the yellow crayon-第29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！



Mr。　Sabin　moved　towards　the　door。

〃You　are　perhaps　right；〃　he　said　regretfully；　〃although　I　should
much　like　to　hear　about　this　little　matter　of　life　insurance　while
I　am　here。〃

〃Indeed；　monsieur；〃　Annette　declared；　〃I　know　nothing。　　There　is
nothing　which　I　can　tell　monsieur。〃

Mr。　Sabin　suddenly　leaned　forward。　　His　gaze　was　compelling。　　His
tone　was　low　but　terrible。

〃Annette；〃　he　said；　〃obey　me。　　Send　Emil　here。〃

The　woman　trembled；　but　she　did　not　move。　　Mr。　Sabin　lifted　his
forefinger　and　pointed　slowly　to　the　door。　　The　woman's　lips　parted；
but　she　seemed　to　have　lost　the　power　of　speech。

〃Send　Emil　here！〃　Mr。　Sabin　repeated　slowly。

Annette　turned　and　left　the　room；　groping　her　way　to　the　door　as
though　her　eyesight　had　become　uncertain。　　Mr。　Sabin　lit　a　cigarette
and　looked　for　a　moment　carefully　into　the　small　liqueur　glass　out
of　which　he　had　drunk。

〃That　was　unwise；〃　he　said　softly　to　himself。　　〃Just　such　a　blunder
might　have　cost　me　everything。〃

He　held　it　up　to　the　light　and　satisfied　himself　that　no　dregs
remained。　　Then　he　took　from　his　pocket　a　tiny　little　revolver；　and
placing　it　on　the　table　before　him；　covered　it　with　his　handkerchief。
Almost　immediately　a　door　at　the　farther　end　of　the　room　opened　and
closed。　　A　man　in　dark　clothes；　small；　unnaturally　pale；　with
deep…set　eyes　and　nervous；　twitching　mouth；　stood　before　him。　　Mr。
Sabin　smiled　a　welcome　at　him。

〃Good…morning；　Emil　Sachs；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　glad　that　you　have　shown　discretion。　　Stand　there　in
the　light；　please；　and　fold　your　arms。
Thanks。　　Do　not　think　that　I　am　afraid　of　you；　but　I　like　to　talk
comfortably。〃

〃I　am　at　monsieur's　service；〃　the　man　said　in　a　low　tone。

〃Exactly。　　Now；　Emil；　before　starting　to　visit　you　I　left　a　little
note　behind　addressed　to　the　chief　of　the　police　here　…　no；　you
need　not　start　…　to　be　sent　to　him　only　if　my　return　were　unduly
delayed。　　You　can　guess　what　that　note　contained。　　It　is　not
necessary　for　us　to　revert　to　…　unpleasant　subjects。〃

The　man　moistened　his　dry　lips。

〃It　is　not　necessary；〃　he　repeated。　　〃Monsieur　is　as　safe　here　…　from
me　…　as　at　his　own　hotel。〃

〃Excellent！〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃Now　listen；　Emil。　　It　has　pleased　me
chiefly；　as　you　know；　for　the　sake　of　your　wife；　the　good　Annette；
to　be　very　merciful　to　you　as　regards　the　past。　　But　I　do　not
propose　to　allow　you　to　run　a　poison　bureau　for　the　advantage　of　the
Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer　and　his　friends　…　more　especially；　perhaps；
as　I　am　at　present　upon　his　list　of　superfluous　persons。〃

The　man　trembled。

〃Monsieur；〃　he　said；　〃the　Prince　knows　as　much　as　you　know；　and　he
has　not　the　mercy　that　one　shows　to　a　dog。〃

〃You　will　find；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃that　if　you　do　not　obey　me；　I
myself　can　develop　a　similar　disposition。　　Now　answer　me　this！　　You
have　within　the　last　few　days　supplied　several　people　with　that
marvelous　powder　for　the　preparation　of　which　you　are　so　justly
famed。〃

