The Bunch of Violets | Page 6

yet hope in an appeal to another and a better nature that he might once have possessed-it came too late. The words were interrupted by the sudden reappearance of Kato, his business with Sims completed. He opened and closed the door quietly but very quickly, and at a glance both the Darraghs saw that something unforeseen had happened.
"Here's pretty go," reported the Japanese. "Hulse just come and brought someone with him!��
For a moment all the conspirators stood aghast at the unexpected complication. Hugh Darragh was the first to speak.
"Damnation!" he exclaimed, with a terrible look in his wife's direction; "that may upset everything. What ghastly muddle have you made now?"
"I-I don't know," pleaded Violet weakly. "I never dreamt of such a thing. Are you sure?"
"Slow man," amplified Kato with a nod. "Fellow who walk-" He made a few steps with studied deliberation.
"'Blind! It's Max Carrados," exclaimed Violet, in a flash of enlightenment. "They have been great friends lately and Jack has often spoken of him. He's most awfully clever in his way, but stone blind. Hugh, Kato, don't you see? It's rather unfortunate his being here, but it can't really make any difference."
"True, it' he is quite blind," admitted Kato.
"I'll look into it," said Darragh briskly. "Coat's all ready for you, Kato."
"I think no, yet," soliloquised the Japanese, critically examining it. "Keep door, 'alf-a-mo', Violet, if please." His own contribution to the coat's appearance was simple but practical-a gentle tension here and there, a general rumple, a dust on the floor and a final shake. "One week wear," he announced gravely as he changed into it and hid his own away.
"Take your time, Mr. Carrados," Darragh's voice was heard insisting on the stairs outside, and the next moment he stood just inside the room, and before Hulse had quite guided Carrados into view, drew Violet's attention to the necessity of removing the button-hole that the Americans still wore by a significant movement to the lapel of his own coat. It required no great finesse on the girl's part to effect the transfer of the little bunch of flowers to her own person within five minutes of the guests' arrival.
"A new friend to see you, Violet-Mr. Carrados," announced Darragh most graciously. "Mr. Carrados, my sister."
"Not to see you exactly, Miss Darragh," qualified Carrados. "But none the less to know you as well as if I did, I hope."
"I wanted you to meet Max before I went, Miss Darragh," explained Hulse; "so I took the liberty of bringing him round."
"You really are going then?" she asked.
"Yes. There seems no doubt about it this time. Twelve hours from now I hope to be in Paris. I should say," amended the ingenuous young man, "I dread to be in Paris, for it may mean a long absence. That's where I rely on Carrados to become what is called a 'connecting file' between us-to cheer my solitude by letting me know when he has met you, or heard of you, or, well, anything in fact."
"Take care, Mr. Hulse," she said. "Gallantry by proxy is a dangerous game."
"That's just it," retorted Hulse. "Max is the only man I shouldn't be jealous of-because he can't see you!"
While these amiable exchanges were being carried on between the two young people, with Max Carrados standing benignly by, Darragh found an opportunity to lower his voice for Kato's benefit.
"It's all right about him," he declared. "We, carry on.��
"As we arranged?" asked Kato.
"Yes; exactly. Come across now." He raised his voice as he led Kato towards the other group. "I don't think that either of you has met Mr. Kuromi yet-Mr. Hulse, Mr. Carrados."
"I have, been pining to meet you for weeks, sir,�� responded Hulse with enthusiasm. "Mr. Darragh tells me what a wonderful master of ju-jitsu you are."
"Oh, well; little knack, you know," replied Kato modestly. "You are interested?"
"Yes, indeed. I regard it as a most useful accomplishment at any time and particularly now. I only wish I'd taken it up when I had the leisure."
"Let me find you an easy-chair, Mr. Carrados," said Violet attentively. "I am sure that you won't be interested in so strenuous a subject as ju-jitsu."
"Oh, yes, I am, though," protested the blind man. "I am interested in everything."
"But surely-"
"I can't actually see the ju-jitsuing, you would say? Quite true, but do you know, Miss Darragh, that makes a great deal less difference than you might imagine. I have my sense of touch, my sense of taste, my hearing-even my unromantic nose-and you would hardly believe how they have rallied to my assistance since sight went. For instance
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They had reached the chair to which Miss Darragh had piloted him. To guide him into it she had taken both his hands, but now Carrados had gently disengaged himself and was lightly holding her left hand