mg.cyro-第9部分

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　in　the　idea　of　gathering　coral。　But　Exeter　had　intended　to　go　on　the　cruise　with　Babcock。〃
　　〃Is　Exeter　an　Englishman？〃
　　〃No。　He　is　an　Australian。　He　happened　to　be　in　New　Orleans　at　the　time　the　professor　arrived…while　the　Nautilus　was　still　out　on　cruise。　Exeter　read　an　account　of　Babcock's　arrival　that　appeared　in　the　Picayune。　He　came　to　see　Babcock；　who　was　staying　here。〃
　　〃He　knew　Babcock？〃
　　〃No。　But　he　had　met　friends　of　the　professor　in　Australia。　Babcock　liked　Exeter　and　invited　him　to　go　on　the　coral　cruise。　Afterward；　I　urged　the　professor　to　revoke　the　invitation。〃
　　〃How　did　Exeter　take　it？〃
　　〃Very　decently。　Babcock　handled　it　rather　poorly；　Exeter　caught　the　point　and　said　himself　that　he　would　have　to　change　his　mind　about　the　cruise。　He　said　that　he　might　have　to　go　to　England　at　any　time；　so　he　preferred　to　remain　in　New　Orleans。〃
　　〃And　you　invited　him　to　stay　here？〃
　　〃Alicia　did。　She　likes　Exeter　immensely。　He　has　proven　to　be　a　real　gentleman。　He　volunteered　to　act　as　chauffeur　during　his　stay。　As　yet；　he　has　not　received　word　from　London。〃
　　〃Perhaps　that　was　just　an　excuse　to　relieve　the　professor's　embarrassment。〃
　　〃Probably。　And　Alicia　just　won't　let　the　young　chap　leave　us。　If　I　explain　circumstances　to　her；　she　would　bee　indignant　if　I　suggested　that　Exeter　might　be　waiting　to　see　the　treasure。〃
　　〃And　I　think　she　would　be　right；〃　decided　Marr。　〃If　Exeter　appears　all　right　and　has　no　friends　here　in　New　Orleans；　he　can　hardly　be　a　schemer。〃
　　〃Then　you　would　let　matters　rest　as　they　are？〃　inquired　Gaudrin。
　　〃Regarding　Alicia　and　Reginald　Exeter？〃
　　
　　〃YES。　Well；　Danforth；　again　allow　me　to　congratulate　you。　Tomorrow　I　shall　fly　back　to　New　Orleans。　Wire　me　after　the　Nautilus　arrives。〃
　　〃I　shall　wire　you　before。　In　fact；　Marr；　I　shall　expect　you　back　as　soon　as　possible。〃
　　〃Why？〃
　　〃To　see　my　ship　e　in。　To　receive　your　twenty　thousand　dollars。　You　can　cruise　back　to　Florida　in　the　Nautilus。　By　the　way；　Marr；　how　would　you　like　to　receive　payment　in　Spanish　doubloons　and　pieces…of…eight？〃
　　〃Great！〃　exclaimed　Marr。　〃Do　you　know；　Danforth；　that　suggestion　makes　me　almost　willing　to　accept　the　money　that　you　offer。〃
　　〃Almost　willing？〃　inquired　Gaudrin。　〃Look　here；　young　man；　you'll　take　that　twenty　thousand　if　I　have　to　load　it　in　the　cabin　of　the　Nautilus。〃
　　〃I'll　settle　the　argument；〃　chuckled　Marr。　〃How　much　do　you　expect　to　salvage　from　that　wreck？〃
　　〃Perhaps　two　million　dollars；〃　replied　Gaudrin。　〃Based　on　the　present　level　of　gold　valuation。〃
　　〃Then　here's　the　bargain；〃　decided　Marr。　〃If　you　gross　over　two　million；　I　shall　take　the　twenty　thousand。　I　don't　need　the　money；　Danforth。　My　Mexican　mines　are　bringing　me　more　than　I　know　what　to　do　with。　But　if　you　gross　over　two　million；　I　shall　agree　that　you　can　spare　twenty　thousand。〃
　　〃Very　well；〃　smiled　Gaudrin。　〃We　made　one　bargain　with　the　Nautilus　and　you　accepted　my　terms。　This　is　another　bargain　and　I　shall　accept　yours。　e。
　　Let　us　go　out　upon　the　lawn。〃
　　Chairs　slid　back。　Glasses　plunked　upon　the　table。　The　two　men　strolled　from　the　study。　Then　came　a　slight　sound　beyond　the　locked　door　in　the　far　corner。
　　
　　IN　the　passageway；　Luke　Gaudrin　rose　stealthily。　He　turned　and　made　his　way　to　the　parlor。　He　closed　the　door　behind　him。　In　sneaky　fashion；　he　went　into　the　hall。　Seeing　no　one；　Luke　shuffled　out　to　the　front　porch。
　　There　the　sallow…faced　young　man　dug　into　his　pocket　and　produced　a　few　dollars。　Luke　smiled　sourly；　then　shrugged　his　shoulders。　He　walked　along　the　driveway；　headed　for　the　avenue　and　waited　until　a　passing　taxi　appeared。
　　Luke　clambered　aboard；　gave　an　address　and　settled　back　in　the　rear　seat。
　　His　smile　denoted　pleasure。　Apparently；　Luke　Gaudrin；　like　his　father；　was　looking　forward　to　a　prosperous　future；　thanks　to　the　ining　Spanish　wealth。
　　
　　　CHAPTER　VII　
　　　IN　THE　VIEUX　CARRE　
　　LATER　that　afternoon；　a　man　strolled　from　the　depot　of　the　Southern　Railway；　at　the　fringe　of　the　Canal　Street　business　section。　It　was　Tracy　Lence。　The　swindler　had　arrived　in　New　Orleans。
