of Gregory； who lived opposite。 The acquaintance had never ripened
into friendship； but sometimes Kitty would borrow an egg and he
would borrow some sugar。 In the summertime； when the windows were
open at night； she had frequently heard the music of a violin
swimming across the court。 Polish； Russian； and Hungarian music；
always speaking with a tragic note； nothing she had ever heard in
concerts。 Once； however； she had heard him begin something from
Thais； and stop in the middle of it； and that convinced her that
he was a master。 She was fond of good music。 One day she asked
Gregory why he did not teach music instead of valeting at a hotel。
His answer had been illuminative。 It was only his body that
pressed clothes； but it would have torn his soul to listen daily
to the agonized bow of the novice。 Kitty was lonely through pride
as much as anything。 As for friends； she had a regiment of them。
But she rarely accepted their hospitality； realizing that she could
not return it。 No young men called because she never invited them。
All this； however； was going to change when she moved。
As she turned on the hail light she saw an envelope on the floor。
Evidently it had been shoved under the door。 It was unstamped。 She
opened it； and stepped out of the humdrum into the whirligig。
DEAR MISS CONOVER：
If anything should happen to me all the things in my apartment
I give to you without reservation。
STEPHEN GREGORY。
She read the letter a dozen times to make sure that it meant exactly
what it said。 He might be ill。 After she had cooked her supper she
would run round and inquire。 The poor lonely old man！
She went into the kitchen and took inventory。 There was nothing
but bacon and eggs and coffee。 She had forgotten to order that
morning。 She lit the gas range and began to prepare the meal。 As
she broke an egg against the rim of the pan the nearby Elevated
train rushed by； drumming tumpitum…tump！ tumpitum…tump！ She
laughed； but it wasn't honest laughter。 She laughed because she
was conscious that she was afraid of something。 Impulse drove her
to the window。 Contact with men … her unusual experiences as a
reporter … had developed her natural fearlessness to a point where
it was aggressive。 As she pressed the tip of her nose against the
pane； however； she found herself gazing squarely into a pair of
exceedingly brilliant dark eyes； and all the blood in her body
seemed to rush violently into her throat。
Tableau！
CHAPTER V
Kitty gasped； but she did not cry out。 The five days' growth of
blondish stubble； the discoloured eye … for all the orb itself was
brilliant … and the hawky nose combined to send through her the
first great thrill of danger she had ever known。
Slowly she backed away from the window。 The man outside immediately
extended his hands with a gesture that a child would have understood。
Supplication。 Kitty paused； naturally。 But did the man mean it？
Might it not be some trick to lure her into opening the window？ And
what was he doing outside there anyhow？ Her mind； freed from the
initial hypnosis of the encounter； began to work quickly。 If she ran
from the kitchen to call for help he might be gone when she returned；
only to come back when she was again alone。
Once more the man executed that gesture； his palms upward。 It was
Latin； she was aware of that； for she was always encountering it in
the halls。 Another gesture。 She understood this also。 The tips
of the fingers bunched and dabbed at the lips。 She had seen Italian
children make the gesture and cry： 〃Ho fame！〃 Hungry。 But she could
not let him into the kitchen。 Still； if he were honestly hungry
… She had it！
In the kitchen…table drawer was an imitation revolver … press the
trigger； and a fluted fan was revealed … a dance favour she had
received during the winter。
She plucked it out of the drawer and walked bravely to the window；
which she threw up。
〃What do you want？ What are you doing out there on the fire escape？〃
she instantly demanded to know。
〃My word； I am hungry！ I was looking out of the window across the
way and saw you preparing your dinner。 A bit of bread and a glass
of milk。 Would you mind； I wonder？〃
〃Why didn't you come to the door then？ What window？〃 Kitty was
resolute； once she embarked upon an enterprise。
〃That one。〃
〃Where is Mr。 Gregory？〃 Kitty recalled that odd letter。
〃Gregory？ I should very much like to know。 I have come many miles
to see him。 He sent me a duplicate key。 There was not even a crust
in the cupboard。〃
Gregory away？ That letter！ Something had happened to that poor；
kindly old man。 〃Why did you not seek some restaurant？ Or have you
no money？〃
〃I have plenty。 I was afraid that I might not be able conveniently
to return。 I am a stranger。 My actions might be viewed with
suspicion。〃
〃Indeed！ Describe Mr。 Gregory。〃
Not of the clinging kind； evidently； he thought。 A raving beauty
… Diana domesticated！
〃It is four years since I saw him。 He was then gray； dapper； and
