the yellow crayon-第20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！



〃To　the　Grand　Duke！〃　Mr。　Sabin　replied。

The　Prince　shook　his　head。

〃Ah　me！〃　he　said；　〃how　long　indeed　you　have　been　absent　from　the
world。　　The　Grand　Duke　is　no　longer　the　head　of　our　little　affair。
Shall　I　tell　you　who　has　succeeded　him？〃

〃I　can　easily　find　out；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。

〃Ah；　but　I　warned　you　that　I　was　in　a　generous　mood；〃　the　Prince
said；　with　a　smile。　　〃I　will　save　you　the　trouble。　　With　your
permission　I　will　whisper　the　name　in　your　ear。　　It　is　not　one　which
we　mention　lightly。〃

He　stepped　forward　and　bent　his　head　for　a　moment。　　Afterwards；　as
he　drew　back；　the　smile　upon　his　lips　broadened　until　he　showed　all
his　teeth。　　It　was　a　veritable　triumph。　　Mr。　Sabin；　taken　wholly
by　surprise；　had　not　been　able　to　conceal　his　consternation。

〃It　is　not　possible；〃　he　exclaimed　hoarsely。　　〃He　would　not　dare。〃

But　in　his　heart　he　knew　that　the　Prince　had　spoken　the　truth。


CHAPTER　XXIII

After　all；〃　said　the　Prince；　looking　up　from　the　wine　list；　〃why
cannot　I　be　satisfied　with　you？　And　why　　cannot　you　be　satisfied
with　me？　　It　would　save　so　much　trouble。〃

Lady　Carey；　who　was　slowly　unwinding　the　white　veil　from　her　picture
hat；　shrugged　her　shoulders。

〃My　dear　man；〃　she　said；　〃you　could　not　seriously　expect　me　to　fall
in　love　with　you。〃

The　Prince　sipped　his　wine　…　a　cabinet　hock　of　rare　vintage　…　and
found　it　good。　　He　leaned　over　towards　his　companion。

〃Why　not？〃　he　asked。　　〃I　wish　that　you　would　try　…　in　earnest；　I
mean。　　You　are　capable　of　great　things；　I　believe　…　perhaps　of　the
great　passion　itself。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　she　murmured　derisively。

〃And　yet；〃　he　continued；　〃there　has　always　been　in　our　love…making
a　touch　of　amateurishness。　　It　is　an　awkward　word；　but　I　do　not
know　how　better　to　explain　myself。〃

〃I　understand　you　perfectly；〃　she　answered。　　〃I　can　also；　I　think；
explain　it。　　It　is　because　I　never　cared　a　rap　about　you。〃

The　Prince　did　not　appear　altogether　pleased。　　He　curled　his　fair
moustache；　and　looked　deprecatingly　at　his　companion。　　She　had　so
much　the　air　of　a　woman　who　has　spoken　the　truth。

〃My　dear　Muriel！〃　he　protested。

She　looked　at　him　insolently。

〃My　good　man；〃　she　said；　〃whatever　you　do　don't　try　and　be
sentimental。　　You　know　quite　well　that　I　have　never　in　my　life
pretended　to　care　a　rap　about　you　…　except　to　pass　the　time。　　You
are　altogether　too　obvious。　　Very　young　girls　and　very　old　women
would　rave　about　you。　　You　simply　don't　appeal　to　me。　　Perhaps　I
know　you　too　well。　　What　does　it　matter！〃

He　sighed　and　examined　a　sauce　critically。　　They　were　lunching　at
Prince's　alone；　at　a　small　table　near　the　wall。

〃Your　taste；〃　he　remarked　a　little　spitefully；　〃would　be　considered
a　trifle　strange。　　Souspennier　carries　his　years　well；　but　he　must
be　an　old　man。〃

She　sipped　her　wine　thoughtfully。

〃Old　or　young；〃　she　said；　〃he　is　a　man；　and　all　my　life　I　have
loved　men；　…　strong　men。　　To　have　him　here　opposite　to　me　at　this
moment；　mine；　belonging　to　me；　the　slave　of　my　will；　I　would　give
　…　well；　I　would　give　…　a　year　of　my　life　…　my　new　tiara　…　anything！〃

〃What　a　pity；〃　he　murmured；　〃that　we　cannot　make　an　exchange；　you
and　I；　Lucille　and　he！〃

〃Ah；　Lucille！〃　she　murmured。　　〃Well；　she　is　beautiful。　　That　goes
for　much。　　And　she　has　the　grand　air。　　But；　heavens；　how　stupid！〃

〃Stupid！〃　he　repeated　doubtfully。

She　drummed　nervously　upon　the　tablecloth　with　her　fingers。

〃Oh；　not　stupid　in　the　ordinary　way；　of　course；　but　yet　a　fool。　　I
should　like　to　see　man　or　devil　try　and　separate　us　if　I　belonged
to　him　…　until　I　was　tired　of　him。　　That　would　come；　of　course。　　It
comes　always。　　It　is　the　hideous　part　of　life。〃

