The Bunch of Violets | Page 8

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.��
"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.��
"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?��
"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. H. is getting strung up," thought Carrados. "He may say something unfortunate presently." So he deftly insinuated himself into the conversation and for a few minutes the commonplaces of the topic were rigidly maintained.
"Care for a hand at auction?" suggested Darragh, joining the group. He had no desire to, keep his guests a minute longer than he need, but at the same time it was his line to behave quite naturally until they left. "Oh, but I forgot-Mr. Carrados-"
"I am well content to sit and listen," Carrados assured him. "Consider how often I have to do that without the entertainment of a game to listen to! And you are four without me."
"It really hardly seems-" began Violet.
"I'm sure Max will feel it if he thinks that he is depriving us," put in Hulse, loyally, so with some more polite protestation it was arranged and the game began, Carrados remaining where he was. In the circumstances a very high standard of bridge