John Dennis Rowland

“ John suspects you. So far, he merely suspects; he has not the absolute knowledge that I have.”
“Absolute knowledge of what?” I asked.
“That you stole Edith's pearls,” says she, pushing out her square little chin.
“So much the better for John,” I remarked.
A spasm of anger went across her face.
“Yes,” she answered, “so much the better for John, perhaps. But it is not so much the better for you, Mr. Clamart. Now listen to me. I don't like to make threats, but I will not stand quietly by and see the happiness of my friends wrecked by such a man as you. ”

“ When I told them how Léontine had insisted on coming with me for the sheer excitement of the thing, although not a professional thief herself, Miss Dalghren's blue eyes sparkled.
“I can understand that,” she said. “Is she very beautiful, this woman?”
“Yes,” I answered; “she's a big, gorgeous sort of tigress.”
“She rather fancied you, eh?” said John.
“Such women have fierce, sudden fancies,” I answered. “No doubt hers may have rested on me for the hour. I never saw her until that night. It was her gun that I had when you fired. I never carry a loaded gun myself when doing a piece of work.” ”

“ So up we got and went out. As we left the box Kharkoff and Léontine passed, dressed for the street. I was talking to Miss Dalghren and Léontine's eyes avoided mine but rested for a moment intently on the girl. Miss Dalghren gave a little shiver.
“She's rather terrible, I think,” said she. “Did you see the look she gave me? It was not agreeable. I wonder why?”
“Jealousy, perhaps,” said John.
“Of what?” asked Miss Dalghren, quickly.
“I fancy,” said John, “that for all of her dark beauty the Night is always a bit jealous of the Morning; also, your pearls are finer than hers.” ”

“ Only three weeks before Léontine Petrovski and I had broken into this man's house—not knowing who he was, of course—to steal his wife's jewels. He had surprised us, like I told you, and to save Léontine I would have shot him dead only that his resemblance to me told me who he was. But I was masked, so he shot me through the arm, in spite of which I would have got away if I hadn't done a sacrifice play and tackled the agent to save the rest of the mob. But I'd left John senseless at the foot of his stairs, and the gash across his forehead wasn't yet healed. ”

“ John looked worried. Says he, “If there's any physical danger about it just chuck the whole thing. Edith wouldn't wish it and neither do I. Tell me the truth, old man.”
“I can't tell you what I don't know,” I answered. “If Edith's pearls are turned in at headquarters the chief will be just as much surprised as I and hand them over without a word. He's not the man to do things by halves. But if the thief has held back the pearls the chances are that that's the last we'll ever see of them. The string would be so broken up as to make it almost impossible to trace. ”

“ Léontine gave me a curious smile. “We'll see, Frank,” said she, softly. “Once a thief, always a thief. It's in the blood.”
Suddenly she turned and walked down the path and disappeared behind the heavy foliage.
That afternoon John took me up to see the new car that he was promoting. The company planned to make only big fellows. One of their six-cylinders was in the garage and we took her out for a spin over the road. We made the run to Chartres in about fifty minutes, John driving. ”

“ I answered, “but there's nothing you can do. I'm old offender—a recidiviste, all catalogued and bertillioned. I've done my little trick in Cayenne, and this time it's au bat d'Afrique for me.”
“I'm not so sure,” says he. “I've got some other strong influence in Official and diplomatic circles. Suppose I manage it, will you give me your word to live strictly on the square?”
“A thief's word?” I asked.
“My brother's word,” says John; “that's good enough for me.”
Say, my friend, would you think me capable of tears? Me, a post-graduate American crook, and as hard as nails? ”

“ So John was the thief. John had stolen his wife's pearls, brought them to this man Delmas, and sold them outright on Delmas' verbal agreement that he would not dispose of them for twelve months, and then only after making such changes as would render it impossible to recognise the string.
As this went through my head, the first emotion was a hot, furious rage against my thieving sot of a half-brother. It was for this that I had bearded Ivan in his den and tried to assassinate Chu-Chu. It was for this that my life must hang in the balance until I should either kill or be killed. ”