〃You　look　always；〃　he　said；　〃a　little　too　far　forward。　　It　is　a
mistake。　　After　all；　it　is　the　present　only　which　concerns　us。〃

〃Admirable　philosophy；〃　she　laughed　scornfully；　〃but　when　one　is
bored　to　death　in　the　present　one　must　look　forward　or　backward　for
consolation。〃

He　continued　his　lunch　in　silence　for　a　while。

〃I　am　rebuked！〃　he　said。

There　came　a　pause　in　the　courses。　　He　looked　at　her　critically。
She　was　very　handsomely　dressed　in　a　walking　costume　of　dove…coloured
grey。　　The　ostrich　feathers　which　drooped　from　her　large　hat　were
almost　priceless。　　She　had　the　undeniable　air　of　being　a　person　of
breeding。　　But　she　was　paler　even　than　usual；　her　hair；
notwithstanding　its　careful　arrangement；　gave　signs　of　being　a
little　thin　in　front。　　There　were　wrinkles　at　the　corners　of　her
eyes。　　She　knew　these　things；　but　she　bore　his　inspection　with
indifference。

〃I　wonder；〃　he　said　reflectively；　〃what　we　men　see　in　you。　　You
have　plenty　of　admirers。　　They　say　that　Grefton　got　himself　shot
out　at　the　front　because　you　treated　him　badly。　　Yet　…　you　are　not
much　to　look　at；　are　you？〃

She　laughed　at　him。　　Hers　was　never　a　pleasant　laugh；　but　this　time
it　was　at　least　natural。

〃How　discriminating；〃　she　declared。　　〃I　am　an　ugly　woman；　and　men
of　taste　usually　prefer　ugly　women。　　Then　I　am　always　well　dressed。
I　know　how　to　wear　my　clothes。　　And　I　have　a　shocking　reputation。
A　really　wicked　woman；　I　once　heard　pious　old　Lady　Surbiton　call　me！
Dear　old　thing！　　It　did　me　no　end　of　good。　　Then　I　have　the　very
great　advantage　of　never　caring　for　any　one　more　than　a　few　days
together。　　Men　find　that　annoying。〃

〃You　have　violent　fancies；〃　he　remarked；　〃and　strange　ones。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　she　admitted。　　〃They　concern　no　one　except　myself。〃

〃This　Souspennier　craze；　for　instance！〃

She　nodded。

〃Well；　you　can't　say　that　I'm　not　honest。　　It　is　positively　my　only
virtue。　　I　adore　the　truth。　　I　loathe　a　lie。　　That　is　one　reason；
I　daresay；　why　I　can　only　barely　tolerate　you。　　You　are　a　shocking
　…　a　gross　liar。〃

〃Muriel！〃

〃Oh；　don't　look　at　me　like　that；〃　she　exclaimed　irritably。　　〃You
must　hear　the　truth　sometimes。　　And　now；　please　remember　that　I
came　to　lunch　with　you　to　hear　about　your　visit　this　morning。〃

The　Prince　gnawed　his　moustache；　and　the　light　in　his　eyes　was　not
a　pleasant　thing　to　see。　　This　woman　with　her　reckless　life；　her
odd　fascination；　her　brusque　hatred　of　affectations；　was　a　constant
torment　to　him。　　If　only　he　could　once　get　her　thoroughly　into　his
power。

〃My　visit；〃　he　said；　〃was　wholly　successful。　　It　could　not　well　be
otherwise。　　Lucille　has　returned　to　Dorset　House。　　Souspennier　is
confounded　altogether　by　a　little　revelation　which　I　ventured　to
make。　　He　spoke　of　an　appeal。　　I　let　him　know　with　whom　he　would
have　to　deal。　　I　left　him　nerveless　and　crushed。　　He　can　do　nothing
save　by　open　revolt。　　And　if　he　tries　that　…　well；　there　will　be
no　more　of　this　wonderful　Mr。　Sabin。〃

〃Altogether　a　triumph　to　you；〃　she　remarked　scornfully。　　〃Oh；　I
know　the　sort　of　thing。　　But；　after　all；　my　dear　Ferdinand；　what　of
last　night。　　I　hate　the　woman；　but　she　played　the　game；　and　played
it　well。　　We　were　fooled；　both　of　us。　　And　to　think　that　I　…　〃

She　broke　off　with　a　short　laugh。　　The　Prince　looked　at　her
curiously。

〃Perhaps；〃　he　said；　〃you　had　some　idea　of　consoling　the　desolate
husband？〃

〃Perhaps　I　had；〃　she　answered　coolly。　　〃It　didn't　come　off；　did　it？
Order　me　some　coffee；　and　give　me　a　cigarette；　my　friend。　　I　have
something　else　to　say　to　you。〃

He　obeyed　her；　and　she　leaned　back　in　the　high　chair。

〃Listen　to　me；〃　she　said。　　〃I　have　nothing　whatever　to　do　with　you
and　Lucille。　　I　suppose　you　will　get　your　revenge　on　Souspennier
through　her。　　It　won't　be　like　you　if　you　don't　try；　and　you　ought
to　have　the　game　pretty　well　in　your　own　hands。　　But　I　won't　have
Souspennier　harmed。　　You　understand？〃

