the yellow crayon-第17章

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Yet　her　words　were　a　blow　to　him。

〃Victor；　how　is　it　possible？　　Believe　me；　I　come　if　I　could。
To…morrow　…　very　soon；　it　may　be　possible。　　But　now。　　You　hear　what
the　Prince　says。　　I　fear　that　he　is　right！〃　

To　Mr。　Sabin　the　shock　was　an　unexpected　one。　　He　had　never　doubted
but　that　she　at　least　was　his　side。　　Her　words　found　him　unprepared；
and　a　moment　he　showed　his　discomfiture。　　His　recovery　however；　was
swift　and　amazing。　　He　bowed　to　Lucille；　and　by　the　time　he　raised
his　head　even　the　reproach　had　gone　from　his　eyes。

〃Dear　lady；〃　he　said；　〃I　will　not　venture　to　dispute　your　decision。
Prince；　will　you　appoint　a　time　to…morrow　when　this　matter　shall　be
more　fully　explained　to　me？〃

The　Prince's　smile　was　sweetness　itself；　and　his　tone　very　gentle。
But　Mr。　Sabin；　who　seldom　yielded　to　any　passionate　impulse；　kept
his　teeth　set　and　his　hand　clenched；　lest　the　blow　he　longed　to
deal　should　escape　him。

〃At　midday　to…morrow　I　shall　be　pleased　to　receive　you；〃　he　said。
〃The　Countess；　with　her　usual　devotion　and　good　sense；　has；　I　trust；
convinced　you　that　our　action　is　necessary！〃　

〃To…morrow　at　midday；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃I　will　be　here。　　I　have　the
honour　to　wish　you　all　good…night。〃

His　farewell　was　comprehensive。　　He　did　not　even　single　out　Lucille
for　a　parting　glance。　　But　down　the　broad　stairs　and　across　the
hall　of　Dorset　House　he　passed　with　weary　steps；　leaning　heavily
upon　his　stick。　　It　was　a　heavy　blow　which　had　fallen　upon　him。　　As
yet　he　scarcely　realised　it。

His　carriage　was　delayed　for　a　few　moments；　and　just　as　he　was
entering　it　a　young　woman；　plainly　dressed　in　black；　came　hurrying
out　and　slipped　a　note　into　his　hand。

〃Pardon；　monsieur；〃　she　exclaimed；　with　a　smile。　　I　feared　that　I
was　too　late。〃

Mr。　Sabin's　fingers　closed　over　the　note；　and　he　stepped　blithely
into　the　carriage。　　But　when　he　tore　it　open　and　saw　the　handwriting
he　permitted　himself　a　little　groan　of　disappointment。　　It　was　not
from　her。　　He　read　the　few　lines　and　crushed　the　sheet　of　paper　in
his　hand。

　　〃I　am　having　supper　at　the　Carlton　with　some　friends　on　our　way
　　to　C。　H。　　I　want　to　speak　to　you　for　a　moment。　　Be　in　the　Palm
　　Court　at　12。15；　but　do　not　recognise　me　until　I　come　to　you。　　If
　　possible　keep　out　of　sight。　　If　you　should　have　left　my　maid　will
　　bring　this　on　to　your　hotel。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃M。　C。〃

Mr。　Sabin　leaned　back　in　his　carriage；　and　a　frown　of　faint
perplexity　contracted　his　forehead。

If　I　were　a　younger　man；〃　he　murmured　to　himself；　〃I　might　believe
that　this　woman　was　really　in　earnest；　as　well　as　being　Saxe
Leinitzer's　jackal。　　We　were　friendly　enough　in　Paris　that　year。
She　is　unscrupulous　enough；　of　course。　　Always　with　some　odd　fancy
for　the　grotesque　or　unlikely。　　I　wonder　…　〃

He　pulled　the　check…string；　and　was　driven　to　Camperdown　House。　　A
great　many　people　were　coming　and　going。　　Mr。　Sabin　found　Helene's
maid；　and　learnt　that　her　mistress　was　just　going　to　her　room；　and
would　be　alone　for　a　few　minutes。　　He　scribbled　a　few　words　on　the
back　of　a　card；　and　was　at　once　taken　up　to　her　boudoir。

〃My　dear　UNCLE；〃　Helene　exclaimed；　〃you　have　arrived　most
opportunely。　　We　have　just　got　rid　of　a　few　dinner　people；　and　we
are　going　on　to　Carmarthen　House　presently。　　Take　that　easy…chair；
please；　and；　light　a　cigarette。　　Will　you　have　a　liqueur？　　Wolfendon
has　some　old　brandy　which　every　one　seems　to　think　wonderful。〃

〃You　are　very　kind；　Helene；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃I　cannot　refuse
anything　which　you　offer　in　so　charming　a　manner。　　But　I　shall　not
keep　you　more　than　a　few　minutes。〃

〃We　need　not　leave　for　an　hour；〃　Helene　said；　〃and　I　am　dressed
except　for　my　jewels。　　Tell　me；　have　you　seen　Lucille？　　I　am　so
anxious　to　know。〃

