the yellow crayon-第35节

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often　out　of　my　sight。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。

〃It　was　perhaps　judicious；〃　he　remarked；　〃though　I　am　afraid　it
proved　of　very　little　profit　to　you。　　And　what　about　the　present
time？〃

〃I　see　no　harm　in　telling　you；　sir；　that　a　general　watch　is　kept
upon　your　movements。　　Duson　was　useful　to　us　。。。　but　now　Duson
is　dead。〃

〃It　is　a　fact；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said　impressively；　〃that　Duson　was　a
genius。　　My　admiration　for　him　continually　increases。〃

〃Duson　made　harmless　reports　to　us　as　we　desired　them；〃　the
detective　said。　　〃I　have　an　idea；　however；　that　if　this　course　had
at　any　time　been　inimical　to　your　interests　that　Duson　would　have
deceived　us。〃

〃I　am　convinced　of　it；〃　Mr。　Sabin　declared。

〃And　Duson　is　dead！〃

Mr。　Sabin　nodded　gravely。

The　little　hard…visaged　man　looked　steadily　for　a　moment　upon　the
carpet。

〃Duson　died　virtually　whilst　accepting　pay　from　if　not　actually
in　the　employ　of　our　Secret　Service　Department。　　You　will
understand；　therefore；　that　we；　knowing　of　this　complication　in
his　life；　naturally　incline　towards　the　theory　of　murder。　　Shall
I　be　taking　a　liberty；　sir；　if　I　give　you　an　unprofessional　word
of　warning？〃

Mr。　Sabin　raised　his　eyebrows。

〃By　no　means；〃　he　answered。　　〃But　surely　you　cannot　…　〃

The　man　smiled。

〃No；　sir；〃　he　said　drily。　　〃I　do　not　for　one　moment　suspect　you。
The　man　was　our　spy　upon　your　movements；　but　I　am　perfectly　aware
that　there　has　been　nothing　worth　reporting；　and　I　also　know　that
you　would　never　run　such　a　risk　for　the　removal　of　so　insignificant
a　person。　　No；　my　warning　comes　to　you　from　a　different　point　of
view。　　It　is；　if　you　will　pardon　my　saying　so；　none　the　less
personal；　but　wholly　friendly。　　The　case　of　Duson　will　be　sifted　to
the　dregs；　but　unless　I　am　greatly　mistaken；　and　I　do　not　see　room
for　the　possibility　of　a　mistake；　I　know　the　truth　already。〃

〃You　will　share　your　knowledge？〃　Mr。　Sabin　asked　quietly。

The　detective　shook　his　head。

〃You　shall　know；〃　he　said；　〃before　the　last　moment。　　But　I　want　to
warn　you　that　when　you　do　now　it　…　it　will　be　a　shock　to　you。〃

Mr。　Sabin　stood　perfectly　still　for　several　moments。　　This　little
man　believed　what　he　was　saying。　　He　was　certainly　deceived。　　Yet
none　the　less　Mr。　Sabin　was　thoughtful。

〃You　do　not　feel　inclined；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃to　give　me　your　entire
confidence。〃

〃Not　at　present；　sir；〃　the　man　answered。　　〃You　would　certainly
intervene；　and　my　case　would　be　spoilt。〃

Mr。　Sabin　glanced　at　the　clock。

〃If　you　care　to　call　on　me　to…morrow；〃　he　said；　〃I　could　perhaps
show　you　something　which　might　change　your　opinion。〃

The　detective　bowed。

〃I　am　always　open；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃to　conviction。　　I　will　come
about　twelve　o'clock。〃

Mr。　Sabin　went　back　to　the　palm　lounge。　　Lucille　and　Reginald
Brott　were　sitting　together　at　a　small　table；　talking　earnestly
to　one　another。　　The　Prince　and　Lady　Carey　had　joined　another
party　who　were　all　talking　together　near　the　entrance。　　The　latter；
directly　she　saw　them　coming；　detached　herself　from　them　and　came
to　him。

〃Your　coffee　is　almost　cold；〃　she　said；　〃but　the　Prince　has　found
some　brandy　of　wonderful　age；　somewhere　in　the　last　century；　I
believe。〃