〃Several　…　no；　monsieur！　　Two　only。〃

〃Their　names？〃

The　man　trembled。

〃If　they　should　know！〃

〃They　will　not；　Emil。　　I　will　see　to　that。〃

〃The　first　I　supplied　to　the　order　of　the　Prince。〃

〃Good！　　And　the　second？〃

〃To　a　lady　whose　name　I　do　not　know。〃

Mr。　Sabin　raised　his　eyebrows。

〃Is　not　that；〃　he　remarked；　〃a　little　irregular？〃

〃The　lady　wrote　her　request　before　me　in　the　yellow　crayon。　　It　was　sufficient。〃

〃And　you　do　not　know　her　name；　Emil？〃

〃No；　monsieur。　　She　was　dark　and　tall；　and　closely　veiled。　　She　was
here　but　a　few　minutes　since。〃

〃Dark　and　tall！〃　Mr。　Sabin　repeated　to　himself　thoughtfully。　　〃Emil；
you　are　telling　me　the　truth？〃

〃I　do　not　dare　to　tell　you　anything　else；　monsieur；〃　the　man　answered。

Mr。　Sabin　did　not　continue　his　interrogations　for　a　few　moments。
Suddenly　he　looked　up。

〃Has　that　lady　left　the　place　yet；　Emil？〃

〃No；　monsieur！〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。

〃Have　you　a　back　exit？〃　he　asked。

〃None　that　the　lady　would　know　of；〃　Emil　answered。　　〃She　must　pass
along　the　passage　which　borders　this　apartment；　and　enter　the　bar
by　a　door　from　behind。　　If　monsieur　desires　it；　it　is　impossible　for
her　to　leave　unobserved。〃

〃That　is　excellent；　Emil；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃Now　there　is　one　more
question　…　quite　a　harmless　one。　　Annette　spoke　of　my　life　being　in
some　way　insured。〃

〃It　is　true；　monsieur；〃　Emil　admitted。　　〃A　lady　who　also　possessed
the　yellow　crayon　came　here　the　day　that　…　that　monsieur　incurred
the　displeasure　of　…　of　his　friends。　　She　tried　to　bribe　me　to　blow
up　my　laboratory　and　leave　the　country；　or　that　I　should　substitute
a　harmless　powder　for　any　required　by　the　Prince。　　I　was　obliged　to
refuse。〃

〃And　then？〃

〃Then　she　promised　me　a　large　sum　if　you　were　alive　in　six　months；
and　made　me　at　once　a　payment。

〃Dear　me；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃this　is　quite　extraordinary。〃

〃I　can　tell　monsieur　the　lady's　name；〃　Emil　continued；　〃for　she
raised　her　veil；　and　everywhere　the　illustrated　papers　have　been
full　of　her　picture。　　It　was　the　lady　who　was　besieged　in　a　little
town　of　South　Africa；　and　who　carried　despatches　for　the　general；
disguised　as　a　man。〃

〃Lady　Carey！〃　Mr。　Sabin　remarked　quietly。

〃That　was　the　lady's　name；〃　Emil　agreed。

Mr。　Sabin　was　thoughtful　for　a　few　moments。　　Then　he　looked　up。

〃Emil　Sachs；〃　he　said　sternly；　〃you　have　given　out　at　least　one
portion　of　your　abominable　concoction　which　is　meant　to　end　my　days。
Whether　I　shall　escape　it　or　not　remains　to　be　seen。　　I　am　forced　at
the　best　to　discharge　my　servant；　and　to　live　the　life　of　a　hunted
man。　　Now　you　have　done　enough　mischief　in　the　world。　　To…morrow
morning　a　messenger　will　place　in　your　hands　two　hundred　pounds。　　A
larger　sum　will　await　you　at　Baring's　Bank　in　New　York。　　You　will　go
there　and　buy　a　small　restaurant　in　the　business　quarter。　　This　is
your　last　chance；　Emil。　　I　give　it　to　you　for　the　sake　of　Annette。〃

〃And　I　accept　it；　monsieur；　with　gratitude。〃

〃For　the　present　〃

Mr。　Sabin　stopped　short。　　His　quick　ears　had　caught　the　swish　of
woman's　gown　passing　along　the　passage　outside。　　Emil　too　had
heard　it。

