the yellow crayon-第6节

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〃I　have　come　over　with　the　Dalkeiths；　ostensibly　to　see　the　yacht
races。　　Really　I　have　come　to　see　you。〃

Mr。　Sabin　bowed。

〃I　am　delightfully　flattered；〃　he　murmured。

〃I　don't　exactly　mean　for　the　pleasure　of　gazing　into　your　face
once　more；〃　she　continued。　　〃I　have　a　mission！〃

Mr。　Sabin　looked　up　quickly。

〃Great　heavens！　　You；　too！〃　he　exclaimed。

She　nodded。

〃Why　not？〃　she　asked　coolly。　　〃I　have　been　in　it　for　years；　you
know；　and　when　I　got　back　from　South　Africa　everything　seemed　so
terribly　slow　that　I　begged　for　some　work　to　do。〃

〃And　they　sent　you　here　…　to　me？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　answered；　〃and　I　was　here　also　a　few　weeks　ago；　but　you
must　not　ask　me　anything　about　that。〃

Mr。　Sabin's　eyebrows　contracted；　his　face　darkened。　　She　shrank
a　little　away　from　him。

〃So　it　is　you　who　have　robbed　me　of　her；　then；〃　he　said　slowly。
〃Yes；　the　description　fits　you　well　enough。　　I　ask　you；　Lady　Carey；
to　remember　the　last　time　when　chance　brought　you　and　me　together。
Have　I　deserved　this　from　you？〃

She　made　a　little　gesture　of　impotence。

〃Do　be　reasonable！〃　she　begged。　　〃What　choice　had　I？〃

He　looked　at　her　steadfastly。

〃The　folly　of　women　…　of　clever　women　such　as　you；〃　he　said；　〃is
absolutely　amazing。　　You　have　deliberately　made　a　slave　of
yourself　…　〃

〃One　must　have　distraction；〃　she　murmured。

〃Distraction！　　And　so　you　play　at　this　sort　of　thing。　　Is　it　worth
while？〃

Her　eyes　for　a　moment　clouded　over　with　weariness。

〃When　one　has　filled　the　cup　of　life　to　the　brim　for　many　years；〃
she　said；　〃what　remains　that　is　worth　while？〃

He　bowed。

〃You　are　a　young　woman；〃　he　said。　　〃You　should　not　yet　have　learned
to　speak　with　such　bitterness。　　As　for　me　…　well；　I　am　old　indeed。
In　youth　and　age　the　affections　claim　us。　　I　am　approaching　my
second　childhood。〃

She　laughed　derisively；　yet　not　unkindly。　　〃What　folly！〃　she
exclaimed。

〃You　are　right；〃　he　admitted。　　〃I　suppose　it　is　the　fault　of　old
associations。〃

〃In　a　few　minutes；〃　she　said；　smiling　at　him；　〃we　should　have　become
sentimental。〃

〃I；〃　he　admitted；　〃was　floundering　already。〃

She　shrugged　her　shoulders。

〃You　talk　as　though　sentiment　were　a　bog。〃

〃There　have　been　worse　similes；〃　he　declared。

〃How　horrid！　　And　do　you　know；　sir；　for　all　your　indignation　you
have　not　yet　even　inquired　after　your　wife's　health。〃

〃I　trust；〃　he　said；　〃that　she　is　well。〃

〃She　is　in　excellent　health。〃

〃Your　second　visit　to　this　country；〃　he　remarked；　〃follows　very
swiftly　upon　your　first。〃

She　nodded。

〃I　am　here；〃　she　said；　〃〃on　your　account。〃

〃You　excite　my　interest；〃　he　declared。　　〃May　I　know　your　mission？〃

〃I　have　to　remind　you　of　your　pledge；〃　she　said；　〃to　assure　you
of　Lucille's　welfare；　and　to　prevent　your　leaving　the　country。〃

〃Marvelous！〃　he　exclaimed；　with　a　slight　mocking　smile。　　〃And　may
I　ask　what　means　you　intend　to　employ　to　keep　me　here？〃

〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃I　have　large　discretionary　powers。　　We　have　a
very　strong　branch　over　on　this　side；　but　I　would　very　much　rather
induce　you　to　stay　here　without　applying　to　them。〃

〃And　the　inducements？〃　he　asked。

She　took　a　cigarette　from　a　box　which　stood　on　the　table　and　lit
one。

〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃I　might　appeal　to　your　hospitality；　might　I　not？
I　am　in　a　strange　country　which　you　have　made　your　home。　　I　want　to
be　shown　round。　　Do　you　remember　dining　with　me　one　night　at　the
Ambassador's？　　It　was　very　hot；　even　for　Paris；　and　we　drove
afterwards　in　the　Bois。　　Ask　me　to　dine　with　you　here；　won't　you？
I　have　never　quite　forgotten　the　last　time。〃

Mr。　Sabin　laughed　softly；　but　with　undisguised　mirth。

〃Come；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　an　excellent　start。　　You　are　to　play　the
Circe　up　to　date；　and　I　am　to　be　beguiled。　　How　ought　I　to　answer
you？　　I　do　remember　the　Ambassador's；　and　I　do　remember　driving
down　the　Bois　in　your　victoria；　and　holding　…　I　believe　I　am　right
　…　your　hand。　　You　have　no　right　to　disturb　those　charming　memories
by　attempting　to　turn　them　into　bathos。〃

She　blew　out　a　little　cloud　of　tobacco　smoke；　and　watched　it
thoughtfully。

〃Ah！〃　she　remarked。　　〃I　wonder　who　is　better　at　that；　you　or　I？
I　may　not　be　exactly　a　sentimental　person；　but　you　…　you　are　a
flint。〃

〃On　the　contrary；〃　Mr。　Sabin　assured　her　earnestly；　〃I　am　very
much　in　love　with　my　wife。〃

〃Dear　me！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃You　carry　originality　to　quixoticism。
I　have　met　several　men　before　in　my　life　whom　I　have　suspected　of
such　a　thing；　but　I　never　heard　any　one　confess　it。　　This　little
domestic　contretemps　…is　then；　I　presume；　disagreeable　to　you！〃

〃To　the　last　degree；〃　Mr。　Sabin　asserted。　　〃So　much　so　that　I
leave　for　England　by　the　Campania。〃

She　shook　her　head　slowly。

〃I　wouldn't　if　I　were　you。〃

〃Why　not？〃

Lady　Carey　threw　away　the　end　of　her　cigarette；　and　looked　for　a
moment　thoughtfully　at　her　long　white　fingers　glittering　with　rings。
Then　she　began　to　draw　on　her　gloves。

〃Well；　in　the　first　place；〃　she　said；　〃Lucille　will　have　no　time　to
spare　for　you。　　You　will　be　de　trop　in　decidedly　an　uncomfortable
position。　　You　wouldn't　find　London　at　all　a　good　place　to　live　in
just　now；　even　if　you　ever　got　there　…　which　I　am　inclined　to　doubt。
And　secondly；　here　am　I　…　〃

〃Circe！〃　he　murmured。

〃Waiting　to　be　entertained；　in　a　strange　country；　almost　friendless。
I　want　to　be　shown　everything；　taken　everywhere。　　And　I　am　dying　to
see　your　home　at　Lenox。　　I　do　not　think　your　attitude　towards　me　in
the　least　hospitable。〃

〃Come；　you　are　judging　me　very　quickly；〃　he　declared。　　〃What
opportunities　have　I　had？〃

〃What　opportunities　can　there　be　if　you　sail　by　the　Campania？〃

〃You　might　dine　with　me　to…night　at　least。〃

〃Impossible！　　The　Dalkeiths　have　a　party　to　meet　me。　　Come　too；
won't　you？　　They　love　dukes　…　even　French　ones。〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃There　is　no　attraction　for　me　in　a　large　party；〃　he　answered。　　〃I
am　getting　to　an　age　when　to　make　conversation　in　return　for　a
dinner　seems　scarcely　a　fair　exchange。〃

