the yellow crayon-第7节

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upraised　glass。　　There　was　an　answering　roar　of　enthusiasm。　　Every
one　drank；　and　every　one　sat　down　again　with　a　pleasant　thrill　of
excitement　at　this　unique　scene。　　Felix　leaned　back　in　his　chair
and　marveled。

〃One　would　have　imagined；〃　he　murmured；　〃that　America　and　England
together　were　at　war　with　the　rest　of　the　world　and　had　won　a　great
victory。　　To　think　that　this　is　all　the　result　of　a　yacht　race。　　It
is　incredible！〃

〃All　your　life；　my　dear　Felix；〃　Mr。　Sabin　remarked；　〃you　have
underrated　the　sporting　instinct。　　It　has　a　great　place　amongst　the
impulses　of　the　world。　　See　how　it　has　brought　these　people
together。〃

〃But　they　are　already　of　the　same　kin；〃　Felix　remarked。　　〃Their
interests　and　aims　are　alike。　　Their　destinies　are　surely　identical。〃

Mr。　Sabin；　who　had　lit　his　cigarette；　watched　the　blue　smoke　curl
upwards；　and　was　thoughtful　for　a　moment。

〃My　dear　Felix！〃　he　said。　　〃You　are　very；　very　young。　　The　interests
of　two　great　nations　such　as　America　and　England　can　never　be　alike。
It　is　the　language　of　diplomacy；　but　it　is　also　the　language　of
fools。〃

Their　conversation　was　for　the　moment　interrupted　by　a　fresh　murmur
of　applause；　rising　above　the　loved　hum　of　conversation；　the　laughter
of　women；　and　the　popping　of　corks。　　A　little　troop　of　waiters　had
just　wheeled　into　the　room　two　magnificent　models　of　yachts　hewn　out
of　blocks　of　solid　ice　and　crowned　with　flowers。　　On　the　one　were
the　Stars　and　Stripes；　on　the　other　the　Shamrock　and　Thistle。　　There
was　much　clapping　of　hands　and　cheering。　　Lady　Carey；　who　was
sitting　at　the　next　table　with　her　back　to　them；　joined　in　the
applause　so　heartily　that　a　tiny　gold　pencil　attached　to　her　bracelet
became　detached　and　rolled　unobserved　to　Mr。　Sabin's　side。　　Felix
half　rose　to　pick　it　up；　but　was　suddenly　checked　by　a　quick　gesture
from　his　companion。

〃Leave　it；〃　Mr。　Sabin　whispered。　　〃I　wish　to　return　it　myself。〃

He　stooped　and　picked　it　up；　a　certain　stealthiness　apparent　in　his
movement。　　Felix　watched　him　in　amazement。

〃It　is　Lady　Carey's；　is　it　not？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes。　　Be　silent。　　I　will　give　it　back　to　her　presently。〃

A　waiter　served　them　with　coffee。　　Mr。　Sabin　was　idly　sketching
something　on　the　back　of　his　menu　card。　　Felix　broke　into　a　little
laugh　as　the　man　retired。

〃Mysterious　as　ever；〃　he　remarked。

Mr。　Sabin　smiled　quietly。　　He　went　on　with　his　sketch。

〃I　do　not　want；〃　Felix　said；　〃to　seem　impatient；　but　you　must
remember　that　I　　have　come　all　the　way　from　Europe　in　response　to
a　very　urgent　message。　　As　yet　I　have　done　nothing　except　form　a
very　uncomfortable　third　at　a　luncheon　and　tea　party；　and　listen
to　a　good　deal　of　enigmatic　conversation　between　you　and　the
charming　Lady　Carey。　　This　evening　I　made　sure　that　I　should　be
enlightened。　　But　no！　　You　have　given　me　a　wonderful　dinner　…　from
you　I　expected　it。　　We　have　eaten　terrapin；　canvas…back　duck；　and
many　other　things　the　names　of　which　alone　were　known　to　me。　　But
of　the　reason　for　which　you　have　summoned　me　here　…　I　know　nothing。
Not　one　word　have　you　spoken。　　I　am　beginning　to　fear　from　your
avoidance　of　the　subject　that　there　is　some　trouble　between　you　and
Lucille。　　I　beg　that　you　will　set　my　anxiety　at　rest。〃

