"
But Hamar when once he had smelt a rat, was not easily put off. He
coaxed, and coaxed, and eventually succeeded.
"Leonsh!" Curtis said, with a sudden burst of drunken confidence.
"Leonsh! it's worse than either you or I shuspected. I caught them
alone this morning--in my offish."
"Them! Rosenberg and Matt!"
"Yesh, of course, shilly! I told Matt I was going out. He thought I
had--so into the room I came--quite unshuspected, unobsherved. She was
sitting on hish knees, cuddling--and he was putting a ring on her
finger. 'Four more days, darling,' shays he, 'and we are married!
Jerushalem! Damn the Compact and damnsh Hamar!' 'Hamar doesn't
shuspect, does he?' Rosenberg shays. 'Not a bit--not in the
slightest,' old Matt replieshes, 'why it is I who amsh brave now.'
Then he kisshes her, and fearing they would detect my presence, I
slipsh quietly out."
"Will you swear this is true?" Leon said, his voice trembling with
excitement.
"I'll schwear it!" Curtis answered, "but you look crossh. Whatsh the
matter, Leon? _God! What's the matter!_"
An hour later, as Kelson was rising from his chair in front of the
fire to gaze, for the hundredth time that evening, into the eyes of
Lilian Rosenberg's portrait on the mantelshelf, the door of his room
flew open and in staggered Curtis--white, wet and bloated.
"Great heavens!" Kelson cried. "What the deuce have you been doing to
yourself? You look a perfect devil!"
"I am one!" Curtis groaned.
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