the yellow crayon-第10章

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for　desiring　her　present　whereabouts　to　remain　unknown。　　I　should
perhaps　not　have　mentioned　her　name　at　all。　　It　was；　I　fancy；
indiscreet　of　me。　　The　coincidence　of　hearing　you　mention　the　name
of　the　place　where　I　believe　she　resided　surprised　my　question。
With　your　permission　we　will　abandon　the　subject。〃

〃You　disappoint　me；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said　quietly。　　〃It　would　have　given
me　much　pleasure　to　have　resumed　my　acquaintance　with　the　lady　in
question。〃

〃You　will；　without　doubt；　have　an　opportunity；〃　Mr。　Brott　said；
glancing　at　his　watch　and　suddenly　rising。　　〃Dear　me；　how　the　time
goes。〃

He　rose　to　his　feet。　　Mr。　Sabin　also　rose。

〃Must　I　understand；〃　he　said　in　a　low　tone；　〃that　you　are　not　at
liberty　to　give　me　Mrs。　Peterson's　address？〃

〃I　am　not　at　liberty　even；〃　Mr。　Brott　answered；　with　a　frown；　〃to
mention　her　name。　　It　will　give　me　great　pleasure；　Duke；　to　better
my　acquaintance　with　you。　　Will　you　dine　with　me　at　the　House　of
Commons　one　night　next　week？〃

〃I　shall　be　charmed；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃My　address　for　the　next
few　days　is　at　the　Carlton。　　I　am　staying　there　under　my　family
name　of　Sabin　…　Mr。　Sabin。　　It　is　a　fancy　of　mine　…　it　has　been　ever
since　I　became　an　alien　…　to　use　my　title　as　little　as　possible。〃

Mr。　Brott　looked　for　a　moment　puzzled。

〃Your　pseudonym；〃　he　remarked　thoughtfully；　〃seems　very　familiar
to　me。〃

Mr。　Sabin　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃It　is　a　family　name；〃　he　remarked；　〃but　I　flattered　myself　that　it
was　at　least　uncommon。〃

〃Fancy；　no　doubt；〃　Mr。　Brott　remarked；　turning　to　make　his　adieux
to　his　hostess。

Mr。　Sabin　joined　a　fresh　group　of　idlers　under　the　palms。　　Mr。
Brott　lingered　over　his　farewells。

〃Your　UNCLE；　Lady　Camperdown；〃　he　said；　〃is　delightful。　　I　enjoy
meeting　new　types；　and　he　represents　to　me　most　perfectly　the　old
order　of　French　aristocracy。〃

〃I　am　glad；〃　Helene　said；　〃that　you　found　him　interesting。　　I　felt
sure　you　would。　　In　fact；　I　asked　him　especially　to　meet　you。〃

〃You　are　the　most　thoughtful　of　hostesses；〃　he　assured　her。　　〃By
the　bye；　your　UNCLE　has　just　told　me　the　name　by　which　he　is　known
at　the　hotel。　　Mr。　Sabin！　　Sabin！　　It　recalls　something　to　my　mind。
I　cannot　exactly　remember　what。〃

She　smiled　upon　him。　　People　generally　forgot　things　when　Helene
smiled。

〃It　is　an　odd　fancy　of　his　to　like　his　title　so　little；〃　she
remarked。　　〃At　heart　no　one　is　prouder　of　their　family　and
antecedents。　　I　have　heard　him　say；　though；　that　an　exile　had
better　leave　behind　him　even　his　name。〃

〃Sabin！〃　Mr。　Brott　repeated。　　〃Sabin！〃

〃It　is　an　old　family　name；〃　she　murmured。

His　face　suddenly　cleared。　　She　knew　that　he　had　remembered。　　But
he　took　his　leave　with　no　further　reference　to　it。

〃Sabin！〃　he　repeated　to　himself　when　alone　in　his　carriage。　　〃That
was　the　name　of　the　man　who　was　supposed　to　be　selling　plans　to　the
German　Government。　　Poor　Renshaw　was　in　a　terrible　stew　about　it。
Sabin！　　An　uncommon　name。〃

He　had　ordered　the　coachman　to　drive　to　the　House　of　Commons。
Suddenly　he　pulled　the　check…string。

〃Call　at　Dorset　House；〃　he　directed。

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Mr。　Sabin　lingered　till　nearly　the　last　of　the　guests　had　gone。
Then　he　led　Helene　once　more　into　the　winter　gardens。

〃May　I　detain　you　for　one　moment's　gossip？〃　he　asked。　　〃I　see　your
carriage　at　the　door。〃

She　laughed。

〃It　is　nothing；〃　she　declared。　　〃I　must　drive　in　the　Park　for　an
hour。　　One　sees　one's　friends；　and　it　is　cool　and　refreshing　after
these　heated　rooms。　　But　at　any　time。　　Talk　to　me　as　long　as　you
will；　and　then　I　will　drop　you　at　the　Carlton。〃