〃I　have　seen　Lucille　this　evening；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。

〃At　Dorset　House！〃　

〃Yes。〃

Helene　sat　down；　smiling。

〃Do　tell　me　all　about　it。〃

〃There　is　very　little　to　tell；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。

〃She　is　with　you　…　she　returns　at　least！〃
　
Mr。　Sabin　shook　his　head。

〃No；〃　he　answered。　　〃She　remains　at　Dorset　House。〃

Helene　was　silent。　　Mr。　Sabin　smoked　pensively　a　moment　or　two；　and
sipped　the　liqueur　which　Camperdown's　own　servant　had　just　brought
him。

〃It　is　very　hard；　Helene；〃　he　said；　〃to　make　you　altogether
understand　the　situation；　for　there　are　certain　phases　of　it　which
I　cannot　discuss　with　you　at　all。　　I　have　made　my　first　effort　to
regain　Lucille；　and　it　has　failed。　　It　is　not　her　fault。　　I　need
not　say　that　it　is　not　mine。　　But　the　struggle　has　commenced；　and
in　the　end　I　shall　win。〃

〃Lucille　herself　…　〃　Helene　began　hesitatingly。

〃Lucille　is；　I　firmly　believe；　as　anxious　to　return　to　me　as　I　am
anxious　to　have　her；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。

Helene　threw　up　her　hands。

〃It　is　bewildering；〃　she　exclaimed。

〃It　must　seem　so　to　you；〃　Mr。　Sabin　admitted。

〃I　wish　that　Lucille　were　anywhere　else；〃　Helene　said。　　〃The　Dorset
House　set；　you　know；　although　they　are　very　smart　and　very
exclusive；　have　a　somewhat　peculiar　reputation。　　Lady　Carey；
although　she　is　such　a　brilliant　woman；　says　and　does　the　most
insolent；　the　most　amazing　things；　and　the　Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer
goes　everywhere　in　Europe　by　the　name　of　the　Royal　libertine。　　They
are　powerful　enough　almost　to　dominate　society；　and　we　poor　people
who　abide　by　the　conventions　are　absolutely　nowhere　beside　them。
They　think　that　we　are　bourgeois　because　we　have　virtue；　and
prehistoric　because　we　are　not　decadent。〃

〃The　Duke　…　〃　Mr。　Sabin　remarked。

〃Oh；　the　Duke　is　quite　different；　of　course；〃　Helene　admitted。
〃He　is　a　fanatical　Tory；　very　stupid；　very　blind　to　anything　except
his　beloved　Primrose　League。　　How　he　came　to　lend　himself　to　the
vagaries　of　such　a　set　I　cannot　imagine。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。

〃C'est　la　femme　toujours！〃　he　remarked。　　〃His　Grace　is；　I　fear；
henpecked；　and　the　Duchess　herself　is　the　sport　of　cleverer　people。
And　now；　my　dear　niece；　I　see　that　the　time　is　going。　　I　came　to
know　if　you　could　get　me　a　card　for　the　ball　at　Carmarthen　House
to…night。〃

Helene　laughed　softly。

〃Very　easily；　my　dear　UNCLE。　　Lady　Carmarthen　is　Wolfendon's　cousin；
you　know；　and　a　very　good　friend　of　mine。　　I　have　half　a　dozen　blank
cards　here。　　Shall　I　really　see　you　there？〃

〃I　believe　so；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。

〃And　Lucille？〃

〃It　is　possible。〃

〃There　is　nothing　I　suppose　which　I　can　do　in　the　way　of
intervention；　or　anything　of　that　sort？〃

Mr。　Sabin　shook　his　head。

〃Lucille　and　I　are　the　best　of　friends；〃　he　answered。　　〃Talk　to　her；
if　you　will。　　By　the　bye；　is　that　twelve　o'clock？　　I　must　hurry。
Doubtless　we　shall　meet　again　at　the　ball。〃

But　Carmarthen　House　saw　nothing　of　Mr。　Sabin　that　night。


CHAPTER　XX

Mr。　Sabin　from　his　seat　behind　a　gigantic　palm　watched　her　egress
from　the　supper…room　with　a　little　group　of　friends。

They　came　to　a　halt　in　the　broad　carpeted　way　only　a　few　feet　from
him。　　Lady　Carey；　in　a　wonderful　green　gown；　her　neck　and　bosom
ablaze　with　jewels；　seemed　to　be　making　her　farewells。

〃I　must　go　in　and　see　the　De　Lausanacs；〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃They　are
in　the　blue　room　supping　with　the　Portuguese　Ambassador。　　I　shall
be　at　Carmarthen　House　within　half　an　hour　…　unless　my　headache
becomes　unbearable。　　Au　revoir；　all　of　you。　　Good…bye；　Laura！〃