Mr。　Sabin　glanced　towards　Lucille。　　She　appeared　engrossed　in　her
conversation；　and　had　not　noticed　his　approach。　　Lady　Carey　shrugged。

〃You　have　only　a　few　minutes；〃　she　said；　〃before　that　dreadful
person　comes　and　frowns　us　all　out。　　I　have　kept　you　a　chair。〃

Mr。　Sabin　sat　down。　　Lady　Carey　interposed　herself　between　him　and
the　small　table　at　which　Lucille　was　sitting。

〃Have　they　discovered　anything？〃　she　asked。

〃Nothing！〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。

She　played　with　her　fan　for　a　moment。　　Then　she　looked　him　steadily
in　the　face。

〃My　friend？〃

He　glanced　towards　her。

〃Lady　Carey！〃

〃Why　are　you　so　obstinate？〃　she　exclaimed　in　a　low；　passionate
whisper。　　〃I　want　to　be　your　friend；　and　I　could　be　very　useful　to
you。　　Yet　you　keep　me　always　at　arm's　length。　　You　are　making　a
mistake。　　Indeed　you　are。　　I　suppose　you　do　not　trust　me。　　Yet
reflect　Have　I　ever　told　you　anything　that　was　not　true？　　Have　I
ever　tried　to　deceive　you？　　I　don't　pretend　to　be　a　paragon　of　the
virtues。　　I　live　my　life　to　please　myself。　　I　admit　it。　　Why　not？
It　is　simply　applying　the　same　sort　of　philosophy　to　my　life　as
you　have　applied　to　yours。　　My　enemies　can　find　plenty　to　say　about
me　…　but　never　that　I　have　been　false　to　a　friend。　　Why　do　you　keep
me　always　at　arm's　length；　as　though　I　were　one　of　those　who　wished
you　evil？〃

〃Lady　Carey；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃I　will　not　affect　to　misunderstand
you；　and　I　am　flattered　that　you　should　consider　my　good　will　of
any　importance。　　But　you　are　the　friend　of　the　Prince　of　Saxe
Leinitzer。　　You　are　one　of　those　even　now　who　are　working　actively
against　me。　　I　am　not　blaming　you；　but　we　are　on　opposite　sides。〃

Lady　Carey　looked　for　a　moment　across　at　the　Prince；　and　her　eyes
were　full　of　venom。

〃If　you　knew；〃　she　murmured；　〃how　I　loathe　that　man。　　Friends！　　That
is　all　long　since　past。　　Nothing　would　give　me　so　much　pleasure　as
never　to　see　his　face　again。〃

〃Nevertheless；〃　Mr。　Sabin　reminded　her；　〃whatever　your　private
feelings　may　be；　he　has　claims　upon　you　which　you　cannot　resist。〃

〃There　is　one　thing　in　the　world；〃　she　said　in　a　low　tone；　〃for
which　I　would　risk　even　the　abnegation　of　those　claims。〃

〃You　would　perjure　your　honour？〃

〃Yes　…　if　it　came　to　that。〃

Mr。　Sabin　moved　uneasily　in　his　chair。　　The　woman　was　in　earnest。
She　offered　him　an　invaluable　alliance；　she　could　show　him　the　way
to　hold　his　own　against　even　the　inimical　combination　by　which　he
was　surrounded。　　If　only　he　could　compromise。　　But　her　eyes　were
seeking　his　eagerly；　even　fiercely。

〃You　doubt　me　still；〃　she　whispered。　　〃And　I　thought　that　you　had
genius。　　Listen；　I　will　prove　myself。　　The　Prince　has　one　of　his
foolish　passions　for　Lucille。　　You　know　that。　　So　far　she　has　shown
herself　able　to　resist　his　fascinations。　　He　is　trying　other　means。
Lucille　is　in　danger！　　Duson　！　　…　but　after　all；　I　was　never　really
in　danger；　except　the　time　when　I　carried　the　despatches　for　the
colonel　and　rode　straight　into　a　Boer　ambush。〃