〃It　is　of　Brott！〃　he　remarked。　　〃Ah；　I　thank　you；　I　will　smoke。
Your　husband's　taste　in　cigarettes　is　excellent。〃

〃Perhaps　mine！〃　she　laughed。

Mr。　Sabin　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃In　either　case　I　congratulate　you。　　This　man　Brott。　　He　interests
me。〃

〃He　interests　every　one。　　Why　not？　　He　is　a　great　personality。〃

〃Politically；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃the　gauge　of　his　success　is　of
course　the　measure　of　the　man。　　But　he　himself　…　what　manner　of　a
man　is　he？〃

She　tapped　with　her　fingers　upon　the　little　table　by　their　side。

〃He　is　rich；〃　she　said；　〃and　an　uncommon　mixture　of　the　student
and　the　man　of　society。　　He　refuses　many　more　invitations　than　he
accepts；　he　entertains　very　seldom　but　very　magnificently。　　He　has
never　been　known　to　pay　marked　attentions　to　any　woman；　even　the
scandal　of　the　clubs　has　passed　him　by。　　What　else　can　I　say　about
him；　I　wonder？〃　she　continued　reflectively。　　〃Nothing；　I　think；
except　this。　　He　is　a　strong　man。　　You　know　that　that　counts　for
much。〃

Mr。　Sabin　was　silent。　　Perhaps　he　was　measuring　his　strength　in　some
imagined　encounter　with　this　man。　　Something　in　his　face　alarmed
Helene。　　She　suddenly　leaned　forward　and　looked　at　him　more　closely。

〃UNCLE；〃　she　exclaimed　in　a　low　voice；　〃there　is　something　on　your
mind。　　Do　not　tell　me　that　once　more　you　are　in　the　maze；　that
again　you　have　schemes　against　this　country。〃

He　smiled　at　her　sadly　enough；　but　she　was　reassured。

〃You　need　have　no　fear；〃　he　told　her。　　〃With　politics　…　I　have
finished。　　Why　I　am　here；　what　I　am　here　for　I　will　tell　you　very
soon。　　It　is　to　find　one　whom　I　have　lost　…　and　who　is　dear　to　me。
Forgive　me　if　for　to…day　I　say　no　more。　　Come；　if　you　will　you　shall
drive　me　to　my　hotel。〃

He　offered　his　arm　with　the　courtly　grace　which　he　knew　so　well　how
to　assume。　　Together　they　passed　out　to　her　carriage。


CHAPTER　XII

After　all；〃　Lady　Carey　sighed；　throwing　down　a　racing　calendar
and　lighting　a　cigarette；　〃London　is　the　only　thoroughly　civilized
Anglo…Saxon　capital　in　the　world。　　Please　don't　look　at　me　like
that；　Duchess。　　I　know　…　this　is　your　holy　of　holies；　but　the　Duke
smokes　here　…　I've　seen　him。　　My　cigarettes　are　very　tiny　and　very
harmless。〃

The　Duchess；　who　wore　gold…rimmed　spectacles；　and　was　a　person　of
weight　in　the　councils　of　the　Primrose　League；　went　calmly　on　with
her　knitting。

〃My　dear　Muriel；〃　she　said；　〃if　my　approval　or　disapproval　was　of
the　slightest　moment　to　you；　it　is　not　your　smoking　of　which　I
should　first　complain。　　I　know；　however；　that　you　consider　yourself
a　privileged　person。　　Pray　do　exactly　as　you　like；　but　don't　drop
the　ashes　upon　the　carpet。〃

Lady　Carey　laughed　softly。

〃I　suppose　I　am　rather　a　thorn　in　your　side　as　a　relative；〃　she
remarked。　　〃You　must　put　it　down　to　the　roving　blood　of　my　ancestors。
I　could　no　more　live　the　life　of　you　other　women　than　I　could　fly。
I　must　have　excitement；　movement；　all　the　time。〃

A　tall；　heavily　built　man；　who　had　been　reading　some　letters　at　the
other　end　of　the　room；　came　sauntering　up　to　them。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃you　assuredly　live　up　to　your　principles；　for　you
travel　all　over　the　world　as　though　it　were　one　vast　playground。〃

〃And　sometimes；〃　she　remarked；　〃my　journeys　are　not　exactly
successful。　　I　know　that　that　is　what　you　are　dying　to　say。〃

〃On　the　contrary；〃　he　said；　〃I　do　not　blame　you　at　all　for　this　last
affair。　　You　brought　Lucille　here；　which　was　excellent。　　Your
failure　as　regards　Mr。　Sabin　is　scarcely　to　be　fastened　upon　you。
It　is　Horser　whom　we　hold　responsible　for　that。〃

She　laughed。

〃Poor　Horser！　　It　was　rather　rough　to　pit　a　creature　like　that
against　Souspennier。〃

