the illustrious prince-第52节

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tached　to　any　one　in　this　country。　You　are　not　even　upon　the　staff　of　the　Embassy。　You　are　here　on　a　private　mission　as　a　private　person；　and　there　is　no　way　in　which　the　Government　can　intervene；　even　if　it　would。　You　are　subject　to　its　laws　and　you　have　broken　them。　For　Heaven's　sake；　fly！　You　have　your　motor　car　here。　Let　your　man　drive　you　to　Southampton　and　get　on　board　the　Japanese　cruiser。　You　mustn't　wait　a　single　moment。　I　believe　that　tomorrow　morning　will　be　too　late！〃

He　took　her　hands　in　his　very　tenderly　and　yet　with　something　of　reverence　in　his　gesture。　He　looked　into　her　eyes　and　he　spoke　very　earnestly。　Every　word　seemed　to　come　from　his　heart。

〃Dear　Miss　Penelope；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　very；　very　kind　of　you　to　have　come　here　and　warned　me。　Only　you　cannot　quite　understand　what　this　thing　means　to　me。　Remember　what　I　told　you　once。　Life　and　death　to　your　people　in　this　country　seem　to　be　the　greatest　things　which　the　mind　of　man　can　hold。　It　is　not　so　with　us。　We　are　brought　up　differently。　In　a　worthy　cause　a　true　Japanese　is　ready　to　take　death　by　the　hand　at　any　moment。　So　it　is　with　me　now。　I　have　no　regret。　Even　if　I　had；　even　if　life　were　a　garden　of　roses　for　me；　what　is　ordained　must　come。　A　little　sooner　or　a　little　later；　it　makes　no　matter。

She　sank　on　her　knees　before　him。

〃Can't　you　understand　why　I　am　here？〃　she　cried　passionately。　〃It　was　I　who　told　of　the　silken　cord　and　knife！〃

He　was　wholly　unmoved。　He　even　smiled；　as　though　the　thing　were　of　no　moment。

〃It　was　right　that　you　should　do　so；〃　he　declared。　〃You　must　not　reproach　yourself　with　that。〃

〃But　I　do！　I　do！〃　she　cried　again。　〃I　always　shall！　Don't　you　understand　that　if　you　stay　here　they　will　treat　you〃

He　interrupted；　laying　his　hand　gently　upon　her　shoulder。

〃Dear　young　lady；〃　he　said；　〃you　need　never　fear　that　I　shall　wait　for　the　touch　of　your　men　of　law。　Death　is　too　easily　won　for　that。　If　the　end　which　you　have　spoken　of　comes；　there　is　another　wayanother　house　of　rest　which　I　can　reach。〃

She　rose　slowly　to　her　feet。　The　absolute　serenity　of　his　manner　bespoke　an　impregnability　of　purpose　before　which　the　words　died　away　on　her　lips。　She　realized　that　she　might　as　well　plead　with　the　dead！

〃You　do　not　mind；〃　he　whispered；　〃if　I　tell　you　that　you　must　not　stay　here　any　longer？〃

He　led　her　toward　the　door。　Upon　the　threshold　he　took　her　cold　fingers　into　his　hand　and　kissed　them　reverently。

〃Do　not　be　too　despondent；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　a　star　somewhere　which　burns　for　me。　Tonight　I　have　been　looking　for　it。　It　is　there　still；〃　he　added；　pointing　to　the　wide　open　window。　〃It　is　there；　undimmed；　clearer　and　brighter　than　ever。　I　have　no　fear。〃

She　passed　away　without　looking　up　again。　The　Prince　listened　to　her　footsteps　dying　away　in　the　corridor。　Then　he　closed　the　door；　and；　entering　his　bedroom；　undressed　himself　and　slept　。　。　。

When　Prince　Maiyo　awoke　on　the　following　morning；　the　sunshine　was　streaming　into　the　room；　and　his　grave…faced　valet　was　standing　over　his　bed。