〃From　your　host's　point　of　view；　or　yours？〃

〃From　both！　　Besides；　one's　digestion　suffers。〃

〃You　are　certainly　getting　old；〃　she　declared。　　〃Come；　I　must　go。
You　haven't　been　a　bit　nice　to　me。　　When　shall　I　see　you　again？〃

〃It　is；〃　he　answered；　〃for　you　to　say。〃

She　looked　at　him　for　a　moment　thoughtfully。

〃Supposing；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　cried　off　the　yacht　race　to…day。
Would　you　take　me　out　to　lunch？〃

He　smiled。

〃My　dear　lady；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　for　Circe　to　command　…　and　for　me
to　obey。〃

〃And　you'll　come　and　have　tea　with　me　afterwards　at　the　Waldorf？〃

〃That；〃　Mr。　Sabin　declared；　〃will　add　still　further　to　my　happiness。〃

〃Will　you　call　for　me；　then　…　and　where　shall　we　have　lunch；　and　at
what　time？　　I　must　go　and　develop　a　headache　at　once；　or　that
tiresome　Dalkeith　boy　will　be　pounding　at　my　door。〃

〃I　will　call　for　you　at　the　Waldorf　at　half…past　one；〃　Mr。　Sabin
said。　　〃Unless　you　have　any　choice；　I　will　take　you　to　a　little
place　downtown　where　we　can　imagine　ourselves　back　on　the　Continent；
and　where　we　shall　be　spared　the　horror　of　green　corn。〃

〃Delightful；〃　she　murmured；　buttoning　her　glove。　　〃Then　you　shall
take　me　for　a　drive　to　Fifth　Avenue；　or　to　see　somebody's　tomb；
and　my　woman　shall　make　some　real　Russian　tea　for　us　in　my
sitting…room。　　Really；　I　think　I'm　doing　very　well　for　the　first
day。　　Is　the　spell　beginning　to　work？〃

〃Hideously；〃　he　assured　her。　　〃I　feel　already　that　the　only　thing　I
dread　in　life　are　these　two　hours　before　luncheon。〃

She　nodded。

〃That　is　quite　as　it　should　be。　　Don't　trouble　to　come　down　with
me。　　I　believe　that　Dalkeith　pere　is　hanging　round　somewhere；　and
in　view　of　my　headache　perhaps　you　had　better　remain　in　the
background　for　the　moment。　　At　one…thirty；　then！〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled　as　she　passed　out　of　the　room；　and　lit　a　cigarette。

〃I　think；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃that　the　arrival　of　Felix　is
opportune。〃


CHAPTER　VII

They　sat　together　at　a　small　table；　looking　upon　a　scene　which　was
probably　unique　in　the　history　of　the　great　restaurant。　　The　younger
man　was　both　frankly　interested　and　undoubtedly　curious。　　Mr。　Sabin；
though　his　eyes　seemed　everywhere；　retained　to　the　full　extent　that
nonchalance　of　manner　which　all　his　life　he　had　so　assiduously
cultivated。

〃It　is　wonderful；　my　dear　Felix；〃　he　said；　leisurely　drawing　his
cigarette…case　from　his　pocket；　〃wonderful　what　good　fellowship　can
be　evolved　by　a　kindred　interest　in　sport；　and　a　bottle　or　so　of
good　champagne。　　But；　after　all；　this　is　not　to　be　taken　seriously。〃

〃Shamrock　the　fourth！　　Shamrock　the　fourth！〃

A　tall　young　American；　his　thick　head　of　hair；　which　had　once　been
carefully　parted　in　the　middle；　a　little　disheveled；　his　hard；
clean…cut　face　flushed　with　enthusiasm；　had　risen　to　his　feet　and
stood　with　a　brimming　glass　of　champagne　high　over　his　head。　　Almost
every　one　in　the　room　rose　to　their　feet。　　A　college　boy　sprang　upon
a　table　with　extended　arms。　　The　Yale　shout　split　the　room。　　The
very　glasses　on　the　table　rattled。

〃Columbia！　　Columbia！〃

It　was　an　Englishman　now　who　had　leaped　upon　a　vacant　table　with
upraised　glass。　　There　was　an　answering　roar　of　enthus