the yellow crayon-第36节

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latter　lightly　on　the　arm。

〃Help　us　to　escape；〃　she　said　quickly。　　〃I　am　weary　of　my　task。
Can　we　get　away　without　their　seeing　us？〃

Mr。　Sabin　offered　his　arm。　　They　passed　along　the　broad　way；　and
as　they　were　almost　the　last　to　leave　the　place；　their　carriage
was　easily　found。　　The　Prince　and　Mr。　Brott　appeared　only　in　time
to　see　Mr。　Sabin　turning　away；　hat　in　hand；　from　the　curb…stone。
Brott's　face　darkened。

〃Prince；〃　he　said；　〃who　is　that　man？〃

The　Prince　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃A　man；〃　he　said；　〃who　has　more　than　once　nearly　ruined　your
country。　　His　life　has　been　a　splendid　failure。　　He　would　have
given　India　to　the　Russians；　but　they　mistrusted　him　and　trifled
away　their　chance。　　Once　since　then　he　nearly　sold　this　country
to　Germany；　it　was　a　trifle　only　which　intervened。　　He　has　been
all　his　life　devoted　to　one　cause。〃

〃And　that？〃　Brott　asked。

〃The　restoration　of　the　monarchy　to　France。　　He；　as　you　of　course
know；　is　the　Duc　de　Souspennier；　the　sole　living　member　in　the
direct　line　of　one　of　the　most　ancient　and　historical　houses　in
England。　　My　friend；〃　he　added；　turning　to　Mr。　Sabin；　〃you　have
stolen　a　march　upon　us。　　We　had　not　even　an　opportunity　of　making
our　adieux　to　the　ladies。〃

〃I　imagine；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered；　〃that　the　cause　of　quarrel　may
rest　with　them。　　You　were　nowhere　in　sight　when　they　came　out。〃

〃These　fascinating　politics；〃　the　Prince　remarked。　　〃We　all　want
to　talk　politics　to　Mr。　Brott　just　now。〃

〃I　will　wish　you　good…night；　gentlemen；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　and　passed
into　the　hotel。

The　Prince　touched　Brott　on　the　arm。

〃Will　you　come　round　to　the　club；　and　take　a　hand　at　bridge？〃　he　said。

Brott　laughed　shortly。

〃I　imagine；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　should　be　an　embarrassing　guest　to
you　just　now　at；　say　the　Mallborough；　or　even　at　the　St。　James。
I　believe　the　aristocracy　are　looking　forward　to　the　possibility　of
my　coming　into　power　with　something　like　terror。〃

〃I　am　not　thoroughly　versed；　in　the　politics　of　this　country；〃　the
Prince　said；　〃but　I　have　always　understood　that　your　views　were
very　much　advanced。　　Dorset　solemnly　believes　that　you　are　pledged
to　exterminate　the　large　landed　proprietors；　and　I　do　not　think　he
would　be　surprised　to　hear　that　you　had　a　guillotine　up　your　sleeve。〃

The　two　men　were　strolling　along　Pall　Mall。　　The　Prince　had　lit　a
large　cigar；　and　was　apparently　on　the　best　of　terms　with　himself
and　the　world　in　general。　　Brott；　on　the　contrary；　was　most　unlike
himself；　preoccupied；　and　apparently　ill　at　ease。

〃The　Duke　and　his　class　are；　of　course；　my　natural　opponents；〃　Brott
said　shortly。　　〃By　the　bye；　Prince；〃　he　added；　suddenly　turning
towards　him；　and　with　a　complete　change　of　tone；　〃it　is　within　your
power　to　do　me　a　favour。〃

〃You　have　only　to　command；〃　the　Prince　assured　him　good…naturedly。

〃My　rooms　are　close　here；〃　Brott　continued。　　〃Will　you　accompany
me　there；　and　grant　me　the　favour　of　a　few　minutes'　conversation？〃

〃Assuredly！〃　the　Prince　answered；　flicking　the　end　off　his　cigar。
〃It　will　be　a　pleasure。〃