〃His　Highness'　bath　is　ready；〃　he　announced。

The　Prince　dressed　quickly　and　was　first　in　the　pleasant　morning　room；　with　its　open　windows　leading　on　to　the　terrace。　He　strolled　outside　and　wandered　amongst　the　flower　beds。　Here　he　was　found；　soon　afterwards；　by　the　Duke's　valet。

〃Your　Highness；〃　the　latter　said；　〃His　Grace　has　sent　me　to　look　for　you。　He　would　be　glad　if　you　could　spare　him　a　moment　or　two　in　the　library。〃

The　Prince　followed　the　man　to　the　room　where　his　host　was　waiting　for　him。　The　Duke；　with　his　hands　behind　his　back；　was　pacing　restlessly　up　and　down　the　apartment。

〃Good　morning；　Duke；〃　the　Prince　said　cheerfully。　〃Another　of　your　wonderful　spring　mornings。　Upon　the　terrace　the　sun　is　almost　hot。　Soon　I　shall　begin　to　fancy　that　the　perfume　of　your　spring　flowers　is　the　perfume　of　almond　and　cherry　blossom。〃

〃Prince；〃　the　Duke　said　quietly；　〃I　have　sent　for　you　as　your　host。　I　speak　to　you　now　unofficially；　as　an　Englishman　to　his　guest。　I　have　been　besieged　through　the　night；　and　even　this　morning；　with　incomprehensible　messages　which　come　to　me　from　those　who　administer　the　law　in　this　country。　Prince；　I　want　you　to　remember　that　however　effete　you　may　find　us　as　a　nation　from　your　somewhat　romantic　point　of　view；　we　have　at　least　realized　the　highest　ideals　any　nation　has　ever　conceived　in　the　administration　of　the　law。　Nobleman　and　pauper　here　are　judged　alike。　If　their　crime　is　the　same；　their　punishment　is　the　same。　There　is　no　man　in　this　country　who　is　strong　enough　to　arrest　the　hand　of　justice。〃

The　Prince　bowed。

〃My　dear　Duke；〃　he　said；　〃it　has　given　me　very　much　pleasure；　in　the　course　of　my　investigations；　to　realize　the　truth　of　what　you　have　just　said。　I　agree　with　you　entirely。　You　could　teach　us　in　Japan　a　great　lesson　on　the　fearless　administration　of　the　law。　Now　in　some　other　countries〃

〃Never　mind　those　other　countries；〃　the　Duke　interrupted　gravely。　〃I　did　not　send　for　you　to　enter　into　an　academic　discussion。　I　want　you　clearly　to　understand　how　I　am　placed；　supposing　a　distinguished　member　of　my　householdsupposing　even　you；　Prince　Maiyowere　to　come　within　the　arm　of　the　law。　Even　the　great　claims　of　hospitality　would　leave　me　powerless。〃

〃This；〃　the　Prince　admitted；　〃I　fully　apprehend。　It　is　surely　reasonable　that　the　stranger　in　your　country　should　be　subject　to　your　laws。〃

〃Very　well；　then；〃　the　Duke　continued。　〃Listen　to　me；　Prince。　This　morning　a　London　magistrate　will　grant　what　is　called　a　search　warrant　which　will　enable　the　police　to　search；　from　attic　to　cellar；　your　house　in　St。　James'　Square。　An　Inspector　from　Scotland　Yard　will　be　there　this　afternoon　awaiting　your　return；　and　he　believes　that　he　has　witnesses　who　will　be　able　to　identify　you　as　one　who　has　broken　the　laws　of　this　country。　I　ask　you　no　questions。　There　is　the　telephone　on　the　table。　My　eighty…horse…power　Daimler　is　at　the　door　and　at　your　service。　I　understand　that　your　cruiser　in　Southampton　Harbor　is　always　under　steam。　If　there　is　anything　more；　in　reason；　that　I　can　do；　you　have　only　to　speak。〃　The　Prince　shook　his　head　slowly。