Mr。　Sabin　nodded。

〃It　is　reasonable；〃　he　said。　　〃Look　here！〃

He　turned　the　menu　card　round。　　On　the　back　he　had　sketched　some
sort　of　a　device　with　the　pencil　which　he　had　picked　up；　and　which
instead　of　black…lead　contained　a　peculiar　shade　of　yellow　crayon。
Felix　sat　as　though　turned　to　stone。

〃Try；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said　smoothly；　〃and　avoid　that　air　of　tragedy。
Some　of　these　good　people　might　be　curious。

Felix　leaned　across　the　table。　　He　pointed　to　the
menu　card。

〃What　does　that　mean？〃　he　muttered。

Mr。　Sabin　contemplated　it　himself　thoughtfully。　　〃Well；〃　he　said；
〃I　rather　thought　that　you　might　be　able　to　explain　that　to　me。
I　have　an　idea　that　there　is　a　society　in　Europe　…　sort　of
aristocratic　odd…fellows；　you　know　…　who　had　adopted　it　for　their
crest。　　Am　I　not　right？〃

Felix　looked　at　him　steadfastly。

〃Tell　me　two　things；〃　he　said。　　〃First；　why　you　sent　for　me；　and
secondly；　what　do　you　mean　…　by　that？〃

〃Lucille；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃has　been　taken　away　from　me。〃

〃Lucille！　　Great　God！〃

〃She　has　been　taken　away　from　me；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃without　a　single
word　of　warning。〃

Felix　pointed　to　the　menu　card。

〃By　them？〃　he　asked。

〃By　them。　　It　was　a　month　ago。　　Two　days　before　my　cable。〃

Felix　was　silent　for　several　moments。　　He　had　not　the　self…command
of　his　companion；　and　he　feared　to　trust　himself　to　speech。

〃She　has　been　taken　to　Europe；〃　Mr。　Sabin　continued。　　〃I　do　not
know；　I　cannot　even　guess　at　the　reason。　　She　left　no　word。　　I　have
been　warned　not　to　follow　her。〃

〃You　obey？〃

〃I　sail　to…morrow。〃

〃And　I？〃　Felix　asked。

Mr。　Sabin　looked　for；　a　moment　at　the　drawing　on　the　back　of　the
menu　card；　and　up　at　Felix。　　Felix　shook　his　head。

〃You　must　know；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　am　powerless。〃

〃You　may　be　able　to　help　me；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃without　compromising
yourself。〃

〃Impossible！〃　Felix　declared。　　〃But　what　did　they　want　with　Lucille？〃

〃That；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃is　what　I　am　desirous　of　knowing。　　It　is
what　I　trust　that　you；　my　dear　Felix；　may　assist　me　to　discover。〃

〃You　are　determined；　then；　to　follow　her？〃

Mr。　Sabin　helped　himself　to　a　liqueur　from　the　bottle　by　his　side。

〃My　dear　Felix；〃　he　said　reproachfully；　〃you　should　know　me　better
than　to　ask　me　such　a　question。〃

Felix　moved　uneasily　in　his　chair。

〃Of　course；〃　he　said；　〃it　depends　upon　how　much　they　want　to　keep
you　apart。　　But　you　know　that　you　are　running　great　risks？〃

〃Why；　no；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃I　scarcely　thought　that。　　I　have
understood　that　the　society　was　by　no　means　in　its　former　flourishing　condition。〃

Felix　laughed　scornfully。

〃They　have　never　been；〃　he　answered；　〃richer　or　more　powerful。
During　the　last　twelve　months　they　have　been　active　in　every　part
of　Europe。〃

Mr。　Sabin's　face　hardened。

〃Very　well！〃　he　said。　　〃We　will　try　their　strength。〃

〃We！〃　Felix　laughed　shortly。　　〃You　forget　that　my　hands　are　tied。
I　cannot　help　you　or　Lucille。　　You　must　know　that。〃

