The Bunch of Violets | Page 8

if I
may?" Kato nodded his grave assent and submitted himself to Mr.
Hulse's vigorous grasp. "'Now,' said the man I'm speaking of, 'struggle
and your right arm's broken.' But I expect you know the grip?"
"Oh, yes," replied Kato, veiling his private amusement, "and therefore
foolish to, struggle. Expert does not struggle,; gives way." He appeared
to do so, to be falling helplessly in fact, but the assailant found himself
compelled to follow, and the next moment he was lying on his back
with Kato politely extending a hand to assist him up again.
"I must remember that," said Hulse thoughtfully. "Let me see, it
goes-do you mind putting me wise on that again, Mr. Kuromi? The
motion picture just one iota slower this time, please."
For the next ten or twenty minutes the demonstration went on in
admirable good humour, and could Max Carrados have seen he would
certainly have witnessed his revenge. At the end of the lesson both men
were warm and dusty-so dusty that Miss Darragh felt called upon to
apologist laughingly for the condition of the rug. But if clothes were
dusty, hands were positively dirty-there was no other word for it.
"No, really, the, poor mat can't be so awful as that," declared the girl.
"Wherever have you been, Mr. Kuromi? and, oh, Mr. Hulse you are
just as bad."
"I do not know," declared Kato, regarding his grimy fingers seriously.
"Nowhere of myself. Yes, I think it must be your London atmosphere
among the rug after all.Ó

"At all events you can't- Oh, Hugh, take them to the bathroom, will you?
And I'll try to, entertain Mr. Carrados meanwhile-only he will entertain
me instead, I know."
It was well and simply done throughout-nothing forced, and the
sequence of development quite natural. Indeed, it was not until Hulse
saw Kuromi take, off his coat in the bathroom that he, even thought of
what he carried. "Well, Carrados," he afterwards pleaded to, his friend,
"now could I wash my hands before those fellows like a guy who isn't
used to, washing? It isn't natural. It isn't human." So for those few
minutes the two coats hung side by side, and Darragh kindly brushed
them. When Hulse put on his own again his hand instinctively felt for
the hidden packet; his fingers reassured themselves among the familiar
objects of his pockets, and his mind was perfectly at ease.
"You old scoundrel, Max," he, said, when he returned to the drawing
room. "You told Kuromi to wipe the floor with me and by crumbs, he
did! Have a cigarette all the same."
Miss Darragh laughed pleasantly and took the opportunity to move
away to learn from her accomplices if all had gone well. Carrados was
on the, point of passing over the proffered olive branch when he
changed his mind. He leaned forward and with slow deliberation chose
a cigarette from the American's case. Exactly when the first subtle
monition of treachery reached him, by what sense it was
conveyed-Hulse never learned, for there were experiences among the
finer perceptions that the blind man did not willingly discuss. Not by
voice or outward manner in that arresting moment did he betray an
inkling of his suspicion, yet by some responsive telephony Hulse at
once, though scarcely conscious of it then, grew uneasy and alert.
"Thanks; I'll take a light from yours," remarked Carrados, ignoring the
lit match, and he rose to avail himself. His back was towards the, others,
who still had a word of instruction to exchange. With cool precision he
handled the cloth on Hulse's outstretched arm, critically touched the
pocket he was already familiar with, and then deliberately drew the
lapel to his face.

"You wore some violets?" he said beneath his breath. "Yes," replied
Hulse, "but I-Miss Darragh-" "But there never have been any here! By
heavens, Hulse, we're in it! You had your coat off just now?"
"Yes, for a minute.Ó
"Quietly. Keep your cigarette going. You'll have to leave this to me.
Back me up-discreetly-whatever I do."
"Can't we challenge it and insist-"
"Not in this world. They have at least one other man downstairs-in
Cairo, a Turk by the way, before I was blind, of course. Not up to Mr.
Kuromi, I expect-"
"Cool again?" asked Miss Darragh sociably. It was her approach that
had sent Carrados off into irrelevancies. "Was the experience up to
anticipation?"
"Yes, I think I may say it was," admitted Hulse guardedly. "There is
certainly a lot to learn here. I expect you've seen it all before?Ó
"Oh, no. It is a great honour to get Mr. Kuromi to 'show it off,' as he
quaintly calls it."
"Yes, I should say so," replied the disillusioned young man with deadly
simplicity. "I quite feel that."
"J. B.