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sunrise。〃 At the prospect of unending nightmares Jimmie's voice shook
with terror。 〃Make it for twenty years；〃 he begged。 〃Make it for ten；〃 he
coaxed； 〃but； please； promise you won't shoot him。〃
When Van Vorst returned to Captain McCoy； he was smiling； and the
butler who followed； bearing a tray and tinkling glasses； was trying not to
smile。
〃I gave Jimmie your ten dollars；〃 said Van Vorst； 〃and made it twenty；
and he has gone home。 You will be glad to hear that he begged me to spare
your life； and that your sentence has been commuted to twenty years in a
fortress。 I drink to your good fortune。〃
〃No！〃 protested Captain McCoy； 〃We will drink to Jimmie！〃
When Captain McCoy had driven away； and his own car and the golf
clubs had again been brought to the steps； Judge Van Vorst once more
attempted to depart； but he was again delayed。
Other visitors were arriving。
Up the driveway a touring…car approached； and though it limped on a
flat tire； it approached at reckless speed。 The two men in the front seat
were white with dust； their faces； masked by automobile glasses； were
indistinguishable。 As though preparing for an immediate exit； the car
swung in a circle until its nose pointed down the driveway up which it had
just come。 Raising his silk mask the one beside the driver shouted at Judge
Van Vorst。 His throat was parched； his voice was hoarse and hot with
anger。
〃A gray touring…car；〃 he shouted。 〃It stopped here。 We saw it from that
hill。 Then the damn tire burst； and we lost our way。 Where did he go？〃
〃Who？〃 demanded Van Vorst； stiffly； 〃Captain McCoy？〃
The man exploded with an oath。 The driver with a shove of his elbow；
silenced him。
〃Yes； Captain McCoy；〃 assented the driver eagerly。 〃Which way did he
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go？〃
〃To New York；〃 said Van Vorst。
The driver shrieked at his companion。
〃Then； he's doubled back；〃 he cried。 〃He's gone to New Haven。〃 He
stooped and threw in the clutch。 The car lurched forward。
A cold terror swept young Van Vorst。
〃What do you want with him？〃 he called 〃Who are you？〃
Over one shoulder the masked face glared at him。 Above the roar of
the car the words of the driver were flung back。 〃We're Secret Service
from Washington；〃 he shouted。 〃He's from their embassy。 He's a German
spy！〃
Leaping and throbbing at sixty miles an hour； the car vanished in a
curtain of white； whirling dust。
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CHAPTER 9。 THE CARD…SHARP
I had looked forward to spending Christmas with some people in
Suffolk； and every one in London assured me that at their house there
would be the kind of a Christmas house party you hear about but see only
in the illustrated Christmas numbers。 They promised mistletoe；
snapdragon； and Sir Roger de Coverley。 On Christmas morning we would
walk to church； after luncheon we would shoot； after dinner we would eat
plum pudding floating in blazing brandy； dance with the servants； and
listen to the waits singing 〃God rest you； merry gentlemen； let nothing you
dismay。〃
To a lone American bachelor stranded in London it sounded fine。 And
in my gratitude I had already shipped to my hostess； for her children； of
whose age； number； and sex I was ignorant； half of Gamage's dolls； skees；
and cricket bats； and those crackers that； when you pull them； sometimes
explode。 But it was not to be。 Most inconsiderately my wealthiest patient
gained sufficient courage to consent to an operation； and in all New York
would permit no one to lay violent hands upon him save myself。 By cable
I advised postponement。 Having lived in lawful harmony with his
appendix for fifty years； I thought； for one week longer he might safely
maintain the status quo。 But his cable in reply was an ultimatum。 So； on
Christmas eve； instead of Hallam Hall and a Yule log； I was in a gale
plunging and pitching off the coast of Ireland； and the only log on board
was the one the captain kept to himself。
I sat in the smoking…room； depressed and cross； and it must have been
on the principle that misery loves company that I foregathered with Talbot；
or rather that Talbot foregathered with me。 Certainty； under happier
conditions and in haunts of men more crowded； the open…faced manner in
which he forced himself upon me would have put me on my guard。 But；
either out of deference to the holiday spirit； as manifested in the fictitious
gayety of our few fellow…passengers； or because the young man in a
knowing； impertinent way was most amusing； I listened to him from
dinner time until midnight； when the chief officer； hung with snow and
icicles； was blown in from the deck and wished all a merry Christmas。
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Even after they unmasked Talbot I had neither the heart nor the
inclination to turn him down。 Indeed； had not some of the passengers
testified that I belonged to a different profession； the smoking…room crowd
would have quarantined me as his accomplice。 On the first night I met him
I was not certain whether he was English or giving an imitation。 All the
outward and visible signs were English； but he told me that； though he had
been educated at Oxford and since then had spent most of his years in
India； playing polo； he was an American。 He seemed to have spent much
time； and according to himself much money； at the French watering…places
and on the Riviera。 I felt sure that it was in France I had already seen him；
but where I could not recall。 He was hard to place。 Of people at home and
in London well worth knowing he talked glibly； but in speaking of them he
made several slips。 It was his taking the trouble to cover up the slips that
first made me wonder if his talking about himself was not mere vanity； but
had some special object。 I felt he was presenting letters of introduction in
order that later he might ask a favor。 Whether he was leading up to an
immediate loan； or in New York would ask for a card to a club； or an
introduction to a banker；