　　Lence　strolled　leisurely　along　the　principal　thoroughfare。　To　all　appearances；　he　was　a　chance　stranger；　just　arrived　in　New　Orleans。　Half　a　block　from　the　railway　station；　Lence　saw　a　motion　picture　theater。　He　purchased　an　admission　ticket　and　strolled　past　the　ticket…chopper。
　　The　swindler　chose　a　far　aisle。　An　usher　showed　him　to　a　seat。　As　soon　as　the　attendant　had　gone；　Lence　arose　and　edged　back　to　the　upper　end　of　the　aisle。　From　this　darkened　lookout；　he　watched　for　other　customers　ing　through　the　main　door。
　　Business　was　slow　at　this　hour。　The　dozen　persons　who　entered　while　Tracy　watched　were　all　ordinary　patrons。　Satisfied　that　no　smart　dick　had　taken　up　his　trail；　the　swindler　went　down　the　aisle；　found　a　secluded　exit　and　stepped　out　into　the　light　of　a　side　street。
　　He　did　not　return　to　Canal　Street。　Instead；　he　walked　along　to　a　thoroughfare　that　paralleled　the　main　channel　of　traffic。　A　few　minutes　later；　he　had　entered　the　Vieux　Carre；　the　famous　French　Quarters　of　New　Orleans。
　　Lence　had　been　here　before。　He　knew　the　general　location　of　the　place　he　sought。　He　displayed　little　interest　in　the　picturesque　details　of　the　Quarter。
　　He　walked　along　unnoticing　the　old…fashioned　buildings　with　their　overhanging　balconies。　At　each　crossing；　however；　he　paused　and　noted　the　street　signs。　He　found　the　one　he　wanted。
　　Turning　left；　the　swindler　walked　two　blocks　further；　then　stopped　before　the　entrance　of　a　stone…fronted　building。　A　wary　glance　in　both　directions。
　　Lence　walked　through　the　doorway。　He　found　himself　in　a　stone　courtyard。
　　Up　above　were　inner　balconies；　reached　by　stairways　from　the　interior。　The　house　consisted　of　rooms　that　served　as　apartments　and　studios。　Lence　chose　the　nearest　stairway　and　ascended。　He　looked　through　an　opened　doorway　that　led　from　a　second…story　balcony。　He　observed　the　interior　of　a　studio。
　　On　the　other　side　of　the　large　room　was　a　doorway　that　led　to　the　living　quarters。　Looking　about；　Lence　saw　a　man　in　the　studio。　The　fellow　was　a　bearded　Frenchman；　who　wore　an　artist's　smock　and　a　beret。　Palette　on　forearm；　he　was　using　a　brush　to　apply　the　finishing　touches　to　a　portrait。
　　〃Bonjour；　monsieur；〃　greeted　Lence。
　　The　artist　turned　and　mildly　surveyed　his　visitor。　Not　recognizing　Lence；　he　made　a　profound　bow　to　the　stranger。
　　〃Ah；　monsieur；〃　responded　the　Frenchman；　〃que　voulez…vous　ici？〃
　　Lence　smiled　and　shook　his　head。　He　caught　the　meaning　of　the　artist's　inquiry；　but　his　own　knowledge　of　French　was　too　limited　to　proceed　in　that　tongue。
　　〃Do　you　speak　English；　monsieur？〃　he　inquired。
　　〃Oui；　monsieur。〃　Again　the　Frenchman　bowed；　then　repeated　his　question　in　English：　〃What　is　it　that　you　wish　here？〃
　　〃I　wish　to　see　Monsieur　Brilliard。〃
　　〃Ah；　monsieur！　It　is　I　you　seek。〃
　　〃You　are　Brilliard？〃
　　〃Raoul　Brilliard。〃
　　
　　LENCE　paused　in　surprise。　He　had　e　here　to　find　a　fellow　confidence　worker。　Instead；　he　had　discovered　a　bona　fide　artist。　In　posing　as　a　gentleman；　Tracy　Lence　had　cultivated　a　knowledge　of　painting。　He　could　see　that　there　was　merit　to　the　portrait　that　Raoul　Brilliard　was　pleting。
　　〃Ah；　monsieur〃…Brilliard　had　noted　Lence's　gaze　turn　toward　the　painting…〃is　it　for　a　portrait　that　you　have　e？　Perhaps；　monsieur　there　would　be　someone　who　might　wish　my　work？〃
　　〃My　name　is　Tracy　Lence；〃　replied　the　visitor。
　　A　change　came　over　the　Frenchman's　features。　Sharp　eyes　peered　from　beneath　bushy　brows。　Then；　with　a　voluble　flow　of　French；　Brilliard　strode　excitedly　to　the　door　and　closed　it。
　　〃Tres　bien；　monsieur。　C'est　un　honneur…〃
　　Brilliard　turned　while　speaking　these　words。　Then；　the　door　closed　behind　him；　he　broke　off　suddenly。　He　extended　his　hand　as　he　stepped　toward　the　visitor。
　　〃I　was　expecting　you；〃　chuckled　Brilliard；　discarding　accent　as　well　as　French。　〃But　when　you　came　in；　I　thought　you　were　some　wealthy　art　patron。　You　fooled　me；　Lence。〃
　　〃Not　half　as　much　as　you　fooled　me；〃　replied　Lence。　He　eyed　this　other　agent　of　Cyro。　〃I　never　expected　to　find　you