the yellow crayon-第3节

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〃So　long；　boys；〃　he　said；　addressing　his　late　companions。　　〃See　you
to…night。〃

They　accepted　his　departure　in　silence；　and　one　and　all　favoured
Mr。　Sabin　with　a　stare　of　blatant　curiosity。

〃I　should　be　glad　to　speak　with　you；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃in　a　place
where　we　are　likely　to　be　neither　disturbed　nor　overheard。〃

〃You　come　right　across　to　my　office；〃　was　the　prompt　reply。　　〃I
guess　we　can　fix　it　up　there。〃

Mr。　Sabin　motioned　to　his　coachman；　and　they　crossed　Broadway。　　His
companion　led　him　into　a　tall　building；　talking　noisily　all　the
time　about　the　pals　whom　he　had　just　left。　　An　elevator　transported
them　to　the　twelfth　floor　in　little　more　than　as　many　seconds；　and
Mr。　Skinner　ushered　his　visitor　into　a　somewhat　bare…looking　office；
smelling　strongly　of　stale　tobacco　smoke。　　Mr。　Skinner　at　once　lit
a　cigar；　and　seating　himself　before　his　desk；　folded　his　arms　and
leaned　over　towards　Mr。　Sabin。

〃Smoke　one？〃　he　asked；　pointing　to　the　open　box。

Mr。　Sabin　declined。

〃Get　right　ahead　then。〃

〃I　am　an　Englishman；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said　slowly；　〃and　consequently　am
not　altogether　at　home　with　your　ways　over　here。　　I　have　always
understood；　however；　that　if　you　are　in　need　of　any　special
information　such　as　we　should　in　England　apply　to　the　police　for；
over　here　there　is　a　quicker　and　more　satisfactory　method　of
procedure。〃

〃You've　come　a　long　way　round；〃　Mr。　Skinner　remarked；　spitting
upon　the　floor；　〃but　you're　dead　right。〃

〃I　am　in　need　of　some　information；〃　Mr。　Sabin　continued；　〃and
accordingly　I　called　this　morning　on　Mr。　…　〃

Mr。　Skinner　held　up　his　hand。

〃All　right；〃　he　said。　　〃We　don't　mention　names　more　than　we　can
help。　　Call　him　the　boss。〃

〃He　assured　me　that　the　information　I　was　in　need　of　was　easily　to
be　obtained；　and　gave　me　a　card　to　you。〃

〃Go　right　on；〃　Mr。　Skinner　said。　　〃What　is　it？〃

〃On　Friday　last；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃at　four　o'clock；　the　Duchess　of
Souspennier；　whose　picture　I　will　presently　show　you；　left　the
Holland　House　Hotel　for　the　New　York；　New　Haven　&　Hartford　Depot；
presumably　for　her　home　at　Lenox；　to　which　place　her　baggage　had
already　been　checked。　　On　the　way　she　ordered　the　cabman　to　set　her
down　at　the　Waldorf…Astoria　Hotel；　which　he　did　at　a　few　minutes
past　four。　　The　Duchess　has　not　returned　home　or　been　directly
heard　from　since。　　I　wish　to　ascertain　her　movements　　since　she
arrived　at　the　Waldorf。〃

〃Sounds　dead　easy；〃　Mr。　Skinner　remarked　reassuringly。　　〃Got　the
picture？〃

Mr。　Sabin　touched　the　spring　of　a　small　gold　locket　which　he　drew
from　an　inside　waistcoat　pocket；　and　disclosed　a　beautifully　painted
miniature。　　Mr。　Skinner's　thick　lips　were　pursed　into　a　whistle。
He　was　on　the　point　of　making　a　remark　when　he　chanced　to　glance
into　Mr。　Sabin's　face。　　The　remark　remained　unspoken。

He　drew　a　sheet　of　note…paper　towards　him　and　made　a　few　notes　upon
it。

〃The　Duchess　many　friends　in　New　York？〃

〃At　present　none。　　The　few　people　whom　she　knows　here　are　at　Newport
or　in　Europe　just　now。〃

