Mr. Moto Is So Sorry by John P. Marquand

Author:John P. Marquand
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media

CHAPTER XIV

Mr. Moto raised his hand before his mouth and drew in his breath.

“So sorry,” he said, “but excuse me, Mr. Gates, this was all so unnecessary. I had made such careful plans. I had tried to think about you and just what you would do. There was a lady on the train, such a very lovely lady, and yet you did not stay with her. I do not understand. You would have been safe with Captain Hamby.”

Calvin Gates was startled.

“How did you know about Hamby?” he asked.

“Please,” said Mr. Moto, “it does not matter. All that matters is that I am so very stupid. I was so sure that you would stay with Captain Hamby and the lady. I do not see, indeed I do not see. But surely you gave Captain Hamby the cigarette case with the little birds upon it?”

Calvin Gates shook his head, and Mr. Moto gave a start, but his face was inscrutable. All the complicated repressions of a complicated race made it difficult to read.

“I didn’t trust him,” said Calvin Gates.

Mr. Moto’s hands rubbed against each other nervously.

“So very silly of me,” he said. “I had never thought of that. When I heard that Captain Hamby had come to meet you, I thought there would not be the slightest doubt. You are so very difficult, Mr. Gates. You leave the lady, and now you have the cigarette case with you. I had not thought of that.”

“I haven’t got it,” Calvin told him.

He had not believed that Mr. Moto could display such emotion. Mr. Moto half rose from his seat and struck his hand on his forehead.

“Did they take it from you back there?” he almost shouted. “Quickly, Mr. Gates.”

Mr. Moto’s cheeks had grown greenish and sallow, and he seized Calvin by the lapel of his coat.

“No,” said Calvin, “they didn’t take it.”

Mr. Moto groaned and muttered something in his own language.

“This is so very terrible,” he groaned. “You did not throw it away?” and his fingers twitched at Calvin’s coat lapel.

“No,” Calvin said. “You needn’t pull at me, Mr. Moto. I gave the thing back to Miss Dillaway. We had a quarrel and I got angry. I wish I’d never seen it or you, Mr. Moto. I’m worried about Miss Dillaway.”

Mr. Moto sank back in his seat. The color had returned to his cheeks and he sighed deeply.

“Excuse my rudeness, please,” he said. “I was so very startled. So Miss Dillaway has it then. But you spoke to Captain Hamby about that cigarette case? Surely you did that?”

Calvin moved his shoulders impatiently.

“Well,” he said, “what’s going to happen to her? I know that thing is dangerous for her, Moto. Of course I spoke to Hamby about it. He told me what it was—a code message going to the Russians. It’s military information, and instead of trying to intercept it, you do everything to have it go through. Hamby knows about you, Moto, and he thinks I’m helping you. He offered me three thousand dollars if I would tell him what you wanted.

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