the yellow crayon-第8节

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

〃Then　…　〃

She　stopped　short。　　It　was　Mr。　Sabin's　luck　which　had　intervened。
Herbert　Daikeith　stood　at　her　elbow。

〃Lady　Carey；〃　he　said；　〃they're　all　gone　but　the　mater　and　I。
Forgive　my　interrupting　you；〃　he　added　hastily。

〃You　can　go　on；　Herbert；〃　she　added。　　〃The　Duc　de　Souspennier　will
bring　me。〃

Mr。　Sabin；　who　had　no　intention　of　doing　anything　of　the　sort；
turned　towards　the　young　man　with　a　smile。

〃Lady　Carey　has　not　introduced　us；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　have　seen　you
at　Ranelagh　quite　often。　　If　you　are　still　keen　on　polo　you　should
have　a　try　over　here。　　I　fancy　you　would　find　that　these　American
youngsters　can　hold　their　own。　　All　right；　Felix；　I　am　ready　now。
Lady　Carey；　I　shall　do　myself　the　honour　of　waiting　upon　you　early
to…morrow　morning；　as　I　have　a　little　excursion　to　propose。
Good…night。〃

She　shrugged　her　shoulders　ever　so　slightly　as　she　turned　away。　　Mr。
Sabin　smiled　…　faintly　amused。　　He　turned　to　Felix。

〃Come；〃　he　said；　〃we　have　no　time　to　lose。〃


CHAPTER　VIII

I　regret；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said　to　Felix　as　they　sat　side　by　side　in　the
small　coupe；　〃that　your　stay　in　this　country　will　be　so　brief。〃

〃Indeed；〃　Felix　answered。　　〃May　I　ask　what　you　call　brief？〃

Mr。　Sabin　looked　out　of　the　carriage　window。

〃We　are　already；〃　he　said；　〃on　the　way　to　England。〃

Felix　laughed。

〃This；〃　he　said；　〃is　like　old　times。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。

〃The　system　of　espionage　here；〃　he　remarked；　〃is　painfully　primitive。
It　lacks　finesse　and　judgment。　　The　fact　that　I　have　taken　expensive
rooms　on　the　Campania；　and　that　I　have　sent　many　packages　there；
that　my　own　belongings　are　still　in　my　rooms　untouched；　seems　to　our
friends　conclusive　evidence　that　I　am　going　to　attempt　to　leave
America　by　that　boat。　　They　have；　I　believe；　a　warrant　for　my　arrest
on　some　ridiculous　charge　which　they　intend　to　present　at　the　last
moment。　　They　will　not　have　the　opportunity。〃

〃But　there　is　no　other　steamer　sailing　to…morrow；　is　there？〃　Felix
asked。

〃Not　from　New　York；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered；　〃but　it　was　never　my
intention　to　sail　from　New　York。　　We　are　on　our　way　to　Boston　now；
and　we　sail　in　the　Saxonia　at　six　o'clock　to…morrow　morning。

〃We　appear　to　be　stopping　at　the　Waldorf；〃　Felix　remarked。

〃It　is　quite　correct；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃Follow　me　through　the
hall　as　quickly　as　possible。　　There　is　another　carriage　waiting　at
the　other　entrance；　and　I　expect　to　find　in　it　Duson　and　my
dressing…case。

They　alighted　and　made　their　way　though　the　crowded　vestibules。　　At
the　Thirty…fourth　Street　entrance　a　carriage　was　drawn　up。　　Duson
was　standing　upon　the　pavement；　his　pale；　nervous　face　whiter　than
ever　under　the　electric　light。　　Mr。　Sabin　stopped　short。

〃Felix；〃　he　said；　〃one　word。　　If　by　any　chance　things　have　gone
wrong　they　will　not　have　made　any　arrangements　to　detain　you。　　Catch
the　midnight　train　to　Boston　and　embark　on　the　Saxonia。　　There　will
be　a　cable　for　you　at　Liverpool。　　But　the　moment　you　leave　me　send
this　despatch。〃

