"Fire away. Do you want to sit down?"
"I prefer to stand."
"My sentiments!"
Severance lit a cigarette, and took some time in the process.
"It"s rather a long story," he drawled, not with a conscious desire to put on airs, but because his wasn"t an easy task, with that bounder"s yellow eyes pinning him down, never off his face for a second.
"I"m afraid, to make you understand and prevent your doing an injustice to Miss Sorel, I"ll have to bore you, in beginning, with a short resume of my personal history."
"Spit it out. Though you needn"t fear my doing that lady an injustice.
It would take something worse than a lack of tact on your part, or any man"s, to make me such a fool."
"Glad you feel so about it"
"So am I. Shoot!"
Thus prodded without ceasing, Severance began the tale. He told about his half-uncle, and his half-uncle"s daughter. Whether it was OEnone"s state of invalidism or the state of her affections which drew from Garth, a grunt of "Poor girl!" Tony was not sure. But, in the circ.u.mstances, the less notice he took of disturbing trifles the better.
He stated his case with as much care as if he had been pleading in court, as his own defender. In fact, he had rehea.r.s.ed some sentences hastily on his way from the Waldorf to the Belmore. Yet those eyes of Garth"s were as disconcerting as the watchful eyes of an uncaged panther, alleged to be tame. Severance forgot the words he had thought of, and had to subst.i.tute others not so effective. With the most earnest wish to cut the best figure possible, for dear dignity"s sake, he felt himself floundering more than once. At least, however, he did not break down. Somehow he got to his goal, and knew that even a boor like Garth could not fail to see what--if he took on the job--was required of him.
"So that"s that!" Tony finished, and threw away his cigarette.
He had not been looking at the other man much as he talked. It was easier and pleasanter not to do so; but, despite Garth"s silence (not once had he interrupted with a question or exclamation), Severance wasn"t quite sure how this type of fellow would act in the circ.u.mstances.
Of course, the bare hint that he might accept such a part would be the last of insults to a proud man--a gentleman. Garth, however, was merely a "temporary gentleman," and probably hadn"t saved a sou. To a person of his sort, a million dollars would be a dazzling bribe. Still, the brute had an ugly temper, as he had shown once or twice in the past, and he was capable of violence. Tony was doubtful, still, how to take him.
Common as the Bounder was, his brother officer had vaguely placed him a peg above this level. The black eyes made a sudden effort to dominate the yellow-grey ones and read their secret, in order--if need be--to ward away a blow.
But there was no such need, it seemed. Garth stood with feet apart, always doggedly puffing at his pipe, hands thrust deep in pockets. He had produced a cloud of smoke as dense as that which emanated from a Geni of the Lamp, and Severance could not pierce to his expression.
For a minute neither spoke. Then Garth brought forth from the depths a hand, removed the meerschaum from his mouth, and, having knocked out the ash, lovingly laid the pipe on the mantelpiece.
Severance stood alert, prepared for what might come. But nothing came.
"What did Miss Sorel say about me?" Garth bluntly questioned. "I mean yesterday or to-day."
"We have scarcely mentioned you when we were together. I told you it was her mother who telephoned me. There has been no other communication on the subject. I hope I"ve made it plain to you that Mrs. Sorel approves this plan."
"Plain as a pikestaff. She would approve of it, or any plan of yours. I should judge she"s that kind of a person. She thinks her daughter born for the English aristocracy and millions. Then I"m to understand that the ladies gave you no reason for believing me the man--to take this on?"
"They went into no details. Miss Marks may have led them----"
"We can drop the subject. All I wanted to know is what they said, not what they thought. Well, a million dollars is quite a wad! And every man has his price. I"d do a lot for a million. But in this case----"
"Yes?"
"I ask you to raise your bid if you wish to buy yours truly."
"Oh, if it"s a question of a few thousands----"
"It isn"t. I"ll take the rest of the payment in another medium. Not money. And I want it in advance."
"What d"you want?"
"You"re a boxer, I believe?"
"Not bad."
"Heavy-weight, of course!"
"Yes."
"So am I. Jim Jackson trained me, and taught me most of what I know."
"Ah! I"ve heard of him."
"Most men have."
"What are you leading up to?"
"My advance payment for the job. I take it on only upon that one condition."
"I don"t fully understand."
"Well, as I just said, a million"s quite a wad, and I, like every man, have my price. Also, I"ve my pride. Now, you don"t know the reasons I may have for deciding to pocket that pride at the same time with your millions. Take it that they"re mercenary. What does it matter to you?
But even a gilded pill slips down easier in jam. The jam I want is a round or two with you, man to man, no gloves. Now d"you understand?"
"You want to fight me?"
"A little round, I said. We ought to be pretty evenly matched."
"It seems to me a very childish idea," said Severance.
"May be it is. But it"s my idea. And those are my terms. Refuse or accept."
Severance fingered his moustache in the way he had. "When do you want to do this d.a.m.ned fool thing, and in what circ.u.mstances?" he hedged.
"Now. Circ.u.mstances those of the present minute. We can take off our coats. I suppose you don"t wear corsets?"
Severance deigned no answer to this taunt. He thought hard for an instant. He was a good boxer, and had been complimented before the war by Carpentier himself. Garth was unlikely to be his equal. If the a.s.s wanted to work off steam and save his beastly face this silly way, let him!
"If I consent to fight, you consent to--er----"
"Yes, whether you or I get the best of this."
"Done, then!"
They tore off their coats, collars, neckties, and waist-coats. Garth had a sullen, ugly grin on his face as he pushed back the table and cleared the room. Severance did not know what to make of the man, but had confidence in himself.