the yellow crayon-第2章

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find　me　the　man　who　drove　her。〃

〃Well；　we　ought　to　manage　that　for　you；〃　the　man　remarked
encouragingly。　　〃It　was　one　of　Steve　Hassell's　carriages；　I　guess；
unless　the　lady　took　a　hansom。〃

〃Very　good；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃See　if　you　can　find　him。　　Keep　my
inquiries　entirely　to　yourself。　　It　will　pay　you。〃

〃That's　all　right；〃　the　man　remarked。　　〃Don't　you　go　to　bed　for
half…an…hour；　and　I　guess　you'll　hear　from　me　again。〃

Duson　busied　himself　in　the　bed…chamber；　Mr。　Sabin　sat　motionless
in　his　easy　chair。　　Soon　there　came　a　tap　at　the　door。　　The　porter
reappeared　ushering　in　a　smart…looking　young　man；　who　carried　a
shiny　coachman's　hat　in　his　hand。

〃Struck　it　right　fust　time；〃　the　porter　remarked　cheerfully。　　〃This
is　the　man；　sir。

Mr。　Sabin　turned　his　head。

〃You　drove　a　lady　from　here　to　the　New　York；　New　Haven　&　Hartford
Depot　last　Friday？〃　he　asked。

〃'Well；　not　exactly；　sir；〃　the　man　answered。　　〃The　Duchess　took　my
cab；　and　the　first　address　she　gave　was　the　New　York；　New　Haven
&　Hartford　Depot；　but　before　we'd　driven　a　hundred　yards　she　pulled
the　check…string　and　ordered　me　to　go　to　the　Waldorf。　　She　paid　me
there；　and　went　into　the　hotel。〃

〃You　have　not　seen　her　since？〃

〃No；　sir！〃

〃You　knew　her　by　sight；　you　say。　　Was　there　anything　special　about
her　appearance？〃

The　man　hesitated。

〃She'd　a　pretty　thick　veil　on；　sir；　but　she　raised　it　to　pay　me；
and　I　should　say　she'd　been　crying。　　She　was　much　paler；　too；　than
last　time　I　drove　her。〃

〃When　was　that？〃　Mr。　Sabin　asked。

〃In　the　spring；　sir；　…　with　you；　begging　your　pardon。　　You　were　at
the　Netherlands；　and　I　drove　you　out　several　times。〃

〃You　seem；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃to　be　a　person　with　some　powers　of
observation。　　It　would　pay　you　very　well　indeed　if　you　would
ascertain　from　any　of　your　mates　at　the　Waldorf　when　and　with　whom
the　lady　in　question　left　that　hotel。〃

〃I'll　have　a　try；　sir；〃　the　man　answered。　　〃The　Duchess　was　better
known　here；　but　some　of　them　may　have　recognised　her。〃

〃She　had　no　luggage；　I　presume？〃　Mr。　Sabin　asked。

〃Her　dressing…case　and　jewel…case　only；　sir。〃

〃So　you　see；〃　Mr。　Sabin　continued；　〃it　is　probable　that　she　did　not
remain　at　the　Waldorf　for　the　night。　　Base　your　inquiries　on　that
supposition。〃

〃Very　good；　sir。〃

〃From　your　manners　and　speech；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　raising　his　head；
〃I　should　take　you　to　be　an　Englishman。〃

〃Quite　correct；　sir；〃　the　man　answered。　　〃I　drove　a　hansom　in
London　for　eight　years。〃

〃You　will　understand　me　then；〃　Mr。　Sabin　continued；　〃when　I　say
that　I　have　no　great　confidence　in　the　police　of　this　country。　　I
do　not　wish　to　be　blackmailed　or　bullied。　　I　would　ask　you；
therefore；　to　make　your　inquiries　with　discretion。〃

〃I'll　be　careful；　sir；〃　the　man　answered。

Mr。　Sabin　handed　to　each　of　them　a　roll　of　notes。　　The　cabdriver
lingered　upon　the　threshold。　　Mr。　Sabin　looked　up。

〃Well？〃

〃Could　I　speak　a　word　to　you…in　private；　sir？〃

Mr。　Sabin　motioned　Duson　to　leave　the　room。　　The　baggage　porter
had　already　departed。

〃When　I　cleaned　out　my　cab　at　night；　sir；　I　found　this。　　I　didn't
reckon　it　was　of　any　consequence　at　first；　but　from　the　questions
you　have　been　asking　it　may　be　useful　to　you。〃

Mr。　Sabin　took　the　half…sheet　of　note…paper　in　silence。　　It　was　the
ordinary　stationery　of　the　Waldorf　Astoria　Hotel；　and　the　following
words　were　written　upon　it　in　a　faint　delicate　handwriting；　but　in
yellow　pencil：…

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Sept。　　10th。
　　〃To　LUCILLE；　Duchesse　de　SOUSPENNIER。…

　　〃You　will　be　at　the　Waldorf　Astoria　Hotel　in　the　main　corridor
　　　at　four　o'clock　this　afternoon。〃

