the yellow crayon-第22节

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singular　clearness　of　perception　he　realised　that　if　Lucille　were
indeed　lost　the　world　was　no　longer　a　place　for　him。　　So　his　feet
fell　wearily　upon　the　thickly　carpeted　floor　of　the　corridor；　and
his　face　was　unusually　drawn　and　haggard　as　he　opened　the　door　of
his　sitting…room。

And　then　…　a　transformation；　amazing；　stupefying。　　It　was　Lucille
who　was　smiling　a　welcome　upon　him　from　the　depths　of　his　favourite
easy…chair　…　Lucille　sitting　over　his　fire；　a　novel　in　her　hand；
and　wearing　a　delightful　rose…pink　dressing…gown。　　Some　of　her
belongings　were　scattered　about　his　room；　giving　it　a　delicate　air
of　femininity。　　The　faint　odour　of　her　favourite　and　only　perfume
gave　to　her　undoubted　presence　a　wonderful　sense　of　reality。

She　held　out　her　hands　to　him；　and　the　broad　sleeves　of　her
dressing…gown　fell　away　from　her　white　rounded　arms。　　Her　eyes
were　wonderfully　soft；　the　pink　upon　her　cheeks　was　the　blush　of
a　girl。

〃Victor；〃　she　murmured；　〃do　not　look　so　stupefied。　　Did　you　not
believe　that　I　would　risk　at　least　a　little　for　you；　who　have
risked　so　much　for　me？　　Only　come　to　me！　　Make　the　most　of　me。
All　sorts　of　things　are　sure　to　happen　directly　I　am　found　out。〃

He　took　her　into　his　arms。　　It　was　one　of　the　moments　of　his
lifetime。

〃Tell　me；〃　he　murmured；　〃how　have　you　dared　to　do　this？〃

She　laughed。

〃You　know　the　Prince　and　his　set。　　You　know　the　way　they　bribe。
Intrigues　everywhere；　new　and　old　overlapping。　　They　have　really
some　reason　for　keeping　you　and　me　apart；　but　as　regards　my　other
movements；　I　am　free　enough。　　And　they　thought；　Victor　…　don't　be
angry　…　but　I　let　them　think　it　was　some　one　else。　　And　I　stole
away　from　the　ball；　and　they　think　…　never　mind　what　they　think。
But　you；　Victor；　are　my　intrigue；　you；　my　love；　my　husband！〃

Then　all　the　fatigue　and　all　the　weariness；　died　away　from　Mr。
Sabin's　face。　　Once　more　the　fire　of　youth　burned　in　his　heart。
And　Lucille　laughed　softly　as　her　lips　met　his；　and　her　head　sank
upon　his　shoulder。


CHAPTER　XXI

Lady　Carey　suddenly　dropped　her　partner's　arm。　　She　had　seen　a
man　standing　by　himself　with　folded　arms　and　moody　face　at　the
entrance　to　the　ball…room。　　She　raised　her　lorgnettes。　　His
identity　was　unquestionable。

〃Will　you　excuse　me　for　a　moment；　Captain　Horton；〃　she　said　to　her
escort。　　〃I　want　particularly　to　speak　to　Mr。　Brott。〃

Captain　Horton　bowed　with　the　slight　disappointment　of　a　hungry
man　on　his　way　to　the　supper…room。

〃Don't　be　long；〃　he　begged。　　〃The　places　are　filling　up。

Lady　Carey　nodded　and　walked　swiftly　across　to　where　Brott　was
standing。　　He　moved　eagerly　forward　to　meet　her。

〃Not　dancing；　Mr。　Brott？〃

He　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃This　sort　of　thing　isn't　much　in　my　way；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　was
rather　hoping　to　see　the　Countess　here。　　I　trust　that　she　is　not
indisposed。〃

She　looked　at　him　steadily。

〃Do　you　mean；〃　she　said；　〃that　you　do　not　know　where　she　is？〃

〃I？〃　he　answered　in　amazement。　　〃How　should　I？　　I　have　not　seen　her
at　all　this　evening。　　I　understood　that　she　was　to　be　here。〃

