the yellow crayon-第37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！



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

Lucille；　who　was　looking　pale　and　nervous；　regarded　him　with　anxiety。

〃A　step！　　But　it　is　everything。　　If　these　rumours　are　true；　he
refuses　the　attempt　to　form　a　Cabinet。　　He　takes　a　subordinate
position　under　Letheringham。　　Every　paper　this　morning　says　that　if
this　is　so　his　political　career　is　over。　　It　is　true；　is　it　not？〃

〃It　is　a　great　gain；〃　the　Prince　said　slowly。

〃But　it　is　everything；〃　Lucille　declared；　with　a　rising　note　of
passion　in　her　tone。　　〃It　was　my　task。　　It　is　accomplished。　　I
demand　my　release。〃

The　Prince　was　silent　for　a　moment。

〃You　are　in　a　great　hurry；　Lucille；〃　he　said。

〃What　if　I　am！〃　she　replied　fiercely。　　〃Do　you　suppose　that　this
life　of　lies　and　deceit　is　pleasant　to　me？　　Do　you　suppose　that　it
is　a　pleasant　task　to　lure　a　brave　man　on　to　his　ruin？〃

The　Prince　raised　his　eyebrows。

〃Come；〃　he　said；　〃you　can　have　no　sympathy　with　Reginald　Brott；　the
sworn　enemy　of　our　class；　a　Socialist；　a　demagogue　who　would　parcel
out　our　lands　in　allotments；　a　man　who　has　pledged　himself　to　nothing
more　nor　less　than　a　revolution。〃

〃The　man's　views　are　hateful　enough；〃　she　answered；　〃but　he　is　in
earnest；　and　however　misguided　he　may　be　there　is　something　noble　in
his　unselfishness；　in　his；　steady　fixedness　of　purpose。〃

The　Prince's　face　indicated　his　contempt。

〃Such　men；〃　he　declared；　〃are　only　fit　to　be　crushed　like　vermin
under　foot。　　In　any　other　country　save　England　we　should　have　dealt
with　him　differently。〃

〃This　is　all　beside　the　question；〃　she　declared；　〃My　task　was　to
prevent　his　becoming　Prime　Minister；　and　I　have　succeeded。〃

The　Prince　gave　vent　to　a　little　gesture　of　dissent。　　〃Your　task；〃
he　said；　〃went　a　little　farther　than　that。　　We　require　his　political
ruin。〃

She　pointed　to　the　pile　of　newspapers　upon　the　table。

〃Read　what　they　say！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃There　is　not　one　who　does
not　use　that　precise　term。　　He　has　missed　his　opportunity。　　The
people　will　never　trust　him　again。〃

〃That；　at　any　rate；　is　not　certain；〃　the　Prince　said。　　〃You　must
remember　that　before　long　he　will　realise　that　he　has　been　your
tool。　　What　then？　　He　will　become　more　rabid　than　ever；　more　also
to　be　feared。　　No；　Lucille；　your　task　is　not　yet　over。　　He　must　be
involved　in　an　open　and　public　scandal；　and　with　you。〃

She　was　white　almost　to　the　lips　with　passion。

〃You　expect　a　great　deal！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃You　expect　me　to　ruin
my　life；　then；　to　give　my　honour　as　well　as　these　weary　months；
this　constant　humiliation。〃

〃You　are　pleased　to　be　melodramatic；〃　he　said　coldly。　　〃It　is　quite
possible　to　involve　him　without　actually　going　to　extremes。〃

〃And　what　of　my　husband？〃　she　asked。

'The　Prince　laughed　unpleasantly。

〃If　you　have　not　taught　him　complaisance；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　possible；
of　course；　that　Mr。　Sabin　might　be　unkind。　　But　what　of　it？　　You
are　your　own　mistress。　　You　are　a　woman　of　the　world。　　Without　him
there　is　an　infinitely　greater　future　before　you　than　as　his　wife
you　could　ever　enjoy。〃

