the illustrious prince-第51节
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〃You appear to be a perfect Secret Service to yourself； Prince；〃 he said smoothly。 〃Perhaps you can also tell us our reply？〃
〃I can tell you this much；〃 the Prince answered。 〃You did not send word back to Washington that your alliance was a sacred charge upon your honor and that its terms must be fulfilled to the uttermost letter。 Your reply； I fancy； was more in the nature of a compromise。〃
〃How do you know what our reply was？〃 Mr。 Haviland asked。
〃To tell you the truth； I do not；〃 the Prince answered； smiling。 〃I have simply told you what I am assured that your answer must have been。 Let us leave this matter。 We gain nothing by discussing it。〃
〃You have been very candid with us； Prince；〃 Mr。 Haviland remarked。 〃We gather that you are opposed to a renewal of our alliance chiefly for two reasons；first； that you have formed an unfavorable opinion of our resources and capacity as a nation； and secondly； because you are seeking an ally who would be of service to you in one particular eventuality； namely； a war with the United States。 You have spent some time upon the Continent。 May we inquire whether your present attitude is the result of advances made to you by any other Power？ If I am asking too much； leave my question unanswered。〃
The Prince shook his head slowly。
〃Tonight；〃he said； 〃I am speaking to you as one who is willing to show everything that is in his heart。 I will tell you； then。 I have been to Germany； and I can assure you of my own knowledge that Germany possesses the mightiest fighting machine ever known in the world's history。 That I do truthfully and honestly believe。 Yet listen to me。 I have talked to the men and I have talked to the officers。 I have seen them in barracks and on the parade ground； and I tell you this。 When the time arrives for that machine to be set in motion； it is my profound conviction that the result will be one of the greatest surprises of modern times。 I say no more； nor must you ask me any questions； but I tell you that we do not need Germany as an ally。 I have been to Russia； and although our hands have crossed； there can be no real friendship between our countries till time has wiped out the memory of our recent conflict。 France hates us because it does not understand us。 The future of Japan is just as clear as the disaster which hangs over Great Britain。 There is only one possible ally for us； only one possible combination。 That is what I have written home to my cousin the Emperor。 That is what I pray that our young professors will teach throughout Japan。。 That is what it will be my mission to teach my country people if the Fates will that I return safely home。 East and West are too far apart。 We are well outside the coming European struggle。 Our strength will come to us from nearer home。〃
〃China！〃 the Prime Minister exclaimed。
〃The China of our own making；〃 the Prince declared； a note of tense enthusiasm creeping into his tone；〃China recreated after its great lapse of a thousand years。 You and I in our lifetime shall not see it； but there will come a day when the ancient conquests of Persia and Greece and Rome will seem as nothing before the all…conquering armies of China and Japan。 Until those days we need no allies。 We will have none。 We must accept the insults of America and the rough hand of Germany。 We must be strong enough to wait！〃
A footman entered the room and made his way to the Duke's chair。
〃Your Grace；〃 he said； 〃a gentleman is ringing up from Downing Street who says he is speaking from the Home Office。〃
〃Whom does he want？〃 the Duke asked。
〃Both Your Grace and Mr。 Haviland；〃 the man replied。 〃He wished me to say that the matter was of the utmost importance。〃
The Duke rose at once and glanced at the clock。
〃It is an extraordinary hour；〃 he remarked； 〃for Heseltine to be wanting us。 Shall we go and see what it means； Haviland？ You will excuse us； Prince？〃
The Prince bowed。
〃I think that we have talked enough of serious affairs tonight；〃 he said。 〃I shall challenge Sir Edward to a game of billiards。〃
CHAPTER XXXIII。 UNAFRAID
