the yellow crayon-第46节

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too　powerful　for　me。　　I　can　no　longer　stand　between　her　and　what
I　fear　may　prove　a　most　unpleasant　episode。　　Lucille　will　be
arrested　within　the　hour。〃

〃Upon　what　charge？〃　Mr。　Sabin　asked。

〃The　murder　of　Duson。〃

Mr。　Sabin　laughed　very　softly；　very　gently；　but　with　obvious
genuineness。

〃You　are　joking；　Prince；〃　he　exclaimed。

〃I　regret　to　say；〃　the　Prince　answered；　〃that　you　will　find　it　very
far　from　a　joking　matter。〃

Mr。　Sabin　was　suddenly　stern。

〃Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　a　coward　and　a
bully。〃

The　Prince　started　forward　with　clenched　fist。　　Mr。　Sabin　had　no
weapon；　hut　he　did　not　flinch。

〃You　can　frighten　women；〃　he　said；　〃with　a　bogie　such　as　this；　but
you　have　no　longer　a　woman　to　deal　with。　　You　and　I　know　that　such
a　charge　is　absurd　…　but　you　little　know　the　danger　to　which　you
expose　yourself　by　trifling　with　this　subject。　　Duson　left　a　letter
addressed　to　me　in　which　he　announced　his　reasons　for　committing
suicide。〃

〃Suicide？〃

〃Yes。　　He　preferred　suicide　to　murder；　even　at　the　bidding　of　the
Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer。　　He　wrote　and　explained　these　things　to
me　…　and　the　letter　is　in　safe　hands。　　The　arrest　of　Lucille；　my
dear　Prince；　would　mean　the　ruin　of　your　amiable　society。〃

〃This　letter；〃　the　Prince　said　slowly；　〃why　was　it　not　produced　at
the　inquest？　　Where　is　it　now？〃

〃It　is　deposited　in　a　sealed　packet　with　the　Earl　of　Deringham；〃
Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃As　to　producing　it　at　the　inquest　…　I　thought
it　more　discreet　not　to。　　I　leave　you　to　judge　of　my　reasons。　　But
I　can　assure　you　that　your　fears　for　my　wife's　safety　have　been
wholly　misplaced。　　There　is　not　the　slightest　reason　for　her　to
hurry　off　to　America。　　We　may　take　a　little　trip　there　presently；
but　not　just　yet。〃

The　Prince　made　a　mistake。　　He　lost　his　temper。

〃You！〃　　he　cried；　〃you　can　go　to　America　when　you　like；　and　stay
there。　　Europe　has　had　enough　of　you　with　your　hare…brained　schemes
and　foolish　failures。　　But　Lucille　does　not　leave　this　country。　　We
have　need　of　her。　　I　forbid　her　to　leave。　　Do　you　hear？　　In　the　name
of　the　Order　I　command　her　to　remain　here。〃

Mr。　Sabin　was　quite　calm；　but　his　face　was　full　of　terrible　things。

〃Prince；〃　he　said；　〃if　I　by　any　chance　numbered　myself　amongst　your
friends　I　would　warn　you　that　you　yourself　are　a　traitor　to　your
Order。　　You　prostitute　a　great　cause　when　you　stoop　to　use　its
machinery　to　assist　your　own　private　vengeance。　　I　ask　you　for　your
own　sake　to　consider　your　words。　　Lucille　is　mine　…　mine　she　will
remain；　even　though　you　should　descend　to　something　more　despicable；
more　cowardly　than　ordinary　treason；　to　wrest　her　from　me。　　You
reproach　me　with　the　failures　of　my　life。　　Great　they　may　have　been；
but　if　you　attempt　this　you　will　find　that　I　am　not　yet　an　impotent
person。〃

