Her Forbidden Knight by Rex Stout Read Free Book Online Page A

you’re dangerous; still, I’m willing to give you another chance. We’ll leave it to fate. Heads you stay; tails you go.”
    He took a coin from his vest pocket and flipped it high in the air. It struck the table, bounced off onto the floor and rolled halfway across the room.
    Knowlton stooped over and looked at it curiously, picked it up and returned it to his pocket. Then he carried the bag back to the wardrobe and replaced it on the shelf.
    As he turned and seated himself in a chair by the table, his face wore an expression of gravity and anxiety that belied the lightness of his tone and words.
    To the most casual observer it would have been apparent that John Knowlton was approaching, or passing through, a crisis. But suddenly he smiled; sweetly, almost tenderly.
    We follow his thought, and it brings us to the lobby of the Lamartine.
    Besides the usual crowd of transient guests and midday idlers, we find the Erring Knights assembled in full force. Sherman and Booth, with two or three strangers, are conversing amiably with the Venus at the cigar stand, Driscoll and Jennings are at a game of billiards down the hall, and Dumain and Dougherty are completing their discussion of the ways and means of war. Lila is putting on her hat and coat to go to lunch.
    Sherman detached himself from the group at the cigar stand and walked over to the lounge where Dumain and Dougherty were seated.
    “Well?” he said significantly, stopping in front of them.
    They looked up at him inquiringly.
    “Knowlton didn’t show up yet,” he continued.
    “Yes, he deed,” said the little Frenchman.
    “What?”
    “I say, he deed.”
    “Then, where is he?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Oh!” A light of evil satisfaction appeared in Sherman’s eyes. “Then you spoke to him?”
    “Yes.”
    “Then he’s gone.”
    “So eet seems; but he’ll probably be back.”
    “Ah! And what did he say?”
    “In effect, he advised us to go to zee devil.”
    Sherman seemed taken aback.
    “But didn’t you tell him we’d get him?” he demanded.
    But Dumain and Dougherty rose and went to join Driscoll and Jennings in the billiard room without answering him. Sherman’s face colored slightly, but he remained silent, gazing after them with a contemptuous sneer.
    “My turn next,” he muttered after they had gone.
    Within the next hour Dumain spoke to each of the Erring Knights concerning Knowlton; and he was somewhat surprised at the unanimity with which they favored his proposal. Driscoll was the only one who had a good word for Knowlton. But he was easily persuaded.
    Then Dumain decided on a little strategy of his own. The result was unfortunate; but he could not have foreseen that. The little Frenchman was well acquainted with woman’s weakness; but he knew little of her strength. On that day he was destined to acquire knowledge.
    When the others wandered out in search of lunch, leaving the lobby all but deserted, he remained behind. For the sake of moral support he communicated his design to Dougherty, who expressed a fear that something was about to be started which it would be difficult to finish.
    “Bah!” said Dumain. “You shall see. Sit here to wait. It will be easy.”
    When Lila returned from lunch he hurried to her desk and helped her off with her coat.
    “Have you been taking lessons in gallantry, Mr. Dumain?” Lila smiled.
    “Such a question as zat is insult to zee Frenchman,” said Dumain, assuming an injured air. “We do not learn gallantry; we are born wiz eet. I insist on an apology.”
    “But that is not gallant,” Lila protested.
    Dumain laughed.
    “Eh bien! We all have our lapses. And, too, you should not have offended me. I am very sensiteeve. Eet ees not fair. Only today I have rendered you a very great sairvice. Not zat I expect any reward—or even gratitude. But I think you should know of eet.”
    Lila looked up quickly.
    “You mustn’t talk like that, Mr. Dumain. You have been good and kind to me—all of you;