the yellow crayon-第34节

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〃It　would　be　easier；〃　she　answered；　〃than　to　touch　your　heart。〃

Then　Lucille　looked　across　at　them　…　and　Mr。　Sabin　suddenly
remembered　that　Reginald　Brott　knew　them　both　only　as　strangers。

〃Muriel；〃　she　said；　〃you　are　behaving　disgracefully。〃

〃I　am　doing　my　best；〃　Lady　Carey　answered；　〃to　keep　you　in
countenance。〃

The　eyes　of　the　two　women　met　for　a　moment；　and　though　the　smiles
lingered　still　upon　their　faces　Lady　Carey　at　any　rate　was　not　able
to　wholly　conceal　her　hatred。　　Lucille　shrugged　her　shoulders。

〃I　am　doing　my　best；〃　she　said；　〃to　convert　Mr。　Brott。〃

〃To　what？〃　Lady　Carey　asked。

〃To　a　sane　point　of　view　concerning　the　holiness　of　the　aristocracy；〃
Lucille　answered。　　〃I　am　afraid　though　that　I　have　made　very　little
impression。　　In　his　heart　I　believe　Mr。　Brott　would　like　to　see　us
all　working　for　our　living；　school…teachers　and　dressmakers；　and
that　sort　of　thing；　you　know。〃

Mr。　Brott　protested。

〃I　am　not　even；〃　he　declared；　〃moderately　advanced　in　my　views　as
regards　matters　of　your　sex。　　To　tell　you　the　truth；　I　do　not　like
women　to　work　at　all　outside　their　homes。〃

Lady　Carey　laughed。

〃My　dear；〃　she　said　to　Lucille；　〃you　and　I　may　as　well　retire　in
despair。　　Can't　you　see　the　sort　of　woman　Mr。　Brott　admires？　　She
isn't　like　us　a　bit。　　She　is　probably　a　healthy；　ruddy…cheeked
young　person　who　lives　in　the　country；　gets　up　to　breakfast　to　pour
out　the　coffee　for　some　sort　of　a　male　relative；　goes　round　the
garden　snipping　off　roses　in　big　gloves　and　a　huge　basket；　interviews
the　cook；　orders　the　dinner；　makes　fancy　waistcoats　for　her　husband；
and　failing　a　sewing　maid；　does　the　mending　for　the　family。　　You
and　I；　Lucille；　are　not　like　that。〃

〃Well；　you　have　mentioned　nothing　which　I　couldn't　do；　if　it　seemed
worth　while；〃　Lucille　objected。　　〃It　sounds　very　primitive　and
delightful。　　I　am　sure　we　are　all　too　luxurious　and　too　lazy。　　I
think　we　ought　to　turn　over　a　new　leaf。〃

〃For　you；　dear　Lucille；〃　Lady　Carey　said　with　suave　and　deadly
satire；　〃what　improvement　is　possible？　　You　have　all　that　you　could
desire。　　It　is　much　less　fortunate　persons；　such　as　myself；　to　whom
Utopia　must　seem　such　a　delightful　place。〃

A　frock…coated　and　altogether　immaculate　young　man　approached　their
table　and　accosted　Mr。　Sabin。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃but　the　manager　would　be　much
obliged　if　you　would　spare　him　a　moment　or　two　in　his　private　room
as　soon　as　possible。〃

Mr。　Sabin　nodded。

〃In　a　few　minutes；〃　he　answered。

The　little　party　broke　up　almost　immediately。　　Coffee　was　ordered
in　the　palm　court；　where　the　band　was　playing。　　Mr。　Sabin　and　the
Prince　fell　a　little　behind　the　others　on　the　way　out　of　the　room。

〃You　heard　my　summons？〃　Mr。　Sabin　asked。

〃Yes！〃

〃I　am　going　to　be　cross…examined　as　regards　Duson。　　I　am　no　longer
a　member　of　the　Order。　　What　is　to　prevent　my　setting　them　upon
the　right　track？〃