The　Prince　was　white　with　rage。　　The　sight　of　Lucille　standing　by
Mr。　Sabin's　side；　her　hand　lightly　resting　upon　his；　her　dark　eyes
full　of　inscrutable　tenderness；　maddened　him。　　He　was　flouted　and
ignored。　　He　was　carried　away　by　a　storm　of　passion。　　He　tore　a
sheet　of　paper　from　his　pocket　book；　and　unlocking　a　small　gold
case　at　the　end　of　his　watch　chain；　shook　from　it　a　pencil　with
yellow　crayon。　　Mr。　Sabin　leaned　over　towards　him。

〃You　sign　it　at　your　peril；　Prince；〃　he　said。　　〃It　will　mean　worse
things　than　that　for　you。〃

For　a　second　he　hesitated。　　Lucille　also　leaned　towards　him。

〃Prince；〃　she　said；　〃have　I　not　kept　my　vows　faithfully？　　Think！
I　came　from　America　at　a　moment's　notice；　I　left　my　husband　without
even　a　word　of　farewell；　I　entered　upon　a　hateful　task；　and　though
to　think　of　it　now　makes　me　loathe　myself　…　I　succeeded。　　I　have
kept　my　vows；　I　have　done　my　duty。　　Be　generous　now；　and　let　me　go。〃

The　sound　of　her　voice　maddened　him。　　A　passionate；　arbitrary　man；
to　whom　nothing　in　life　had　been　denied；　to　be　baulked　in　this
great　desire　of　his　latter　days　was　intolerable。　　He　made　no　answer
to　either　of　them。　　He　wrote　a　few　lines　with　the　yellow　crayon
and　passed　them　silently　across　to　Lucille。

Her　face　blanched。　　She　stretched　out　an　unwilling　hand。　　But　Mr。
Sabin　intervened。　　He　took　the　paper　from　the　Prince's　hand；　and
calmly　tore　it　into　fragments。　　There　Was　a　moment's　breathless
silence。

〃Victor！〃　　Lucille　cried。　　〃Oh；　what　have　you　done！〃　

The　Prince's　face　lightened　with　an　evil　joy。

〃We　now；　I　think；〃　he　said；　〃understand　one　another。　　You　will
permit　me　to　wish　you　a　very　pleasant　evening；　and　a　speedy
leave…taking。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。

〃Many　thanks；　my　dear　Prince；〃　he　said　lightly。　　〃Make　haste　and
complete　your　charming　little　arrangements。　　Let　me　beg　of　you　to
avoid　bungling　this　time。　　Remember　that　there　is　not　in　the　whole
of　Europe　to…day　a　man　more　dangerous　to　you　than　I。〃

The　Prince　had　departed。　　Mr。　Sabin　lit　a　cigarette　and　stood　on
the　hearthrug。　　His　eyes　were　bright　with　the　joy　of　fighting。

〃Lucille；〃　he　said；　〃I　see　that　you　have　not　touched　your　liqueur。
Oblige　me　by　drinking　it。　　You　will　find　it　excellent。〃

She　came　over　to　him　and　hung　upon　his　arm。　　He　threw　his　cigarette
away　and　kissed　her　upon　the　lips。

〃Victor；〃　she　murmured；　〃I　am　afraid。　　You　have　been　rash！〃　

〃Dearest；〃　he　answered；　〃it　is　better　to　die　fighting　than　to　stand
aside　and　watch　evil　things。　　But　after　all；　there　is　no　fear。　　Come！
Your　cloak　and　dressing　case！〃

〃You　have　plans？〃　she　exclaimed；　springing　up。

〃Plans？〃　　He　laughed　at　her　a　little　reproachfully。　　〃My　dear
Lucille！　　A　carriage　awaits　us　outside；　a　special　train　with　steam
up　at　the　Gard　de　L'ouest。　　This　is　precisely　the　contingency　for
which　I　have　planned。〃

〃Oh；　you　are　wonderful；　Victor；〃　she　murmured　as　she　drew　on　her
coat。　　〃But　what　corner　of　the　earth　is　there　where　we　should　be
safe？〃

〃I　am　going；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃to　try　and　make　every　corner　of　the
earth　safe。〃

