the illustrious prince-第48节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃I　believe　that　I　am　pale；〃　Penelope　answered。　〃I　am　always　pale　when　I　wear　black　and　when　people　have　disagreed　with　me。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　am　trying　to　make　the　Prince　feel　homesick。　Tell　me；〃　she　asked　him　across　the　round　table；　〃don't　you　think　that　I　remind　you　a　little　tonight　of　the　women　of　your　country？〃

The　Prince　returned　her　gaze　as　though；　indeed；　something　were　passing　between　them　of　greater　significance　than　that　half…bantering　question。

〃Indeed；〃　he　said；　〃I　think　that　you　do。　You　remind　me　of　my　country　itselfof　the　things　that　wait　for　me　across　the　ocean。〃

The　Prince's　servant　had　entered　the　dining　room　and　whispered　in　the　ear　of　the　butler　who　was　superintending　the　service　of　dinner。　The　latter　came　over　at　once　to　the　Prince。

〃Your　Highness；〃　he　said；　〃some　one　is　on　the　telephone；　speaking　from　London。　They　ask　if　you　could　spare　half　a　minute。〃

The　Prince　rose　with　an　interrogative　glance　at　his　hostess；　and　the　Duchess　smilingly　motioned　him　to　go。　Even　after　he　had　left　the　room；　when　he　was　altogether　unobserved；　his　composed　demeanor　showed　no　signs　of　any　change。　He　took　up　the　receiver　almost　blithely。　It　was　Soto；　his　secretary；　who　spoke　to　him。

〃Highness；〃　he　said；　〃the　man　Jacks　with　a　policeman　is　here　in　the　hall　at　the　present　moment。　He　asks　permission　to　search　this　house。〃

〃For　what　purpose？〃　the　Prince　asked。

〃To　discover　some　person　whom　he　believes　to　be　in　hiding　here；〃　the　secretary　answered。　〃He　explains　that　in　any　ordinary　case　he　would　have　applied　for　what　they　call　a　search　warrant。　Owing　to　your　Highness'　position；　however；　he　has　attended　here；　hoping　for　your　gracious　consent　without　having　made　any　formal　application。

〃I　must　think！〃　the　Prince　answered。　〃Tell　me；　Soto。　You　are　sure　that　the　English　doctor　has　had　no　opportunity　of　communicating　with　any　one？〃

〃He　has　had　no　opportunity；〃　was　the　firm　reply。　〃If　your　Highness　says　the　word；　he　shall　pass。〃

〃Let　him　alone；〃　the　Prince　answered。　〃Refuse　this　man　Jacks　permission　to　search　my　house　during　my　absence。　Tell　him　that　I　shall　be　there　at　three　o'clock　tomorrow　afternoon　and　that　at　that　hour　he　is　welcome　to　return。〃

〃It　shall　be　done；　Highness；〃　was　the　answer。

The　Prince　set　down　the　receiver　upon　the　instrument　and　stood　for　a　moment　deep　in　thought。　It　was　a　strange　country；　this；a　strange　end　which　it　seemed　that　he　must　prepare　to　face。　He　felt　like　the　man　who　had　gone　out　to　shoot　lions　and　returning　with　great　spoil　had　died　of　the　bite　of　a　poisonous　ant！



CHAPTER　XXXI。　GOODBYE！

The　Prince　on　his　return　from　the　library　intercepted　Penelope　on　her　way　across　the　hall。

〃Forgive　me；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　could　not　help　overhearing　some　sentences　of　your　conversation　with　Sir　Charles　Somerfield　as　we　sat　at　dinner。　You　are　going　to　talk　with　him　now；　is　it　not　so？〃

〃As　soon　as　he　comes　out　from　the　dining　room。〃

He　saw　the　hardening　of　her　lips；　the　flash　in　her　eyes　at　the　mention　of　Somerfield's　name。

〃Yes！〃　she　continued；　〃Sir　Charles　and　I　are　going　to　have　a　little　understanding。〃

