the yellow crayon-第16节

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schemes　had　come　so　near　to　success；　the　luck　had　turned　against
him　only　at　the　very　moment　of　fruition。　　Helene　felt　very　kindly
towards　her　UNCLE　as　she　led　him；　after　luncheon；　to　a　quiet　corner
of　the　winter　garden；　where　a　servant　had　already　arranged　a　table
with　coffee　and　liqueurs　and　cigarettes。　　Unscrupulous　all　his　life；
there　had　been　an　element　of　greatness　in　all　his　schemes。　　Even
his　failures　had　been　magnificent；　for　his　successes　he　himself　had
seldom　reaped　the　reward。　　And　now　in　the　autumn　of　his　days　she
felt　dimly　that　he　was　threatened　with　some　evil　thing　against　which
he　stood　at　bay　single…handed；　likely　perhaps　to　be　overpowered。
For　there　was　something　in　his　face　just　now　which　was　strange　to　her。

〃Helene；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃I　suppose　that　you；　who　knew　nothing　of
me　till　you　left　school；　have　looked　upon　me　always　as　a　selfish；
passionless　creature　…　a　weaver　of　plots；　perhaps　sometimes　a
dreamer　of　dreams；　but　a　person　wholly　self…centred；　always
self…engrossed？〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃Not　selfish！〃　she　objected。　　〃No；　I　never　thought　that。　　It　is
the　wrong　word。〃

〃At　least；〃　he　said；　〃you　will　be　surprised　to　hear　that　I　have
loved　one　woman　all　my　life。〃

She　looked　at　him　half　doubtfully。

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃I　am　surprised　to　hear　that。〃

〃I　will　surprise　you　still　more。　　I　was　married　to　her　in　America
within　a　month　of　my　arrival　there。　　We　have　lived　together　ever
since。　　And　I　have　been　very　happy。　　I　speak；　of　course；　of　Lucille！〃

〃It　is　amazing；〃　she　murmured。　　〃You　must　tell　me　all　about　it。〃

〃Not　all；〃　he　answered　sadly。　　〃Only　this。　　I　met　her　first　at
Vienna　when　I　was　thirty…five；　and　she　was　eighteen。　　I　treated　her
shamefully。　　Marriage　seemed　to　me；　with　all　my　dreams　of　great
achievements；　an　act　of　madness。　　I　believed　in　myself　and　my　career。
I　believed　that　it　was　my　destiny　to　restore　the　monarchy　to　our
beloved　country。　　And　I　wanted　to　be　free。　　I　think　that　I　saw
myself　a　second　Napoleon。　　So　I　won　her　love；　took　all　that　she　had
to　give；　and　returned　nothing。

〃In　the　course　of　years　she　married　the　son　of　the　American　Consul
at　Vienna。　　I　was　obliged；　by　the　bye；　to　fight　her　brother；　and　he
carried　his　enmity　to　me　through　life。　　I　saw　her　sometimes　in　the
course　of　years。　　She　was　always　beautiful；　always　surrounded　by　a
host　of　admirers；　always　cold。　　When　the　end　of　my　great　plans　here
came；　and　I　myself　was　a　fugitive；　her　brother　found　me　out。　　He
gave　me　a　letter　to　deliver　in　America。　　I　delivered　it　…　to　his
sister。

〃She　was　as　beautiful　as　ever；　and　alone　in　the　world。　　It　seemed
to　me　that　I　realised　then　how　great　my　folly　had　been。　　For　always
I　had　loved　her；　always　there　had　been　that　jealously　locked　little
chamber　in　my　life。　　Helene；　she　pointed　no　finger　of　scorn　to　my
broken　life。　　She　uttered　no　reproaches。　　She　took　me　as　I　was；　and
for　three　years　our　life　together　has　been　to　me　one　long　unbroken
harmony。　　Our　tastes　were　very　similar。　　She　was　well　read；
receptive；　a　charming　companion。　　Ennui　was　a　word　of　which　I　have
forgotten　the　meaning。　　And　it　seemed　so　with　her；　too；　for　she
grew　younger　and　more　beautiful。〃

