the yellow crayon-第45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！


recognise　an　efficient　substitute。〃

It　was　the　Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer　who　was　calmly　seating　himself
opposite　to　her。　　The　waiter；　with　the　discretion　of　his　class；
withdrew　for　a　few　paces　and　stood　awaiting　orders。　　Lucille　looked
across　at　him　in　amazement。

〃You　here？〃　she　exclaimed；　〃and　Muriel　gone？　　What　does　this　mean？〃

The　Prince　leaned　forward。

〃It　means；〃　he　said；　〃that　after　you　left　I　was　in　torment。　　I　felt
that　you　had　no　one　with　you　who　could　be　of　assistance　supposing
the　worst　happened。　　Muriel　is　all　very　well；　but　she　is　a　woman；
and　she　has　no　diplomacy；　no　resource。　　I　felt；　Lucille；　that　I
should　not　be　happy　unless　I　myself　saw　you　into　safety。〃

〃So　you　followed　us　here；〃　Lucille　remarked　quietly。

〃Exactly！　　You　do　not　blame　me。　　It　was　for　your　sake　…　as　well　as
my　own。〃

〃And　Muriel　…　why　has　she　left　me　without　farewell　…　without　warning
of　any　sort？〃

The　Prince　smiled　and　stroked　his　fair　moustache。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　rather　an　awkward　thing　for　me　to　explain；
but　to　tell　you　the　truth；　Muriel　was　a　little　…　more　than　a　little
　…　annoyed　at　my　coming。　　She　has　no　right　to　be；　but　…　well；　you
know；　she　is　what　you　call　a　monopolist。　　She　and　I　have　been
friends　for　many　years。〃

〃I　understand　perfectly　what　you　have　wished　to　convey；〃　Lucille
said。　　〃But　what　I　do　not　understand　are　the　exact　reasons　which
brought　you　here。〃

The　Prince　took　up　the　carte　de　jour。

〃As　we　dine；〃　he　said；　〃I　will　tell　you。　　You　will　permit　me　to
order？〃

Lucille　rose　to　her　feet。

〃For　yourself；　certainly；〃　she　answered。　　〃As　for　me；　I　have
accepted　no　invitation　to　dine　with　you；　nor　do　I　propose　to　do　so。〃

The　Prince　frowned。

〃Be　reasonable；　Lucille；〃　he　pleaded。　　〃I　must　talk　with　you。　　There
are　important　plans　to　be　made。　　I　have　a　great　deal　to　say　to　you。
Sit　down。〃

Lucille　looked　across　at　hi　m　with　a　curious　smile　upon　her　lips。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　
〃You　have　a　good　deal　to　say　to　me？〃　she　remarked。　　〃Yes；　I　will
believe　that。　　But　of　the　truth　how　much；　I　wonder？〃

〃By　and　bye；〃　he　said；　〃you　will　judge　me　differently。　　For　hors
d'oeuvres　what　do　you　say　to　oeufs　de　pluvier？　Then　…　〃

〃Pardon　me；〃　she　interrupted；　〃I　am　not　interested　in　your　dinner！〃　

〃In　our　dinner；〃　he　ventured　gently。

〃I　am　not　dining　with　you；〃　she　declared　firmly。　　〃If　you　insist
upon　remaining　here　I　shall　have　something　served　in　my　room。　　You
know　quite　well　that　we　are　certain　to　be　recognised。　　One　would
imagine　that　this　was　a　deliberate　attempt　on　your　part　to
compromise　me。〃

〃Lucille；〃　he　said；　〃do　not　be　foolish！　　Why　do　you　persist　in
treating　me　as　though　I　were　your　persecutor？〃

〃Because　you　are；〃　she　said　coolly。

〃It　is　ridiculous；〃　he　declared。　　〃You　are　in　the　most　serious
danger；　and　I　have　come　only　to　save　you。　　I　can　do　it；　and　I　will。
But　listen　…　not　unless　you　change　your　demeanour　towards　me。〃

She　laughed　scornfully。　　She　had　risen　to　her　feet　now；　and　he　was
perforce　compelled　to　follow　her　example。

