the yellow crayon-第16章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


face　was　unruffled；　almost　undisturbed。　　Yet　underneath　he　was
wondering　fiercely；　eagerly；　how　this　might　serve　his　ends。

〃The　circumstances；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃are　peculiar。　　I　think　that
we　should　do　well　to　consult　together　…　you　and　I；　Felix；　and
Raoul　here。〃

The　two　men　named　rose　up　silently。　　The　Prince　pointed　to　a
small　round　table　at　the　farther　end　of　the　apartment；　half
screened　off　by　a　curtained　recess。

〃Am　I　also；〃　Mr。　Sabin　asked；　〃of　your　company？〃

The　Prince　shook　his　head。

〃I　think　not；〃　he　said。　　〃In　a　few　moments　we　will　return。〃

Mr。　Sabin　moved　away　with　a　slight　enigmatic　gesture。　　Lucille
gathered　up　her　skirts；　making　room　for　him　by　her　side　on　a
small　sofa。

〃It　is　delightful　to　see　you；　Victor；〃　she　murmured。　　〃It　is
delightful　to　know　that　you　trusted　me。〃

Mr。　Sabin　looked　at　her；　and　the　smile　which　no　other　woman　had
ever　seen　softened　for　a　moment　his　face。

〃Dear　Lucille；〃　he　murmured；　〃how　could　you　ever　doubt　it？　　There
was　a　day；　I　admit；　when　the　sun　stood　still；　when；　if　I　had　felt
inclined　to　turn　to　light　literature；　I　should　have　read　aloud
the　Book　of　Job。　　But　afterwards　…　well；　you　see　that　I　am　here。〃

She　laughed。

〃I　knew　that　you　would　come；〃　she　said；　〃and　yet　I　knew　that　it
would　be　a　struggle　between　you　and　them。　　For　…　the　Prince　…　〃　she
murmured；　lowering　her　voice；　〃had　pledged　his　word　to　keep　us
apart。〃

Mr。　Sabin　raised　his　head；　and　his　eyes　traveled　towards　the
figure　of　the　man　who　sat　with　his　back　to　them　in　the　far　distant
corner　of　the　room。

〃The　Prince；〃　he　said　softly；　〃is　faithful　to　his　ancient　enmities。〃

Lucille's　face　was　troubled。　　She　turned　to　her　companion　with　a
little　grimace。

〃He　would　have　me　believe；〃　she　murmured；　〃that　he　is　faithful　to
other　things　besides　his　enmities。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。

〃I　am　not　jealous；〃　he　said　softly；　〃of　the　Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer！〃　

As　though　attracted　by　the　mention　of　his　name；　which　must；　however；
have　been　unheard　by　him；　the　Prince　at　that　moment　turned　round　and
looked　for　a　moment　towards　them。　　He　shot　a　quick　glance　at　Lady
Carey。　　Almost　at　once　she　rose　from　her　chair　and　came　across　to
them。

〃The　Prince's　watch…dog；〃　Lucille　murmured。　　〃Hateful　woman！　　She　is
bound　hand　and　foot　to　him；　and　yet　…　〃

Her　eyes　met　his；　and　he　laughed。

〃Really；〃　he　said；　〃you　and　I　in　our　old　age　might　be　hero　and
heroine　of　a　little　romance　…　the　undesiring　objects　of　a　hopeless
affection！〃　

Lady　Carey　sank　into　a　low　chair　by　their　side。　　〃You　two；〃　she
said；　with　a　slow；　malicious　smile；　〃are　a　pattern　to　this　wicked
world。　　Don't　you　know　that　such　fidelity　is　positively　sinful；　and
after　three　years　in　such　a　country　too？〃

〃It　is　the　approach　of　senility；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered　her。　　〃I　am
an　old　man；　Lady　Muriel！〃

She　shrugged　her　shoulders。

〃You　are　like　Ulysses；〃　she　said。　　〃The　gods；　or　rather　the
goddesses；　have　helped　you　towards　immortality。〃

〃It　is；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered；　〃the　moss　delicious　piece　of　flattery
I　have　ever　heard。〃

〃Calypso；〃　she　murmured；　nodding　towards　Lucille；　〃is　by　your　side。〃

〃Really；〃　Mr。　Sabin　interrupted；　〃I　must　protest。　　Lucille　and　I
were　married　by　a　most　respectable　Episcopalian　clergyman。　　We　have
documentary　evidence。　　Besides；　if　Lucille　is　Calypso；　what　about
Penelope？〃

Lady　Carey　smiled　thoughtfully。

〃I　have　always　thought；〃　she　said；　〃that　Penelope　was　a　myth。　　In
your　case　I　should　say　that　Penelope　represents　a　return　to　sanity
　…　to　the　ordinary　ways　of　life。〃

Mr。　Sabin　and　Lucille　exchanged　swift　glances。　　He　raised　his
eyebrows。

〃Our　little　idyll；〃　he　said；　〃seems　to　be　the　sport　and　buffet　of
every　one。　　You　forget　that　I　am　of　the　old　world。　　I　do　not
understand　modernity。〃

