the illustrious prince-第54节

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n；　you　will　sit　at　the　right　hand　of　the　emperor。　You　will　tell　him　of　the　follies　and　the　wisdom　of　these　strange　countries。　You　will　guide　him　in　difficulties。　Your　hand　will　be　upon　his　as　he　writes　across　the　sheets　of　time；　for　the　glory　of　the　Motherland。　Banzai；　illustrious　Prince！　I；　too；　am　of　the　immortals！〃

He　suddenly　collapsed。　The　doctor　bent　over　him；　but　the　Prince　shook　his　head　slowly。

〃It　is　useless；〃　he　said。　〃The　man　has　confessed　his　crime。　He　has　told　me　the　whole　truth。　He　has　taken　poison。〃

Lady　Grace　began　to　cry　softly。　The　air　of　the　room　seemed　heavy　with　pent…up　emotions。　The　Prince　moved　slowly　toward　the　door　and　threw　it　open。　He　turned　towards　them　all。

〃Will　you　leave　me？〃　he　asked。　〃I　wish　to　be　alone。〃

His　eyes　were　like　the　eyes　of　a　blind　man。

One　by　one　they　left　the　room；　Inspector　Jacks　amongst　them。　The　only　person　who　spoke；　even　in　the　hall；　was　the　Inspector。

〃It　was　the　Prince　who　brought　the　doctor　here；〃　he　muttered。　〃He　must　have　known！　At　least　he　must　have　known！〃

Mr。　Haviland　touched　him　on　the　arm。

〃Inspector　Jacks！〃　he　whispered。

Inspector　Jacks　saluted。

〃The　murderer　is　dead；〃　he　continued；　speaking　still　under　his　breath。　〃Silence　is　a　wonderful　gift；　Mr。　Jacks。　Sometimes　its　reward　is　greater　even　than　the　reward　of　action。〃

They　passed　from　the　house；　and　once　more　its　air　of　deep　silence　was　unbroken。　The　Prince　stood　in　the　middle　of　that　strange　room；　whose　furnishings　and　atmosphere　seemed；　indeed；　so　marvellously　reminiscent　of　some　far　distant　land。　He　looked　down　upon　the　now　lifeless　figure；　raised　the　still；　white　fingers　in　his　for　a　moment；　and　laid　them　reverently　down。　Then　his　head　went　upward；　and　his　eyes　seemed　to　be　seeking　the　heavens。

〃So　do　the　great　die；〃　he　murmured。　〃Already　the　Gods　of　our　fathers　are　calling　you　Soto　the　Faithful。　Banzai！〃




End