Her　friends　passed　on　towards　the　great　swing　doors。　　Lady　Carey
retraced　her　steps　slowly　towards　the　supper…room；　and　made　some
languid　inquiries　of　the　head　waiter　as　to　a　missing　handkerchief。
Then　she　came　again　slowly　down　the　broad　way　and　reached　Mr。　Sabin。
He　rose　to　his　feet。

〃I　thank　you　very　much　for　your　note；〃　he　said。　　〃You　have　something；
I　believe；　to　say　to　me。〃

She　stood　before　him　for　a　moment　in　silence；　as　though　not　unwilling
that　he　should　appreciate　the　soft　splendour　of　her　toilette。　　The
jewels　which　encircled　her　neck　were　priceless　and　dazzling；　the　soft
material　of　her　gown；　the　most　delicate　shade　of　sea　green；　seemed
to　foam　about　her　feet；　a　wonderful　triumph　of　allegoric　dressmaking。
She　saw　that　he　was　studying　her；　and　she　laughed　a　little　uneasily；
looking　all　the　time　into　his　eyes。

〃Shockingly　overdressed；　ain't　I？〃　she　said。　　〃We　were　going　straight
to　Carmarthen　House；　you　know。　　Come　and　sit　in　this　corner　for　a
moment；　and　order　me　some　coffee。　　I　suppose　there　isn't　any　less
public　place！〃

〃I　fear　not；〃　he　answered。　　〃You　will　perhaps　be　unobserved　behind
this　palm。〃

She　sank　into　a　low　chair；　and　he　seated　himself　beside　her。　　She
sighed　contentedly。

〃Dear　me！〃　she　said。　　〃Do　men　like　being　run　after　like　this？〃

Mr。　Sabin　raised　his　eyebrows。

〃I　understood；〃　he　said；　〃that　you　had　something　to　say　to　me　of
importance。〃

She　shot　a　quick　look　up　at　him。

〃Don't　be　horrid；〃　she　said　in　a　low　tone。　　〃Of　course　I　wanted　to
see　you。　　I　wanted　to　explain。　　Give　me　one　of　your　cigarettes。〃

He　laid　his　case　silently　before　her。　　She　took　one　and　lit　it；
watching　him　furtively　all　the　time。　　The　man　brought　their　coffee。
The　place　was　almost　empty　now；　and　some　of　the　lights　were　turned
down。

〃It　is　very　kind　of　you；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃to　honour　me　by　so　much　consideration；　but　if　you　have
much　to　say　perhaps　it　would　be
better　if　you　permitted　me　to　call　upon　you　to…morrow。　　I　am　afraid
of　depriving　you　of　your　ball　…　and　your　friends　will　be　getting
impatient。〃

〃Bother　the　ball　…　and　my　friends；〃　she　exclaimed；　a　certain
strained　note　in　her　tone　which　puzzled　him。　　〃I'm　not　obliged　to
go　to　the　thing；　and　I　don't　want　to。　　I've　invented　a　headache；
and　they　won't　even　expect　me。　　They　know　my　headaches。〃

〃In　that　case；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃I　am　entirely　at　your　service。〃

She　sighed；　and　looked　up　at　him　through　a　little　cloud　of　tobacco
smoke。

〃What　a　wonderful　man　you　are；〃　she　said　softly。　　〃You　accept
defeat　with　the　grace　of　a　victor。　　I　believe　that　you　would　triumph
as　easily　with　a　shrug　of　the　shoulders。　　Haven't　you　any　feeling　at
all？　　Don't　you　know　what　it　is　like　to　feel？〃

He　smiled。

〃We　both　come；〃　he　said；　〃of　a　historic　race。　　If　ancestry　is　worth
anything　it　should　at　least　teach　us　to　go　about　without　pinning
our　hearts　upon　our　sleeves。〃

〃But　you；〃　she　murmured；　〃you　have　no　heart。〃

He　looked　down　upon　her　then　with　still　cold　face　and　steady　eyes。

〃Indeed；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　mistaken。〃

She　moved　uneasily　in　her　chair。　　She　was　very　pale；　except　for　a
faint　spot　of　pink　colour　in　her　cheeks。

〃It　is　very　hard　to　find；　then；〃　she　said；　speaking　quickly；　her
bosom　rising　and　falling；　her　eyes　always　seeking　to　hold　his。
〃To…night　you　see　what　I　have　done　…　I　have；　sent　away　my　friends
…　and　my　carriage。　　They　may　know　me　here　…　you　see　what　I　have
risked。　　And　I　don't　care。　　You　thought　to…night　that　I　was　your
enemy　…　and　I　am　not。　　I　am　not　your　enemy　at　all。〃

Her　hand　fell　as　though　by　accident　upon　his；　and　remained　there。
Mr。　Sabin　was　very　nearly　embarrassed。　　He　knew　quite　well　that
if　she　were　not　his　enemy　at　that　moment　she　would　be　very　shortly。

〃Lucille；〃　she　continued；　〃will　blame　me　too。　　I　cannot　help　it。
I　want　to　tell　you　that　for　the　present　your　separation　from　her
is