the yellow crayon-第21章

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would　not　have　dared　to　tell　his　visitor　where　his　thoughts　had
been　for　the　last　half　hour。

〃Somehow；〃　he　said；　〃I　do　not　think　that　little　trip　to　Windsor
will　come　just　yet。　　The　King　will　never　send　for　me　unless　he　is
compelled。〃

His　visitor；　an　ex…Cabinet　Minister；　a　pronounced　Radical　and　a
lifelong　friend　of　Brott's；　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃That　time；〃　he　said；　〃is　very　close　at　hand。　　He　will　send　for
Letheringham　first；　of　course；　and　great　pressure　will　be　brought
to　bear　upon　him　to　form　a　ministry。　　But　without　you　he　will　be
helpless。　　He　has　not　the　confidence　of　the　people。〃

〃Without　me；〃　Brott　repeated　slowly。　　〃You　think　then　that　I　should
not　accept　office　with　Letheringham？〃

His　visitor　regarded　him　steadily　for　a　moment；　open…mouthed；
obviously　taken　aback。

〃Brott；　are　you　in　your　right　senses？〃　he　asked　incredulously。　　〃Do
you　know　what　you　are　saying？〃

Brott　laughed　a　little　nervously。

〃This　is　a　great　issue；　Grahame；〃　he　said。　　〃I　will　confess　that　I
am　in　an　undecided　state。　　I　am　not　sure　that　the　country　is　in　a
sufficiently　advanced　state　for　our　propaganda。　　Is　this　really　our
opportunity；　or　is　it　only　the　shadow　of　what　is　to　come　thrown
before？　　If　we　show　our　hand　too　soon　all　is　lost　for　this
generation。　　Don't　look　at　me　as　though　I　were　insane；　Grahame。
Remember　that　the　country　is　only　just　free　from　a　long　era　of
Conservative　rule。〃

〃The　better　our　opportunity；〃　Grahame　answered　vigorously。　　〃Two
decades　of　puppet　government　are　enervating；　I　admit；　but　they
only　pave　the　way　more　surely　to　the　inevitable　reaction。　　What　is
the　matter　with　you；　Brott？　　Are　you　ill？　　This　is　the　great　moment
of　our　lives。　　You　must　speak　at　Manchester　and　Birmingham　within
this　week。　　Glasgow　is　already　preparing　for　you。　　Everything　and
everybody　waits　for　your　judgment。　　Good　God；　man；　it's　magnificent！
Where's　your　enthusiasm？　　Within　a　month　you　must　be　Prime　Minister；
and　we　will　show　the　world　the　way　to　a　new　era。〃

Brott　sat　quite　still。　　His　friend's　words　had　stirred　him　for　the
moment。　　Yet　he　seemed　the　victim　of　a　curious　indecision。　　Grahame
leaned　over　towards　him。

〃Brott；　old　friend；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　not　ill？〃

Brott　shook　his　head。

〃I　am　perfectly　well；〃　he　said。

Grahame　hesitated。

〃It　is　a　delicate　thing　to　mention；〃　he　said。　　〃Perhaps　I　shall
pass　even　the　bounds　of　our　old　comradeship。　　But　you　have　changed。
Something　is　wrong　with　you。　　What　is　it？〃

〃There　is　nothing；〃　Brott　answered；　looking　up。　　〃It　is　your　fancy。
I　am　well　enough。〃

Grahame's　face　was　dark　with　anxiety。

〃This　is　no　idle　curiosity　of　mine；〃　he　said。　　〃You　know　me　better
than　that。　　But　the　cause　which　is　nearer　my　heart　than　life　itself
is　at　stake。　　Brott；　you　are　the　people's　man；　their　promised
redeemer。　　Think　of　them；　the　toilers；　the　oppressed；　God's
children；　groaning　under　the　iniquitous　laws　of　generations　of　evil
statesmanship。　　It　is　the　dawn　of　their　new　day；　their　faces　are
turned　to　you。　　Man；　can't　you　hear　them　crying？　　You　can't　fail
them。　　You　mustn't。　　I　don't　know　what　is　the　matter　with　you；
Brott；　but　away　with　it。　　Free　yourself；　man。〃

Brott　sighed　wearily；　but　already　there　was　a　change　in　him。　　His
face　was　hardening　…　the　lines　in　his　face　deepened。　　Grahame
continued　hastily　…　eagerly。

〃Public　men；〃　he　said；　〃are　always　at　the　mercy　of　the　halfpenny
press；　but　you　know；　Brott；　your　appearance　so　often　in　Society
lately　has　set　men's　tongues　wagging。　　There　is　no　harm　done；　but
it　is　time　to　stop　them。　　You　are　right　to　want　to　understand　these
people。　　You　must　go　down　amongst　them。　　It　has　been　slumming　in
Mayfair　for　you；　I　know。　　But　have　done　with　it　now。　　It　is　these
people　we　are　going　to　fight。　　Let　it　be　open　war。　　Let　them　hear
your　programme　at　Glasgow。　　We　don't　want　another　French　Revolution；
but　it　is　going　to　be　war　against　the　drones；　fierce；　merciless　war！
You　must　break　with　them；　Brott；　once　and　for　ever。　　And　the　time
is　now。〃