He　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃Souspennier；〃　he　said；　〃must　take　care。　　If　he　oversteps　the　bounds
he　must　pay　the　penalty。〃

She　leaned　forward。　　There　was　a　look　in　her　face　which　he　knew
very　well。

〃You　and　I　understand　one　another；〃　she　said　coolly。　　〃If　you　want
me　for　an　enemy　you　can　have　me。　　Very　likely　I　shall　tell　you
before　long　that　you　can　do　what　you　like　with　the　man。　　But　until
I　do　it　will　be　very　dangerous　for　you　if　harm　comes　to　him。〃

〃It　is　no　use；〃　he　answered　doggedly。　　〃If　he　attacks　he　must　be
silenced。〃

〃If　he　attacks；〃　she　answered；　〃you　must　give　me　twenty…four　hours
clear　notice　before　you　move　a　hand　against　him。　　Afterwards　…　well；
we　will　discuss　that。〃

〃You　had　better；〃　he　said；　looking　at　her　with　an　ugly　gleam　in　his
eyes；　〃persuade　him　to　take　you　for　a　little　tour　on　the　Continent。
It　would　be　safer。〃

〃If　he　would　come；〃　she　said　coolly；　〃I　would　go　to…morrow。　　But　he
won't　…　just　yet。　　Never　mind。　　You　have　heard　what　I　wanted　to　say。
Now　shall　we　go？　　I　am　going　to　get　some　sleep　this　afternoon。
Everybody　tells　me　that　I　look　like　a　ghost。〃

〃Why　not　come　to　Grosvenor　Square　with　me？〃　he　leaning　a　little
across　the　table。　　〃Patoff　shall　make　you　some　Russian　tea；　and
afterwards　you　shall　sleep　as　long　as　you　like。〃

〃How　idyllic！〃　she　answered；　with　a　faint　sarcastic　smile。　　〃It
goes　to　my　heart　to　decline　so　charming　an　invitation。　　But；　to
tell　you　the　truth；　it　would　bore　me　excessively。〃

He　muttered　something　under　his　breath　which　startled　the　waiter　at
his　elbow。　　Then　he　followed　her　out　of　the　room。　　She　paused　for　a
few　moments　in　the　portico　to　finish　buttoning　her　gloves。

〃Many　thanks　for　my　lunch；〃　she　said；　nodding　to　him　carelessly。
〃I'm　sure　I've　been　a　delightful　companion。〃

〃You　have　been　a　very　tormenting　one；〃　he　answered　gloomily　as　he
followed　her　out　on　to　the　pavement。

〃You　should　try　Lucille；〃　she　suggested　maliciously。

He　stood　by　her　side　while　they　waited　for　her　carriage；　and　looked
at　her　critically。　　Her　slim；　elegant　figure　had　never　seemed　more
attractive　to　him。　　Even　the　insolence　of　her　tone　and　manner　had
an　odd　sort　of　fascination。　　He　tried　to　hold　for　a　moment　the
fingers　which　grasped　her　skirt。

〃I　think；〃　he　whispered；　〃that　after　you　Lucille　would　be　dull！〃

She　laughed。

〃That　is　because　Lucille　has　morals　and　a　conscience；〃　she　said；
〃and　I　have　neither。　　But；　dear　me；　how　much　more　comfortably　one
gets　on　without　them。　　No；　thank　you；　Prince。　　My　coupe　is　only
built　for　one。　　Remember。〃

She　flung　him　a　careless　nod　from　the　window。　　The　Prince　remained
on　the　pavement　until　after　the　little　brougham　had　driven　away。
Then　he　smiled　softly　to　himself　as　he　turned　to　follow　it。

〃No！〃　he　said。　　〃I　think　not！　　I　think　that　she　will　not　get　our
good　friend　Souspennier。　　We　shall　see！〃


CHAPTER　XXIV

A　barely　furnished　man's　room；　comfortable；　austere；　scholarly。
The　refuge　of　a　busy　man；　to　judge　by　the　piles　of　books　and　papers
which　littered　the　large　open　writing…table。　　There　were　despatch
boxes　turned　upside　down；　a　sea　of　parchment　and　foolscap。　　In　the
midst　of　it　all　a　man　deep　in　thought。

A　visitor；　entering　with　the　freedom　of　an　old　acquaintance；　laid
his　hand　upon　his　shoulder　and　greeted　him　with　an　air　of　suppressed　enthusiasm。

〃Planning　the　campaign；　eh；　Brott？　　Or　is　that　a　handbook　to　Court
etiquette？　　You　will　need　it　within　the　week。　　There　are　all　sorts
of　rumours　at　the　clubs。〃

Brott　shook　himself　free　from　his　fit　of　apathetic　reflection。　　He
would　not　have　dared　to　tell　his　visitor　where