Mr。　Sabin　saw　nothing；　hut　he　did　not　move　a　muscle　of　his　face。　　A
moment　later　they　heard　the　Prince's　voice　from　behind　them。

〃I　am　very　sorry；〃　he　said；　〃to　interrupt　these　interesting
reminiscences；　but　you　see　that　every　one　is　going。　　Lucille　is
already　in　the　cloak…room。〃

Lady　Carey　rose　at　once；　but　the　glance　she　threw　at　the　Prince　was
a　singularly　malicious　one。　　They　walked　down　the　carpeted　way
together；　and　Lady　Carey　left　them　without　a　word。　　In　the　vestibule
Mr。　Sabin　and　Reginald　Brott　came　face　to　face。


CHAPTER　XXXIII

The　greeting　between　the　two　men　was　cold；　and　the　Prince　almost
immediately　stepped　between　them。　　Nevertheless；　Brott　seemed
to　have　a　fancy　to　talk　with　Mr。　Sabin。

〃I　was　at　Camperdown　House　yesterday；〃　he　remarked。　　〃Her　Ladyship
was　regretting　that　she　saw　you　so　seldom。〃

〃I　have　been　a　little　remiss；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃I　hope　to　lunch
there　to…morrow。〃

〃You　have　seen　the　evening　paper；　Brott？〃　the　Prince　asked。

〃I　saw　the　early　editions；〃　Brott　answered。　　〃Is　there　anything
fresh？〃

The　Prince　dropped　his　voice　a　little。　　He　drew　Brott　on　one　side。

〃The　Westminster　declared　that　you　had　left　for　Windsor　by　an　early
train　this　afternoon；　and　gives　a　list　of　your　Cabinet。　　The　Pall
Mall；　on　the　other　hand；　declares　that　Letheringham　will　assuredly
be　sent　for　to…morrow。〃

Brott　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃There　are　bound　to　be　a　crop　of　such　reports　at　a　time　like　this；〃
he　remarked。

The　Prince　dropped　his　voice　almost　to　a　whisper。

〃Brott；〃　he　said；　〃there　is　something　which　I　have　had　it　in　my
mind　to　say　to　you　for　the　last　few　days。　　I　am　not　perhaps　a　great
politician；　but；　like　many　outsiders；　I　see　perhaps　a　good　deal　of
the　game。　　I　know　fairly　well　what　the　feeling　is　in　Vienna　and
Berlin。　　I　can　give　you　a　word　of　advice。〃

〃You　are　very　kind；　Prince；〃　Brott　remarked；　looking　uneasily　over
his　shoulder。　　〃But　…　〃

〃It　is　concerning　Brand。　　There　is　no　man　more　despised　and　disliked
abroad；　not　only　because　he　is　a　Jew　and　ill…bred；　but　because　of
his　known　sympathy　with　some　of　these　anarchists　who　are　perfect
firebrands　in　Europe。〃

〃I　am　exceedingly　obliged　to　you；〃　Brott　answered　hurriedly。　　〃I　am
afraid；　however；　that　you　anticipate　matters　a　good　deal。　　I　have
not　yet　been　asked　to　form　a　Cabinet。　　It　is　doubtful　whether　I　ever
shall。　　And；　beyond　that；　it　is　also　doubtful　whether　even　if　I　am
asked　I　shall　accept。〃

〃I　must　confess；〃　the　Prince　said；　〃that　you　puzzle　me。　　Every　one
says　that　the　Premiership　of　the　country　is　within　your　reach。　　It
is　surely　the　Mecca　of　all　politicians。〃

〃There　are　complications；〃　Brott　muttered。　　〃You　…　〃

He　stopped　short　and　moved　towards　the　door。　　Lucille；　unusually
pale　and　grave；　had　just　issued　from　the　ladies'　ante…room；　and
joined　Lady　Carey；　who　was　talking　to　Mr。　Sabin。　　She　touched　the
latter　lightly　on　the　arm。

〃Help　us　to　escape；〃　she　said　quickly。　　〃I　am　weary　of　my　task。
Can　we　get