the yellow god- 第6部分

Sir　Robert　nodded。

〃Vernon　is　a　fellow　who　doesn't　like　rats；　they　seem　to　haunt　his
sleep；〃　he　said；　〃but　do　you　think　that　having　seen　it；　he　will　keep
it　in　the　bag？〃

〃Oh！　certainly；　certainly；〃　answered　Mr。　Haswell　with　cheerfulness；
〃the　man　is　the　soul　of　honour；　he　will　never　give　us　away。　Look　how
he　behaved　about　those　shares。　Still；　I　think　that　perhaps　we　are　well
rid　of　him。　Too　much　honour；　like　too　much　zeal；　is　a　very　dangerous
quality　in　any　business。〃

〃I　don't　know　that　I　agree　with　you；〃　answered　Sir　Robert。　〃I　am　not
sure　that　in　the　long　run　we　should　not　do　better　for　a　little　more　of
the　article。　For　my　part；　although　it　will　not　hurt　us　publicly；　for
the　thing　will　never　be　noticed；　I　am　sorry　that　we　have　lost　Vernon；
very　sorry　indeed。　I　don't　think　him　a　fool；　and　awkward　as　they　may
be；　I　respect　his　qualities。〃

〃So　do　I；　so　do　I；〃　answered　Mr。　Haswell；　〃and　of　course　we　have　acted
against　his　advice　throughout；　which　must　have　been　annoying　to　him。
The　scheme　as　he　suggested　it　was　a　fair　business　proposition　that
might　have　paid　ten　per　cent。　on　a　small　capital；　but　what　is　the　good
of　ten　per　cent。　to　you　and　me？　We　want　millions　and　we　are　going　to
get　them。　Well；　he　is　coming　to　The　Court　to…morrow；　and　perhaps　after
all　we　shall　be　able　to　arrange　matters。　I'll　give　Barbara　a　hint；　she
has　great　influence　with　him；　and　you　might　do　the　same；　Aylward。〃

〃Miss　Champers　has　great　influence　with　everyone　who　is　fortunate
enough　to　know　her；〃　answered　Sir　Robert　courteously。　〃But　even　if　she
chooses　to　use　it；　I　doubt　if　it　will　avail　in　this　case。　Vernon　has
been　making　up　his　mind　for　a　long　while。　I　have　watched　him　and　am
sure　of　that。　To…night　he　determined　to　take　the　plunge　and　I　do　not
think　that　we　shall　see　any　more　of　him　in　this　office。　Haswell；〃　he
added　with　sudden　energy；　〃I　tell　you　that　of　late　our　luck　has　been
too　good　to　last。　The　boom；　the　real　boom；　came　in　with　Vernon；　and
with　Vernon　I　think　that　it　will　go。〃

〃At　any　rate　it　must　leave　something　pretty　substantial　behind　it　this
time；　Aylward；　my　friend。　Whatever　happens；　within　a　week　we　shall　be
rich；　really　rich　for　life。〃

〃For　life；　Haswell；　yes；　for　life。　But　what　is　life？　A　bubble　that　any
pin　may　prick。　Oh！　I　know　that　you　do　not　like　the　subject；　but　it　is
as　well　to　look　it　in　the　face　sometimes。　I'm　no　church…goer；　but　if　I
remember　right　we　were　taught　to　pray　the　good　Lord　to　deliver　us
especially　'in　all　times　of　our　wealth；'　which　is　followed　by
something　about　tribulation　and　sudden　death；　for　when　they　wrote　that
prayer　the　wheel　of　human　fortune　went　round　just　as　it　does　to…day。
There；　let's　get　out　of　this　before　I　grow　superstitious；　as　men　who
believe　in　nothing　sometimes　do；　because　after　all　they　must　believe
in　something；　I　suppose。　Got　your　hat　and　coat？　So　have　I；　come　on；〃
and　he　switched　off　the　light；　so　that　the　room　was　left　in　darkness
except　for　the　faint　glimmering　of　the　fire。

His　partner　grumbled　audibly；　for　in　turning　he　had　knocked　his　hand
against　the　desk。

〃Leave　me　my　only　economy；　Haswell；〃　he　answered　with　a　hard　little
laugh。　〃Electricity　is　strength　and　I　hate　to　see　strength　burning　to
waste。　Why　do　you　mind？〃　he　went　on　as　he　stepped　towards　the　door。
〃Is　it　the　contrast？　In　all　times　of　our　wealth；　in　all　times　of　our
tribulation；　from　sickness　and　from　sudden　death〃