Lady　Carey　hesitated。　　The　man　was　too　honest　to　be　able　to　lie　like
this；　even　in　a　good　cause。　　She　stood　quite　still　for　a　moment
thinking。　　Several　of　her　dearest　friends　had　already　told　her　that
she　was　looking　tired　and　ill　this　evening。　　At　that　moment　she　was
positively　haggard。

〃I　have　been　down　at　Ranelagh　this　afternoon；〃　she　said　slowly；
〃and　dining　out；　so　I　have　not　seen　Lucille。　　She　was　complaining
of　a　headache　yesterday；　but　I　quite　thought　that　she　was　coming
here。　　Have　you　seen　the　Duchess？〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃No。　　There　is　such　a　crowd。〃

Lady　Carey　glanced　towards　her　escort　and　turned　away。

〃I　will　try　and　find　out　what　has　become　of　her；〃　she　said。　　〃Don't
go　away　yet。〃

She　rejoined　her　escort。

〃When　we　have　found　a　table；〃　she　said；　〃I　want　you　to　keep　my　place
for　a　few　moments　while　I　try　and　find　some　of　my　party。〃

They　passed　into　the　supper…room；　and　appropriated　a　small　table。
Lady　Carey　left　her　partner；　and　made　her　way　to　the　farther　end　of
the　apartment；　where　the　Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer　was　supping　with
half　a　dozen　men　and　women。　　She　touched　him　on　the　shoulder。

〃I　want　to　speak　to　you　for　a　moment；　Ferdinand；〃　she　whispered。

He　rose　at　once；　and　she　drew　him…　a　little　apart。

〃Brott　is　here；〃　she　said　slowly。

〃Brott　here！〃　he　repeated。　　〃And　Lucille？〃

〃He　is　asking　for　her　…　expected　to　find　her　here。　　He　is　downstairs
now；　looking　the　picture　of　misery。〃

He　looked　at　her　inquiringly。　　There　was　a　curious　steely　light　in
her　eyes；　and　she　was　showing　her　front　teeth；　which　were　a　little
prominent。

〃Do　you　think；〃　he　asked；　〃that　she　has　deceived　us？〃

〃What　else？　　Where　are　the　Dorsets？〃

〃The　Duchess　is　with　the　Earl　of　Condon；　and　some　more　people　at
the　round　table　under　the　balcony。〃

〃Give　me　your　arm；〃　she　whispered。　　〃We　must　go　and　ask　her；〃

They　crossed　the　room　together。　　Lady　Carey　sank　into　a　vacant
chair　by　the　side　of　the　Duchess　and　talked　for　a　few　minutes　to
the　people　whom　she　knew。　　Then　she　turned　and　whispered　in　the
Duchess's　ear。

〃Where　is　Lucille？〃

The　Duchess　looked　at　her　with　a　meaning　smile。

〃How　should　I　know？　She　left　when　we　did。〃

〃Alone？〃

〃Yes。　　It　was　all　understood；　wasn't　it？〃

Lady　Carey　laughed　unpleasantly。

〃She　has　fooled　us；〃　she　said。　　〃Brott　is　here　alone。　　Knows
nothing　of　her。〃

The　Duchess　was　puzzled。

〃Well；　I　know　nothing　more　than　you　do；〃　she　answered。　　〃Are　you
sure　the　man　is　telling　the　truth？〃

〃Of　course。　　He　is　the　image　of　despair。〃

〃I　am　sure　she　was　in　earnest；〃　the　Duchess　said。　　〃When　I　asked
her　whether　she　should　come　on　here　she　laughed　a　little　nervously；
and　said　perhaps　or　something　of　that　sort。〃

〃The　fool　may　have　bungled　it；〃　Lady　Carey　said　thoughtfully。　　〃I
will　go　back　to　him。　　There's　that　idiot　of　a　partner　of　mine。　　I
must　go　and　pretend　to　have　some　supper。〃