“ There were cries and splashings alongside, and flashing arms and heads coifed with flaming kerchiefs, and a trim, mahogany launch which appeared to be convoying these mermaids under the direction of a blond Swede quartermaster, and in the stern a Japanese with a consignment of stores.
“Here come my guests,” said Mrs. Ord. “I've got a trio of pretty girls which are precisely the sort you've launched your crusade against—in, I should say at a pinch, all respects.”
John Paul made a gesture of indifference.
“They are the victors,” said he. ”

“ She felt my eyes on her and flashed me a quick look, which passed to Edith, then Miss Dalghren. I was watching her closely and saw her gaze fasten on both sets of pearls and there was an unholy gleam in her tawny eyes. She took a deep breath, then turned to the Prince and whispered a few words.
John leaned over and said, with his lips so close to my ear that I caught the strong reek of liquor:
“Ain't she a wonder! All Paris is mad to find out who she really is—and what. Somebody asked Kharkoff about her at the Automobile Club the other night, just before they started to play. ”

“ Once having got them, I could rush back to Paris, turn over the pearls and the gems to John, with instructions to give the latter to the police, and get out of the country as quick as possible. I did not believe that Ivan or Chu-Chu would follow me up if I went to America, though it was possible that Chu-Chu might.
Sounds as if I began to weaken as I went along, doesn't it? Well, perhaps I did. The odds against me were too awful heavy, and life is sweet, after all. The strain was beginning to tell, too, and I knew that this would get steadily worse. A fight in the open is all right ”

“ She's the one you've got to thank. You see, Frank, Edith has all the money. Our father died bankrupt, otherwise you would not have been a burglar. I could never make a dollar to save my life, though I hope to pretty soon; and that's something I want to talk to you about.”
But I shook my head. You see, I had thought all the time that John was a rich man in his own right; that he might have saved something from the wreck when the old man went broke and blew his brains out ”

“ And her own pearls were still missing. For the moment I could hardly speak.
“This has been hard on us all, Frank,” Edith went on. “It has been hard on John, because he is a practical sort of person and inclined to look at matters from their results. To be frank, I think that it is the worry of these thefts which is accountable for his condition.”
“Does he suspect me?” I asked.
“No. He is very worried, though, over the whole affair.”
“And Miss Dalghren?” I asked.
“She is less charitable. She refuses to believe that you are not in some way interested. ”

“ You also are von, und if you efer need a fr'riendt, call on Isidor Rosenthal.”
“Thank you, Baron,” said I. “One always needs a good friend. I am going to take you at your word. Now listen: John Cuttynge must redeem those pearls. His wife must never know what he has done. It would kill her. I don't know how he stands financially; pretty badly, I suppose, or he would never have stolen the pearls. Now, I am going to ask you to turn over those pearls to me, taking my note for what you paid and letting us pay it off as we are able.” ”

“ The only possible corroboration for Rowland’s story is found in the testimony of Roger D. Craig, a deputy sheriff of Dallas County, whose testimony on other aspects of the case has been discussed in chapter IV. Craig claimed that about 10 minutes after the assassination he talked to a young couple, Mr. and Mrs. Rowland,
* * * and the boy said he saw two men on the sixth floor of the Book Depository Building over there ”

“ The count leaned back and his lips writhed in a terrible smile. I felt myself growing cold.
“I believe her, Sep,” said the count. “I have had sad reason to know something of her type—the lovely body incasing a diabolic soul.”
He rose briskly from his chair and stepped to the head of the bed, where he reached for the heavy, braided cord with its huge tassel, and glanced back at the girl, who was watching him in a sort of spellbound terror.
“I think,” said the count softly, “that I shall send for Mustapha.” ”

“ Such rows, after all, are food and drink to women of the Léontine sort; they love the excitement, and like to rouse the dominant male in the man on whom their fancy happens to rest. But I thought she would have some blue finger-marks on her shoulders the following day.
She slipped the note into an envelope and handed it to me unsealed.
“Here, Frank,” she said, “take this note to Ivan. He never wanted to take up the job and he will be quite content to give you back your old pearls. I'll have to make it right with Chu-Chu, though. He did his part, poor man.” ”