erect。 A mole on his chin； which he rubs when he talks。 He is a
valet in one of the fashionable hotels。 He is … or was … the only
true friend I have in New York。〃
〃Was？ What do you mean？〃
〃I'm afraid something has happened to him。 I found his bedroom
things tossed about。〃
〃What could possibly happen to a harmless old man like Mr。 Gregory？〃
〃Pardon me； but your egg is burning ！〃
Kitty wheeled and lifted off the pan； choking in the smother of smoke。
She came right…about face swiftly enough。 The man had not moved； and
that decided her。
〃Come in。 I will give you something to eat。 Sit in that chair by
the window； and be careful not to stir from it。 I'm a good shot；〃
lied Kitty； truculently。 〃Frankly； I do not like the looks of this。〃
〃I do look like a burglar； what？〃 He sat down in the chair meekly。
Food and a human being to talk to！ A lovely； self…reliant American
girl； able to take care of herself。 Magnificent eyes … slate blue；
with thick； velvety black lashes。 Irish。
In a moment Kitty had three eggs and half a dozen strips of bacon
frying in a fresh pan。 She kept one eye upon the pan and the other
upon the intruder； risking strabismus。 At length she transferred
the contents of the pan to a plate； backed to the ice chest； and
reached for a bottle of milk。 She placed the food at the far end
of the table and retreated a few steps； her arms crossed in such a
way as to keep the revolver in view。
〃Please do not be afraid of me。
〃What makes you think I am？〃
〃Any woman would be。〃
Kitty saw that he was actually hungry； and her suspicions began to
ebb。 He hadn't lied about that。 And he ate like a gentleman。
Young； not more than thirty； possibly less。 But that dreadful
stubble and that black eye ！ The clothes would have passed muster
on any fashionable golf links。 A fugitive？ From what？
〃Thank you；〃 he said； setting down the empty milk bottle。
〃Your accent is English。〃
〃Which is to say？〃
〃That your gestures are Italian。〃
〃My mother was Italian。 But what makes you believe I am not English？〃
〃An Englishman … or an American； for that matter … with money in
his pocket would have gone into the street in search of a restaurant。〃
〃You are right。 The fundamentals of the blood will always crop out。
You can educate the brain but not the blood。 I am not an Englishman；
I merely received my education at Oxford。〃
〃A fugitive； however； of any blood might have come to my window。〃
〃Yes； I am a fugitive； pursued by the god of Irony。 And Irony is
never particular； the chase is the thing。 What matters it whether
the quarry be wolf or sheep？〃
Kitty was impressed by the bitterness of the tone。 〃What is your
name？〃
〃John Hawksley。〃
〃But that is English！〃
〃I should not care to call myself Two…Hawks； literally。 It would
be embarrassing。 So I call myself Hawksley。〃
A pause。 Kitty wondered what new impetus she might give to the
conversation； which was interesting her despite her distrust。
〃How did you come by that black eye？〃 she asked with embarrassing
directness。
Hawksley smiled； revealing beautifully white teeth。 〃I say； it is
a bit off； isn't it！ I received it〃 … a twinkle coming into his
eyes … 〃in a situation that had moribund perspectives。〃
〃Moribund perspectives；〃 repeated Kitty； casting the phrase about
in her mind in search of an equivalent less academic。
〃I am young and healthy； and I wanted to live；〃 he said； gravely。
〃I am curious to know what is going to happen to…morrow and other
to…morrows。〃
Somewhere near by a door was slammed violently。 Kitty； every muscle
in her body tense； jumped convulsively； with the result that her
finger pressed automatically the trigger of her pistol。 The fan
popped out gayly。
Hawksley stared at the fan； quite as astonished as Kitty。 Then he
broke into low； rollicking laughter； which Kitty； because her basic
corpuscle was Irish； perforce had to join。 For all her laughter she
retreated； furious and alarmed。
〃Fancy！ I say； now； you're jolly plucky to face a scoundrel like
me with that。〃
〃I don't just know what to make of you；〃 said Kitty； irresolutely；
flinging the fan into a corner。
〃You have revivified a celestial spark … my faith in human beings。
I beg of you not to be afraid of me。 I am quite harmless。 I am
very grateful for the meal。 Yours is the one act of kindness I have
known in weeks。 I will return to Gregor's apartment at once。 But
before I go please accept this。 I rather suspect； you know； that
you live alone； and that fan is amusing and not particularly
suitable。〃 He rose and unsmilingly laid upon the table one of those
heavy blue…black bull…dogs of war； a regulation revolver。 Kitty
understood what this courteous act signified； he was disarming
himself to reassure her。
〃Sit down；〃 she ordered。 Either he was harmless or he wasn't。 If
he wasn't she was utterly at his mercy。 She might be able to lift
that terrible…looking engine of murder； battle； and sudden death
with the aid of both hands； but to aim and fire it … never in this
world！ 〃As I