〃Is　that　a　challenge？〃　she　asked。

〃You　may　take　it　as　such　if　you　will；〃　he　answered；　with　a　note　of
sullenness　in　his　tone。　　〃You　know　very　well　that　I　have　but　to
lift　my　finger　and　the　gendarmes　will　be　here。　　Yes；　we　will　call
it　a　challenge。　　All　my　life　I　have　wanted　you。　　Now　I　think　that
my　time　has　come。　　Even　Souspennier　has　deserted　you。　　You　are
alone；　and　let　me　tell　you　that　danger　is　closer　at　your　heels　than
you　know　of。　　I　can　save　you；　and　I　will。　　But　I　have　a　price；　and
it　must　be　paid。〃

〃If　I　refuse？〃　she　asked。

〃I　send　for　the　chief　of　the　police。〃

〃She　looked　him　up　and　down；　a　measured；　merciless　survey。　　He　was
a　tall；　big　man；　but　he　seemed　to　shrink　into　insignificance。

〃You　are　a　coward　and　a　bully；〃　she　said　slowly。　　〃You　know　quite
well　that　I　am　innocent　of　any　knowledge　even　concerning　Duson's
death。　　But　I　would　sooner　meet　my　fate；　whatever　it　might　be；　than
suffer　even　the　touch　of　your　fingers　upon　my　hand。　　Your　presence
is　hateful　to　me。　　Send　for　your　chief　of　the　police。　　String　your
lies　together　as　you　will。　　I　am　satisfied。〃

She　left　him　and　swept　from　the　room；　a　spot　of　colour　burning　in
her　cheeks；　her　eyes　lit　with　fire。　　The　pride　of　her　race　had
asserted　itself。　　She　felt　no　longer　any　fear。　　She　only　desired
to　sever　herself　at　once　and　completely　from　all　association　with
this　man。　　In　the　hall　she　sent　for　her　maid。

〃Fetch　my　cloak　and　jewel　case；　Celeste；〃　she　ordered。　　〃I　am　going
across　to　the　Bristol。　　You　can　return　for　the　other　luggage。〃

〃But；　madam　…　〃

〃Do　as　I　say　at　once；〃　Lucille　ordered。

The　girl　hesitated　and　then　obeyed。　　Lucille　found　herself　suddenly
addressed　in　a　quiet　tone　by　a　man　who　had　been　sitting　in　an
easy…chair；　half　hidden　by　a　palm　tree。

〃Will　you　favour　me；　madam；　with　a　moment's　conversation？〃

Lucille　turned　round。　　She　recognised　at　once　the　man　with　whom　she
had　conversed　upon　the　steamer。　　In　the　quietest　form　of　evening
dress；　there　was　something　noticeable　in　the　man's　very
insignificance。　　He　seemed　a　little　out　of　his　element。　　Lucille
had　a　sudden　inspiration；　The　man　was　a　detective。

〃What　do　you　wish　to　say？〃　she　asked；　half　doubtfully。

〃I　overheard；〃　he　remarked；　〃your　order　to　your　maid。　　She　had
something　to　say　to　you；　but　you　gave　her　no　opportunity。〃

〃And　you？〃　she　asked；　〃what　do　you　wish　to　say？〃

〃I　wish　to　advise　you；〃　he　said；　〃not　to　leave　the　hotel。〃

She　looked　at　him　doubtfully。

〃You　cannot　understand；〃　she　said；　〃why　I　wish　to　leave　it。　　I
have　no　alternative。〃

〃Nevertheless；〃　he　said；　〃I　hope　that　you　will　change　your　mind。〃

〃Are　you　a　detective？〃　she　asked　abruptly。

〃Madam　is　correct！〃　

The　flush　of　colour　faded　from　her　cheeks。

〃I　presume；　then；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　am　under　your　surveillance？〃

〃In　a　sense；〃　he　admitted；　〃it　is　true。〃

〃On　the　steamer；〃　she　remarked；　〃you　spoke　as　though　your　interest
in　me　was　not　inimical。〃

〃Nor　is　it；〃　he　answered　promptly。　　〃You　are　in　a　difficult　position；
but　you　may　find　things　not　so　bad　as　you　imagine。　　At　present　my
advice　to　you　is　this：　Go　upstairs　to　your　room　and　stay　there。〃