“ I am telling you the truth. Of course, a consistent thief doesn't consider the sentimental side. But there were other things to be considered in this job, principally myself.”
Ivan stared at me for a moment in silence. His face was set and he tugged at the waxed end of his black moustache.
“What makes you think that I managed the affair?” he asked.
I made a tired gesture.
“That's too easy,” said I. “You took out Miss Dalghren at the Billings dinner. You probably doped her drink. Then you set Chu-Chu on the job. I'm not altogether a fool.”
Ivan's handsome face relaxed. ”

“ Virginia's eyes had assumed peculiar rapt expression, pupils dilated and focused beyond the point upon which the vision rested, voice of a peculiar flat tone; semi-autohypnosis. At the naturalist's brusque note she started, looked puzzled, vexed, then laughed nervously.
"What was I saying? You are an odd man, Dr. Leyden; one unclothes one's mind in your presence with a shocking lack of modesty. Speaking of Dessalines, there he is ahead of us." ”

“ She had left the motor running, of course, and the next second we were off along the bank of the Seine after Chu-Chu.
"Your Léontine is a beauty," said Rosalie through the tube. "I don't wonder you're jealous. But that chauffeur has the eyes of a wolf. He looks as if he might be Chu-Chu le Tondeur."
"What do you know about Chu-Chu le Tondeur?" I asked.
"Oh, everybody knows about him. For myself I doubt that there is such a person. ”

“ She laughed outright and turned to glance at the house. "And you know that Giles's rooms are on this side, because you know how fond he is of pets, and the pigeons are all fluttering around that corner window."
Sir Henry stared. "My word! My dear child——"
"Thank you, Miss Moultrie," said Leyden, "you more than bear me out." His keen eyes rested on her. "If you will permit me to say so, your quickness of perception is extraordinary for a house dweller; you apply these things, the things you see; you apply them to the convenience of your daily life."
"Does not every one?" asked Virginia. ”

“ One hardly dares to speak; we are in frightful confusion. There is some one here now who will rejoice to see you." He watched Dessalines narrowly. "Your old friend General Miragoâne."
"I am charmed!" exclaimed Dessalines. "But come below, my dear Calisthène; I have some excellent champagne and this vessel makes ice. I am starving for the news."
He led his friend below, where Jules served them with champagne. Rosenthal, of course, did not appear.
"Is your captain then not anxious to proceed at once?" inquired Calisthène, and again his chocolate-colored eyes examined Dessalines covertly. ”

“ The biggest conceptions of course would bring forth in time the biggest performances. We had only to be true to ourselves, to pitch in and not be afraid, to fling Imitation overboard and fix our eyes upon our National Individuality. "I declare," he cried, "there 's a career for a man, and I 've twenty minds to decide, on the spot, to embrace it—to be the consummate, typical, original, national American artist! It 's inspiring!"
Rowland burst out laughing and told him that he liked his practice better than his theory, and that a saner impulse than this had inspired his little Water-drinker. ”

“ My greenhouses are honored."
Giles joined them at this moment, and Dr. Leyden greeted him warmly. They returned to the house.
"Dessalines is coming for dinner," said Giles to Virginia. "I thought that I should ask him; he told me that he might have to leave at any moment."
Leyden caught at the name. "Dessalines ... Dessalines," he repeated. "A Frenchman? ah! Dessalines was the name of the liberator of Hayti."
"He is a Haytian," said Sir Henry. "A young man to whom we are under the greatest obligation. He saved our two children from drowning!" ”

“ You were startled at the expression of my face?"
She nodded. "That is true," she admitted. "When I sat down opposite you your look was that of a studious priest. Then all at once you laid down the book and looked through the window with the mouth and eyes of an apache about to strike. Oh, monsieur!"
She drew back, checking a little frightened gasp. While she was speaking I had looked through the window again, and as I did so the chauffeur in the taxi across the street leaned forward as if to examine something at his feet. In that second I recognised him for Chu-Chu le Tondeur ”