the yellow crayon-第47节

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sanction　of　my　name。　　Tell　me　what　you　have　against　it。〃

〃I　have　grave　things　to　say　concerning　it；〃　Mr。　Sahin　answered；
〃and　concerning　those　who　have　wilfully　deceived　your　Majesty。
The　influences　to　be　wielded　by　the　society　were　mainly；　I　believe；
wealth；　education；　and　influence。　　There　was　no　mention　made　of
murder；　of　an　underground　alliance　with　the　'gamins'　of　Paris；　the
dregs　of　humanity；　prisoners；　men　skilled　in　the　art　of　secret
death。〃

The　Emperor's　tone　was　stern；　almost　harsh。

〃Duc　de　Souspennier；　what　are　these　things　which　you　are　saying？〃
he　asked。

〃Your　Majesty；　I　speak　the　truth；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered　firmly。
〃There　are　in　the　Order　of　the　Yellow　Crayon　three　degrees　of
membership。　　The　first；　which　alone　your　Majesty　knows　of；　simply
corresponds　with　what　in　England　is　known　as　the　Primrose　League。
The　second　knows　that　beneath　is　another　organisation　pledged　to
frustrate　the　advance　of　socialism；　if　necessary　by　the　use　of
their　own　weapons。　　The　third；　whose　meetings　and　signs　and　whose
whole　organisation　is　carried　on　secretly；　is　allied　in　every
capital　in　Europe　with　criminals　and　murderers。　　With　its　great
wealth　it　has　influence　in　America　as　well　as　in　every　city　of
the　world　where　there　are　police　to　be　suborned；　or　desperate　men
to　be　bought　for　tools。　　At　the　direction　of　this　third　order
Lavinski　died　suddenly　in　the　Hungarian　House　of　Parliament；　Herr
Krettingen　was　involved　in　a　duel；　the　result　of　which　was　assured
beforehand；　and　Reginald　Brott；　the　great　English　statesman；　was
ruined　and　disgraced。　　I　myself　have　just　narrowly　escaped　death
at　his　hands；　and　in　my　place　my　servant　has　been　driven　to　death。
Of　all　these　things；　your　Majesty；　I　have　brought　proofs。〃

The　Emperor's　face　was　like　a　carven　image；　but　his　tone　was　cold
and　terrible。

〃If　these　things　have　been　sanctioned；〃　he　said；　〃by　those　who　are
responsible　for　my　having　become　the　head　of　the　Order；　they　shall
feel　my　vengeance。〃

〃Your　Majesty；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said　earnestly；　〃a　chance　disclosure；　and
all　might　come　to　light。　　I　myself　could　blazon　the　story　through
Europe。　　Those　who　are　responsible　for　the　third　degree　of　the　Order
of　the　Yellow　Crayon；　and　for　your　Majesty's　ignorance　concerning
its　existence；　have　trifled　with　the　destiny　of　the　greatest
sovereign　of　modern　times。〃

〃The　Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer；〃　the　Emperor　said；　〃is　the　acting
head　of　the　Order。〃

〃The　Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said　firmly；　〃is
responsible　for　the　existence　of　the　third　degree。　　It　is　he　who
has　connected　the　society　with　a　system　of　corrupt　police　or
desperate　criminals　in　every　great　city。　　It　is　the　Prince　of　Saxe
Leinitzer；　your　Majesty；　and　his　horde　of　murderers　from　whom　I
have　come　to　seek　your　Majesty's　protection。　　I　have　yet　another
charge　to　make　against　him。　　He　has　made；　and　is　making　still；　use
of　the　society　to　further　his　own　private　intrigues。　　In　the　name
of　the　Order　he　brought　my　wife　from　America。　　She　faithfully
carried　out　the　instructions　of　the　Council。　　She　brought　about
the　ruin　of　Reginald　Brott。　　By　the　rules　of　the　society　she　was
free　then　to　return　to　her　home。　　The　Prince；　who　had　been　her
suitor；　declined　to　let　her　go。　　My　life　was　attempted。　　The　story
of　the　Prince's　treason　is　here；　with　the　necessary　proofs。　　I
know　that　orders　have　been　given　to　the　hired　murderers　of　the
society　for　my　assassination。　　My　life　even　here　is　probably　an
uncertain　thing。　　But　I　have　told　your　Majesty　the　truth；　and　the
papers　which　I　have　brought　with　me　contain　proof　of　my　words。〃