〃Ulysses；〃　she　answered；　〃was　of　the　old　world；　yet　he　was　a
wanderer　in　more　senses　of　the　word　than　one　And　there　have　been
times　…　〃

Her　eyes　sought　his。　　He　ignored　absolutely　the　subtlety　of　meaning
which　lurked　beneath　the　heavy　drooping　eyelids。

〃One　travels　through　life；〃　he　answered；　〃by　devious　paths；　and　a　
little　wandering　in　the　flower…gardens　by　the　way　is　the　lot　of　every
one。　　But　when　the　journey　is　over；　one's　taste　for　wandering　has
gone　…　well；　Ulysses　finished　his　days　at　the　hearth　of　Penelope。〃

She　rose　and　walked　away。　　Mr。　Sabin　sat　still　and　watched　her　as
though　listening　to　the　soft　sweep　of　her　gown　upon　the　carpet。

〃Hateful　woman！〃　Lucille　exclaimed　lightly。　　〃To　make　love；　and
such　love；　to　one's　lawful　husband　before　one's　face　is　a　little
crude；　don't　you　think？〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃Too　obvious；〃　he　answered。　　〃She　is　playing　the　Prince's　game。
Dear　me；　how　interesting　this　will　be　soon。〃

She　nodded。　　A　faint　smile　of　bitterness　had　stolen　into　her　tone。

〃Already；〃　she　said；　〃you　are　beginning　to　scent　the　delight　of
the　atmosphere。　　You　are　stiffening　for　the　fight。　　Soon　…　〃

〃Ah；　no！　　Don't　say　it；〃　he　whispered；　taking　her　hand。　　〃I　shall
never　forget。　　If　the　fight　seems　good　to　me　it　is　because　you　are
the　prize；　and　after　all；　you　know；　to　fight　for　one's　womenkind
is　amongst　the　primeval　instincts。〃

Lady　Carey；　who　had　been　pacing　the　room　restlessly；　touching　an
ornament　here；　looking　at　a　picture　there；　came　back　to　them　and
stood　before　Mr。　Sabin。　　She　had　caught　his　last　words。

〃Primeval　instincts！〃　she　exclaimed　mockingly。　　〃What　do　you　know
about　them；　you　of　all　men；　a　bundle　of　nerves　and　brains；　with　a
motor　for　a　heart；　and　an　automatic　brake　upon　your　passions？　　Upon
my　word；　I　believe　that　I　have　solved　the　mystery　of　your　perennial
youth。　　You　have　found　a　way　of　substituting　machinery　for　the　human
organ；　and　you　are　wound　up　to　go　for　ever。〃

〃You　have　found　me　out；〃　he　admitted。　　〃Professor　Penningram　of
Chicago　will　supply　you　too　with　an　outfit。　　Mention　my　name　if　you
like。　　It　is　a　wonderful　country　America。〃

The　Prince　came　over　to　them；　fair　and　bland　with　no　trace　upon　his
smooth　features　or　in　his　half…jesting　tone　of　any　evil　things。

〃Souspennier；〃　he　said；　holding　out　his　hand；　〃welcome　back　once
more　to　your　old　place。　　I　am　happy　to　say　that　there　appears　to　be
no　reason　why　your　claim　should　not　be　fully　admitted。〃

Mr。　Sabin　rose　to　his　feet。

〃I　presume；〃　he　said；　〃that　no　very　active　demands　are　likely　to　be
made　upon　my　services。　　In　this　country　more　than　any　other　I　fear
that　the　possibilities　of　my　aid　are　scanty。〃

The　Prince　smiled。

〃It　is　a　fact；〃　he　said；　〃which　we　all　appreciate。　　Upon　you　at
present　we　make　no　claim。〃

There　was　a　moment's　intense　silence。　　A　steely　light　glittered　in
Mr。　Sabin's　eyes。　　He　and　the　Prince　alone　remained　standing。　　The
Duchess　of　Dorset　watched　them　through　her　lorgnettes；　Lady　Carey
watched　too　with　an　intense　eagerness；　her　eyes　alight　with　mingled
cruelty　and　excitement。　　Lucille's　eyes　were　so　bright　that　one
might　readily　believe　the　tears　to　be　glistening　beneath。


CHAPTER　XIX

I　will　not　pretend；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃to　misunderstand　you。　　My
help　is　not　required　by　you　in　this　enterprise；　whatever　it　may　be；
in　which　you　are　engaged。　　On　the　contrary；　you　have　tried　by　many
and　various　ways　to　keep　me　at　a　distance。　　But　I　am　here；　Prince
　…　here　to　be　dealt　with　and　treated　according　to　my　rights。〃

The　Prince　stroked　his　fair　moustache。

〃I　am　a　little　puzzled；〃　he　admitted；　〃as　to　this　…　shall　I　not
call　it　self…assertiveness？　…　on　the　part　of　my　good　friend
Souspennier。〃

