博炮作文网

第2部分（第1页）

hy　cast　of　countenance。

〃Good　evening；〃　said　the　stranger。　〃Your　master　is　within？〃

〃The　master　is　here；　but　he　does　not　see　chance　visitors　at　this　time　of　night；〃　growled　the　other。

〃I　think　he　will　see　me。　Tell　him　that　his　friend　M。　le　Marquis　is　here。〃

The　man　opened　the　door　a　little　wider　and　allowed　the　visitor　to　enter。

The　man　who　gave　his　name　as　M。　le　Marquis　had　shielded　his　face　with　his　hand　as　he　spoke。　When　the　man…servant　returned　with　the　information　that　M。　Papopolous　would　be　pleased　to　receive　the　visitor　a　further　change　had　taken　place　in　the　strangers　appearance。　The　man…servant　must　have　been　very　unobservant　or　very　well　trained　for　he　betrayed　no　surprise　at　the　small　black　satin　mask　which　hid　the　others　features。

Leading　the　way　to　a　door　at　the　end　of　the　hall；　he　opened　it　and　announced　in　a　respectful　murmur：　〃M。　le　Marquis。〃

The　figure　which　rose　to　receive　this　strange　guest　was　an　imposing　one。　There　was　something　venerable　and　patriarchal　about　M。　Papopolous。　He　had　a　high　domed　forehead　and　a　beautiful　white　beard。　His　manner　had　in　it　something　ecclesiastical　and　benign。

〃My　dear　friend；〃　said　M。　Papopolous。　He　spoke　in　French　and　his　tones　were　rich　and　unctuous。

〃I　must　apologize；〃　said　the　visitor；　〃for　the　lateness　of　the　hour。〃

〃Not　at　all。　Not　at　all；〃　said　M。　Papopolous　…　〃an　interesting　time　of　night。　You　have　had；　perhaps；　an　interesting　evening？〃

〃Not　personally；〃　said　M。　Le　Marquis。

〃Not　personally；〃　repeated　M。　Papopolous；　〃no；　no；　of　course　not。　And　there　is　news；　eh？〃

He　cast　a　sharp　glance　sideways　at　the　other；　a　glance　that　was　not　ecclesiastical　or　benign　in　the　least。

〃There　is　no　news。　The　attempt　failed。　I　hardly　expected　anything　else。〃

〃Quite　so；〃　said　M。　Papopolous；　〃anything　crude　…〃

He　waved　his　hand　to　express　his　intense　distaste　for　crudity　in　any　form。　There　was　indeed　nothing　crude　about　M。　Papopolous　nor　about　the　goods　he　handled。　He　was　well　known　in　most　European　courts；　and　kings　called　him　Demetrius　in　a　friendly　manner。　He　had　the　reputation　for　the　most　exquisite　discretion。　That；　together　with　the　nobility　of　his　aspect；　had　carried　him　through　several　very　questionable　transactions。

〃The　direct　attack　…〃　said　M。　Papopolous。　He　shook　his　head。　〃It　answers　sometimes　…　but　very　seldom。〃

The　other　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃It　saves　time；〃　he　remarked；　〃and　to　fail　costs　nothing　…　or　next　to　nothing。　The　other　plan　…　will　not　fail。〃

〃Ah；〃　said　M。　Papopolous；　looking　at　him　keenly。

The　other　nodded　slowly。

〃I　have　great　confidence　in　your　…　er　…　reputation；〃　said　the　antique　dealer。

M。　le　Marquis　smiled　gently。

〃I　think　I　may　say；〃　he　murmured；　〃that　your　confidence　will　not　be　misplaced。〃

〃You　have　unique　opportunities；〃　said　the　other；　with　a　note　of　envy　in　his　voice。

〃I　make　them；〃　said　M。　le　Marquis。

He　rose　and　took　up　the　cloak　which　he　had　thrown　carelessly　on　the　back　of　a　chair。

〃I　will　keep　you　informed；　M。　Papopolous；　through　the　usual　channels；　but　there　must　be　no　hitch　in　your　arrangements。〃

M。　Papopolous　was　pained。

〃There　is　never　a　hitch　in　my　arrangements；〃　he　plained。

The　other　smiled；　and　without　any　further　word　of　adieu　he　left　the　room；　closing　the　door　behind　him。

M。　Papopolous　remained　in　thought　for　a　moment　stroking　his　venerable　white　beard；　and　then　moved　across　to　a　second　door　which　opened　inwards。　As　he　turned　the　handle；　a　young　woman；　who　only　too　clearly　had　been　leaning　against　it　with　her　ear　to　the　keyhole；　stumbled　headlong　into　the　room。　M。　Papopolous　displayed　neither　surprise　nor　concern。　It　。

〃Well；　Zia？〃　he　asked。

〃I　did　not　hear　him　go；〃　explained　Zia。

She　was　a　handsome　young　woman；　built　on　Junoesque　lines；　with　dark　flashing　eyes　and　such　a　general　air　of　resemblance　to　M。　Papopolous　that　it　was　easy　to　see　they　were　father　and　daughter。

〃It　is　annoying；〃　she　continued　vexedly；　〃that　one　cannot　see　through　a　keyhole　and　hear　through　it　at　the　same　time。〃

〃It　has　often　annoyed　me；〃　said　M。　Papopolous；　with　great　simplicity。