The Prince； still fully attired； save that in place of his dress coat he wore a loose smoking jacket； stood at the windows of his sitting room at Devenham Castle； looking across the park。 In the somewhat fitful moonlight the trees had taken to themselves grotesque shapes。 Away in the distance the glimmer of the sea shone like a thin belt of quicksilver。 The stable clock had struck two。 The whole place seemed at rest。 Only one light was gleaming from a long low building which had been added to the coach houses of recent years for a motor garage。 That one light； the Prince knew； was on his account。 There his chauffeur waited； untiring and sleepless； with his car always ready for that last rush to the coast； the advisability of which the Prince had considered more than once during the last twenty…four hours。 The excitement of the evening； the excitement of his unwonted outburst； was still troubling him。 It was not often that he had so far overstepped the bounds which his natural caution； his ever…present self…restraint； imposed upon him。 He paced restlessly to and fro from the sitting room to the bedroom and back again。 He had told the truth；the bare； simple truth。 He had seen the letters of fire in the sky； and he had read them to these people because of their kindness； because of a certain affection which he bore them。 To them it must have sounded like a man speaking in a strange tongue。 They had not understood。 Perhaps； even； they would not believe in the absolute sincerity of his motives。 Again he paused at the window and looked over the park to that narrow； glittering stretch of sea。 Why should he not for once forget the traditions of his race； the pride which kept him there to face the end！ There was still time。 The cruiser which the emperor had sent was waiting for him in Southampton Harbor。 In twenty…four hours he would be in foreign waters。 He thought of these things earnestly； even wistfully； and yet he knew that he could not go。 Perhaps they would be glad of an opportunity of getting rid of him now that he had spoken his mind。 In any case； right was on their side。 The end； if it must come； was simple enough！
He turned away from the window with a little shrug of the shoulders。 Even as he did so； there came a faint knocking at the door。 His servant had already retired。 For a moment it seemed to him that it could mean but one thing。 While he hesitated； the handle was softly turned and the door opened。 To his amazement； it was Penelope who stood upon the threshold。
〃Miss Morse！〃 he exclaimed breathlessly。
She held out her hand as though to bid him remain silent。 For several seconds she seemed to be listening。 Then very softly she closed the door behind her。
〃Miss Penelope；〃 he cried softly； 〃you must not come in here！ Please！〃
She ignored his outstretched hand； advancing a little further into the room。 There was tragedy in her white face。 She seemed to be shaking in every limb； but not with nervousness。 Directly he looked into her eyes； he knew very well that the thing was close at hand！
〃Listen！〃 she whispered。 〃I had to come！ You don't know what is going on！ For the last half hour the telephone has been ringing continuously。 It is about you！ The Home Office has been ringing up to speak to the Prime Minister。 The Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard has been to see them。 One of their detectives has collected evidence which justifies them in issuing a warrant for your arrest。〃
〃For my arrest；〃 the Prince repeated。
〃Don't you understand？〃 she continued breathlessly。 〃Don't you see how horrible it is？ They mean to arrest you for the murder of Hamilton Fynes and Dicky Vanderpole！〃
〃If this must be so；〃 the Prince answered； 〃why do they not come？ I am here。〃
〃But you must not stay here！〃 she exclaimed。 〃You must escape！ It is too terrible to think that you shouldoh； I can't say it！that you should have to face these charges。 If you are guilty； well； Heaven help you！If you are guilty； I want you to escape all the same！〃
He looked at her with the puzzled air of one who tries to reason with a child。
〃Dear Miss Penelope；〃 he said； 〃This is kind of you； but； after all； remember that I am a man； and I must not run away。〃
〃But you cannot meet these charges！〃 she interrupted。 〃You cannot meet them！ You know it！ Oh； don't think I can't appreciate your point of view！ If you killed those men； you killed them to obtain papers which you believed were necessary for the welfare of your country。 Oh； it is not I who judge you！ You did not do it； I know； for your own gain。 You did it because you are； heart and soul； a patriot。 But here； alas！ they do not understand。 Their whole standpoint is different。 They will judge you as they would a common criminal。 You must fly；you must； indeed！〃
〃Dear Miss Penelope；〃 he said； 〃I cannot do that！ I cannot run away like a thief in the dark。 If this thing is to come； it must come。〃
〃But you don't understand！〃 she continued； wringing her hands。 〃You think because you are a great prince and a prince of a friendly nation that the law will treat you differently。 It will not！ They have talked of it downstairs。 You are not formally attached to any one in