〃You　are　pleased；〃　she　said；　〃to　be　enigmatic。〃

The　Prince　looked　hard　at　her。　　Her　face　was　white　and　set。　　He
sighed。

〃Lucille；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　been　very　patient　for　many　years。　　Yet
you　know　very　well　my　secret；　and　in　your　heart　you　know　very　well
that　I　am　one　of　those　who　generally　win　the　thing　upon　which　they
have　set　their　hearts。　　I　have　always　loved　you；　Lucille；　but
nevermore　than　now。　　Fidelity　is　admirable；　but　surely　you　have　done
your　duty。　　He　is　an　old　man；　and　a　man　who　has　failed　in　the　great
things　of　life。　　I；　on　the　other　hand；　can　offer　you　a　great　future。
Saxe　Leinitzer；　as　you　know；　is　a　kingdom　of　its　own；　and；　Lucille；
I　stand　well　with　the　Emperor。　　The　Socialist　party　in　Berlin　are
strong　and　increasing。　　He　needs　us。　　Who　can　say　what　honours　may
not　be　in　store　for　us？　　For　I；　too；　am　of　the　Royal　House；　Lucille。
I　am　his　kinsman。　　He　never　forgets　that。　　Come；　throw　aside　this
restlessness。　　I　will　tell　you　how　to　deal　with　Brott；　and　the
publicity；　after　all；　will　be　nothing。　　We　will　go　abroad　directly
afterwards。〃

〃Have　you　finished？〃　she　asked。

〃You　will　be　reasonable！〃　he　begged。

〃Reasonable！〃　She　turned　upon　him　with　flashing　eyes。　　〃I　wonder
how　you　ever　dared　to　imagine　that　I　could　tolerate　you　for　one
moment　as　a　lover　or　a　husband。　　Wipe　it　out　of　your　mind　once　and
for　all。　　You　are　repellent　to　me。　　Positively　the　only　wish　I　have
in　connection　with　you　is　never　to　see　your　face　again。　　As　for　my
duty；　I　have　done　it。　　My　conscience　is　clear。　　I　shall　leave　this
house　to…day。〃

〃I　hope；〃　the　Prince　said　softly；　〃that　you　will　do　nothing　rash！〃

〃In　an　hour；〃　she　said；　〃I　shall　be　at　the　Carlton　with　my　husband。
I　will　trust　to　him　to　protect　me　from　you。〃

The　Prince　shook　his　head。

〃You　talk　rashly；〃　he　said。　　〃You　do　not　think。　　You　are　forbidden
to　leave　this　house。　　You　are　forbidden　to　join　your　husband。〃

She　laughed　scornfully；　but　underneath　was　a　tremor　of　uneasiness。

〃You　summoned　me　from　America；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　came　。。。　I　was
forced　to　leave　my　husband　without　even　a　word　of　farewell。　　I　did
it！　　You　set　me　a　task　…　I　have　accomplished　it。　　I　claim　that　I
have　kept　my　bond；　that　I　have　worked　out　my　own　freedom。　　If　you
require　more　of　me；　I　say　that　you　are　overstepping　your　authority；
and　I　refuse。　　Set　the　black　cross　against　my　name　if　you　will。　　I
will　take　the　risk。〃

The　Prince　came　a　little　nearer　to　her。　　She　held　her　own　bravely
enough；　but　there　was　a　look　in　his　face　which　terrified　her。

〃Lucille；〃　he　said；　〃you　force　me　to　disclose　something　which　I
have　kept　so　far　to　myself。　　I　wished　to　spare　you　anxiety；　but
you　must　understand　that　your　safety　depends　upon　your　remaining
in　this　house；　and　in　keeping　apart　from　all　association　with
　…　your　husband。〃

〃You　will　find　it　difficult；〃　she　said；　〃to　convince　me　of　that。〃

〃On　the　contrary；〃　he　said；　〃I　shall　find　it　easy　…　too　easy；
believe　me。　　You　will　remember　my　finding　you　at　the　wine…shop　of
Emil　Sachs？〃