〃Good　Lord　deliver　us；〃　chimed　in　Mr。　Haswell　in　a　shaking　voice
behind　him。　〃What　the　devil's　that？〃

Sir　Robert　looked　round　and　saw；　or　thought　that　he　saw；　something
very　strange。　From　the　pillar　on　which　it　stood　the　golden　fetish　with
a　woman's　face；　appeared　to　have　floated。　The　firelight　showed　it
gliding　towards　them　across；　but　a　few　inches　above　the　floor　of　the
great　room。　It　came　very　slowly；　but　it　came。　Now　it　reached　them　and
paused；　and　now　it　rose　into　the　air　until　it　attained　the　height　of
Mr。　Champers…Haswell　and　stayed　there；　staring　into　his　face　and　not　a
hand's　breadth　away；　just　as　though　it　were　a　real　woman　glaring　at
him。

He　uttered　a　sound；　half　whistle　and　half　groan；　and　fell　back；　as　it
chanced　on　to　a　morocco…covered　seat　behind　him。　For　a　moment　or　two
the　gleaming；　golden　mask　floated　in　the　air。　Then　it　turned　very
deliberately；　rose　a　little　way；　and　moving　sidelong　to　where　Sir
Robert　stood；　hung　in　front　of　/his/　face。

Presently　Aylward　staggered　to　the　mantelpiece　and　began　to　fumble　for
the　switch；　in　the　silence　his　nails　scratching　at　the　panelling　made
a　sound　like　to　that　of　a　gnawing　mouse。　He　found　it　at　last；　and　next
instant　the　office　broke　into　a　blaze　of　light；　showing　Mr。　Haswell；
his　rubicund　face　quite　pale；　his　hat　and　umbrella　on　the　floor；
gasping　like　a　dying　man　upon　the　couch；　and　Sir　Robert　himself
clinging　to　the　mantel…shelf　as　a　person　might　do　who　had　received　a
mortal　wound；　while　the　golden　fetish　reposed　calmly　on　its　pillar；　to
all　appearance　as　immovable　and　undisturbed　as　the　antique　Venus　which
matched　it　at　the　other　end　of　the　room。　For　a　while　there　was
silence。　Then　Sir　Robert；　recovering　himself；　asked：

〃Did　you　notice　anything　unusual　just　now；　Haswell？〃

〃Yes；〃　whispered　his　partner。　〃I　thought　that　hideous　African　thing
which　Vernon　brought　here；　came　sliding　across　the　floor　and　stared
into　my　face　with　its　glittering　eyes；　and　in　the　eyes〃

〃Well；　what　was　in　the　eyes？〃

〃I　can't　remember。　It　was　a　kind　of　picture　and　the　meaning　of　it　was
Sudden　Deathoh　Lord！　Sudden　Death。　Tell　me　it　was　a　fancy　bred　of
that　ill…omened　talk　of　yours？〃

〃I　can't　tell　you　anything　of　the　sort；〃　answered　Aylward　in　a　hollow
voice；　〃for　I　saw　something　also。〃

〃What？〃　asked　his　partner。

〃Death　that　wasn't　sudden；　and　other　things。〃

Again　the　silence　fell　till　it　was　broken　by　Aylward。

〃Come；〃　he　said；　〃we　have　been　over…workingtoo　much　strain；　and　now
the　reaction。　Keep　this　rubbish　to　yourself；　or　they　will　lock　you　up
in　an　asylum。〃

〃Certainly；　Aylward；　certainly。　But　can't　you　get　rid　of　that　beastly
image？〃

〃Not　on　any　account；　Haswell；　even　if　it　haunts　us　all　day。　Here　it
shall　stop　until　the　Saharas　are　floated　on　Monday；　if　I　have　to　lock
it　in　the　strongroom　and　throw　the　keys　into　the　Thames。　Afterwards
Vernon　can　take　it；　as　he　has　a　right　to　do；　and　I　am　sure　that　with
it　will　go　our　luck。〃

〃Then　the　sooner　our　luck　goes；　the　better；〃　replied　Haswell；　with　a
mere　ghost　of　his　former　whistle。　〃Life　is　better　than　luck；　and
Aylward；　that　Yellow　God　you　are　so　fond　of　means　to　murder　us。　We　are
being　fatted　for　the　sacrifice；　that　is　all。　I　remember　now；　that　was
one　of　the　things　I　saw　written　in　its　eyes！〃