Brott　held　out　his　hand　across　the　table。　　No　one　but　this　one　man
could　have　read　the　struggle　in　his　face。

〃You　are　right；　Grahame。　　I　thank　you。　　I　thank　you　as　much　for
what　you　have　left　unsaid　as　for　what　you　have　said。　　I　was　a　fool
to　think　of　compromising。　　Letheringham　is　a　nerveless　leader。　　We
should　have　gone　pottering　on　for　another　seven　years。　　Thank　God
that　you　came　when　you　did。　　See　here！〃

He　tossed　him　over　a　letter。　　Grahame's　cheek　paled　as　he　read。

〃Already！〃　he　murmured。

Brott　nodded。

〃Read　it！〃

Grahame　devoured　every　word。　　His　eyes　lit　up　with　excitement。

〃My　prophecy　exactly；〃　he　exclaimed；　laying　it　down。　　〃It　is　as　I
said。　　He　cannot　form　the　ministry　without　you。　　His　letter　is
abject。　　He　gives　himself　away。　　It　is　an　entreaty。　　And　your
answer？〃

〃Has　not　yet　gone；〃　Brott　said。　　〃You　shall　write　it　yourself　if
you　like。　　I　am　thankful　that　you　came　when　you　did。〃

〃You　were　hesitating？〃　Grahame　exclaimed。

〃I　was。〃

Grahame　looked　at　him　in　wonder；　and　Brott　faced　him　sturdily。

〃It　seems　like　treason　to　you；　Grahame！〃　he　said。　　〃So　it　does　to
me　now。　　I　want　nothing　in　the　future　to　come　between　us；〃　he
continued　more　slowly；　〃and　I　should　like　if　I　can　to　expunge　the
memory　of　this　interview。　　And　so　I　am　going　to　tell　you　the　truth。〃
Grahame　held　out　his　hand。

〃Don't！〃　he　said。　　〃I　can　forget　without。〃

I3rott　shook　his　head。

〃No；〃　he　said。　　〃You　had　better　understand　everything。　　The
halfpenny　press　told　the　truth。　　Yet　only　half　the　truth。　　I　have
been　to　all　these　places；　wasted　my　time；　wasted　their　time；　from
a　purely　selfish　reason　…　to　be　near　the　only　woman　I　have　ever
cared　for；　the　woman；　Grahame！〃

〃I　knew　it；〃　Grahame　murmured。　　〃I　fought　against　the　belief；　I
thought　that　I　had　stifled　it。　　But　I　knew　it　all　the　time。〃

〃If　I　have　seemed　lukewarm　sometimes　of　late；〃　Brott　said；　〃there
is　the　cause。　　She　is　an　aristocrat；　and　my　politics　are　hateful
to　her。　　She　has　told　me　so　seriously；　playfully；　angrily。　　She
has　let　me　feel　it　in　a　hundred　ways。　　She　has　drawn　me　into
discussions　and　shown　the　utmost　horror　of　my　views。　　I　have　cared
for　her　all　my　life；　and　she　knows　it。　　And　I　think；　Grahame；　that
lately　she　has　been　trying　constantly；　persistently；　to　tone　down
my　opinions。　　She　has　let　me　understand　that　they　are　a　bar　between
us。　　And　it　is　a　horrible　confession；　Grahame；　but　I　believe　that
I　was　wavering。　　This　invitation　from　Letheringham　seemed　such　a
wonderful　opportunity　for　compromise。〃

〃This　must　never　go　out　of　the　room；〃　Grahame　said　hoarsely。　　〃It
would　ruin　your　popularity。　　They　would　never　trust　you　again。

〃I　shall　tell　no　one　else；〃　Brott　said。

〃And　it　is　over？〃　Grahame　demanded　eagerly。

〃It　is　over。〃

　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　　*

The　Duke　of　Dorset；　who　entertained　for　his　party；　gave　a　great
dinner　that　night　at　Dorset　House；　and　towards　its　close　the
Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer；　who　was　almost　the　only　non…political
guest；　moved　up　to　his　host　in　response　to　an　eager　summons。　　The
Duke　was　perturbed。

〃You　have　heard　the　news；　Saxe　Leinitzer？〃

〃I　did　not　know　of　any　news；〃　the　Prince　answered。　　〃What　is　it？〃

〃Brott　has　refused　to　join　with　Letheringham　in　forming　a　ministry。
It　is　rumoured　even　that　a　coalition　was　proposed；　and　that　Brott
would　have　nothing　to　do　with　it。〃