The　Emperor　struck　a　bell　and　gave　a　few　orders　to　the　young　officer
who　immediately　answered　it。　　Then　he　turned　again　to　Mr。　Sabin。

〃I　have　summoned　Saxe　Leinitzer　to　Berlin；〃　he　said。　　〃These　matters
shall　be　gone　into　most　thoroughly。　　In　the　meantime　what　can　I　do
for　you？〃

〃We　will　await　the　coming　of　the　Prince；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered　grimly。

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Lady　Carey　passed　from　her　bath…room　into　a　luxurious　little
dressing…room。　　Her　letters　and　coffee　were　on　a　small　table　near
the　fire；　an　easy…chair　was　drawn　up　to　the　hearthrug。　　She　fastened
the　girdle　of　her　dressing…gown；　and　dismissed　her　maid。

〃I　will　ring　for　you　in　half　an　hour；　Annette；〃　she　said。　　〃See　that
I　am　not　disturbed。〃

On　her　way　to　the　fireplace　she　paused　for　a　moment　in　front　of　a
tall　looking…glass；　and　looked　steadily　at　her　own　reflection。

〃I　suppose；〃　she　murmured　to　herself；　〃that　I　am　looking　at　my　best
now。　　I　slept　well　last　night；　and　a　bath　gives　one　colour；　and
white　is　so　becoming。　　Still；　I　don't　know　why　I　failed。　　She　may
be　a　little　better　looking；　but　my　figure　is　as　good。　　I　can　talk
better；　I　have　learnt　how　to　keep　a　man　from　feeling　dull；　and　there
is　my　reputation。　　Because　I　played　at　war　correspondence；　wore　a
man's　clothes；　and　didn't　shriek　when　I　was　under　fire；　people　have
chosen　to　make　a　heroine　of　me。　　That　should　have　counted　for
something　with　him　…　and　it　didn't。　　I　could　have　taken　my　choice
of　any　man　in　London　…　and　I　wanted　him。　　And　I　have　failed！〃　

She　threw　herself　back　in　her　easy…chair　and　laughed　softly。

〃Failed！　　What　an　ugly　word！　　He　is　old；　and　he　limps；　and　I　…　well；
I　was　never　a　very　bashful　person。　　He　was　beautifully　polite；　but
he　wouldn't　have　anything　to　say　to　me。〃

She　began　to　tear　open　her　letters　savagely。

〃Well；　it　is　over。　　If　ever　anybody　speaks　to　me　about　it　I　think
that　I　shall　kill　them。　　That　fool　Saxe　Leinitzer　will　stroke　his
beastly　moustache；　and　smile　at　me　out　of　the　corners　of　his　eyes。
The　Dorset　woman；　too　…　bah；　I　shall　go　away。　　What　is　it；　Annette？〃

〃His　Highness　the　Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer　has　called；　milady。〃

〃Called！　　Does　he　regard　this　as　a　call？〃　she　exclaimed；　glancing
towards　the　clock。　　〃Tell　him；　Annette；　that　your　mistress　does　not
receive　at　such　an　hour。　　Be　quick；　child。　　Of　course　I　know　that
he　gave　you　a　sovereign　to　persuade　me　that　it　was　important；　but　I
won't　see　him；　so　be　off。〃

〃But　yes；　milady；〃　Annette　answered；　and　disappeared。

Lady　Carey　sipped　her　coffee。

〃I　think；〃　she　said　reflectively；　〃that　it　must　be　Melton。〃

Annette　reappeared。

〃Milady；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃His　Highness　insisted　upon　my　bringing
you　this　card。　　He　was　so　strange　in　his　manner；　milady；　that　I
thought　it　best　to　obey。〃

