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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 for
the man you've been hiding up here。 There's a taxi downstairs。 It
will carry me back to Fifteenth； then it will return and wait。 If
the man is not at the appointed place by midnight … he must go in
this taxi … the girl will be carried off elsewhere； and you'll never
lay eyes on her again。 Karlov and his gang are potential assassins；
all they want is excuse。 Until midnight they will not touch the girl；
but after midnight； God knows！ What message am I to take back？〃
〃Do you know where she is？〃
Cutty spoke without much outward emotion。
〃Not the least idea。 Whenever Karlov wanted to quiz me； he appeared
late at night from some other part of the town。 But he never got
much。〃
〃You saw him this evening？〃
〃Yes。 It probably struck him as a fine joke to send me。〃
〃And if you don't go back？〃
〃The girl will be taken away。 I'm honestly afraid of the man。 He's
too quiet spoken。 That kind of a man always goes the limit。〃
〃I see。 Wait here。〃
At Cutty's approach Hawksley looked up apathetically。
〃Want me？〃
〃Perhaps。〃
〃You are pale。 Anything serious？〃
〃Yes。 Karlov has got Kitty。〃
For a minute Hawksley did not stir。 Then he got up； put away the
Amati； and came back。 He was pale； too。
〃I understand；〃 he said。 〃They will exchange her for me。 Am I
right？〃
〃Yes。 But you are not obliged to do anything like that； you know。〃
〃I am ready。〃
〃You give yourself up？〃
〃Why not？〃
〃You're a man！〃 Cutty burst out。
〃I was brought up by one。 Honestly； now； could I ever look a white
man in the face again if I didn't give myself up？ I did begin to
believe that I might get through。 But Fate was only playing with
me。 May I use your desk to write a line？〃
〃Come with me；〃 said Cutty； unsteadily。 This was not the result of
environment。 Quiet courage of this order was race。 No questions
demanding if there wasn't some way round the inevitable。 Cutty's
heart glowed； the boy had walked into it； never to leave it。 〃I'm
ready。〃 It took a man to say that when the sequence was death。
〃Coles；〃 said Cutty upon reentering the study； 〃tell Karlov that His
Highness will give himself up。 He will be there before midnight。〃
〃That's enough for me。 But if there's the least sign that you're
not playing straight it will be all off。 Two men will be watching
the taxi and the entrance。 If you appear； it's good…night。 They
told me to warn you。〃
〃I promise not to appear。〃
Coles smiled enigmatically and reached for his hat。 He held his hand
out to Hawksley。 〃You're a white man； sir。〃
〃Thanks；〃 said Hawksley； absently。 To have it all over with！
As soon as the captive Federal agent withdrew Hawksley sat down at
the desk and wrote。
〃Will this hold legally？〃 he asked； extending the written sheet to
Cutty。
Cutty saw that it was a simple will。 In it Hawksley gave half of
his possessions to Kitty and half to Stefani Gregor。 In case the
latter was dead the sum total was to go to Kitty。
〃I got you into a muddle； this will take you out of it。 Karlov will
kill me。 I don't know how。 I am his obsession。 He will sleep
better with me off his mind。 Will this hold legally？〃
〃Yes。 But why Kitty Conover； a stranger？〃
〃Is a woman who saves your life a stranger？〃
〃Well； not exactly。 This is what we might call zero hour。 I gave
you a haven here not particularly because I was sorry for you； but
because I wanted those emeralds。 Once upon a time Gregor showed
them to me。 Until I examined your wallet I supposed you had
smuggled in the stones； and that would have been fair game。 But
you had paid your way in honestly。 Now； what did you do to Kitty
Conover last night that decided her to accept that fool proposition？
She sent her acceptance after she left you。
〃I did not know that。 I played for her。 She became music…struck；
and I took advantage of it … kissed her。 Then she told me she was
going to marry you。〃
〃And that is why you asked me if I would trust you with a daughter
of mine？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Conscience。 That explains this will。〃
〃No。 Why did you accept my suggestion to marry her？〃
〃To make her comfortable without sidestepping the rules of convention。〃
〃No。 Because you love her … the way I do。〃
Cutty's pipe slipped from his teeth。 It did not often do that。 He
stamped out the embers and laid the pipe on the tray。
〃What makes you think I love her？〃
〃What makes me tell you that I do？〃
〃Yes； death may be at the end of to…night's work； so I'll admit that
I love her。 She is like a forest stream； wild at certain turns； but
always sweet and clear。 I'm an old fool； old enough to be her father。
I loved her mother。 Can a man love two women with all his heart； one
years after the other？〃
〃It is the avatar； she is the reincarnation of the mother。 I
understand now。 What was a beautiful memory takes living form again。
You still love the mother； the daughter has revived that love。〃
〃By the Lord Harry； I believe you've struck it！ Walked into the
fog and couldn't find the way out。 Of course。 What an old ass I've
been！ Simple as daylight。 I've simply fallen in love with Molly all
over again； thinking it was Kitty。 Plain as the nose on my face。
And I might have made a fine mess of it if you hadn't waked me up。〃
All this gentle irony went over Hawksley's head。 〃When do you wish
me to go down to the taxi？〃
〃Son； I'm beginning to like you。 You shall have your chance。 In
fact； we'll take it together。 There'll be a taxi but I'll hire it。
I'm quite positive I know where Kitty is。 If I'm correct you'll
have your chance。 If I'm wrong you'll have to pay the score。 We'll
get her out or we'll stay where she is。 In any event； Karlov will
pay the price。 Wouldn't you prefer to go out … if you must … in a
glorious scrap？〃
〃Fighting？〃 Hawksley was on his feet instantly。 〃Do you mean that？
I can die with free hands？〃
〃With a chance of coming out top…hole。〃
〃I say； what a ripping thing hope is … always springing back！〃
Cutty nodded。 But he knew there was one hope that would never warm
his heart again。 Molly！ 。。。 Well； he'd let the young chap believe
that。 Kitty must never know。 Poor little chick； fighting with her
soul in the dark and not knowing what the matter was！ Such things
happened。 He had loved Molly on sight。 He had loved Kitty on sight。
In neither case had he known it until too late to turn about。 Mother
and daughter； a kind of sacrilege； as if he had betrayed Molly！ But
what a clear vision acknowledged love lent to the mind！ He
understood Kitty； who did not understand herself。 Well； this night's
adventure would decide things。
He smiled。 Neither Kitty nor the drums of jeopardy； nothing。 The
gates of paradise again … for somebody else！ Whoever heard of a
prompter receiving press notices？
〃Let's look alive！ We haven't any time to waste。 We'll have to
change to dungarees … engineer togs。 There'll be some tools to
carry。 We go straight down to the boiler room。 We come up the ash
exit on the str