Felix　nodded　and　put　the　crumpled…up　piece　of　paper　in　his　pocket。
The　two　men　passed　on。　　Duson　took　off　his　hat；　but　his　fingers　were
trembling。　　The　carriage　door　was　opened　and　a　tall；　spare　man
descended。

〃This　is　Mr。　Sabin？〃　he　remarked。

Mr。　Sabin　bowed。

〃That　is　my　name；〃　he　admitted；　〃by　which　I　have　been　generally
called　in　this　democratic　country。　　What　is　your　business　with　me？〃

〃I　rather　guess　that　you're　my　prisoner；〃　the　man　answered。　　〃If
you'll　step　right　in　here　we　can　get　away　quietly。〃

〃The　suggestion；〃　Mr。　Sabin　remarked；　〃sounds　inviting；　but　I　am
somewhat　pressed　for　time。　　Might　I　inquire　the　nature　of　the　charge
you　have　against　me？〃

〃They'll　tell　you　that　at　the　office；〃　the　man　answered。　　〃Get　in；
please。〃

Mr。　Sabin　looked　around　for　Felix；　but　he　had　disappeared。　　He　took
out　his　cigarette…case。

〃You　will　permit　me　first　to　light　a　cigarette；〃　he　remarked。

〃All　right！　　Only　look　sharp。〃

Mr。　Sabin　kept　silence　in　the　carriage。　　The　drive　was　a　long　one。
When　they　descended　he　looked　up　at　Duson；　who　sat　upon　the　box。

〃Duson；〃　he　said；　and　his　voice；　though　low；　was　terrible；　〃I　see
that　I　can　be　mistaken　in　men。　　You　are　a　villain。〃

The　man　sprung　to　his　feet；　hat　in　hand。　　His　face　was　wrung　with
emotion。

〃Your　Grace；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　true　that　I　betrayed　you。　　But　I　did
it　without　reward。　　I　am　a　ruined　man。　　I　did　it　because　the　orders
which　came　to　me　were　such　as　I　dare　not　disobey。　　Here　are　your
keys；　your　Grace；　and　money。〃

Mr。　Sabin　looked　at　him　steadily。

〃You；　too；　Duson？〃

〃I　too；　alas；　your　Grace！〃

Mr。　Sabin　considered　for　a　moment。

〃Duson；〃　he　said；　〃I　retain　you　in　my　service。　　Take　my　luggage　on
board　the　Campania　to…morrow　afternoon；　and　pay　the　bill　at　the
hotel。　　I　shall　join　you　on　the　boat。〃

Duson　was　amazed。　　The　man　who　was　standing　by　laughed。

〃If　you　take　my　advice；　sir；〃　he　remarked；　〃you'll　order　your
clothes　to　be　sent　here。　　I've　a　kind　of　fancy　the　Campania　will
sail　without　you　to…morrow。〃

〃You　have　my　orders；　Duson；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃You　can　rely　upon
seeing　me。〃

The　detective　led　the　way　into　the　building；　and　opened　the　door
leading　into　a　large；　barely　furnished　office。

〃Chief's　gone　home　for　the　night；　I　guess；〃　he　remarked。　　〃We　can
fix　up　a　shakedown　for　you　in　one　of　the　rooms　behind。〃

〃I　thank　you；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　sitting　down　in　a　high…backed　wooden
chair；　〃I　decline　to　move　until　the　charge　against　me　is　properly
explained。〃

〃There　is　no　one　here　to　do　it　just　now；〃　the　man　answered。　　Better
make　yourself　comfortable　for　a　bit。〃

〃You　detain　me　here；　then；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃without　even　a　sight
of　your　warrant　or　any　intimation　as　to　the　charge　against　me？〃

〃Oh；　the　chief'll　fix　all　that；〃　the　man　answered。　　〃Don't　you　worry。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。

In　a　magnificently　furnished　apartment　somewhere　in　the　neighbourhood
of　Fifth　Avenue　a　small　party　of　men　were　seated　round　a　card　table
piled　with　chips　and　rolls　of　bills。　　On　the　sideboard　there　was　a
great　collection　of　empty　bottles；　spirit　decanters　and　Vichy　syphons。
Mr。　Horser　was　helping　himself　to　brandy　and　water　with　one　hand　and
holding　himself　up　with　the　other。　　There　was　a　knock　at　the　door。

