the yellow crayon-第27节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


cloak；　and　then　let　it　fall　altogether　from　her　shoulders。

〃Why　do　you　do　this？〃　she　asked　earnestly。　　〃Is　it　that　you　are　so
ambitious？　You　used　not　to　be　so　…　in　the　old　days。

He　laughed　bitterly。

〃You　too；　then；〃　he　said；　〃can　remember。　　Ambitious！　Well；　why　not？
To　be　Premier　of　England；　to　stand　for　the　people；　to　carry　through
to　its　logical　consummation　a　bloodless　revolution；　surely　this　is
worth　while。　　Is　there　anything　in　the　world　better　worth　having
than　power？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　answered；　looking　him　full　in　the　eyes。

〃What　is　it　then？　Let　me　know　before　it　is　too　late。〃
　
〃Love！〃

He　threw　his　arms　about　her。　　For　a　moment　she　was　powerless　in　his
grasp。
　
〃So　be　it　then；〃　he　cried　fiercely。　　〃Give　me　the　one；　and　I　will
deny　the　other。　　Only　no　half　measures！　　I　will　drink　to　the　bottom
of　the　cup　or　not　at　all。〃
　
She　shook　herself　free　from　him；　breathless；　consumed　with　an　anger
to　which　she　dared　not　give　voice。　　For　a　moment　or　two　she　was
speechless。　　Her　bosom　rose　and　fell；　a　bright　streak　of　colour
flared　in　her　cheeks。　　Brott　stood　away　from　her；　white　and　stern。
　
〃You　…　are　clumsy！〃　she　said。　　〃You　frighten　me！〃
　
Her　words　carried　no　conviction。　　He　looked　at　her　with　a　new
suspicion。
　
〃You　talk　like　a　child；〃　he　answered　roughly；　〃or　else　your　whole
conduct　is　a　fraud。　　For　months　I　have　been　your　slave。　　I　have
abandoned　my　principles；　given　you　my　time；　followed　at　your　heels
like　a　tame　dog。　　And　for　what？　　You　will　not　marry　me；　you　will
not　commit　yourself　to　anything。　　You　are　a　past　mistress　in　the
art　of　binding　fools　to　your　chariot　wheels。　　You　know　that　I　love
you　…　that　there　breathes　on　this　earth　no　other　woman　for　me　but
you。　　I　have　told　you　this　in　all　save　words　a　hundred　times。　And
now　…　now　it　is　my　turn。　　I　have　been　played　with　long　enough。　　You
are　here　unbidden　…　unexpected。　　You　can　consider　that　door　locked。
Now　tell　me　why　you　came。〃

Lucille　had　recovered　herself。　　She　stood　before　him；　white　but　calm。

〃Because；〃　she　said；　〃I　am　a　woman。〃　　

〃That　means　that　you　came　without　reason　…　on　impulse？〃　he　asked。

〃I　came；〃　she　said；　〃because　I　heard　that　you　were　about　to　take　a
step　which　must　separate　us　for　ever。〃

〃And　that；〃　he　asked；　〃disturbed　you？〃

〃Yes！〃

〃Come；　we　are　drawing　nearer　together；〃　he　said；　a　kindling　light
in　his　eyes。　　〃Now　answer　me　this。　　How　much　do　you　care　if　this
eternal　separation　does　come？　　Here　am　I　on　the　threshold　of　action。
Unless　I　change　my　mind　within　ten　minutes　I　must　throw　in　my　lot
with　those　whom　you　and　your　Order　loathe　and　despise。　　There　can
be　no　half　measures。　　I　must　be　their　leader；　or　I　must　vanish　from
the　face　of　the　political　world。　　This　I　will　do　if　you　bid　me。　　But
the　price　must　be　yourself　…　wholly；　without　reservation…yourself；
body　and　soul。〃

〃You　care　…　as　much　as　that？〃　she　murmured。

〃Ask　me　no　questions；　answer　mine！〃　he　cried　fiercely。　　〃You　shall
stay　with　me　here　…　or　in　five　minutes　I　leave　on　my　campaign。〃