〃Are　you　sure；〃　he　asked　softly；　〃that　it　will　not　be　a　misunderstanding？〃

She　looked　into　his　face。

〃What　does　it　matter　to　you？〃　she　asked。　〃What　do　you　care？〃

〃Come　into　the　conservatory　for　a　few　minutes；〃　he　begged。　You　know　that　I　take　no　wine　and　I　prefer　not　to　return　into　the　dining　room。　I　would　like　so　much　instead　to　talk　to　you　before　you　see　Sir　Charles。〃

She　hesitated。　He　stood　by　her　side　patiently　waiting。

〃Remember；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　am　a　somewhat　privileged　person　just　now。　My　days　here　are　numbered；　you　see。〃

She　turned　toward　the　conservatories。

〃Very　well；〃　she　said；　〃I　must　be　like　every　one　else；　I　suppose；　and　spoil　you。　How　dare　you　come　and　make　us　all　so　fond　of　you　that　we　look　upon　your　departure　almost　as　a　tragedy！〃

He　smiled。

〃Indeed；〃　he　declared；　〃there　is　a　note　of　tragedy　even　in　these　simplest　accidents　of　life。　I　have　been　very　happy　amongst　you　all；　Miss　Penelope。　You　have　been　so　much　kinder　to　me　than　I　have　deserved。　You　have　thrown　a　bridge　across　the　gulf　which　separates　us　people　of　alien　tongues　and　alien　manners。　Life　has　been　a　pleasant　thing　for　me　here。〃

〃Why　do　you　go　so　soon？〃　she　whispered。

〃Miss　Penelope；〃　he　answered；　〃to　those　others　who　ask　me　that　question；　I　shall　say　that　my　mission　is　over；　that　my　report　has　been　sent　to　my　Emperor；　and　that　there　is　nothing　left　for　me　to　do　but　to　follow　it　home。　I　could　add；　and　it　would　be　true；　that　there　is　very　much　work　for　me　still　to　accomplish　in　my　own　country。　To　you　alone　I　am　going　to　say　something　else。〃

She　was　no　longer　pale。　Her　eyes　were　filled　with　an　exceedingly　soft　light。　She　leaned　towards　him；　and　her　face　shone　as　the　face　of　a　woman　who　prays　that　she　may　hear　the　one　thing　in　life　a　woman　craves　to　hear　from　the　lips　she　loves　best。

〃Go　on；〃　she　murmured。

〃I　want　to　ask　you；　Miss　Penelope；〃　he　continued；　〃whether　you　remember　the　day　when　you　paid　a　visit　to　my　house？〃

〃Very　well；〃　she　answered。

〃I　was　showing　you　a　casket；〃　he　went　on。

She　gripped　his　arm。

〃Don't！〃　she　begged。　〃Don't；　I　can't　bear　any　more　of　that。　You　don't　know　how　horrible　it　seems　to　me！　You　don't　knowwhat　fears　I　have　had！〃

He　looked　away　from　her。

〃I　have　sometimes　wondered；〃　he　said；　〃what　your　thoughts　were　at　that　moment；　what　you　have　thought　of　me　since。〃

She　shivered　a　little；　but　did　not　answer　him。

〃Very　soon；〃　he　reminded　her；　〃I　shall　have　passed　out　of　your　life。〃

He　heard　the　sudden；　half…stifled　exclamation。　He　felt　rather　than　saw　the　eyes　which　pleaded　with　him；　and　he　hastened　on。

〃You　understand　what　is　meant　by　the　inevitable；〃　he　continued。　〃Whatever　has　happened　in　the　matters　with　which　I　have　been　concerned　has　been　inevitable。　I　have　had　no　choicesometimes　no　choice　in　such　events　is　possible。　Do　not　think；〃　he　went　on；　〃that　I　tell　you　this　to　beg　for　your　sympathy。　I　would　not　have　a　thing　other　than　as　it　is。　But　when　we　have　said　goodbye；　I　want　you　to　believe　the　best　of　me；　to　think　as　kindly　as　you　can　of　the　things　which　you　may　not　be　able　to　comprehend。　　Remember　that　we　are　not　so　emotional　a　nation　as　that　to　which　you　belong。　Our　affections　are　but　seldom　touched。　We　live　without　feeling　for　many　days；　sometimes　for　longer；　even；　than　many　days。　It　has　not　been　so　altogether　with　me。　I　have　felt　more　than　I　dare；　at　this　moment；　to　speak　of。〃