〃Any　idea　whom　she　went　to　the　Waldorf　to　see？　　　More　we　know　the
better。〃

Mr。　Sabin　handed　him　the　letter　which　had　been　picked　up　in　the　cab。
Mr。　Skinner　read　it　through；　and　spat　once　more　upon　the　floor。

〃What　the　h…'s　this　funny　coloured　pencil　mean？〃

〃I　do　not　know；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃You　will　see　that　the　two
anonymous　communications　which　I　have　received　since　arriving　in
New　York　yesterday　are　written　in　the　same　manner。〃

Mr。　Sabin　handed　him　the　other　two　letters；　which　Mr。　Skinner
carefully　perused。

〃I　guess　you'd　better　tell　me　who　you　are；〃　he　suggested。

〃I　am　the　husband　of　the　Duchess　of　Souspennier；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。

〃The　Duchess　send　any　word　home　at　all？〃　Mr。　Skinner　asked。

Mr。　Sabin　produced　a　worn　telegraph　form。　　It　was　handed　in　at　Fifth
Avenue；　New　York；　at　six　o'clock　on　Friday。　　It　contained　the　single
word　'Good…bye。'〃

〃H'm；〃　Mr。　Skinner　remarked。　　〃We'll　find　all　you　want　to　know　by
to…morrow　sure。〃

〃What　do　you　make　of　the　two　letters　which　I　received？〃　Mr。　Sabin
asked。

〃Bunkum！〃　　Mr。　Skinner　replied　confidently。

Mr。　Sabin　nodded　his　head。

〃You　have　no　secret　societies　over　here；　I　suppose？〃　he　said。

Mr。　Skinner　laughed　loudly　and　derisively。

〃I　guess　not；〃　he　answered。　　〃They　keep　that　sort　of　rubbish　on　the
other　side　of　the　pond。〃

〃Ah；！〃

Mr。　Sabin　was　thoughtful　for　a　moment。　　〃You　expect　to　find；　then；〃
he　remarked；　〃some　other　cause　for　my　wife's　disappearance？〃

〃There　don't　seem　much　room　for　doubt　concerning　that；　sir；〃　Mr。
Skinner　said；　〃but　I　never　speculate。　　I　will　bring　you　the　facts
to…night　between　eight　and　eleven。　　Now　as　to　the　business　side　of
it。〃

Mr。　Sabin　was　for　a　moment　puzzled。

〃What's　the　job　worth　to　you？〃　Mr。　Skinner　asked。　　〃I　am　willing　to
pay；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered；　〃according　to　your　demands。〃

〃It's　a　simple　case；〃　Mr。　Skinner　admitted；　〃but　our　man　at　the
Waldorf　is　expensive。　　If　you　get　all　your　facts；　I　guess　five
hundred　dollars　will　about　see　you　through。〃

〃I　will　pay　that；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。

〃I　will　bring　you　the　letters　back　to…night；〃　Mr。　Skinner　said。
〃I　guess　I'll　borrow　that　locket　of　yours；　too。〃

Mr。　Sabin　shook　his　head。

〃That；〃　he　said　firmly；　〃I　do　not　part　with。〃　　Mr。　Skinner　scratched
his　ear　with　his　penholder。　　〃It's　the　only　scrap　of　identifying
matter　we've　got；〃　he　remarked。　　〃Of　course　it's　a　dead　simple　case；
and　we　can　probably　manage　without　it。　　But　I　guess　it's　as　well　to
fix　the　thing　right　down。〃

〃If　you　will　give　me　a　piece　of　paper；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃I　will　make
you　a　sketch　of　the　Duchess。　　The　larger　the　better。　　I　can　give　you
an　idea　of　the　sort　of　clothes　she　would　probably　be　wearing。〃

Mr。　Skinner　furnished　him　with　a　double　sheet　of　paper；　and　Mr。
Sabin；　with　set　face　and　unflinching　figures；　reproduced　in　a　few
simple　strokes　a　wonderful　likeness　of　the　woman　he　loved。　　He
pushed　it　away　from　him　when　he　had　finished　without　remark。　　Mr。
Skinner　was　loud　in　its　praises。

〃I　guess　you're　an　artist；　sir；　for　sure；〃　he　remarked。　　〃This'll
fix　the　thing。　　Shall　I　come　to　your　hotel？〃