She　laughed　musically。

〃This　is　positively　delicious；〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃I　am　being　made
love　to　in　medieval　fashion。　　Other　times　other　manners；　sir！　　Will
you　listen　to　reason？〃

〃I　will　listen　to　nothing　…　save　your　answer；　yes　or　no；〃　he
declared；　drawing　on　his　overcoat。
　
She　laid　her　hand　upon　his　shoulder。

〃Reginald；〃　she　said；　〃you　are　like　the　whirlwind　…　and　how　can　I
answer　you　in　five　minutes！〃

〃You　can　answer　me　in　one；〃　he　declared　fiercely。　　〃Will　you　pay　my
price　if　I　do　your　bidding？　　Yes　or　no！　　The　price　is　yourself。　　Now！
Yes　or　no？〃

She　drew　on　her　own　cloak　and　fastened　the　clasp
with　shaking　fingers。　　Then　she　turned　towards　the
door。

〃I　wish　you　good…bye　and　good　fortune；　Reginald；〃　she　said。　　〃I
daresay　we　may　not　meet　again。　　It　will　be　better　that　we　do　not。〃

〃This　then　is　your　answer？〃　he　cried。

She　looked　around　at　him。　　Was　it　his　fancy；　or　were　those　tears
in　her　eyes？　　Or　was　she　really　so　wonderful　an　actress？〃

〃Do　you　think；〃　she　said；　〃that　if　I　had　not　cared　I　should　have
come　here？〃

〃Tell　me　that　in　plain　words；〃　he　cried。　　〃It　is　all　I　ask。〃

The　door　was　suddenly　opened。　　Grahame　stood　upon　the　threshold。
He　looked　beyond　Lucille　to　Brott。

〃You　must　really　forgive　me；〃　he　said；　〃but　there　is　barely　time
to　catch　the　train；　Brott。　　I　have　a　hansom　waiting；　and　your
luggage　is　on。〃

Brott　answered　nothing。　　Lucille　held　out　her　hands　to　him。

〃Yes　or　no？〃　he　asked　her　in　a　low　hoarse　tone。

〃You　must　…　give　me　time！　I　don't　want　to　lose　you。　　I　…　〃

He　caught　up　his　coat。

〃Coming；　Grahame；〃　he　said　firmly。　　〃Countess；　I　must　beg　your
pardon　ten　thousand　times　for　this　abrupt　departure。　　My　servants
will　call　your　carriage。〃

She　leaned　towards　him；　beautiful；　anxious；　alluring。

〃Reginald！〃

〃Yes　or　no；〃　he　whispered　in　her　ear。

〃Give　me　until　to…morrow；〃　she　faltered。

〃Not　one　moment；〃　he　answered。　　〃Yes　…　now；　this　instant　…　or　I　go！〃

〃Brott！　　My　dear　man；　we　have　not　a　second　to　lose。〃

〃You　hear！〃　he　muttered。　　〃Yes　or　no？〃

She　trembled。

〃Give　me　until　to…morrow；〃　she　begged。　　〃It　is　for　your　own　sake。
For　your　own　safety。〃

He　turned　on　his　heel！　　His　muttered　speech　was　profane；　but
inarticulate。　　He　sprang　into　the　hansom　by　Grahame's　side。

〃Euston！〃　the　latter　cried　through　the　trap…door。　　〃Double　fare；
cabby。　　We　must　catch　the　Scotchman。〃

Lucille　came　out　a　few　moments　later；　and　looked　up　and　down　the
street　as　her　brougham　drove　smartly　up。　　The　hansom　was　fast
disappearing　in　the　distance。　　She　looked　after　it　and　sighed。


CHAPTER　XXVI

Lucille　gave　a　little　start　of　amazement　as　she　realised　that　she
was　not　alone　in　the　brougham。　　She　reached　out　for　the　check…cord；
but　a　strong　hand　held　hers。

〃My　dear　Lucille；〃　a　familiar　voice　exclaimed；　〃why　this　alarm？　　Is
it　your　nerves　or　your　eyesight　which　is　failing　you？〃

Her　hand　dropped。　　She　turned　towards　him。

〃It　is　you；　then；　Prince！〃　she　said。　　〃But　why　are　you　here？　　I　do
not　understand。〃

