the yellow crayon-第23节

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

They　drove　almost　in　silence　through　the　Square　to　Pall　Mall。
Brott　leaped　out　onto　the　pavement　directly　the　cab　pulled　up。

〃I　will　wait　here；〃　Lady　Carey　said。　　〃I　only　want　to　know　that
Lucille　is　safe。〃

He　disappeared；　and　she　sat　forward　in　the　cab　drumming　idly　with
her　forefingers　upon　the　apron。　　In　a　few　minutes　he　came　back。
His　appearance　was　quite　sufficient。　　He　was　very　pale。　　The　change
in　him　was　so　ludicrous　that　she　laughed。

〃Get　in；〃　she　said。　　〃I　am　going　round　to　Dorset　House。　　We　must
find　out　if　we　can　what　has　become　of　her。〃

He　obeyed　without　comment。　　At　Dorset　House　Lady　Carey　summoned
the　Duchess's　own　maid。

〃Marie；〃　she　said；　〃you　were　attending　upon　the　Countess　Radantz
to…night？〃

〃Yes；　my　lady。〃

〃At　what　time　did　she　leave？〃

〃At　about；　eleven；　my　lady。〃

〃Alone？〃

〃Yes；　my　lady。〃

Lady　Carey　looked　steadily　at　the　girl。

〃Did　she　take　anything　with　her？〃

The　girl　hesitated。　　Lady　Carey　frowned。

〃It　must　be　the　truth；　remember；　Marie。〃

〃Certainly；　my　lady！　She　took　her　small　dressing…case。〃

Lady　Carey　set　her　teeth　hard。　　Then　with　a　movement　of　her　head
she　dismissed　the　maid。　　She　walked　restlessly　up　and　down　the
room。　　Then　she　stopped　short　with　a　hard　little　laugh。

〃If　I　give　way　like　this；〃　she　murmured；　〃I　shall　be　positively
hideous；　and　after　all；　if　she　was　there　it　was　not　possible　for
him　…　〃

She　stopped　short；　and　suddenly　tearing　the　handkerchief　which　she
had　been　carrying　into　shreds　threw　the　pieces　upon　the　floor；　and
stamped　upon　them。　　Then　she　laughed　shortly；　and　turned　towards
the　door。

〃Now　I　must　go　and　get　rid　of　that　poor　fool　outside；〃　she　said。
〃What　a　bungler！〃

Brott　was　beside　himself　with　impatience。

〃Lucille　is　here；〃　she　announced；　stepping　in　beside　him。　　〃She　has
a　shocking　headache　and　has　gone　to　bed。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I
believe　that　she　was　expecting　to　hear　from　you。〃

〃Impossible！〃　he　answered　shortly。　　He　was　beginning　to　distrust
this　woman。

〃Never　mind。　　You　can　make　it　up　with　her　to…morrow。　　I　was　foolish
to　be　anxious　about　her　at　all。　　Are　you　coming　in　again？〃

They　were　at　Carmarthen　House。　　He　handed　her　out。

〃No；　thanks！　If　you　will　allow　me　I　will　wish　you　good…night。〃

She　made　her　way　into　the　ball…room；　and　found　the　Prince　of　Saxe
Leinitzer；　who　was　just　leaving。

〃Do　you　know　where　Lucille　is　she　asked。

He　looked　up　at　her　sharply。　　〃Where？〃

〃At　the　Carlton　Hotel…with　him。〃

He　rose　to　his　feet　with　slow　but　evil　promptitude。　　His　face　just
then　was　very　unlike　the　face　of　an　angel。　　Lady　Carey　laughed
aloud。

〃Poor　man；〃　she　said　mockingly。　　〃It　is　always　the　same　when　you
and　Souspennier　meet。〃

He　set　his　teeth。

〃This　time；〃　he　muttered；　〃I　hold　the　trumps。〃

She　pointed　at　the　clock。　　It　was　nearly　four。　　〃She　was　there　at
eleven；〃　she　remarked　drily。