The　little　man　had　a　compelling　manner。　　Lucille　made　her　way
towards　the　elevator。

〃As　a　matter　of　fact；〃　she　murmured　bitterly；　〃I　am　not；　I　suppose；
permitted　to　leave　the　hotel？〃

〃Madam　puts　the　matter　bluntly；〃　he　answered；　〃but　certainly　if
you　should　insist　upon　leaving；　it　would　be　my　duty　to　follow　you。〃

She　turned　away　from　him　and　entered　the　elevator。　　The　door　of
her　room　was　slightly　ajar；　and　she　saw　that　a　waiter　was　busy　at
a　small　round　table。　　She　looked　at　him　in　surprise。　　He　was
arranging　places　for　two。

〃Who　gave　you　your　orders？〃　she　asked。

〃But　it　was　monsieur；〃　the　man　answered；　with　a　low　bow。　　〃Dinner
for　two。〃

〃Monsieur？〃　she　repeated。　　〃What　monsieur？〃

〃I　am　the　culprit；〃　a　familiar　voice　answered　from　the　depths　of
an　easy…chair；　whose　back　was　to　her。　　〃I　was　very　hungry；　and　it
occurred　to　me　that　under　the　circumstances　you　would　probably　not
have　dined　either。　　I　hope　that　you　will　like　what　I　have　ordered。
The　plovers'　eggs　look　delicious。〃

She　gave　a　little　cry　of　joy。　　It　was　Mr。　Sabin。


CHAPTER　XLII

The　Prince　dined　carefully；　but　with　less　than　his　usual　appetite。
Afterwards　he　lit　a　cigarette　and　strolled　for　a　moment　into　the
lounge。　　Celeste；　who　was　waiting　for　him；　glided　at　once　to　his
side。

〃Monsieur！〃　　she　whispered。　　〃I　have　been　here　for　one　hour。〃

He　nodded。

〃Well？〃

〃Monsieur　le　Duc　has　arrived。〃

The　Prince　turned　sharply　round。

〃Who？〃

〃Monsieur　le　Duc　de　Souspennier。　　He　calls　himself　no　longer　Mr。
Sabin。〃

A　dull　flush　of　angry　colour　rose　almost　to　his　temples。

〃Why　did　you　not　tell　me　before？〃　he　exclaimed。

〃Monsieur　was　in　the　restaurant；〃　she　answered。　　〃It　was　impossible
for　me　to　do　anything　but　wait。〃

〃Where　is　he？〃

〃Alas！　　he　is　with　madam；〃　the　girl　answered。

The　Prince　was　very　profane。　　He　started　at　once　for　the　elevator。
In　a　moment　or　two　he　presented　himself　at　Lucille's　sitting…room。
They　were　still　lingering　over　their　dinner。　　Mr。　Sabin　welcomed
him　with　grave　courtesy。

〃The　Prince　is　in　time　to　take　his　liqueur　with　us；〃　he　remarked；
rising。　　〃Will　you　take　fin　champagne；　Prince；　or　Chartreuse？　　I
recommend　the　fin　champagne。〃

The　Prince　bowed　his　thanks。　　He　was　white　to　the　lips　with　the
effort　for　self…mastery。

〃I　congratulate　you；　Mr。　Sabin；〃　he　said；　〃upon　your　opportune
arrival。　　You　will　be　able　to　help　Lucille　through　the　annoyance
to　which　I　deeply　regret　that　she　should　be　subjected。〃

Mr。　Sabin　gently　raised　his　eyebrows。

〃Annoyance！〃　　he　repeated。　　〃I　fear　that　I　do　not　quite　understand。〃

The　Prince　smiled。

〃Surely　Lucille　has　told　you；〃　he　said；　〃of　the　perilous　position
in　which　she　finds　herself。〃

〃My　wife；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃has　told　me　nothing。　　You　alarm　me。〃

The　Prince　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃I　deeply　regret　to　tell　you；〃　he　said；　〃that　the　law　has　proved
too　powerful　for　me。　　I　can　no　longer　stand　between　her　and　what
I　fear　may　prove　a　most　unpleasant　episode。　　Lucille　will　be
arreste