True, she had her dreams; but she could lay them away without any
particular regret. She had never been touched by the fire of passion.
Let it go. But she did know what perfect comradeship was, and she would
grasp it and never loose her hold. Something out of life.
"A narrow squeak, Miss Conover," said Berumi, breaking the long silence.
"A miss is as good as a mile," replied Kitty, not at all grateful for
the interruption.
"We've done everything we could to protect you. If you can't see
now--why, the jig is up. A chain is as strong as its weakest link. And
in a game like this a woman is always the weakest link."
"You're quite a philosopher."
"I have reason to be. I'm married."
"Am I expected to laugh?"
"Miss Conover, you're a wonder. You come through these affairs with a
smile, when you ought to have hysterics. I'll bet a doughnut that when
you see a mouse you go and get it a piece of cheese."
"Do you want the truth? Well, I'll tell it to you. You have all kept me
on the outer edge of this affair, and I've been trying to find out why.
I have the reportorial instinct, as they say. I inherited it from my
father. You put a strange weapon in my hands, you tell me it is deadly,
but you don't tell me which end is deadly. Do you know who this Russian
is?"
"Honestly, I don't."
"Does Cutty?"
"I don't know that, either."
"Did you ever hear of a pair of emeralds called the drums of jeopardy?"
"Nope. But I do know if you continue these stunts you'll head the whole
game into the ditch."
"You may set your mind at ease. I'm going to marry Cutty. I shall not go
to the apartment again until Hawksley, as he is called, is gone."
"Well, well; that's good news! But let me put you wise to one fact,
Miss Conover: you have picked some man! I'm not much of a scholar, but
knowing him as I do I'm always wondering why they made Faith, Hope, and
Charity in female form. But this night's work was bad business. They
know where the Russian is now; and if the game lasts long enough they'll
reach the chief, find out who he is; and that'll put the kibosh on his
usefulness here and abroad. Well, here's home, and no more lecture from
me."