Captain　Horton　found　his　vis…a…vis　a　somewhat　unsatisfactory
companion。　　She　drank　several　glasses　of　champagne；　ate　scarcely
anything；　and　rushed　him　away　before　he　had　taken　the　edge　off　his
appetite。　　He　brought　her　to　the　Duchess　and　went　back　in　a　huff
to　finish　his　supper　alone。　　Lady　Carey　went　downstairs　and
discovered　Mr。　Brott；　who　had　scarcely　moved。

〃Have　you　seen　anything　of　her？〃　she　asked。

He　shook　his　head　gloomily。

〃No！　It　is　too　late　for　her　to　come　now；　isn't　it？〃

〃Take　me　somewhere　where　we　can　talk；〃　she　said　abruptly。　　〃One　of
those　seats　in　the　recess　will　do。〃

He　obeyed　her；　and　they　found　a　retired　corner。　　Lady　Carey　wasted
no　time　in　fencing。

〃I　am　Lucille's　greatest　friend；　Mr。　Brott；　and　her　confidante；〃
she　said。

He　nodded。

〃So　I　have　understood。〃

〃She　tells　me　everything。〃

He　glanced　towards　her　a　little　uneasily。

〃That　is　comprehensive！〃　he　remarked。

〃It　is　true；〃　she　answered。　　〃Lucille　has　told　me　a　great　deal　about
your　friendship！　　Come；　there　is　no　use　in　our　mincing　words。
Lucille　has　been　badly　treated　years　ago；　and　she　has　a　perfect
right　to　seek　any　consolation　she　may　find。　　The　old　fashioned
ideas；　thank　goodness；　do　not　hold　any　longer　amongst　us。　　It　is
not　necessary　to　tie　yourself　for　life　to　a　man　in　order　to　procure
a　little　diversion。〃

〃I　will　not　pretend　to　misunderstand　you；　Lady　Carey；〃　he　said
gravely；　〃but　I　must　decline　to　discuss　the　Countess　of　Radantz　in
connection　with　such　matters。〃

〃Oh；　come！〃　she　declared　impatiently；　〃remember　that　I　am　her
friend。　　Yours　is　quite　the　proper　attitude；　but　with　me　it　doesn't
matter。　　Now　I　am　going　to　ask　you　a　plain　question。　　Had　You　any
engagement　with　Lucille　to…night？〃

She　watched　him　mercilessly。　　He　was　colouring　like　a　boy。　　Lady
Carey's　thin　lips　curled。　　She　had　no　sympathy　with　such　amateurish
love…making。　　Nevertheless；　his　embarrassment　was　a　great　relief　to
her。

〃She　promised　to　be　here；〃　he　answered　stiffly。

〃Everything　depends　upon　your　being　honest　with　me；〃　she　continued。
〃You　will　see　from　my　question　that　I　know。　　Was　there　not　something
said　about　supper　at　your　rooms　before　or　after　the　dance？〃

〃I　cannot　discuss　this　matter　with　you　or　any　living　person；〃　he
answered。　　〃If　you　know　so　much　why　ask　me？〃

Lady　Carey　could　have　shaken　the　man；　but　she　restrained　herself。

〃It　is　sufficient！〃　she　declared。　　〃What　I　cannot　understand　is　why
you　are　here　…　when　Lucille　is　probably　awaiting　for　you　at　your
rooms。〃

He　started　from　his　chair　as　though　he　had　been　shot。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃She　was　to　…　〃

He　stopped　short。　　Lady　Carey　shrugged　her　shoulders。

〃Oh；　written　you　or　something；　I　suppose！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃Trust
an　Englishman　for　bungling　a　love　affair。　　All　I　can　tell　you　is
that　she　left　Dorset　House　in　a　hansom　without　the　others；　and　said
some　thing　about　having　supper　with　some　friends。〃

Brott　sprang　to　his　feet　and　took　a　quick　step　towards　the　exit。

〃It　is　not　possible！〃　he　exclaimed。

She　took　his　arm。　　He　almost　dragged　her　along。

〃Well；　we　are　going　to　see；〃　she　said　coolly。　　〃Tell　the　man　to
call　a　hansom。〃

They　drove　almost　in　silence　thr