〃If　you　please；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃I　shall　be　there　for　the　rest
of　the　day。〃

Mr。　Skinner　took　up　his　hat。

〃Guess　I'll　take　my　dinner　and　get　right　to　work；〃　he　remarked。
〃Say；　you　come　along；　Mr。　Sabin。　　I'll　take　you　where　they'll　fix
you　such　a　beefsteak　as　you　never　tasted　in　your　life。〃

〃I　thank　you　very　much；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃but　I　must　beg　to　be
excused。　　I　am　expecting　some　despatches　at　my　hotel。　　If　you　are
successful　this　afternoon　you　will　perhaps　do　me　the　honour　of
dining　with　me　to…night。　　I　will　wait　until　eight…thirty。〃

The　two　men　parted　upon　the　pavement。　　Mr。　Skinner；　with　his　small
bowler　hat　on　the　back　of　his　head；　a　fresh　cigar　in　the　corner　of
his　mouth；　and　his　thumbs　in　the　armholes　of　his　waistcoat；　strolled
along　Broadway　with　something　akin　to　a　smile　parting　his　lips；　and
showing　his　yellow　teeth。

〃Darned　old　fool；〃　he　muttered。　　〃To　marry　a　slap…up　handsome　woman
like　that；　and　then　pretend　not　to　know　what　it　means　when　she　bolts。
Guess　I'll　spoil　his　supper　to…night。〃

Mr。　Sabin；　however；　was　recovering　his　spirits。　　He；　too；　was
leaning　back　in　the　corner　of　his　carriage　with　a　faint　smile
brightening　his　hard；　stern　face。　　But；　unlike　Mr。　Skinner；　he　did
not　talk　to　himself。



CHAPTER　IV

R。　Sabin；　who　was　never；　for　its　own　sake；　fond　of　solitude；　had
ordered　dinner　for　two　at　eight…thirty　in　the　general　dining…room。
At　a　few　minutes　previous　to　that　hour　Mr。　Skinner　presented　himself。

Mr。　Skinner　was　not　in　the　garb　usually　affected　by　men　of　the　world
who　are　invited　to　dine　out。　　The　long　day's　exertion；　too；　had　had
its　effect　upon　his　linen。　　His　front；　indeed；　through　a　broad　gap；
confessed　to　a　foundation　of　blue；　and　one　of　his　cuffs　showed　a
marked　inclination　to　escape　from　his　wrist　over　his　knuckles。　　His
face　was　flushed；　and　he　exhaled　a　strong　odour　of　cigars　and
cocktails。　　Nevertheless；　Mr。　Sabin　was　very　glad　to　see　him；　and
to　receive　the　folded　sheet　of　paper　which　he　at　once　produced。

〃I　have　taken　the　liberty；〃　Mr。　Sabin　remarked；　on　his　part；　〃of
adding　a　trifle　to　the　amount　we　first　spoke　of；　which　I　beg　you
will　accept　from　me　as　a　mark　of　my　gratitude　for　your　promptness。〃

〃Sure！〃　Mr。　Skinner　answered　tersely；　receiving　the　little　roll　of
bills　without　hesitation；　and　retreating　into　a　quiet　corner；　where
he　carefully　counted　and　examined　every　one。　　〃That's　all　right！〃
he　announced　at　the　conclusion　of　his　task。　　〃Come　and　have　one
with　me　now　before　you　read　your　little　billet…doux；　eh？〃

〃I　shall　not　read　your　report　until　after　dinner；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；
〃and　I　think　if　you　are　ready　that　we　might　as　well　go　in。　　At　the
head…waiter's　suggestion　I　have　ordered　a　cocktail　with　the　oysters；
and　if　we　are　much　later　he　seemed　to　fear　that　it　might　affect　the
condition　of　the　…　I　think　it　was　terrapin；　he　said。〃

Mr。　Skinner　stopped　short。　　His　tone　betrayed　emotion。

〃Did　you　say　terrapin；　sir？〃

Mr。　Sabin　nodded。　　Mr。　Skinner　at　once　took　his　arm。

〃Guess　we'll　go　right　in；〃　he　declared。　　〃I　hate　t