They　walked　on　towards　their　destination　in　silence。　　Brott's
secretary　was　in　the　library　with　a　huge　pile　of　letters　and
telegrams　before　him。　　He　welcomed　Brott　with　relief。

〃We　have　been　sending　all　over　London　for　you；　sir；〃　he　said。

Brott　nodded。

〃I　am　better　out　of　the　way　for　the　present；〃　he　answered。　　〃Deny
me　to　everybody　for　an　hour；　especially　Letheringham。　　There　is
nothing　here；　I　suppose；　which　cannot　wait　so　long　as　that？〃

The　secretary　looked　a　little　doubtful。

〃I　think　not；　sir；〃　he　decided。

〃Very　good。　　Go　and　get　something　to　eat。　　You　look　fagged。　　And
tell　Hyson　to　bring　up　some　liqueurs；　will　you！　　I　shall　be　engaged
for　a　short　time。〃

The　secretary　withdrew。　　A　servant　appeared　with　a　little　tray　of
liqueurs；　and　in　obedience　to　an　impatient　gesture　from　his　master；
left　them　upon　the　table。　　Brott　closed　the　door　firmly。

〃Prince；〃　he　said；　resuming　his　seat；　〃I　wished　to　speak　with　you
concerning　the　Countess。〃

Saxe　Leinitzer　nodded。

〃All　right；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　listening！〃

〃I　understand；〃　Brott　continued；　〃that　you　are　one　of　her　oldest
friends；　and　also　one　of　the　trustees　of　her　estates。　　I　presume
that　you　stand　to　her　therefore　to　some　extent　in　the　position　of
an　adviser？〃

〃It　is　perfectly　true；〃　the　Prince　admitted。

〃I；　too；　am　an　old　friend；　as　she　has　doubtless　told　you；〃　Brott
said。　　〃All　my　life　she　has　been　the　one　woman　whom　I　have　desired
to　call　my　wife。　　That　desire　has　never　been　so　strong　as　at　the
present　moment。〃

The　Prince　removed　his　cigar　from　his　mouth　and　looked　grave。

〃But；　my　dear　Brott；〃　he　said；　〃have　you　considered　the　enormous
gulf　between　your　…　views？　　The　Countess　owns　great　hereditary
estates；　she　comes　from　a　family　which　is　almost　Royal；　she　herself
is　an　aristocrat　to　the　backbone。　　It　is　a　class　against　which　you
have　declared　war。　　How　can　you　possibly　come　together　on　common
ground？〃

Brott　was　silent　for　a　moment。　　Looking　at　him　steadily　the　Prince
was　surprised　at　the　change　in　the　man's　appearance。　　His　cheeks
seemed　blanched　and　his　skin　drawn。　　He　had　lost　flesh；　his　eyes
were　hollow；　and　he　frequently　betrayed　in　small　mannerisms　a
nervousness　wholly　new　and　unfamiliar　to　him。

〃You　speak　as　a　man　of　sense；　Prince；〃　he　said　after　a　while。　　〃You
are　absolutely　correct。　　This　matter　has　caused　me　a　great　deal　of
anxious　thought。　　To　falter　at　this　moment　is　to　lose；　politically；
all　that　I　have　worked　for　all　my　life。　　It　is　to　lose　the　confidence
of　the　people　who　have　trusted　me。　　It　is　a　betrayal；　the　thought　of
which　is　a　constant　shame　to　me。　　But；　on　the　other　hand；　Lucille
is　the　dearest　thing　to　me　in　life。〃

The　Prince's　expression　was　wholly　sympathetic。　　The　derision　which
lurked　behind　he　kept　wholly　concealed。　　A　strong　man　so　abjectly
in　the　toils；　and　he　to　be　chosen　for　his　confidant！　　It　was
melodrama　with　a　dash　of　humour。

〃If　I　am　to　help　you；〃　the　Prince　said；　〃I　must　know　everything。
Have　you　made　any　proposals　to　Lucille？　　In　plain　words；　how　much
of　your　political　future　are　you　disposed　to　sacrifice？〃