〃I　will　make　it　quite　clear　then；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃Lucille；
will　you　favour　me　by　ringing　for　your　maid。　　The　carriage　is　at
the　door。〃

The　Prince　held　out　his　hand。

〃My　dear　Souspennier；〃　he　said；　〃you　must　not　think　of　taking
Lucille　away　from　us。〃

〃Indeed；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered　coolly。　　〃Why　not？〃

〃It　must　be　obvious　to　you；〃　the　Prince　answered；　〃that　we　did　not
send　to　America　for　Lucille　without　an　object。　　She　is　now　engaged
in　an　important　work　upon　our　behalf。　　It　is　necessary　that　she
should　remain　under　this　roof。〃

〃I　demand；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃that　the　nature　of　that　necessity
should　be　made　clear　to　me。〃

The　Prince　smiled　with　the　air　of　one　disposed　to　humour　a　wilful
child。

〃Come！〃　he　said。　　〃You　must　know　very　well　that　I　cannot　stand　here
and　tell　you　the　bare　outline；　much　less　the　details　of　an　important
movement。　　To…morrow；　at　any　hour　you　choose；　one　from　amongst　us
shall　explain　the　whole　matter　…　and　the　part　to　be　borne　in　it　by
the　Countess！〃　

〃And　to…night？〃　Mr。　Sabin　asked。

The　Prince　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　glanced　at　the　clock。

〃To…night；　my　dear　friend；〃　he　said；　〃all　of　us；　I　believe；　go　on
to　a　ball　at　Carmarthen　House。　　It　would　grieve　me　also；　I　am　sure；
Duke；　to　seem　inhospitable；　but　I　am　compelled　to　mention　the　fact
that　the　hour　for　which　the　carriages　have　been　ordered　is　already
at　hand。〃

Mr。　Sabin　reflected　for　a　few　moments。

〃Did　I　understand　you　to　say；〃　he　asked；　〃that　the　help　to　be　given
to　you　by　my　wife；　Lucille；　Duchess　of　Souspennier；　entailed　her
remaining　under　this　roof？〃

The　Prince　smiled　seraphically。

〃It　is　unfortunate；〃　he　murmured；　〃since　you　have　been　so　gallant
as　to　follow　her；　but　it　is　true！　　You　will　understand　this
perfectly　…　to…morrow。〃

〃And　why　should　I　wait　until　to…morrow？〃　Mr。　Sabin　asked　coolly。

〃I　fear；〃　the　Prince　said；　〃that　it　is　a　matter　of　necessity。〃

Mr。　Sabin　glanced　for　a　moment　in　turn　at　the　faces　of　all　the
little　company　as　though　seeking　to　discover　how　far　the　attitude
of　his　opponent　met　with　their　approval。　　Lady　Carey's　thin　lips
were　curved　in　a　smile；　and　her　eyes　met　his　mockingly。　　The
others　remained　imperturbable。　　Last　of　all　he　looked　at　Lucille。

〃It　seems；〃　he　said；　smiling　towards　her；　〃that　I　am　called　upon
to　pay　a　heavy　entrance　fee　on　my　return　amongst　your　friends。　　But
the　Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer　forgets　that　he　has　shown　me　no
authority；　or　given　me　no　valid　reason　why　I　should　tolerate　such
flagrant　interference　with　my　personal　affairs。〃

〃To…morrow　…　to…morrow；　my　good　sir！〃　the　Prince　interrupted。

〃No！　　To…night！〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered　sharply。　　〃Lucille；　in　the
absence　of　any　reasonable　explanation；　I　challenge　the　right　of　the
Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer　to　rob　me　even　for　an　hour　of　my　dearest
possession。　　I　appeal　to　you。　　Come　with　me　and　remain　with　me
until　it　has　been　proved；　if　ever　it　can　be　proved；　that　greater
interests　require　our　separation。　　If　there　be　blame　I　will　take　it。
Will　you　trust　yourself　to　me

Lucille　half　rose；　but　Lady　Carey's　hand　was　heavy　upon　her
shoulder。　　As　though　by　a　careless　movement　General　Dolinski　and
Raoul　de　Brouillac　altered　their　positions　slightly　so　as　to　come
between　the　two。　　The　Duke　of　Dorset　had　left　the　room。　　Then　Mr。
Sabin　knew　that　they　were　all　against　him。

〃Lucille；〃　he　said；　〃have　courage！　　I　wait　for　you。〃

She　looked　towards　him；　and　her　face　puzzled　him。　　For　there
flashed　across　the　shoulders　of　these　people　a　glance　which　was
wholly　out　of　harmony　with　his　own　state　of　barely　subdued　passion
　…　a　glance　half　tender；　half　humorous；　full　of　subtle　promise。
Yet　her　words　were　a　blow　to　him。

〃Victor；　how　is　it　possible？　　Beli