He ate his portion of beefsteak, potatoes, and toast, and emptied his
coffee cup. It was really the first substantial meal he had had in many
hours. A feeling of satisfaction began to permeate him. He smiled at
Miss Frances, who shook her head dubiously. She could not quite make him
out pathologically. Perhaps she had been treating him as shell-shocked
when there was nothing at all the matter with his nerves.
Presently Kuroki came in with a yellow envelope, which he laid at the
side of Cutty's plate.
"Telegrams!" exploded Cutty. "Hang it, I don't want any telegrams!"
"Open it and have it over with," suggested Kitty.
"If you don't mind."
It was the worst kind of news--a summons to Washington for conference.
Which signified that the Government's plans were completed and that
shortly he would be on his way to Piraeus.
A fine muddle! Hawksley in no condition to send upon his way; Kitty's
affair unsettled; the emeralds still in camera obscura; Karlov at
liberty with his infernal schemes, and Stefani Gregor his prisoner. Wild
horses, pulling him two ways. A word, and Karlov would come to the end
of his rope suddenly. But if he issued that word the whole fabric he
had erected so painstakingly would blow away like cardboard. If those
emeralds turned up in the possession of any man but himself the ensuing
complications would be appalling. For he himself would be forced to tell
what he knew about the stones: Hawksley would be thrust conspicuously
into the limelight, and sooner or later some wild anarch would kill him.
Known, Hawksley would not have one chance in a thousand. Kitty would
be dragged into the light and harassed and his own attitude toward
her misunderstood. All these things, if he acted upon his oath.
Nevertheless, he determined to risk suspension of operations until he
returned from Washington. There was one sound plank to cling to. He had
first-hand information that anarchistic elements would remain in their
noisome cellars until May first. If he were not ordered abroad until
after that, no harm would follow his suspension of operations.
"Bad news?" asked Kitty, anxiously.
"Aggravating rather than bad. I am called to Washington. May be gone
four or five days. Official business. Leaves things here a bit in the
air."
"I'll stay as long as you need me," said Miss Frances.
"I'd rather a man now. You've been a brick. You need rest. I've a chap
in mind. He'll make our friend here toe the mark. A physical instructor,
ex-pugilist; knows all about broken heads."