The　Prince　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃It　is　so　simple；〃　he　said。　　〃We　are　all　very　anxious　indeed　to
hear　the　result　of　your　interview　with　Brott　…　and　apart　from　that；
I　personally　have　too　few　opportunities　to　act　as　your　escort　to
let　a　chance　go　by。　　I　trust　that　my　presence　is　not　displeasing
to　you？〃

She　laughed　a　little　uneasily。

〃It　is　at　any　rate　unnecessary；〃　she　answered。　　〃But　since　you　are
here　I　may　as　well　make　my　confession。　　I　have　failed。〃

〃It　is　incredible；〃　the　Prince　murmured。

〃As　you　will　…　but　it　is　true；〃　she　answered。　　〃I　have　done　my　very
best；　or　rather　my　worst；　and　the　result　has　been　failure。　　Mr。
Brott　has　a　great　friend　…　a　man　named　Grahame；　whose　influence
prevailed　against　mine。　　He　has　gone　to　Scotland。〃

〃That　is　serious　news；〃　the　Prince　said　quietly。

Lucille　leaned　back　amongst　the　cushions。

〃After　all；〃　she　declared；　〃we　are　all　out　of　place　in　this　country。
There　is　no　scope　whatever　for　such　schemes　and　intrigues　as　you
and　all　the　rest　of　them　delight　in。　　In　France　and　Russia；　even　in
Austria；　it　is　different。　　The　working　of　all　great　organisation
there　is　underground　…　it　is　easy　enough　to　meet　plot　by　counterplot；
to　suborn；　to　deceive；　to　undermine。　　But　here　all　the　great　games
of　life　seem　to　be　played　with　the　cards　upon　the　table。　　We　are
hopelessly　out　of　place。　　I　cannot　think；　Prince；　what　ill　chance
led　you　to　ever　contemplate　making　your　headquarters　in　London。〃

The　Prince　stroked　his　long　moustache。

〃That　is　all　very　well；　Lucille；〃　he　said；　〃but　you　must　remember
that　in　England　we　have　very　large　subscriptions　to　the　Order。
These　people　will　not　go　on　paying　for　nothing。　　There　was　a　meeting
of　the　London　branch　a　few　months　ago；　and　it　was　decided　that
unless　some　practical　work　was　done　in　this　country　all　English
subscriptions　should　cease。　　We　had　no　alternative　but　to　come　over
and　attempt　something。　　Brott　is　of　course　the　bete　noire　of　our
friends　here。　　He　is　distinctly　the　man　to　be　struck　at。〃

〃And　what　evil　stroke　of　fortune；〃　Lucille　asked；　〃induced　you　to
send　for　me？〃

〃That　is　a　very　cruel　speech；　dear　lady；〃　the　Prince　murmured。

〃I　hope；〃　Lucille　said；　〃that　you　have　never　for　a　moment　imagined
that　I　find　any　pleasure　in　what　I　am　called　upon　to　do。〃

〃Why　not？　　It　must　be　interesting。　　You　can　have　had　no　sympathy
with　Brott　…　a　hopeless　plebeian；　a　very　paragon　of　Anglo…Saxon
stupidity？〃

Lucille　laughed　scornfully。

〃Reginald　Brott　is　a　man；　at　any　rate；　and　an　honest　one；〃　she
answered。　　〃But　I　am　too　selfish　to　think　much　of　him。　　It　is
myself　whom　I　pity。　　I　have　a　home；　Prince；　and　a　husband。　　I
want　them　both。〃

〃You　amaze　me；〃　the　Prince　said　slowly。　　〃Lucille；　indeed；　you
amaze　me。　　You　have　been　buried　alive　for　three　years。　　Positively
we　believed　that　our　summons　would　sound　to　you　like　a　message　from
Heaven。〃

Lucille　was　silent　for　a　moment。　　She　rubbed　the　mist　from　the
carriage　window　and　looked　out　into　the　streets。

〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃I　hope　that　you　realise　now　how　completely　you
have　misunderstood　me。　　I　was　perfectly　happy　in　America。　　I　have
been　perfe