She　was　bewildered；　but　he　only　laughed　and　held　open　the　door　for
her。　　Mr。　Sabin　made　no　secret　of　his　departure。　　He　lingered　for
a　moment　in　the　doorway　to　light　a　cigarette；　he　even　stopped　to
whisper　a　few　words　to　the　little　man　in　plain　dinner　clothes　who
was　lounging　in　the　doorway。　　But　when　they　had　once　left　the　hotel
they　drove　fast。

In　less　than　half　an　hour　Paris　was　behind　them。　　They　were
traveling　in　a　royal　saloon　and　at　a　fabuulous　cost；　for　in　France
they　are　not　fond　of　special　trains。　　But　Mr。　Sabin　was　very　happy。
At　least　he　had　escaped　an　ignominious　defeat。　　It　was　left　to　him
to　play　the　great　card。

〃And　now；〃　Lucille　said；　coming　out　from　her　little　bed…chamber
which　the　femme　de　chambre　was　busy　preparing；　〃suppose　you　tell
me　where　we　are　going。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。

〃Do　not　be　alarmed；〃　he　said；　〃even　though　it　will　sound　to　you　the
least　likely　place　in　the　world。　　We　are　going　to　Berlin。〃


CHAPTER　XLIII

The　great　room　was　dimly　enough　lit；　for　the　windows　looking　out
upon　the　street　were　high　and　heavily　curtained；　The　man　who　sat
at　the　desk　was　almost　in　the　shadow。　　Yet　every　now　and　then　a
shaft　of　sunlight　fell　across　his　pale；　worn　face。　　A　strange
combination　this　of　the　worker；　the　idealist；　the　man　of　affairs。
》From　outside　came　the　hum　of　a　great　city。　　At　times；　too；　there
came　to　his　ears　as　he　sat　here　the　roar　of　nations　at　strife；
the　fierce　underneath　battle　of　the　great　countries　of　the　world
struggling　for　supremacy。　　And　here　at　this　cabinet　this　man　sat
often；　and　listened；　strenuous；　romantic；　with　the　heart　of　a　lion
and　the　lofty　imagination　of　an　eagle；　he　steered　unswervingly　on
to　her　destiny　a　great　people。　　Others　might　rest；　hut　never　he。

He　looked　up　from　the　letter　spread　out　before　him。　　Lucille　was
seated　at　his　command；　a　few　yards　away。　　Mr。　Sabin　stood
respectfully　before　him。

〃Monsieur　le　Duc；〃　he　said；　〃this　letter；　penned　by　my　illustrious
father　to　you；　is　sufficient　to　secure　my　good　offices。　　In　what
manner　can　I　serve　you？〃

〃Your　Majesty；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered；　〃in　the　first　place　by
receiving　me　here。　　In　the　second　by　allowing　me　to　lay　before
you　certain　grave　and　very　serious　charges　against　the　Order　of
the　Yellow　Crayon；　of　which　your　Majesty　is　the　titular　head。〃

〃The　Order　of　the　Yellow　Crayon；〃　the　Emperor　said　thoughtfully；
〃is　society　composed　of　aristocrats　pledged　to　resist　the　march　of
socialism。　　It　is　true　that　I　am　the　titular　head　of　this
organisation。　　What　have　you　to　say　about　it？〃

〃Only　that　your　Majesty　has　been　wholly　deceived；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said
respectfully；　〃concerning　the　methods　and　the　working　of　this
society。　　Its　inception　and　inauguration　were　above　reproach。　　I
myself　at　once　became　a　member。　　My　wife；　Countess　of　Radantz；　and
sole　representative　of　that　ancient　family；　has　been　one　all　her
life。〃

The　Emperor　inclined　his　head　towards　Lucille。

〃I　see　no　reason；〃　he　said；　〃when　our　capitals　are　riddled　with
secret　societies；　all　banded　together　against　us；　why　the　great
families　of　Europe　should　not　in　their　turn　come　together　and
display　a　united　front　against　this　common　enemy。　　The　Order　of
the　Yellow　Crayon　has　had　more　than　my　support。　　It　has　had　the
sanction　of　my　name。　　Tell　me　what　you　have