The　thin　paper　shook　in　Mr。　Sabin's　fingers。　　There　was　no　signature；
but　he　fancied　that　the　handwriting　was　not　wholly　unfamiliar　to　him。
He　looked　slowly　up　towards　the　cabman。

〃I　am　much　obliged　to　you；〃　he　said。　　〃This　is　of　interest　to　me。〃

He　stretched　out　his　hand　to　the　little　wad　of　notes　which　Duson　had
left　upon　the　table；　but　the　cabdriver　backed　away。

〃Beg　pardon；　sir；〃　he　said。　　〃You've　given　me　plenty。　　The　letter's
of　no　value　to　me。　　I　came　very　near　tearing　it　up；　but　for　the
peculiar　colour　pencil　it's　written　with。　　Kinder　took　my　fancy；
sir。〃

〃The　letter　is　of　value；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃It　tells　me　much　more
than　I　hoped　to　discover。　　It　is　our　good　fortune。〃

The　man　accepted　the　little　roll　of　bills　and　departed。　　Mr。　Sabin
touched　the　bell。

〃Duson；　what　time　is　it？〃

〃Nearly　midnight；　sir！〃

〃I　will　go　to　bed！〃

〃Very　good；　sir！〃

〃Mix　me　a　sleeping　draught；　Duson。　　I　need　rest。　　See　that　I　am　not
disturbed　until　ten　o'clock　to…morrow　morning。


CHAPTER　III

At　precisely　ten　o'clock　on　the　following　morning　Duson　brought
chocolate；　which　he　had　prepared　himself；　and　some　dry　toast　to　his
master's　bedside。　　Upon　the　tray　was　a　single　letter。　　Mr。　Sabin
sat　up　in　bed　and　tore　open　the　envelope。　　The　following　words　were
written　upon　a　sheet　of　the　Holland　House　notepaper　in　the　same
peculiar　coloured　crayon。

〃The　first　warning　addressed　to　you　yesterday　was　a　friendly　one。
Profit　by　it。　　Go　back　to　Lenox。　　You　are　only　exposing　yourself　to
danger　and　the　person　you　seek　to　discomfort。　　Wait　there；　and　some
one　shall　come　to　you　shortly　who　will　explain　what　has　happened；
and　the　necessity　for　it。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled；　a　slow　contemplative　smile。　　He　sipped　his
chocolate　and　lit　a　cigarette。

〃Our　friends；　then；〃　he　said　softly；　〃do　not　care　about　pursuit　and
inquiries。　　It　is　ridiculous　to　suppose　that　their　warning　is　given
out　of　any　consideration　to　me。　　Duson！〃

〃Yes；　sir！〃

〃My　bath。　　I　shall　rise　now。〃

Mr。　Sabin　made　his　toilet　with　something　of　the　same　deliberation
which　characterised　all　his　movements。　　Then　he　descended　into　the
hall；　bought　a　newspaper；　and　from　a　convenient　easy…chair　kept　a
close　observation　upon　every　one　who　passed　to　and　fro　for　about
an　hour。　　Later　on　he　ordered　a　carriage；　and　made　several　calls
down　town。

At　a　few　minutes　past　twelve　he　entered　the　bar　of　the　Fifth　Avenue
Hotel；　and　ordering　a　drink　sat　down　at　one　of　the　small　tables。
The　room　was　full；　but　Mr。　Sabin's　attention　was　directed　solely　to
one　group　of　men　who　stood　a　short　distance　away　before　the　counter
drinking　champagne。　　The　central　person　of　the　group　was　a　big　man；
with　an　unusually　large　neck；　a　fat　pale　face；　a　brown　moustache
tinged　with　grey；　and　a　voice　and　laugh　like　a　fog…horn。　　It　was　he
apparently　who　was　paying　for　the　champagne；　and　he　was　clearly　on
intimate　terms　with　all　the　party。　　Mr。　Sabin　watched　for　his
opportunity；　and　then　rising　from　his　seat　touched　him　on　the
shoulder。

〃Mr。　Skinner；　I　believe？〃　he　said　quietly。

The　big　man　looked　down　upon　Mr。　Sabin　with　the　sullen　offensiveness
of　the　professional　bully。

〃You've　hit　it　first　time；〃　he　admitted。　　〃Who　are　you；　anyway？〃

Mr。　Sabin　produced　a　card。

〃I　called　this　morning；〃　he　said；　〃upon　the　gentleman　whose　name　you
will　see　there。　　He　directed　me　to　you；　and　told　me　to　come　here。〃

The　man　tore　the　card　into　small　pieces。

〃So　long；　boys；〃　he　said；　addressing　his　late　companions。　　〃See　you
to…night。〃

They　accepted　his　departure　in　silence；　and　one　and　all　favoured
Mr。　Sabin　with　a　stare　of　blatant　curiosity。

〃I　should　be　glad　to　speak　with　you；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃in　a　place
where　we　are　likely　to　be　neither　disturbed　nor　overheard。〃