〃It　is　the　dark　lady；〃　he　whispered；　〃who　purchased　from　me　the
other　powder。　　See；　I　open　gently　this　door。　　Monsieur　must　both
see　and　hear。〃

The　door　at　the　end　of　the　passage　was　opened。　　A　woman　stepped　out
into　the　little　bar　and　made　her　way　towards　the　door。　　Here　she
was　met　by　a　man　entering。　　Mr。　Sabin　held　up　his　forefinger　to　stop
the　terrified　exclamation　which　trembled　on　Emil's　lips。　　The　woman
was　Lucille；　the　man　the　Prince。　　It　was　Lucille　who　was　speaking。

〃You　have　followed　me；　Prince。　　It　is　intolerable。〃

〃Dear　Lucille；　it　is　for　your　own　sake。　　These　are　not　fit　parts
for　you　'to　visit　alone。〃

〃It　is　my　own　business；〃　she　answered　coldly。

The　Prince　appeared　to　be　in　a　complaisant　mood。

〃Come；〃　he　said；　〃the　affair　is　not　worth　a　quarrel。　　I　ask　you　no
questions。　　Only　since　we　are　here　I　propose　that　we　test　the
cooking　of　the　good　Annette。　　We　will　lunch　together。〃

〃What；　here？〃　she　answered。　　〃Absurd。〃

〃By　no　means；〃　he　answered。　　〃As　you　doubtless　know；　the　exterior
of　the　place　is　entirely　misleading。　　These　people　are　old　servants
of　mine。　　I　can　answer　for　the　luncheon。〃

〃You　can　also　eat　it；〃　came　the　prompt　reply。　　〃I　am　returning　to
the　carriage。〃

〃But　〃

Mr。　Sabin　emerged　through　the　swing　door。　　〃Your　discretion；　my
dear　Lucille；〃　he　said；　smiling；　〃is　excellent。　　The　place　is
indeed　better　than　it　seems；　and　Annette's　cookery　may　be　all　that
the　Prince　claims。　　Yet　I　think　I　know　better　places　for　a　luncheon
party；　and　the　ventilation　is　not　of　the　best。　　May　I　suggest　that
you　come　with　me　instead　to　the　Milan？〃

〃Victor！　　You　here？〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled　as　he　admitted　the　obvious　fact。　　The　Prince's
face　was　as　black　as　night。

〃Believe　me；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　turning　to　the　Prince；　〃I　sympathise
entirely　with　your　feelings　at　the　present　moment。　　I　myself　have
suffered　in　precisely　the　same　manner。　　The　fact　is；　intrigue　in
this　country　is　almost　an　impossibility。　　At　Paris；　Vienna；　Pesth；
how　different！　　You　raise　your　little　finger；　and　the　deed　is　done。　　Superfluous　people　…　like
myself　…　are　removed　like　the　hairs　from
your　chin。　　But　here　intrigue　seems　indeed　to　exist　only　within　the
pages　of　a　shilling　novel；　or　in　a　comic　opera。　　The　gentleman　with
a　helmet　there；　who　regards　us　so　benignly；　will　presently　earn　a
shilling　by　calling　me　a　hansom。　　Yet　in　effect　he　does　me　a　far
greater　service。　　He　stands　for　a　multitude　of　cold　Anglo…Saxon
laws；　adamant；　incorruptible；　inflexible　…　as　certain　as　the　laws
of　Nature　herself。　　I　am　quite　aware　that　by　this　time　I　ought　to
be　lying　in　a　dark　cellar　with　a　gag　in　my　mouth；　or　perhaps　in
the　river　with　a　dagger　in　my　chest。　　But　here　in　England；　no！〃

The　Prince　smiled　…　to　all　appearance　a　very　genial　smile。

〃You　are　right；　my　dear　friend；〃　he　said；　〃yet　what　you　say
possesses；　shall　we　call　it；　a　somewhat　antediluvian　flavour。
Intrigue　is　no　longer　a　clumsy　game　of　knife　and　string　and　bowl。
It　becomes　to…day　a　game　of　finesse。　　I　can　assure　you　that　I　have
no　desire　to　give　a　stage　whistle　and　have　you　throttled　at