〃And　why　is　she　not　with　you？〃　Helene　cried。　　〃I　must　go　and　see
her。　　How　delightful　it　sounds！〃

〃One　day；　about　three　months　ago；〃　Mr。　Sabin　continued；　〃she　left
me　to　go　to　New　York　for　two　days。　　Her　milliner　in　Paris　had　sent
over；　and　twice　a　year　Lucille　used　to　buy　clothes。　　I　had
sometimes　accompanied　her；　but　she　knew　how　I　detested　New　York；
and　this　time　she　did　not　press　me　to　go。　　She　left　me　in　the
highest　spirits；　as　tender　and　gracefully　affectionate　as　ever。
She　never　returned。〃

Helene　started　in　her　chair。

〃Oh；　UNCLE！〃　she　cried。

〃I　have　never　seen　her　since；〃　he　repeated。

〃Have　you　no　clue？　　She　could　not　have　left　you　willingly。　　Have
you　no　idea　where　she　is？〃

He　bowed　his　head　slowly。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　know　where　she　is。　　She　came　to　Europe　with　Lady
Carey。　　She　is　staying　with　the　Duchess　of　Dorset。〃

〃The　Countess　Radantz？〃　Helene　cried。

〃It　was　her　maiden　name；〃　he　answered。

There　was　a　moment's　silence。　　Helene　was　bewildered。

〃Then　you　have　seen　her？〃

He　shook　his　head　slowly。

〃No。　　I　did　not　even　know　where　she　was　until　you　told　me。〃

〃But　why　do　you　wait　a　single　moment？〃　she　asked。　　〃There　must　be
some　explanation。　　Let　me　order　a　carriage　now。　　I　will　drive
round　to　Dorset　House　with　you。〃

She　half　rose。　　He　held　out　his　hand　and　checked　her。

〃There　are　other　things　to　be　explained；〃　he　said　quickly。　　〃Sit
down；　Helene。〃

She　obeyed　him；　mystified。

〃For　your　own　sake；〃　he　continued；　〃there　are　certain　facts　in
connection　with　this　matter　which　I　must　withhold。　　All　I　can　tell
you　is　this。　　There　are　people　who　have　acquired　a　hold　upon
Lucille　so　great　that　she　is　forced　to　obey　their　bidding。　　Lady
Carey　is　one；　the　Duchess　of　Dorset　is　another。　　They　are　no
friends　of　mine；　and　apparently　Lucille　has　been　taken　away　from
me　by　them。〃

〃A　…　a　hold　upon　her？〃　Helene　repeated　vaguely。

〃It　is　all　I　can　tell　you。　　You　must　suppose　an　extreme　case。　　You
may　take　my　word　for　it　that　under　certain　circumstances　Lucille
would　have　no　power　to　deny　them　anything。〃

〃But　…　without　a　word　of　farewell。　　They　could　not　insist　upon　her
leaving　you　like　that！　　It　is　incredible！〃

〃It　is　quite　possible；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。

Helene　caught　herself　looking　at　him　stealthily。　　Was　it　possible
that　this　wonderful　brain　had　given　way　at　last？　　There　were　no
signs　of　it　in　his　face　or　expression。　　But　the　Duchess　of　Dorset！
Lady　Carey！　　These　were　women　of　her　own　circle　…　Londoners；　and
the　Duchess；　at　any　rate；　a　woman　of　the　very　highest　social
position　and　unimpeached　conventionality。

〃This　sounds　…　very　extraordinary；　UNCLE！〃　she　remarked　a　little
lamely。

〃It　is　extraordinary；〃　he　answered　drily。　　〃I　do　not　wonder　that
you　find　it　hard　to　believe　me。　　I　…　〃

〃Not　to　believe　…　to　understand！〃

He　smiled。

〃We　will　not　distinguish！　　After　all；　what　does　it　matter？　　Assume；
if　you　cannot　believe；　that　Lucille's　leaving　me　may　have　been　at
the　instigation　of　these　people；　and　therefore　involuntary。　　If
this　be　so　I　have　hard　battle　to　fight　to　win　her　back；　but　in　the
end　I　shall　do　it。〃