The　Prince　looked　into　his　wineglass。

〃Ah！〃　he　said。

〃This　is　disturbing　news；〃　the　Duke　continued。　　You　do　not　seem　to
appreciate　its　significance。〃

The　Prince　looked　up　again。

〃Perhaps　not；〃　he　said。　　〃You　shall　explain　to　me。〃

〃Brott　refuses　to　compromise；〃　the　Duke　said。　　〃He　stands　for　a
ministry　of　his　own　selection。　　Heaven　only　knows　what　mischief
this　may　mean。　　His　doctrines　are　thoroughly　revolutionary。　　He　is
an　iconoclast　with　a　genius　for　destruction。　　But　he　has　the　ear　of
the　people。　　He　is　to…day　their　Rienzi。〃

The　Prince　nodded。

〃And　Lucille？〃　he　remarked。　　〃What　does　she　say？〃

〃I　have　not　spoken　to　her；〃　the　Duke　answered。　　〃The　news　has　only
just　come。〃

〃We　will　speak　to　her；〃　the　Prince　said；　〃together。〃

Afterwards　in　the　library　there　was　a　sort　of　informal　meeting；　and
their　opportunity　came。　　

〃So　you　have　failed；　Countess；〃　her　host　said；　knitting　his　grey
brows　at　her。

She　smilingly　acknowledged　defeat。

〃But　I　can　assure　you；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　was　very　near　success。
Only　on　Monday　he　had　virtually　made　up　his　mind　to　abandon　the
extreme　party　and　cast　in　his　lot　with　Letheringham。　　What　has
happened　to　change　him　I　do　not　know。〃

The　Prince　curled　his　fair　moustache。

〃It　is　a　pity；〃　he　said；　〃that　he　changed　his　mind。　　For　one　thing
is　very　certain。　　The　Duke　and　I　are　agreed　upon　it。　　A　Brott
ministry　must　never　be　formed。〃

She　looked　up　quickly。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

The　Prince　answered　her　without　hesitation。

〃If　one　course　fails；〃　he　said；　〃another　must　be　adopted。　　I　regret
having　to　make　use　of　means　which　are　somewhat　clumsy　and　obvious。
But　our　pronouncement　on　this　one　point　is　final。　　Brott　must　not
be　allowed　to　form　a　ministry。〃

She　looked　at　him　with　something　like　horror　in　her　soft　full　eyes。

〃What　would　you　do？〃　she　murmured。

The　Prince　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃we　are　not　quite　medieval　enough　to　adopt　the
only　really　sensible　method　and　remove　Mr。　Brott　permanently　from
the　face　of　the　earth。　　We　should　stop　a　little　short　of　that；　but
I　can　assure　you　that　Mr。　Brott's　health　for　the　next　few　months　is
a　matter　for　grave　uncertainty。　　It　is　a　pity　for　his　sake　that　you
failed。〃

She　bit　her　lip。

〃Do　you　know　if　he　is　still　in　London？〃　she　asked。

〃He　must　be　on　the　point　of　leaving　for　Scotland；〃　the　Duke　answered。
〃If　he　once　mounts　the　platform　at　Glasgow　there　will　be　no　further
chance　of　any　compromise。　　He　will　be　committed　irretrievably　to
his　campaign　of　anarchy。〃

〃And　to　his　own　disaster；〃　the　Prince　murmured。

Lucille　remained　for　a　moment　deep　in　thought。　　Then　she　looked　up。

〃If　I　can　find　him　before　he　starts；〃　she　said　hurriedly；　〃I　will
make　one　last　effort。〃


CHAPTER　XXV

He　peered　forward　over　his　desk　at　the　tall　graceful　figure　whose
entrance　had　been　so　noiseless；　and　whose　footsteps　had　been　so
light　that　she　stood　almost　within　a　few　feet　of　him　before　he　was
even　aware　of　her　presence。　　Then　his　surprise　was　so　great　that　he
could　only　gasp　out　her　name。

〃You！　　Lucille！〃

She　smiled　upon　him　delightfully。

〃Me！　　Lucille！　　Don't　blame　your　servant。　　I　assured　him　that　I　was
expected；　so　he　allowed　me　to　enter　unannounced。　　His　astonishment
was　a　delightful　testimony　to　your　reputation；　by　the　bye。　　He　was
evidently　not　used　to　these　invasions。〃

Brott　had　recovered　himself　by　this　time；　and　if　any　emotion　still
remained　he　was　master　of　it。

〃You　must　forgive　my　surprise！〃　he　said。　　〃You　have　of　course
something　important　to　say　to　me。　　Will　you　not　loosen　your　cloak？〃

She　unfastened　the　clasp　and　seated　herself　in　his　most　comfortable
chair。　　The　firelight　flashed　and　glittered　on　the　silver　ornaments
of　her　dress；　her　neck　and　arms；　with　their　burden　of　jewels；　gleamed
lik