A　man　who　was　still　playing　looked　up。　　He　was　about　fifty　years　of
age；　clean　shaven；　with　vacuous　eyes　and　a　weak　mouth。　　He　was　the
host　of　the　party。

〃Come　in！〃　he　shouted。

A　young　man　entered　in　a　long　black　overcoat　and　soft　hat。　　He
looked　about　him　without　surprise；　but　he　seemed　to　note　Mr。
Horser's　presence　with　some　concern。　　The　man　at　the　table　threw
down　his　cards。

〃What　the　devil　do　you　want；　Smith？〃

〃An　important　despatch　from　Washington　has　just　arrived；　sir。　　I
have　brought　it　up　with　the　codebook。〃

〃From　Washington　at　this　time　of　the　night；〃　he　exclaimed　thickly。
〃Come　in　here；　Smith。〃

He　raised　the　curtains　leading　into　a　small　anteroom；　and　turned
up　the　electric　light。　　His　clerk　laid　the　message　down　on　the
table　before　him。

〃Here　is　the　despatch；　Mr。　Mace；〃　he　said；　〃and　here　is　the
translation。〃

〃English　Ambassador　demands　immediate　explanation　of　arrest　of
Duke　Souspennier　at　Waldorf　to…night。　　Reply　immediately　what
charge　and　evidence。　　Souspennier　naturalised　Englishman。〃

Mr。　Mace　sprang　to　his　feet　with　an　oath。　　He　threw　aside　the
curtain　which　shielded　the　room　from　the　larger　apartment。

〃Horser；　come　here；　you　damned　fool！〃

Horser；　with　a　stream　of　magnificent　invectives；　obeyed　the　summons。
His　host　pointed　to　the　message。

〃Read　that！〃

Mr。　Horser　read　and　his　face　grew　even　more　repulsive。　　A　dull
purple　flush　suffused　his　cheeks；　his　eyes　were　bloodshot；　and　the
veins　on　his　forehead　stood　out　like　cords。　　He　leaned　for　several
moments　against　the　table　and　steadily　cursed　Mr。　Sabin；　the
government　at　Washington；　and　something　under　his　breath　which　he
did　not　dare　to　name　openly。

〃Oh；　shut　up！〃　his　host　said　at　last。　　〃How　the　devil　are　we　going
to　get　out　of　this？〃

Mr。　Horser　left　the　room　and　returned　with　a　tumbler　full　of　brandy
and　a　very　little　water。

〃Take　a　drink　yourself；〃　he　said。　　〃It'll　steady　you。

〃Oh；　I'm　steady　enough；〃　Mr。　Mace　replied　impatiently。　　〃I　want　to
know　how　you're　going　to　get　us　out　of　this。　　What　was　the　charge；
anyhow？〃

〃Passing　forged　bills；〃　Horser　answered。　　〃Parsons　fixed　it　up。〃

Mr。　Mace　turned　a　shade　paler。

〃Where　the　devil's　the　sense　in　a　charge　like　that？〃　he　answered
fiercely。　　〃The　man's　a　millionaire。　　He'll　turn　the　tables　on　us
nicely。〃

〃We've　got　to　keep　him　till　after　the　Campania　sails；　anyhow；〃
Horser　said　doggedly。

〃We're　not　going　to　keep　him　ten　minutes；〃　Mace　replied。　　〃I'm　going
to　sign　the　order　for　his　release。〃

Horser's　speech　was　thick　with　drunken　fury。　　〃By　…　I'll　see　that
you　don't！〃　he　exclaimed。

Mace　turned　upon　him　angrily。

〃You　selfish　fool！〃　he　muttered。　　〃You're　not　in　the　thing；　anyhow。
If　you　think　I'm　going　to　risk　my　position　for　the　sake　of　one
little　job　you're　wrong。　　I　shall　go　down　myself　and　release　him；
with　an　apology。〃

〃He'll