Part 11 (2/2)

”As you will,” I agreed. ”I only suggested the other places because I thought Miss Parker might like a change.”

We drove to Stephano's. It struck me that Luigi's greeting was scarcely so cordial as usual. He piloted us, however, to the table usually occupied by Mr. Parker. On the way he took the opportunity of drawing me a little apart.

”Mr. Walmsley, sir,” he said, ”can you tell me anything about Mr. Parker and his daughter?”

”Anything about them?” I repeated.

”That they are Americans I know,” he continued, ”and that the young lady is beautiful--well, one has eyes! It is not my business to be too particular as to the character of those who frequent my restaurant; but twice Mr. Parker has been followed here by a detective, and last night, as you know, they left practically under arrest. It is not good for my restaurant, Mr. Walmsley, to have the police so often about, and if Mr.

Parker and his daughter are really of the order of those who pa.s.s their life under police supervision, I would rather they patronized another restaurant.”

I only laughed at him.

”My dear Luigi,” I protested, ”be careful how you turn away custom. Mr.

Parker is, I should think, no better or any worse than a great many of your clients.”

”If one could but keep the police out of it!” Luigi observed. ”Could you drop a word to the gentleman, sir? Since I have seen them in your company I have naturally more confidence, but it is not good for my restaurant to have it watched by the police all the time.”

”I'll see what can be done, Luigi,” I promised him.

Mr. Parker was twice called up on the telephone during luncheon time. He seemed throughout the meal preoccupied; and more than once, with a word of apology to me, he and Eve exchanged confidential whispers. I felt certain that something was in the air, some new adventure from which I was excluded, and my heart sank as I thought of all the grim possibilities overshadowing it.

I watched them with their heads close together, Mr. Parker apparently unfolding the details of some scheme; and it seemed to me that, after all, the wisest thing I could do was to bid this strange pair farewell after luncheon and return either to the country or cross over to Paris for a few days. And then a chance word, a little look from Eve, a little touch from her fingers, as it occurred to her that I was being neglected, made me realize the absolute impossibility of doing anything of the sort.

For a person of my habits of life and temperament I had certainly fallen into a strange adventure. Not only had Eve herself come to mean for me everything that was real and vital in life, but I was most curiously attracted by her terrible father. I liked him.

I liked being with him. He was a type of person I had never met before in my life and one whom I thoroughly appreciated. I sat and watched him during an interval of the conversation.

Geniality and humor were stamped upon his expression. ”I am enjoying life!” he seemed to say to everybody. ”Come and enjoy it with me!” What a man to be walking the tight rope all the time--to be risking his character and his freedom day by day!

”If there is anything more on hand,” I said, trying to make my tone as little dejected as possible, ”I should like to be in it.”

Mr. Parker scratched his chin.

”I am not sure that you really enjoy these little episodes.”

”Of course I don't enjoy them,” I admitted indignantly. ”You know that. I hate them. I am miserable all the time, simply because of what may happen to you and to Miss Eve.”

Mr. Parker sighed.

”There you are, you see!” he declared. ”That's the one kink in your disposition, sir, which places you irrevocably outside the cla.s.s to which Eve and I belong. Now let me ask you this, young man,” he went on: ”What is the most dangerous thing you've ever done?”

”I've played some tough polo,” I remembered.

”That'll do,” Mr. Parker declared. ”Now tell me: When you turned out you knew perfectly well that a broken leg or a broken arm--perhaps a cracked skull--was a distinct possibility. Did you think about this when you went into the game? Did you think about it while you were playing?”

”Of course I didn't,” I admitted.

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