Part 39 (1/2)
”Well, my dear fellow, if I can help you, you'd better let me know what it's all about.”
”Why, Minnie; that's the row. There ain't another thing on this green earth that would trouble me for five seconds.”
”Minnie? Oh! And what has happened--a lover's quarrel?”
”Not a quarrel. _She's_ all right.”
”What is it, then?”
”Why, she's disappeared.”
”Disappeared! What do you mean by that?”
”Darn me if I know. I only know this, that they keep their place bolted and barred, and they've m.u.f.fled the bell, and there's no servant to be seen, and I can't find out any thing about them. And it's too almighty bad. Now isn't it?”
”It's deuced odd, too--queer, by Jove! I don't understand. Are you sure they're all locked up?”
”Course I am.”
”And no servants?”
”Not a darned servant.”
”Did you ask the concierge?”
”Course I did; and crossed his palm, too. But he didn't give me any satisfaction.”
”What did he say?”
”Why, he said they were at home, for they had been out in the morning, and had got back again. Well, after that I went back and nearly knocked the door down. And that was no good; I didn't get a word. The concierge swore they were in, and they wouldn't so much as answer me.
Now I call that too almighty hard, and I'd like to know what in thunder they all mean by it.”
”By Jove! odd, too.”
”Well, you know, I thought after a while that it would be all explained the next day; so I went home and waited, and came back the next afternoon. I tried it over again. Same result. I spoke to the concierge again, and he swore again that they were all in. They had been out in the morning, he said, and looked well. They had come home by noon, and had gone to their rooms. Well, I really did start the door that time, but didn't get any answer for my pains.”
”By Jove!”
”Well, I was pretty hard up, I tell you. But I wasn't going to give up. So I staid there, and began a siege. I crossed the concierge's palm again, and was in and out all night. Toward morning I took a nap in his chair. He thought it was some government business or other, and a.s.sisted me all he could. I didn't see any thing at all though, except an infernal Italian--a fellow that came calling the first day I was there, and worked himself in between me and Min. He was prowling about there, with another fellow, and stared hard at me. I watched him, and said nothing, for I wanted to find out his little game. He's up to something, I swear. When he saw I was on the ground, though, he beat a retreat.
”Well, I staid all night, and the next morning watched again. I didn't knock. It wasn't a bit of use--not a darned bit.
”Well, about nine o'clock the door opened, and I saw some one looking out very cautiously. In a minute I was standing before her, and held out my hand to shake hers. It was the old lady. But she didn't shake hands. She looked at me quite coolly.
”'Good-morning, ma'am,' said I, in quite a winning voice.
'Good-morning, ma'am.'
”'Good-morning,' she said.
”'I come to see Minnie,' said I.