Lady　Carey　stretched　out　her　hand。　　A　few　words　were　scribbled　on
the　back　of　his　visiting　card　in　yellow　crayon。　　She　glanced　at　it；
tore　the　card　up；　and　threw　the　pieces　into　the　fire。

〃My　shoes　and　stockings；　Annette；〃　she　said；　〃and　just　a　morning
wrap　…　anything　will　do。〃

The　Prince　was　walking　restlessly　up　and　down　the　room；　when　Lady
Carey　entered。　　He　welcomed　her　with　a　little　cry　of　relief。

〃Heavens！〃　　he　exclaimed。　　〃I　thought　that　you　were　never　coming。〃

〃I　was　in　no　hurry；〃　she　answered　calmly。　　〃I　could　guess　your　news；
so　I　had　not　even　the　spur　of　curiosity。〃

He　stopped　short。

〃You　have　heard　nothing！　　It　is　not　possible？〃

She　shrugged　her　shoulders。

〃No；　but　I　know　you；　and　I　know　him。　　I　am　quite　prepared　to　hear
that　you　are　outwitted。　　Indeed；　to　judge　from　your　appearance
there　can　be　no　doubt　about　it。　　Remember　I　warned　you。〃

The　Prince　was　pale　with　fury。

〃No　one　could　foresee　this；〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃He　has　walked　into　the
lion's　den。〃

〃Then；〃　Lady　Carey　said；　〃I　am　quite　prepared　to　hear　that　he　tamed
the　lion。〃

〃If　there　was　one　person　living　whom　I　could　have　sworn　that　this
man　dared　not　visit；　it　was　our　Emperor；〃　the　Prince　said。　　〃It　is
only　a　few　years　since；　through　this　man's　intrigues；　Germany　was
shamed　before　the　world。〃

〃And　yet；〃　Lady　Carey　said　sweetly；　〃the　Emperor　has　received　him。〃

〃I　have　private　intelligence　from　Berlin；〃　Saxe　Leinitzer　answered。
〃Mr。　Sabin　was　in　possession　of　a　letter　written　to　him　by　the
Emperor　Frederick；　thanking　him　for　some　service　or　other；　and　the
letter　was　a　talisman。〃

〃How　like　him；〃　Lady　Carey　murmured；　〃to　have　the　letter。〃

〃What　a　pity；〃　the　Prince　sneered；　〃that　such　devotion　should　remain
unrewarded。〃

Lady　Carey　sighed。

〃He　has　broken　my　heart；〃　she　replied。

The　Prince　threw　out　his　hands。

〃You　and　I；〃　he　cried；　〃why　do　we　behave　like　children！　　Let　us
start　afresh。　　Listen！　　The　Emperor　has　summoned　me　to　Berlin。〃

〃Dear　me；〃　Lady　Carey　murmured。　　〃I　am　afraid　you　will　have　a　most
unpleasant　visit。〃

〃I　dare　not　go；〃　the　Prince　said　slowly。　　〃It　was　I　who　induced
the　Emperor　to　become　the　titular　head　of　this　cursed　Order。　　Of
course　he　knew　nothing　about　the　second　or　third　degree　members　and
our　methods。　　Without　doubt　he　is　fully　informed　now。　　I　dare　not
face　him。〃

〃What　shall　you　do？〃　Lady　Carey　asked　curiously。

〃I　am　off　to　South　America；〃　he　said。　　〃It　is　a　great　undeveloped
country；　and　there　is　room　for　us　to　move　there。　　Muriel；　you　know
what　I　want　of　you。〃

〃My　good　man；〃　she　answered；　〃I　haven't　the　faintest　idea。〃

〃You　will　come　with　me；〃　he　begged。　　〃You　will　not　send　me　into
exile　so　lonely；　a　wanderer！　　Together　there　may　be　a　great　future
before　us。　　You　have　ambition；　you　love