the illustrious prince-第11节

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mance。　I　don't　fancy　even　your　halfpenny　papers　could　drag　any　out　of　his　life。　It　was　just　a　commonplace　robbery；　with　a　bad　ending　for　poor　Fynes。　Good　evening；　miss！　Good　night；　sir！　Glad　to　have　met　you；　Sir　Charles。〃

Mr。　Coulson's　two　visitors　left　and　got　into　a　small　electric　brougham　which　was　waiting　for　them。　Mr。　Coulson　himself　watched　them　drive　off　and　glanced　at　the　clock。　It　was　already　a　quarter　past　six。　He　went　into　the　cafe　and　ordered　a　light　dinner；　which　he　consumed　with　much　obvious　enjoyment。　Then　he　lit　a　cigar　and　went　into　the　smoking　room。　Selecting　a　pile　of　newspapers；　he　drew　up　an　easy　chair　to　the　fire　and　made　himself　comfortable。

〃Seems　to　me　I　may　have　a　longish　wait；〃　he　said　to　himself。

As　a　matter　of　fact；　he　was　disappointed。　At　precisely　seven　o'clock；　Mr。　Richard　Vanderpole　strolled　into　the　room　and；　after　a　casual　glance　around；　approached　his　chair　and　touched　him　on　the　shoulder。　In　his　evening　clothes　the　newcomer　was　no　longer　obtrusively　American。　He　was　dressed　in　severely　English　fashion；　from　the　cut　of　his　white　waistcoat　to　the　admirable　poise　of　his　white　tie。　He　smiled　as　he　patted　Coulson　upon　the　shoulder。

〃This　is　Mr。　Coulson；　I'm　sure；〃　he　declared；〃Mr。　James　B。　Coulson　from　New　York？〃

〃You're　dead　right；〃　Mr。　Coulson　admitted；　laying　down　his　newspaper　and　favoring　his　visitor　with　a　quick　upward　glance。

〃This　is　great！〃　the　young　man　continued。　〃Just　off　the　boat；　eh？　Well；　I　am　glad　to　see　you；very　glad　indeed　to　make　your　acquaintance；　I　should　say。〃

Mr。　Coulson　replied　in　similar　terms。　A　waiter　who　was　passing　through　the　room　hesitated；　for　it　was　a　greeting　which　generally　ended　in　a　summons　for　him。

〃What　shall　it　be？〃　the　newcomer　asked。

〃I've　just　taken　dinner；〃　Mr。　Coulson　said。　〃Coffee　and　cognac'll　do　me　all　right。〃

〃And　a　Martini　cocktail　for　me；〃　the　young　man　ordered。　〃I　am　dining　down　in　the　restaurant　with　some　friends　later　on。　Come　over　to　this　corner；　Mr。　Coulson。　Why；　you're　looking　first…rate。　Great　boat；　the　Lusitania；　isn't　she？　What　sort　of　a　trip　did　you　have？〃

So　they　talked　till　the　drinks　had　been　brought　and　paid　for；　till　another　little　party　had　quitted　the　room　and　they　sat　in　their　lonely　corner；　secure　from　observation　or　from　any　possibility　of　eavesdropping。　Then　Mr。　Richard　Vanderpole　leaned　forward　in　his　chair　and　dropped　his　voice。

〃Coulson；〃　he　said；　〃the　chief　is　anxious。　We　don't　understand　this　affair。　Do　you　know　anything？〃

〃Not　a　dd　thing！〃　Coulson　answered。

〃Were　you　shadowed　on　the　boat？〃　the　young　man　asked。

〃Not　to　my　knowledge；〃　Coulson　answered。　〃Fynes　was　in　his　stateroom　six　hours　before　we　started。　I　can't　make　head　nor　tail　of　it。〃

〃He　had　the　papers；　of　course？〃

〃Sewn　in　the　lining　of　his　coat；〃　Coulson　muttered。　〃You　read　about　that　in　tonight's　papers。　The　lining　was　torn　and　the　space　empty。　He　had　them　all　right　when　he　left　the　steamer。〃