CHAPTER　XXII

His　Highness；　the　Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer！〃

Duson　stood　away　from　the　door　with　a　low　bow。　　The　Prince　…　in
the　buttonhole　of　whose　frock…coat　was　a　large　bunch　of　Russian
violets；　passed　across　the　threshold。　　Mr。　Sabin　rose　slowly
from　his　chair。

〃I　fear；〃　the　Prince　said　suavely；　〃that　I　am　an　early　visitor。
I　can　only　throw　myself　upon　your　indulgence　and　plead　the　urgency
of　my　mission。〃

His　arrival　appeared　to　have　interrupted　a　late　breakfast　of　the
Continental　order。　　The　small　table　at　which　Lucille　and　Mr。　Sabin
were　seated　was　covered　with　roses　and　several　dishes　of　wonderful
fruit。　　A　coffee　equipage　was　before　Lucille。　　Mr。　Sabin；　dressed
with　his　usual　peculiar　care　and　looking　ten　years　younger；　had
just　lit　a　cigarette。

〃We　have　been　anticipating　your　visit；　Prince；〃　Mr。　Sabin　remarked；
with　grim　courtesy。　　〃Can　we　offer　you　coffee　or　a　liqueur？〃

〃I　thank　you；　no；〃　the　Prince　answered。　　〃I　seldom　take　anything
before　lunch。　　Let　me　beg　that　you　do　not　disturb　yourselves。　　With
your　permission　I　will　take　this　easy…chair。　　So！　That　is　excellent。
We　can　now　talk　undisturbed。〃

Mr。　Sabin　bowed。

〃You　will　find　me；〃　he　said；　〃an　excellent　listener。〃

The　Prince　smiled　in　an　amiable　manner。　　His　eyes　were　fixed　upon
Lucille；　who　had　drawn　her　chair　a　little　away　from　the　table。
What　other　woman　in　the　world　who　had　passed　her　first　youth　could
sit　thus　in　the　slanting　sunlight　and　remain　beautiful？

〃I　will　ask　you　to　believe；〃　the　Prince　said　slowly；　〃how　sincerely
I　regret　this　unavoidable　interference　in　a　domestic　happiness　so
touching。　　Nevertheless；　I　have　come　for　the　Countess。　　It　is
necessary　that　she　returns　to　Dorset　House　this　morning。〃

〃You　will　oblige　me；〃　Mr。　Sabin　remarked；　〃by　remembering　that　my
wife　is　the　Duchesse　de　Souspennier；　and　by　so　addressing　her。〃

The　Prince　spread　out　his　hands　…　a　deprecating　gesture。

〃Alas！〃　he　said；　〃for　the　present　it　is　not　possible。　　Until　the
little　affair　upon　which　we　are　now　engaged　is　finally　disposed　of
it　is　necessary　that　Lucille　should　be　known　by　the　title　which　she
bears　in　her　own　right；　or　by　the　name　of　her　late　husband；　Mr。
James　B。　Peterson。〃

〃That　little　affair；〃　Mr。　Sabin　remarked；　〃is；　I　presume；　the　matter
which　you　have　come　to　explain　to　me。〃

The　Prince　smiled　and　shook　his　head。

〃Explain！　　My　dear　Duke；　that　is　not　possible。　　It　is　not　within
your　rights　to　ask　questions　or　to　require　any　explanation　as　to
anything　which　Lucille　is　required　to　do　by　us。　　You　must　remember
that　our　claim　upon　her　comes　before　yours。　　It　is　a　claim　which
she　cannot　evade　or　deny。　　And　in　pursuance　of　it；　Countess；　I
deeply　regret　having　to　tell　you　that　your　presence　at　Dorset　House
within　the　next　hour　is　demanded。〃

Lucille　made　no　answer；　but　looked　across　the　table　at　Mr。　Sabin
with　a　little　grimace。