〃You　cannot　interfere　directly；〃　Mr。　Sabin　admitted。　　〃Yet　you　are
Lucille's　brother；　and　I　am　forced　to　appeal　to　you。　　If　you　will
be　my　companion　for　a　little　while　I　think　I　can　show　you　how　you
can　help　Lucille　at　any　rate；　and　yet　run　no　risk。〃

The　little　party　at　the　next　table　were　breaking　up　at　last。　　Lady
Carey；　pale　and　bored；　with　tired；　swollen　eyes　…　they　were　always
a　little　prominent　…　rose　languidly　and　began　to　gather　together
her　belongings。　　As　she　did　so　she　looked　over　the　back　of　her　chair
and　met　Mr。　Sabin's　eyes。　　He　rose　at　once　and　bowed。　　She　cast　a
quick　sidelong　glance　at　her　companions；　which　he　at　once　understood。

〃I　have　the　honour；　Lady　Carey；〃　he　said；　〃of　recalling　myself　to
your　recollection。　　We　met　in　Paris　and　London　not　so　very　many　years
ago。　　You　perhaps　remember　the　cardinal's　dinner？〃

A　slight　smile　flickered　upon　her　lips。　　The　man's　adroitness　always
excited　her　admiration。

〃I　remember　it　perfectly；　and　you；　Duke；〃　she　answered。　　〃Have　you
made　your　home　on　this　side　of　the　water？〃

Mr。　Sabin　shook　his　head　slowly。

〃Home！〃　he　repeated。　　〃Ah；　I　was　always　a　bird　of　passage；　you
remember。　　Yet　I　have　spent　three　very　delightful　years　in　this
country。〃

〃And　I；〃　she　said；　lowering　her　tone　and　leaning　towards　him；　〃one
very　stupid；　idiotic　day。〃

Mr。　Sabin　assumed　the　look　of　a　man　who　denies　any　personal
responsibility　in　an　unfortunate　happening。

〃It　was　regrettable；〃　he　murmured；　〃but　I　assure　you　that　it　was
unavoidable。　　Lucille's　brother　must　have　a　certain　claim　upon　me；
and　it　was　his　first　day　in　America。〃

She　was　silent　for　a　moment。　　Then　she　turned　abruptly　towards　the
door。　　Her　friends　were　already　on　the　way。

〃Come　with　me；〃　she　said。　　〃I　want　to　speak　to　you。〃

He　followed　her　out　into　the　lobby。　　Felix　came　a　few　paces　behind。
The　restaurant　was　still　full　of　people；　the　hum　of　conversation
almost　drowning　the　music。　　Every　one　glanced　curiously　at　Lady
Carey；　who　was　a　famous　woman。　　She　carried　herself　with　a　certain
insolent　indifference；　the　national　deportment　of　her　sex　and　rank。
The　women　whispered　together　that　she　was　〃very　English。〃

In　the　lobby　she　turned　suddenly　upon　Mr。　Sabin。

〃Will　you　take　me　back　to　my　hotel？〃　she　asked　pointedly。

〃I　regret　that　I　cannot；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　have　promised　to　show
Felix　some　of　the　wonders　of　New　York　by　night。〃

〃You　can　take　him　to…morrow。〃

〃To…morrow；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃he　leaves　for　the　West。〃

She　looked　closely　into　his　impassive　face。

〃I　suppose　that　you　are　lying；〃　she　said　shortly。

〃Your　candour；〃　he　answered　coldly；　〃sometimes　approaches　brutality。〃

She　leaned　towards　him；　her　face　suddenly　softened。

〃We　are　playing　a　foolish　game　with　one　another；〃　she　murmured。　　〃I
offer　you　an　alliance；　my　friendship；　perhaps　my　help。〃

〃What　can　I　do；〃　he　answered　gravely；　〃save　be　grateful　…　and　accept？〃

〃Then　…　〃

She　stopped　short。　　It　was　Mr。　Sabin's　luck　which　had　intervene