The　man　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃Horser；〃　he　said；　〃may　not　be　brilliant；　but　he　had　a　great
organisation　at　his　back。　　Souspennier　was　without　friends　or
influence。　　The　contest　should　scarcely　have　been　so　one…sided。　　To
tell　you　the　truth；　my　dear　Muriel；　I　am　more　surprised　that　you
yourself　should　have　found　the　task　beyond　you。〃

Lady　Carey's　face　darkened。

〃It　was　too　soon　after　the　loss　of　Lucille；〃　she　said；　〃and　besides；
there　was　his　vanity　to　be　reckoned　with。　　It　was　like　a　challenge
to　him；　and　he　had　taken　up　the　glove　before　I　returned　to　New　York。〃

The　Duchess　looked　up　from　her　work。

〃Have　you　had　any　conversation　with　my　husband；　Prince？〃　she　asked。

The　Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer　twirled　his　heavy　moustache　and　sank
into　a　chair　between　the　two　women。

〃I　have　had　a　long　talk　with　him；〃　he　announced。　　〃And　the　result？〃
the　Duchess　asked。

〃The　result　I　fear　you　would　scarcely　consider　satisfactory；〃　the
Prince　declared。　　〃The　moment　that　I　hinted　at　the　existence　of
　…　er　…　conditions　of　which　you；　Duchess；　are　aware；　he　showed　alarm；
and　I　had　all　that　I　could　do　to　reassure　him。　　I　find　it　everywhere
amongst　your　aristocracy　…　this　stubborn　confidence　in　the　existence
of　the　reigning　order　of　things；　this　absolute　detestation　of
anything　approaching　intrigue。〃

〃My　dear　man；　I　hope　you　don't　include　me；〃　Lady　Carey　exclaimed。

〃You；　Lady　Muriel；〃　he　answered；　with　a　slow　smile；　〃are　an
exception　to　all　rules。　　No；　you　are　a　rule　by　yourself。〃

〃To　revert　to　the　subject　then　for　a　moment；〃　the　Duchess　said
stiffly。　　〃You　have　made　no　progress　with　the　Duke？〃

〃None　whatever；〃　Saxe　Leinitzer　admitted。　　〃He　was　sufficiently
emphatic　to　inspire　me　with　every　caution。　　Even　now　I　have　doubts
as　to　whether　I　have　altogether　reassured　him。　　I　really　believe；
dear　Duchess；　that　we　should　be　better　off　if　you　could　persuade
him　to　go　and　live　upon　his　estates。〃

The　Duchess　smiled　grimly。

〃Whilst　the　House　of　Lords　exists；〃　she　remarked；　〃you　will　never
succeed　in　keeping　Algernon　away　from　London。　　He　is　always　on　the
point　of　making　a　speech；　although　he　never　does　it。〃

〃I　have　heard　of　that　speech；〃　Lady　Carey　drawled；　from　her　low
seat。　　〃It　is　to　be　a　thoroughly　enlightening　affair。　　All　the
great　social　questions　are　to　be　permanently　disposed　of。　　The
Prime　Minister　will　come　on　his　knees　and　beg　Algernon　to　take　his
place。〃

The　Duchess　looked　up　over　her　knitting。；

〃Algernon　is　at　least　in　earnest；〃　she　remarked　drily。　　〃And　he
has　the　good　conscience　of　a　clean　living　and　honest　man。〃

〃What　an　unpleasant　possession　it　must　be；〃　Lady　Carey　remarked
sweetly。　　〃I　disposed　of　my　conscience　finally　many　years　ago。　　I
am　not　sure；　but　I　believe　that　it　was　the　Prince　to　whom　I
entrusted　the　burying　of　it。　　By　the　bye；　Lucille　will　be　here
directly；　I　suppose。　　Is　she　to　be　told　of　Souspennier's　arrival
in　London？〃

〃I　imagine；〃　the　Prince　said；　with　knitted　brows；　〃that　it　will　not
be　wise　to　keep　it　from　her。　　It　is　impossible　to　conceal　her
whereabouts；　and　the　papers　will　very　shortly　acquaint　her　with　his。〃

〃And；〃　Lady　Carey　asked；　〃how　does　the　little　affair　progress？〃

〃Admirably；〃　the　Prince　answered。　　〃Already　some　of　the　Society
papers　are　beginning　to　chatter　about　the　friendship　existing
between　a　Cabinet　Minister　and　a　beautiful　Hungarian　lady　of　title；
etc。；　etc。　　The　fact　of　it　is　that　Brott　is　in　deadly　earnest。　　He
gives　himself　away　every　time。　　If　Lucille　has　not　lost　old
cleverness　she　will　be　able　to　twist　him　presently　around　her　little
finger。〃

〃If　only　some　one　would　twist　him　on　the　rack；〃　the　Duchess
murmured　vindictively。　　〃I　tried　to　read　one　of　his　speeches　the　other
day。　It　was　nothing　more　nor　less　than　blasphemy。　　I　do　not　think　that　I
am　naturally　a　cruel　woman；　but　I　would　hand　such　men　over　to　the
public　executioner　with　joy。〃