〃You　come　right　across　to　my　office；〃　was　the　prompt　reply。　　〃I
guess　we　can　fix　it　up　there。〃

Mr。　Sabin　motioned　to　his　coachman；　and　they　crossed　Broadway。　　His
companion　led　him　into　a　tall　building；　talking　noisily　all　the
time　about　the　pals　whom　he　had　just　left。　　An　elevator　transported
them　to　the　twelfth　floor　in　little　more　than　as　many　seconds；　and
Mr。　Skinner　ushered　his　visitor　into　a　somewhat　bare…looking　office；
smelling　strongly　of　stale　tobacco　smoke。　　Mr。　Skinner　at　once　lit
a　cigar；　and　seating　himself　before　his　desk；　folded　his　arms　and
leaned　over　towards　Mr。　Sabin。

〃Smoke　one？〃　he　asked；　pointing　to　the　open　box。

Mr。　Sabin　declined。

〃Get　right　ahead　then。〃

〃I　am　an　Englishman；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said　slowly；　〃and　consequently　am
not　altogether　at　home　with　your　ways　over　here。　　I　have　always
understood；　however；　that　if　you　are　in　need　of　any　special
information　such　as　we　should　in　England　apply　to　the　police　for；
over　here　there　is　a　quicker　and　more　satisfactory　method　of
procedure。〃

〃You've　come　a　long　way　round；〃　Mr。　Skinner　remarked；　spitting
upon　the　floor；　〃but　you're　dead　right。〃

〃I　am　in　need　of　some　information；〃　Mr。　Sabin　continued；　〃and
accordingly　I　called　this　morning　on　Mr。　…　〃

Mr。　Skinner　held　up　his　hand。

〃All　right；〃　he　said。　　〃We　don't　mention　names　more　than　we　can
help。　　Call　him　the　boss。〃

〃He　assured　me　that　the　information　I　was　in　need　of　was　easily　to
be　obtained；　and　gave　me　a　card　to　you。〃

〃Go　right　on；〃　Mr。　Skinner　said。　　〃What　is　it？〃

〃On　Friday　last；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃at　four　o'clock；　the　Duchess　of
Souspennier；　whose　picture　I　will　presently　show　you；　left　the
Holland　House　Hotel　for　the　New　York；　New　Haven　&　Hartford　Depot；
presumably　for　her　home　at　Lenox；　to　which　place　her　baggage　had
already　been　checked。　　On　the　way　she　ordered　the　cabman　to　set　her
down　at　the　Waldorf…Astoria　Hotel；　which　he　did　at　a　few　minutes
past　four。　　The　Duchess　has　not　returned　home　or　been　directly
heard　from　since。　　I　wish　to　ascertain　her　movements　　since　she
arrived　at　the　Waldorf。〃

〃Sounds　dead　easy；〃　Mr。　Skinner　remarked　reassuringly。　　〃Got　the
picture？〃

Mr。　Sabin　touched　the　spring　of　a　small　gold　locket　which　he　drew
from　an　inside　waistcoat　pocket；　and　disclosed　a　beautifully　painted
miniature。　　Mr。　Skinner's　thick　lips　were　pursed　into　a　whistle。
He　was　on　the　point　of　making　a　remark　when　he　chanced　to　glance
into　Mr。　Sabin's　face。　　The　remark　remained　unspoken。

He　drew　a　sheet　of　note…paper　towards　him　and　made　a　few　notes　upon
it。

〃The　Duchess　many　friends　in　New　York？〃

〃At　present　none。　　The　few　people　whom　she　knows　here　are　at　Newport
or　in　Europe　just　now。〃

〃Any　idea　whom　she　went　to　the　Waldorf　to　see？　　　More　we　know　the
better。〃

Mr。　Sabin　handed　him　the　letter　which　had　been　picked　up　in　the　cab。
Mr。　Skinner　read　it　through；　and　spat　once　more　upon　the　floor。

〃What　the　h…'s　this　funny　coloured　pencil　mean？〃

〃I　do　not　know；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃You　will　see　that　the　two
anonymous　communications　which　I　have　received　since　arriving　in
New　York　yesterday　are　written　in　the　same　manner。〃

Mr。　Sabin　handed　him　the　other　two　letters；　which　Mr。　Skinner
carefully　perused。

〃I　guess　you'd　better　tell　me　who　you　are；〃　he　suggested。

〃I　am　the　husband　of　the　Duchess　of　Souspennier；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。

〃The　Duchess　send　any　word　home　at　all？〃　Mr。　Skinner　asked。

Mr。　Sabin　produced　a　worn　telegraph　form。　　It　was　handed　in　at　Fifth
Avenue；　New　York；　at　six　o'clock　on　Friday。　　It　contained　the　single
word　'Good…bye。'〃

〃H'm；〃　Mr。　Skinner　remarked。　　〃We'll　find　all　you　want　to　know　by
to…morrow　sure。〃

〃What　do　you　make　of　the　two　letters　which　I　received？〃　Mr。　Sabin
asked。

〃Bunkum！〃　　Mr。　Skinner　replied　confidently。