CHAPTER　III

JEEKIE　TELLS　A　TALE

The　Court；　Mr。　Champers…Haswell's　place；　was　a　very　fine　house　indeed；
of　a　sort。　That　is；　it　contained　twenty…nine　bedrooms；　each　of　them
with　a　bathroom　attached；　a　large　number　of　sitting…rooms；　ample
garages；　stables；　and　offices；　the　whole　surrounded　by　several　acres
of　newly…planted　gardens。　Incidentally　it　may　be　mentioned　that　it　was
built　in　the　most　atrocious　taste　and　looked　like　a　suburban　villa
seen　through　a　magnifying　glass。

It　was　in　this　matter　of　taste　that　it　differed　from　Sir　Robert
Aylward's　home；　Old　Hall；　a　few　miles　away。　Not　that　this　was　old
either；　for　the　original　house　had　fallen　down　or　been　burnt　a　hundred
years　before。　But　Sir　Robert；　being　gifted　with　artistic　perception；
had　reared　up　in　place　of　it　a　smaller　but　really　beautiful　dwelling
of　soft　grey　stone；　long　and　low；　and　built　in　the　Tudor　style　with
many　gables。

This　house；　charming　as　it　was；　could　not　of　course　compare　with
Yarleys；　the　ancient　seat　of　the　Vernons　in　the　same　neighbourhood。
Yarleys　was　pure　Elizabethan；　although　it　contained　an　oak…roofed　hall
which　was　said　to　date　back　to　the　time　of　King　John；　a　remnant　of　a
former　house。　There　was　no　electric　light　or　other　modern　convenience
at　Yarleys；　yet　it　was　a　place　that　everyone　went　to　see　because　of
its　exceeding　beauty　and　its　historical　associations。　The　moat　by
which　it　was　surrounded；　the　grass　court　within；　for　it　was　built　on
three　sides　of　a　square；　the　mullioned　windows；　the　towered　gateway　of
red　brick；　the　low…panelled　rooms　hung　with　the　portraits　of　departed
Vernons；　the　sloping　park　and　the　splendid　oaks　that　stood　about；
singly　or　in　groups；　were　all　of　them　perfect　in　their　way。　It　was　one
of　the　most　lovely　of　English　homes；　and　oddly　enough　its　neglected
gardens　and　the　air　of　decay　that　pervaded　it；　added　to　rather　than
decreased　its　charm。

But　it　is　with　The　Court　that　we　have　to　do　at　present；　not　with
Yarleys。　Mr。　Champers…Haswell　had　a　week…end　party。　There　were　ten
guests；　all　men；　and　with　the　exception　of　Alan；　who　it　will　be
remembered　was　one　of　them；　all　rich　and　in　business。　They　included
two　French　bankers　and　three　Jews；　everyone　a　prop　of　the　original
Sahara　Syndicate　and　deeply　interested　in　the　forthcoming　flotation。
To　describe　them　is　unnecessary；　for　they　have　no　part　in　our　story；
being　only　financiers　of　a　certain　class；　remarkable　for　the　riches
they　had　acquired　by　means　that　for　the　most　part　would　not　bear
examination。　The　riches　were　evident　enough。　Ever　since　the　morning
the　owners　of　this　wealth　had　arrived　by　ones　or　twos　in　their　costly
motorcars；　attended　by　smart　chauffeurs　and　valets。　Their　fur　coats；
their　jewelled　studs　and　rings；　something　in　their　very　faces
suggested　money；　which　indeed　was　the　bond　that　brought　and　held　them
together。

Alan　did　not　come　until　it　was　time　to　dress　for　dinner；　for　he　knew
that　Barbara　would　not　appear　before　that　meal；　and　it　was　her　society
he　sought；　not　that　of　his　host　or　fellow　guests。　Accompanied　by　his
negro　servant；　Jeekie；　for　in　a　house　like　this　it　was　necessary　to
have　someone　to　wait　upon　him；　he　drove　over　from　Yarleys；　a　distance
of　ten　miles；　arriving　about　eight　o'clock。

〃Mr。　Haswell　as　gone　up　to　dress；　Major；　and　so　have　the　other
gentlemen；〃　said　the　head　butler；　Mr。　Smith；　〃but　Miss　Champers　told
me　to　give　you　this　note　and　to　say　that　dinner　is　at　half…past
eight。〃

Alan　took　the　note　and　asked　to　be　shown　to　his　room。　Once　there；
a