The　young　man　looked　around；　the　room　was　still　empty。

〃I'm　fresh　in　this；〃　he　said。　〃I　got　some　information　this　afternoon；　and　the　chief　sent　me　over　to　see　you　on　account　of　it。　We　had　better　not　discuss　possibilities；　I　suppose？　The　thing's　too　big。　The　chief's　almost　off　his　head。　Is　there　any　chance；　do　you　think；　Coulson；　that　this　was　an　ordinary　robbery？　I　am　not　sure　that　the　special　train　wasn't　a　mistake。〃

〃None　whatever；〃　Coulson　declared。

〃How　do　you　know？〃　his　companion　asked　quickly。

〃Well；　I've　lied　to　those　reporters　and　chaps；〃　Coulson　admitted；〃lied　with　a　purpose；　of　course；　as　you　people　can　understand。　The　money　found　upon　Fynes　was　every　penny　he　had　when　he　left　Liverpool。〃

The　young　man　set　his　teeth。

〃It's　something　to　know　this；　at　any　rate；〃　he　declared。　〃You　did　right；　Coulson；　to　put　up　that　bluff。　Now　about　the　duplicates？〃

〃They　are　in　my　suitcase；〃　Coulson　answered；　〃and　according　to　the　way　things　are　going；　I　shan't　be　over　sorry　to　get　rid　of　them。　Will　you　take　them　with　you？〃

〃Why；　sure！〃　Vanderpole　answered。　〃That's　what　I'm　here　for。〃

〃You　had　better　wait　right　here；　then；〃　Coulson　said；　〃I'll　fetch　them。〃

He　made　his　way　up　to　his　room；　undid　his　dressing　bag；　which　was　fastened　only　with　an　ordinary　lock；　and　from　between　two　shirts　drew　out　a　small　folded　packet；　no　bigger　than　an　ordinary　letter。　It　was　a　curious　circumstance　that　he　used　only　one　hand　for　the　search　and　with　the　other　gripped　the　butt　of　a　small　revolver。　There　was　no　one　around；　however；　nor　was　he　disturbed　in　any　way。　In　a　few　minutes　he　returned　to　the　bar　smoking　room；　where　the　young　man　was　still　waiting；　and　handed　him　the　letter。

〃Tell　me；〃　the　latter　asked；　〃have　you　been　shadowed　at　all？〃

〃Not　that　I　know　of；〃　Coulson　answered。

〃Men　with　quick　instincts；〃　Vanderpole　continued；　〃can　always　tell　when　they　are　being　watched。　Have　you　felt　anything　of　the　sort？〃

Coulson　hesitated　for　one　moment。

〃No；〃　he　said。　〃I　had　a　caller　whose　manner　I　did　not　quite　understand。　She　seemed　to　have　something　at　the　back　of　her　head　about　me。〃

〃She！　Was　it　a　woman？〃　the　young　man　asked　quickly。

Coulson　nodded。

〃A　young　lady；〃　he　said；〃Miss　Penelope　Morse；　she　called　herself。〃

Mr。　Richard　Vanderpole　stood　quite　still　for　a　moment。

〃Ah！〃　he　said　softly。　〃She　might　have　been　interested。〃

〃Does　the　chief　want　me　at　all？〃　Coulson　asked。

〃No！〃　Vanderpole　answered。　〃Go　about　your　business　as　usual。　Leave　here　for　Paris；　say；　in　ten　days。　There　will　probably　be　a　letter　for　you　at　the　Grand　Hotel　by　that　time。〃

They　walked　together　toward　the　main　exit。　The　young　man's　face　had　lost　some　of　its　grimness。　Once　more　his　features　wore　that　look　of　pleasant　and　genial　good…fellowship　which　seems　characteristic　of　his　race　after　business　hours。

〃Say；　Mr。　Coulson；〃　he　declared；　as　they　passed　across　the　hall；　〃you　and　I　must　have　a　night　together。　This　isn't　New　York；　by　any　manner　of　means；　or　Paris；　but　there's　some　fun　to　be　had　here；　in　a　quiet　way。　I'll　phone　you　tomorrow　or　the　day　after。〃