〃All！〃　Brott　said　hoarsely。　　〃All　for　a　certainty　of　her。　　Not
one　jot　without。〃

〃And　she？〃

Brott　sprang　to　his　feet；　white　and　nervous。

〃It　is　where　I　am　at　fault；〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃It　is　why　I　have　asked
for　your　advice；　your　help　perhaps。　　I　do　not　find　it　easy　to
understand　Lucille。　　Perhaps　it　is　because　I　am　not　well　versed　in
the　ways　of　her　sex。　　I　find　her　elusive。　　She　will　give　me　no
promise。　　Before　I　went　to　Glasgow　I　talked　with　her。　　If　she
would　have　married　me　then　my　political　career　was　over　…　thrown　on
one　side　like　an　old　garment。　　But　she　would　give　me　no　promise。
In　everything　save　the　spoken　words　I　crave　she　has　promised　me　her
love。　　Again　there　comes　a　climax。　　In　a　few　hours　I　must　make　my
final　choice。　　I　must　decline　to　join　Letheringham；　in　which　case
the　King　must　send　for　me；　or　accept　office　with　him；　and　throw　away
the　one　great　chance　of　this　generation。　　Letheringham's　Cabinet；
of　course；　would　be　a　moderate　Liberal　one；　a　paragon　of　milk　and
water　in　effectiveness。　　If　I　go　in　alone　we　make　history。　　The
moment　of　issue　has　come。　　And；　Prince；　although　I　have　pleaded
with　all　the　force　and　all　the　earnestness　I　know；　Lucille　remains
elusive。　　If　I　choose　for　her　side　…　she　promises　me　…　reward。　　But
it　is　vague　to　me。　　I　don't；　I　can't　understand！　　I　want　her　for　my
wife；　I　want　her　for　the　rest　of　my　life　…　nothing　else。　　Tell　me；
is　there　any　barrier　to　this？　　There　are　no　complications　in　her
life　which　I　do　not　know　of？　　I　want　your　assurance。　　I　want　her
promise。　　You　understand　me？〃

〃Yes；　I　understand　you；〃　the　Prince　said　gravely。　　〃I　understand
more　than　you　do。　　I　understand　Lucille's　position。〃

Brott　leaned　forward　with　bright　eyes。

〃Ah！〃


〃Lucille；　the　Countess　of　Radantz；　is　at　the　present　moment　a
married　woman。〃

Brott　was　speechless。　　His　face　was　like　a　carved　stone　image；
from　which　the　life　had　wholly　gone。

〃Her　husband　…　in　name　only；　let　me　tell　you；　is　the　Mr。　Sabin
with　whom　we　had　supper　this　evening。〃

〃Great　God！〃

〃Their　marriage　had　strange　features　in　it　which　are　not　my　concern；
or　even　yours；〃　the　Prince　said　deliberately。　　〃The　truth　is；　that
they　have　not　lived　together　for　years；　they　never　will　again；　for
their　divorce　proceedings　would　long　ago　have　been　concluded　but
for　the　complications　arising　from　the　difference　between　the
Hungarian　and　the　American　laws。　　Here；　without　doubt；　is　the　reason
why　the　Countess　has　hesitated　to　pledge　her　word　directly。〃

〃It　is　wonderful；〃　Brott　said　slowly。　　〃But　it　explains　everything。〃

There　was　a　loud　knock　at　the　door。　　The　secretary　appeared　upon
the　threshold。　　Behind　him　was　a　tall；　slim　young　man　in　traveling
costume。

〃The　King's　messenger！〃　Brott　exclaimed；　rising　to　his　feet。


CHAPTER　XXXIV

The　Prince　presented　himself　with　a　low　bow。　　Lucille　had　a　copy
of　the　morning　paper　in　her　hand。

〃I　congratulate　you；　Countess；〃　he　said。　　〃You　progress　admirably。
It　is　a　great　step　gained。〃

Lucille；　who　was　lookin