She　nodded　sympathetically。

〃I　am　sure；〃　she　said；　〃that　you　will　not　find　it　difficult。　　Tell
me；　cannot　I　help　you　in　any　way？　　I　know　the　Duchess　very　well
indeed　…　well　enough　to　take　you　to　call　quite　informally　if　you
please。　　She　is　a　great　supporter　of　what　they　call　the　Primrose
League　here。　　I　do　not　understand　what　it　is　all　about；　but　it
seems　that　I　may　not　join　because　my　husband　is　a　Radical。〃

Mr。　Sabin　looked　for　a　moment　over　his　clasped　hands　through　the
faint　blue　cloud　of　cigarette　smoke；　and　sundry　possibilities
flashed　through　his　mind　to　be　at　once　rejected。　　He　shook　his
head。

〃No！〃　he　said　firmly。　　〃I　do　not　wish　for　your　help　at　present；
directly　or　indirectly。　　If　you　meet　the　Countess　I　would　rather
that　you　did　not　mention　my　name。　　There　is　only　one　person　whom；
if　you　met　at　Dorset　House　or　anywhere　where　Lucille　is；　I　would
ask　you　to　watch。　　That　is　Mr。　Brott！〃

It　was　to　be　a　conversation　full　of　surprises　for　Helene。　　Mr。
Brott！　　Her　hand　went　up　to　her　forehead　for　a　moment；　and　a
little　gesture　of　bewilderment　escaped　her。

〃Will　you　tell　me；〃　she　asked　almost　plaintively；　　〃what　on　earth
Mr。　Brott　can　have　to　do　with　this　business　…　with…　Lucille　…　with
you　…　with　any　one　connected　with　it？〃

Mr。　Sabin　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃Mr。　Brott；〃　he　remarked；　〃a　Cabinet　Minister　of　marked　Radical
proclivities；　has　lately　been　a　frequent　visitor　at　Dorset　House；
which　is　the　very　home　of　the　old　aristocratic　Toryism。　　Mr。　Brott
was　acquainted　with　Lucille　many　years　ago　…　in　Vienna。　　At　that
time　he　was；　I　believe；　deeply　interested　in　her。　　I　must　confess
that　Mr。　Brott　causes　me　some　uneasiness。

〃I　think　…　that　men　always　know；〃　Helene　said；　〃if　they　care　to。
Was　Lucille　happy　with　you？〃

〃Absolutely。　　I　am　sure　of　it。〃

〃Then　your　first　assumption　must　be　correct；〃　she　declared。　　〃You
cannot　explain　things　to　me；　so　I　cannot　help　you　even　with　my
advice。　　I　am　sorry。〃

He　turned　his　head　towards　her　and　regarded　her　critically；　as
though　making　some　test　of　her　sincerity。

〃Helene；〃　he　said　gravely；　〃it　is　for　your　own　sake　that　I　do　not
explain　further；　that　I　do　not　make　things　clearer　to　you。　　Only
I　wanted　you　to　understand　why　I　once　more　set　foot　in　Europe。　　I
wanted　you　to　understand　why　I　am　here。　　It　is　to　win　back　Lucille。
It　is　like　that　with　me；　Helene。　　I；　who　once　schemed　and　plotted
for　an　empire；　am　once　more　a　schemer　and　a　worker；　but　for　no
other　purpose　than　to　recover　possession　of　the　woman　whom　I　love。
You　do　not　recognise　me；　Helene。　　I　do　not　recognise　myself。
Nevertheless；　I　would　have　you　know　the　truth。　　I　am　here　for　that；
and　for　no　other　purpose。〃

He　rose　slowly　to　his　feet。　　She　held　out　both　her　hands　and
grasped　his。

〃Let　me　help　you；　she　begged。　　〃Do！　　This　is　not　a　matter　of
politics　or　anything　compromising。　　I　am　sure　that　I　could　be
u