〃Sure！〃　Mr。　Coulson　declared。　〃I'd　like　it　above　all　things。〃

〃I　must　find　a　taxicab；〃　the　young　man　remarked。　〃I've　a　busy　hour　before　me。　I've　got　to　go　down　and　see　the　chief；　who　is　dining　somewhere　in　Kensington；　and　get　back　again　to　dine　here　at　half　past　seven　in　the　restaurant。〃

〃I　guess　you'll　have　to　look　sharp；　then。〃　Mr。　Coulson　remarked。　〃Do　you　see　the　time？〃

Vanderpole　glanced　at　the　clock　and　whistled　softly　to　himself。

〃Tell　you　what！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃I'll　write　a　note　to　one　of　the　friends　I've　got　to　meet；　and　leave　it　here。　Boy；〃　he　added；　turning　to　a　page　boy；　〃get　me　a　taxi　as　quick　as　you　can。〃

The　boy　ran　out　into　the　Strand；　and　Vanderpole；　sitting　down　at　the　table；　wrote　a　few　lines；　which　he　sealed　and　addressed　and　handed　to　one　of　the　reception　clerks。　Then　he　shook　hands　with　Coulson　and　threw　himself　into　a　corner　of　the　cab　which　was　waiting。

〃Drive　down　the　Brompton　Road；〃　he　said　to　the　man。　〃I'll　direct　you　later。〃

It　was　a　quarter　past　seven　when　he　left　the　hotel。　At　half　past　a　policeman　held　up　his　hand　and　stopped　the　taxi；　to　the　driver's　great　astonishment；　as　he　was　driving　slowly　across　Melbourne　Square；　Kensington。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　the　man　asked。　〃You　can't　say　I　was　exceeding　my　speed　limit。〃

The　policeman　scarcely　noticed　him。　His　head　was　already　through　the　cab　window。

〃Where　did　you　take　your　fare　up？〃　he　asked　quickly。

〃Savoy　Hotel；〃　the　man　answered。　〃What's　wrong　with　him？〃

The　policeman　opened　the　door　of　the　cab　and　stepped　in。

〃Never　you　mind　about　that；〃　he　said。　〃Drive　to　the　South　Kensington　police　station　as　quick　as　you　can。〃



CHAPTER　VIII。　AN　INTERRUPTED　THEATRE　PARTY

Seated　upon　a　roomy　lounge　in　the　foyer　of　the　Savoy　were　three　women　who　attracted　more　than　an　average　amount　of　attention　from　the　passers…by。　In　the　middle　was　the　Duchess　of　Devenham；　erect；　stately；　and　with　a　figure　which　was　still　irreproachable　notwithstanding　her　white　hair。　on　one　side　sat　her　daughter；　Lady　Grace　Redford；　tall；　fair；　and　comely；　on　the　other；　Miss　Penelope　Morse。　The　two　girls　were　amusing　themselves；　watching　the　people；　their　chaperon　had　her　eye　upon　the　clock。

〃To　dine　at　half…past　seven；〃　the　Duchess　remarked；　as　she　looked　around　the　ENTRESOL　of　the　great　restaurant　through　her　lorgnettes；　〃is　certainly　a　little　trying　for　one's　temper　and　for　one's　digestion；　but　so　long　as　those　men　accepted；　I　certainly　think　they　ought　to　have　been　here。　They　know　that　the　play　begins　at　a　quarter　to　nine。〃

〃It　isn't　like　Dicky　Vanderpole　in　the　least；〃　Penelope　said。　〃Since　he　began　to　tread　the　devious　paths　of　diplomacy；　he　has　brought　exactness　in　the　small　things　of　life　down　to　a　fine　art。〃

〃He　isn't　half　so　much　fun　as　he　used　to　be；〃　Lady　Grace　declared。

〃Fun！〃　Penelope　exclaimed。　〃Sometimes　I　think　that　I　never　knew　a　more　trying　person。〃

〃I　have　never　known　the　Prince　unpunctual；〃　the　Duchess　murmured。　〃I　consider　him　absolutely　the　best…mannered　young　man　I　know。〃

Lady　Grace　smiled；　and　glanced　at　Penelope。

〃I　don't　think　you'll　get　Penelope　to　agree　with　you；　mother；〃　she　said。

〃Why　not；　my　dear？〃　the　Duchess　asked。　〃I　heard　that　you　were　q