〃What's the joke？〃 asked Cutty； looking up from his coffee； which
he was stirring with unnecessary vigour。
〃It isn't a joke。 I'm bally well twisted。 I laugh now when I
think of something tragic。 I am sorry about last night。 I was
mad； I suppose。〃
〃Tell me about it。〃
Cutty listened intently and smiled occasionally。 Mad as hatters；
both of them。 He and Kitty couldn't have gone on a romp like this；
but Kitty and Hawksley could。 Thereupon his resentment boiled up
again。
〃Have you any idea why she took such a risk？ Why she came here；
knowing me to be absent？〃
〃She spoke of a problem。 I fancy it related to your approaching
marriage。 She told me。〃
Cutty laid down his spoon。 〃I'd like to dump Your Highness into
the middle of East River for putting that idea into my head。 She
has consented to it； and now； damn it； I've got to back out of it！〃
Cutty rose and flung down his napkin。
〃Why？〃 asked the bewildered Hawksley。
〃Because there is in me the making of a first…rate scoundrel； and
I never should have known it if you and your affairs hadn't turned
up。
Cutty entered his study and slammed the door； leaving Hawksley prey
to so many conflicting emotions that his head began to bother him。
Back out of it！ Why？ Why should Kitty have a problem to solve over
such a marriage of convenience； and why should the old thoroughbred
want to back out？
Kitty would be free； then？ A flash of fire； which subsided quickly
under the smothering truth。 What if she were free？ He could not
ask her to be his wife。 Not because of last night's madness。 That
no longer troubled him。 She was the sort who would understand； if
he told her。 She had a soul big with understanding。 It was that
he walked in the shadow of death； and would so long as Karlov
was free； and he could not ask any woman to share that。
He pushed back his chair slowly。 In the living room he took the
Amati from its case and began improvising。 What the chrysoprase
did for Cutty the fiddle did for this derelict … solved problems。
He reviewed all the phases as he played。 That dish of bacon and
eggs； the resolute air of her； that popping fan！ ＇Allegretto。＇
She had found him senseless on the floor。 She had had the courage
to come to his assistance。 ＇Andante con espressione。＇ What had
been in her mind that night she had taken flight from his bedroom；
after having given him the wallet？ Something like tears。 What
about？ An American girl； natural； humorous； and fanciful。 Somehow
he felt assured that it had not been his kisses； she had looked
into his eyes and seen the taint。 Always there； the beast that old
Stefani had chained and subdued。 He knew now that this beast would
never again lift its head。 And he had let her go without a sign。
＇Dolorosomente。＇ To have gone through life with a woman who would
have understood his nature。 The test of her had been last night in
the streets。 His mood had been hers。 ＇Allegretto con amore。＇
〃Love；〃 he said； lowering the bow。
〃Love；〃 said Cutty； shifting his chrysoprase。 There was no fool
like an old fool。 It did not serve to recall Molly in all her
glory； to reach hither and yon for a handhold to pull him out of
this morass。 Molly had become an invisible ghost。 He loved her
daughter。 Double sunset； the phenomenon of the Indian Ocean was
now being enacted upon his own horizon。 Double sunset。
But why should Kitty have any problem to solve？ Why should she
dodder over such a trifle as this prospective official marriage？
It was only a joke which would legalize his generosity。 She had
sent that telegram after leaving this apartment。 What had happened
here to decide her？ Had Hawksley fiddled？ There was something
the matter with the green stones to…night； they evoked nothing。
He leaned back in his chair； listening； the bowl of his pipe
touching the lapel of his coat。 Music。 Queer； what you could do
with a fiddle if you knew how。
After all there was no sense in venting his anger on Hawksley。 He
was hoist by his own petard。 Why not admit the truth？ He had had
a crack on the head the same night as Hawksley； only； he had been
struck by an idea； often more deadly than the butt of a pistol。 He
would apologize for that roaring exit from the dining room。 The
poor friendless devil！ He bent toward the green stones again。
In the living room Hawksley sat in a chair； the fiddle across his
knees。 He understood now。 The old chap was in love with the girl；
and was afraid of himself； couldn't risk having her and letting her
go。。。。 A curse on the drums of jeopardy！ Misfortune followed their
wake always。 The world would have been different this hour if he …
The break in the trend of thought was caused by the entrance of
Kuroki； who was followed by a man。 This man dropped into a chair
without apparently noticing that the room was already tenanted； for
he never glanced toward Hawksley。 A haggard face； dull of eye。
Kuroki bobbed and vanished； but returned shortly； beckoning the
stranger to follow him into the study。
〃Coles？〃 cried Cutty delightedly。 Here was the man he had sent to
negotiate for the emeralds； free。 〃How did you escape？ We've combed
the town for you。〃
〃They had me in a room on Fifteenth Street。 Once in a while I got
something to eat。 But I haven't escaped。 I'm still a prisoner。〃
〃What do you mean by that？〃
〃I am here as an emissary。 There was nothing for me to do but
accept the job。〃
〃Did he have the stones？〃 asked Cutty； without the least suspicion
of what was coming。
〃That I don't know。 He pretended to have them in order to get me
where he wanted me。 I've been hungry a good deal because I wouldn't
talk。 I'm here as a negotiator。 A rotten business。 I agreed
because I've hopes you'll be able to put one over on Karlov。 It's
the girl。〃
〃Kitty？〃
〃Karlov has her。 The girl wasn't to blame。 Any one in the game
would have done as she did。 Karlov is bugs on politics； but he's
shrewd enough at this sort of game。 He trapped the girl because he'd
studied her enough to learn what she would or would not do。 Now they
are not going to hurt her。 They merely propose exchanging her f