〃Yes！〃

〃You　refused　to　tell　me　the　object　of　your　visit。　　It　was　foolish；
for　of　course　I　was　informed。　　You　procured　from　Emil　a　small
quantity　of　the　powder　prepared　according　to　the　recipe　of　Herr
Estentrauzen；　and　for　which　we　paid　him　ten　thousand　marks。　　It　is
the　most　silent；　the　most　secret；　the　most　swift　poison　yet
discovered。〃

〃I　got　it　for　myself；〃　she　said　coldly。　　〃There　have　been　times
when　I　have　felt　that　the　possession　of　something　of　that　sort　was
an　absolute　necessity；〃

〃I　do　not　question　you　as　to　the　reason　for　your　getting　it；〃　he
answered。　　〃Very　shortly　afterwards　you　left　your　carriage　in　Pall
Mall；　and　without　even　asking　for　your　husband　you　called　at　his
hotel　…　you　stole　up　into　his　room。〃

〃I　took　some　roses　there　and　left　them；〃　she　said　〃What　of　that？〃

〃Only　that　you　were　the　last　person　seen　to　enter　Mr。　Sabin's　rooms
before　Duson　was　found　there　dead。　　And　Duson　died　from　a　dose　of
that　same　poison；　a　packet　of　which　you　procured　secretly　from　Emil
Sachs。　　An　empty　wineglass　was　by　his　side　…　it　was　one　generally
used　by　Mr。　Sabin。　　I　know　that　the　English　police；　who　are　not　so
foolish　as　people　would　have　one　believe；　are　searching　now　for　the
woman　who　was　seen　to　enter　the　sitting…room　shortly　before　Mr。
Sabin　returned　and　found　Duson　there　dead。〃

She　laughed　scornfully。

〃It　is　ingenious；〃　she　admitted；　〃and　perhaps　a　little　unfortunate
for　me。　　But　the　inference　is　ridiculous。　　What　interest　had　I　in
the　man's　death？〃

〃None；　of　course！〃　the　Prince　said。　　〃But；　Lucille；　in　all　cases
of　poisoning　it　is　the　wife　of　whom　one　first　thinks！〃

〃The　wife？　I　did　not　even　know　that　the　creature　had　a　wife。〃

〃Of　course　not！　　But　Duson　drank　from　Mr。　Sabin's　glass；　and　you
are　Mr。　Sabin's　wife。　　You　are　living　apart　from　him。　　He　is　old
and　you　are　young。　　And　for　the　other　man　…　there　is　Reginald　Brott。
Your　names　have　been　coupled　together；　of　course。　　See　what　an
excellent　case　stands　there。　　You　procure　the　poison　…　secretly。
You　make　your　way　to　your　husband's　room　…　secretly。　　The　fatal
dose　is　taken　from　your　husband's　Wineglass。　　You　leave　no　note；
no　message。　　The　poison　of　which　the　man　died　is　exactly　the　same
as　you　procured　from　Sachs。　　Lucille；　after　all；　do　you　wonder　that
the　police　are　looking　for　a　woman　in　black　with　an　ermine　toque？
What　a　mercy　you　wore　a　thick　veil！〃

She　sat　down　suddenly。

〃This　is　hideous；〃　she　said。

〃Think　it　over；〃　he　said；　〃step　by　step。　　It　is　wonderful　how　all
the　incidents　dovetail　into　one　another。〃

〃Too　wonderful；〃　she　cried。　　〃It　sounds　like　some　vile　plot　to
incriminate　me。　　How　much　had　you　to　do　with　this；　Prince？〃

〃Don't　be　a　fool！〃　he　answered　roughly。　　〃Can't　you　see　for　yourself
that　your　arrest　would　be　the　most　terrible　thing　that　could　happen
for　us？　　Even　Sachs　might　break　down　in　cross…examination；　and　you
　…　well；　you　are　a　woman；　and　you　want　to　live。　　We　should　all　be
in　the　most　deadly　peril。　　Lucille；　I　would　have　spared　you　this
anxiety　if　I　could；　but　your　defiance　made