〃Duke；〃　he　said；　〃please　send　away　your　car；　unless　it　will　take　me　to　London　quicker　than　my　own。　What　I　have　done　I　have　done；　and　for　what　I　have　done　I　will　pay。〃

The　Duke　laid　his　hands　upon　the　young　man's　shoulders　and　looked　down　into　his　face。　The　Duke　was　over　six　feet　high；　and　broad　in　proportion。　Before　him　the　Prince　seemed　almost　like　a　boy。

〃Maiyo；〃　he　said；　〃we　have　grown　fond　of　you；my　wife；　my　daughter；　all　of　us。　We　don't　want　harm　to　come　to　you；　but　there　is　the　American　Ambassador　watching　all　the　time。　Already　he　more　than　half　suspects。　For　our　sakes；　Prince；come；　I　will　say　for　the　sake　of　those　who　are　grateful　to　you　for　your　candor　and　truthfulness；　for　the　lessons　you　have　tried　to　teach　us；make　use　of　my　car。　You　will　reach　Southampton　in　half　an　hour。〃

The　Prince　shook　his　head。　His　lips　had　parted　in　what　was　certainly　a　smile。　At　the　corners　they　quivered；　a　little　tremulous。

〃My　dear　friend；〃　he　said；　and　his　voice　had　softened　almost　to　affection；　〃you　do　not　quite　understand。　You　look　upon　the　things　which　may　come　from　your　point　of　view　and　not　from　mine。　Remember　that；　to　your　philosophy；　life　itself　is　the　greatest　thing　born　into　the　world。　To　us　it　is　the　least。　If　you　would　do　me　a　service；　please　see　that　I　am　able　to　start　for　London　in　half　an　hour。〃



CHAPTER　XXXIV。　BANZAI！

It　was　curious　how　the　Prince's　sudden　departure　seemed　to　affect　almost　every　member　of　the　little　house　party。　At　first　it　had　been　arranged　that　the　Duke；　Mr。　Haviland；　Sir　Edward　Bransome；　and　the　Prince　should　leave　in　the　former's　car；　the　Prince's　following　later　with　the　luggage。　Then　the　Duchess；　whose　eyes　had　filled　with　tears　more　than　once　after　her　whispered　conversation　with　her　husband；　announced　that　she；　too；　must　go　to　town。　Lady　Grace　insisted　upon　accompanying　her；　and　Penelope　reminded　them　that　she　was　already　dressed　for　travelling　and　that；　in　any　case；　she　meant　to　be　one　of　the　party。　Before　ten　o'clock　they　were　all　on　their　way　to　London。

The　Prince　sat　side　by　side　with　Lady　Grace；　the　other　two　occupants　of　the　car　being　the　Duke　himself　and　Mr。　Haviland。　No　one　seemed　in　the　least　inclined　for　conversation。　The　Duke　and　Mr。　Haviland　exchanged　a　few　remarks；　but　Lady　Grace；　leaning　back　in　her　seat；　her　features　completely　obscured　by　a　thick　veil；　declined　to　talk　to　any　one。　The　Prince　seemed　to　be　the　only　one　who　made　any　pretence　at　enjoying　the　beauty　of　the　spring　morning；　who　seemed　even　to　be　aware　of　the　warm　west　wind；　the　occasional　perfume　of　the　hedgeside　violets；　and　the　bluebells　which　stretched　like　a　carpet　in　and　out　of　the　belts　of　wood。　Lady　Grace's　eyes；　from　beneath　her　veil；　scarcely　once　left　his　face。　Perhaps；　she　thought；　these　things　were　merely　allegorical　to　him。　Perhaps　his　eyes；　fixed　so　steadfastly　upon　the　distant　horizon；　were　not；　as　it　seemed；　following　the　graceful　outline　of　that　grove　of　dark　green　pine　trees；　but　were　indeed　searching　back　into　the　corners　of　his　life；　measuring　up　the　good　and　evil　of　it；　asking　the　eternal　questionwas