〃The　fact；〃　the　Prince　said　coolly；　〃that　you　are　hoping　one　day
to　recover　Lucille。〃

〃I　doubt；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃whether　you　are　strong　enough　to　keep
her　from　me。〃

The　Prince　smiled。　　All　his　white　teeth　were　showing。

〃Come；〃　he　said；　〃you　know　better　than　…　much　better　than　that。
Lucille　must　wait　her　release。　　You　know　that。〃

〃I　will　buy　it；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃with　a　lie　to　the　manager　here；
or　I　will　tell　the　truth　and　still　take　her　from　you。〃

The　Prince　stood　upon　the　topmost　step　of　the　balcony。　　Below　was
the　palm　court；　with　many　little　groups　of　people　dotted　about。

〃My　dear　friend；〃　he　said；　〃Duson　died　absolutely　of　his　own　free
will。　　You　know　that　quite　well。　　We　should　have　preferred　that　the
matter　had　been　otherwise　arranged。　　But　as　it　is　we　are　safe；
absolutely　safe。〃

〃Duson's　letter！〃　Mr。　Sabin　remarked。

〃You　will　not　show　it；〃　the　Prince　answered。　　〃You　cannot。　　You
have　kept　it　too　long。　　And；　after　all；　you　cannot　escape　from　the
main　fact。　　Duson　committed　suicide。〃

〃He　was　incited　to　murder。　　His　letter　proves　it。〃

The　Prince　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃By　whom？　　Ah；　how　your　story　would　excite　ridicule。　　I　seem　to
hear　the　laughter　now。　　No；　my　dear　Souspennier；　you　would　bargain
for　me　with　Lucille。　　Look　below。　　Are　we　likely　to　part　with　her
just　yet？〃

In　a　corner；　behind　a　gigantic　palm；　Lucille　and　Brott　were　talking
together。　　Lady　Carey　had　drawn　Opperman　a　little　distance　away。
Brott　was　talking　eagerly；　his　cheeks　flushed；　his　manner　earnest。
Mr。　Sabin　turned　upon　his　heel　and　walked　away。


CHAPTER　XXXII

Mr。　Sabin；　although　he　had　registered　at　the　hotel　under　his
accustomed　pseudonym；　had　taken　no　pains　to　conceal　his　identity；
and　was　well　known　to　the　people　in　authority　about　the　place。　　He
was　received　with　all　the　respect　due　to　his　rank。

〃Your　Grace　will；　I　trust；　accept　my　most　sincere　apologies　for
disturbing　you；〃　Mr。　Hertz；　the　manager；　said；　rising　and　bowing　at
his　entrance。　　〃We　have　here；　however；　an　emissary　connected　with
the　police　come　to　inquire　into　the　sad　incident　of　this　afternoon。
He　expressed　a　wish　to　ask　your　Grace　a　question　or　two　with　a　view
to　rendering　your　Grace's　attendance　at　the　inquest　unnecessary。〃

Mr。　Sabin　nodded。

〃I　am　perfectly　willing；〃　he　said；　〃to　answer　any　questions　you　may
choose　to　put　to　me。〃

A　plain；　hard…featured　little　man；　in　a　long　black　overcoat；　and
holding　a　howler　hat　in　his　hand；　bowed　respectfully　to　Mr。　Sabin。

〃I　am　much　obliged　to　you；　sir；〃　he　said。　　〃My　name　is　John　Passmore。
We　do　not　of　course　appear　in　this　matter　unless　the　post…mortem
should　indicate　anything　unusual　in　the　circumstances　of　Duson's
death；　but　it　is　always　well　to　be　prepared；　and　I　ventured　to　ask
Mr。　Hertz　here　to　procure　for　me　your　opinion　as　regards　the　death
of　your　servant。〃

〃You　have　asked　me；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said　gravely；　〃a　very　difficult
question。〃