〃It　is　a　comedy；〃　she　murmured。　　〃After　all；　it　is　a　comedy！〃

Mr。　Sabin　fingered　his　cigarette　thoughtfully。

〃I　believe；〃　he　said；　〃that　the　Duchess　realises　her
responsibilities　in　this　matter。　　I　myself　have　no　wish　to　deny
them。　　As　ordinary　members　we　are　both　pledged　to　absolute　obedience。
I　therefore　place　no　embargo　upon　the　return　of　my　wife　to　Dorset
House。　　But　there　are　certain　conditions；　Prince；　that　considering
the　special　circumstances　of　the　case　I　feel　impelled　to　propose。〃

〃I　can　recognise；〃　the　Prince　said；　〃no　conditions。〃

〃They　are　very　harmless；〃　Mr。　Sabin　continued　calmly。　　〃The　first　is
that　in　a　friendly　way；　and　of　course　under　the　inviolable　law　of
secrecy；　you　explain　to　me　for　what　part　Lucille　is　cast　in　this
little　comedy；　the　next　that　I　be　allowed　to　see　her　at　reasonable
intervals；　and　finally　that　she　is　known　by　her　rightful　name　as
Duchesse　de　Souspennier。〃

The　forced　urbanity　which　the　Prince　had　assumed　fell　away　from　him
without　warning。　　The　tone　of　his　reply　was　almost　a　sneer。

〃I　repeat；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　can　recognise　no　conditions。〃

〃It　is　perhaps；〃　Mr。　Sabin　continued；　〃the　wrong　word　to　use。　　We
submit　to　your　authority；　but　you　and　I　are　well　aware　that　your
discretionary　powers　are　large。　　I　ask　you　to　use　them。〃

〃And　I；〃　the　Prince　said；　〃refuse。　　Let　me　add　that　I　intend　to
prevent　any　recurrence　of　your　little　adventure　of　last　night。
Lucille　shall　not　see　you　again　until　her　task　is　over。　　And　as　for
you；　my　dear　Duke；　I　desire　only　your　absence。　　I　do　not　wish　to
hurt　your　feelings；　but　your　name　has　been　associated　in　the　past
with　too　many　failures　to　inspire　us　with　any　confidence　in　engaging
you　as　an　ally。　　Countess；　a　carriage　from　Dorset　House　awaits　you。〃

But　Lucille　sat　still；　and　Mr。　Sabin　rose　slowly　to　his　feet。

〃I　thank　you；　Prince；〃　he　said；　〃for　throwing　away　the　mask。
Fighting　is　always　better　without　the　buttons。　　It　is　true　that　I
have　failed　more　than　once；　but　it　is　also　true　that　my　failures
have　been　more　magnificent　than　your　waddle　across　the　plain　of　life。
As　for　your　present　authority；　I　challenge　you　to　your　face　that　you
are　using　it　to　gain　your　private　ends。　　What　I　have　said　to　you　I
shall　repeat　to　those　whose　place　is　above　yours。　　Lucille　shall　go
to　Dorset　House；　but　I　warn　you　that　I　hold　my　life　a　slight　thing
where　her　welfare　is　concerned。　　Your　hand　is　upon　the　lever　of　a
great　organization；　I　am　only　a　unit　in　the　world。　　Yet　I　would　have
you　remember　that　more　than　once；　Prince；　when　you　and　I　have　met
with　the　odds　in　your　favour　the　victory　has　been　mine。　　Play　the
game　fairly；　and　you　have　nothing　to　fear　from　me　but　the　open
opposition　I　have　promised　you。　　Bring　but　the　shadow　of　evil　upon
her；　misuse　your　power　but　ever　so　slightly　against　her；　and　I　warn
you　that　I　shall　count　the　few　years　of　life　left　to　me　a　trifle
　…　of　less　than　no　account　…　until　you　and　I　cry　quits。〃

The　Prince　smiled；　a　fat；　good…natured　smile；　behind　which　the
malice　was　indeed　well　hidden。

〃Come；　come；　my　dear　Souspennier；〃　he　declared。　　〃This　is　unworthy
of　you。　　It　is　positively　melodramatic。　　It　reminds　me　of　the　plays
of　my　Fatherland；　and　of　your　own　Adelphi　Theatre。　　We　should　be　men
of　the　world；　you　and　I。　　You　must　take　your　defeats　with　your
victories。　　I　can　assure　you