〃Yet　you　go；〃　she　murmured。

〃Yet　I　go；〃　he　assented。　〃Nothing　in　the　world　is　more　certain　than　that　I　must　say　farewell　to　you　and　all　of　my　good　friends　here。　In　a　sense　I　want　this　to　be　our　farewell。　Leaving　out　of　the　question　just　now　the　more　serious　dangers　which　threaten　me；　the　result　of　my　mission　here　alone　will　make　me　unpopular　in　this　country。　As　the　years　pass；　I　fear　that　nothing　can　draw　your　own　land　and　mine　into　any　sort　of　accord。　That　is　why　I　asked　you　to　come　here　with　me　and　listen　while　I　said　these　few　words　to　you；　why　I　ask　you　now　that；　whatever　the　future　may　bring；　you　will　sometimes　spare　me　a　kindly　thought。〃

〃I　think　you　know；〃　she　answered；　〃that　you　need　not　ask　that。〃

〃You　will　marry　Sir　Charles　Somerfield；〃　he　continued；　〃and　you　will　be　happy。　In　this　country　men　develop　late。　Somerfield；　too；　will　develop；　I　am　sure。　He　will　become　worthy　even；　I　trust；　to　be　your　husband；　Miss　Penelope。　Something　was　said　of　his　going　into　Parliament。　When　he　is　Foreign　Minister　and　I　am　the　Counsellor　of　the　Emperor；　we　may　perhaps　send　messages　to　one　another；　if　not　across　the　seas；　through　the　clouds。〃

A　man's　footstep　approached　them。　Somerfield　himself　drew　near　and　hesitated。　The　Prince　rose　at　once。

〃Sir　Charles；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　been　bidding　farewell　to　Miss　Penelope。　I　have　had　news　tonight　over　the　telephone　and　I　find　that　I　must　curtail　my　visit。〃

〃The　Duke　will　be　disappointed；〃　Somerfield　said。　〃Are　you　off　at　once？〃

〃Probably　tomorrow；〃　the　Prince　answered。　〃May　I　leave　Miss　Penelope　in　your　charge？〃　he　added　with　a　little　bow。　〃The　Duke；　I　believe；　is　awaiting　me。〃

He　passed　out　of　the　conservatory。　Penelope　sat　quite　still。

〃Well；〃　Somerfield　said；　〃if　he　is　really　going〃

〃Charlie；〃　she　interrupted；　〃if　ever　you　expect　me　to　marry　you；　I　make　one　condition；　and　that　is　that　you　never　say　a　single　word　against　Prince　Maiyo。〃

〃The　man　whom　a　month　ago；〃　he　remarked　curiously；　〃you　hated！〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃I　was　an　idiot；〃　she　said。　〃I　did　not　understand　him　and　I　was　prejudiced　against　his　country。〃

〃Well；　as　he　actually　is　going　away；〃　Sir　Charles　remarked　with　a　sigh　of　content；　〃I　suppose　it's　no　use　being　jealous。〃

〃You　haven't　any　reason　to　be；〃　Penelope　answered　just　a　little　wistfully。　〃Prince　Maiyo　has　no　room　in　his　life　for　such　frivolous　creatures　as　women。〃

The　Prince　found　the　rest　of　the　party　dispersed　in　various　directions。　Lady　Grace　was　playing　billiards　with　Captain　Wilmot。　She　showed　every　disposition　to　lay　down　her　cue　when　he　entered　the　room。

〃Do　come　and　talk　to　us；　Prince；〃　she　begged。　〃I　am　so　tired　of　this　stupid　game；　and　I　am　sure　Captain　Wilmot　is　bored　to　tears。〃

The　Prince　shook　his　head。

〃