The　eyes　of　the　little　detective　flashed　keenly。

〃You　do　not　believe　then；　sir；　that　he　died　a　natural　death？〃

〃I　do　not；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。

Mr。　Hertz　was　startled。　　The　detective　controlled　his　features
admirably。

〃May　I　ask　your　reasons；　sir？〃

Mr。　Sabin　lightly　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃I　have　never　known　the　man　to　have　a　day's　illness　in　his　life；〃
he　said。　　〃Further；　since　his　arrival　in　England　he　has　been
acting　in　a　strange　and　furtive　manner；　and　I　gathered　that　he　had
some　cause　for　fear　which　he　was　indisposed　to　talk　about。〃

〃This；〃　the　detective　said；　〃is　very　interesting。〃

〃Doubtless；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃But　before　I　say　anything　more
I　must　clearly　understand　my　position。　　I　am　giving　you　personally
a　few　friendly　hints；　in　the　interests　of　justice　perhaps；　but　still
quite　informally。　　I　am　not　in　possession　of　any　definite　facts
concerning　Duson；　and　what　I　say　to　you　here　I　am　not　prepared　to
say　at　the　inquest；　before　which　I　presume　I　may　have　to　appear　as
a　witness。　　There；　I　shall　do　nothing　more　save　identify　Duson　and
state　the　circumstances　under　which　I　found　him。〃

〃I　understand　that　perfectly；　sir；〃　the　man　answered。　　〃The　less
said　at　the　inquest　the　better　in　the　interests　of　justice。〃

Mr。　Sabin　nodded。

〃I　am　glad；〃　he　said；　〃that　you　appreciate　that。　　I　do　not　mind　going
so　far　then　as　to　tell　you　that　I　believe　Duson　died　of　poison。〃

〃Can　you　give　me　any　idea；〃　the　detective　asked；　〃as　to　the　source？〃

〃None；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃That　you　must　discover　for　yourselves。
Duson　was　a　man　of　silent　and　secretive　habits；　and　it　has　occurred
to　me　more　than　once　that　he　might　possibly　be　a　member　of　one　of
those　foreign　societies　who　have　their　headquarters　in　Soho；　and
concerning　which　you　probably　know　more　than　I　do。〃

The　detective　smiled。　　It　was　a　very　slight　flicker　of　the　lips；
but　it　attracted　Mr。　Sabin's　keen　attention。

〃Your　suggestions；〃　the　detective　said；　〃are　making　this　case　a　very　interesting　one。　　I　have
always　understood；　however；　that　reprisals
of　this　extreme　nature　are　seldom　resorted　to　in　this　country。
Besides；　the　man's　position　seems　scarcely　to　indicate　sufficient
importance　…　perhaps　…　〃

〃Well？〃　Mr。　Sabin　interjected。

〃I　notice　that　Duson　was　found　in　your　sitting…room。　　It　occurs　to
me　as　a　possibility　that　he　may　have　met　with　a　fate　intended　for
some　one　else　…　for　yourself；　for　instance；　sir！〃

〃But　I；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said　smoothly；　〃am　a　member　of　no　secret　society；
nor　am　I　conscious　of　having　enemies　sufficiently　venomous　to　desire
my　life。〃

The　detective　sat　for　a　moment　with　immovable　face。

〃We；　all　of　us；　know　our　friends；　sir；〃　he　said。　　〃There　are　few　of
us　properly　acquainted　with　our　enemies。〃

Mr。　Sabin　lit　a　cigarette。　　His　fingers　were　quite　steady；　but　this
man　was　making　him　think。

〃You　do　not　seriously　believe；〃　he　asked；　〃that　Duson　met　with　a
death　which　was　intended　for　me？〃

〃I　am　afraid；〃　the　detective　said　thoughtfully；　〃that　I　know　no
more　about　it　than　you　do。〃

〃I　see；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃that　I　am　no　stranger　to　you。〃

〃You　are　very　far　from　being　that；　sir；〃　the　man　answered。　　〃A
few　years　ago　I　was　working　for　the　Government　…　and　you　were　not
often　out　of　my　sight。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。

〃It　was　perhaps　judicious；〃　he　remarked；　〃though　I　am　afr