the yellow crayon-第23章

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〃And　what　evil　stroke　of　fortune；〃　Lucille　asked；　〃induced　you　to
send　for　me？〃

〃That　is　a　very　cruel　speech；　dear　lady；〃　the　Prince　murmured。

〃I　hope；〃　Lucille　said；　〃that　you　have　never　for　a　moment　imagined
that　I　find　any　pleasure　in　what　I　am　called　upon　to　do。〃

〃Why　not？　　It　must　be　interesting。　　You　can　have　had　no　sympathy
with　Brott　…　a　hopeless　plebeian；　a　very　paragon　of　Anglo…Saxon
stupidity？〃

Lucille　laughed　scornfully。

〃Reginald　Brott　is　a　man；　at　any　rate；　and　an　honest　one；〃　she
answered。　　〃But　I　am　too　selfish　to　think　much　of　him。　　It　is
myself　whom　I　pity。　　I　have　a　home；　Prince；　and　a　husband。　　I
want　them　both。〃

〃You　amaze　me；〃　the　Prince　said　slowly。　　〃Lucille；　indeed；　you
amaze　me。　　You　have　been　buried　alive　for　three　years。　　Positively
we　believed　that　our　summons　would　sound　to　you　like　a　message　from
Heaven。〃

Lucille　was　silent　for　a　moment。　　She　rubbed　the　mist　from　the
carriage　window　and　looked　out　into　the　streets。

〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃I　hope　that　you　realise　now　how　completely　you
have　misunderstood　me。　　I　was　perfectly　happy　in　America。　　I　have
been　perfectly　miserable　here。　　I　suppose　that　I　have　grown　too　old
for　intrigues　and　adventures。〃

〃Too　old；　Lucille；〃　the　Prince　murmured；　leaning　a　little　towards
her。　　〃Lucille；　you　are　the　most　beautiful　woman　in　London。　　Many
others　may　have　told　you　so；　but　there　is　no　one；　Lucille；　who　is
so　devotedly；　so　hopelessly　your　slave　as　I。〃

She　drew　her　hand　away；　and　sat　back　in　her　corner。　　The　man's　hot
breath　fell　upon　her　cheek；　his　eyes　seemed　almost　phosphorescent
in　the　darkness。　　Lucille　could　scarcely　keep　the　biting　words　from
her　tongue。

〃You　do　not　answer　me；　Lucille。　　You　do　not　speak　even　a　single
kind　word　to　me。　　Come！　　Surely　we　are　old　friends。　　We　should
understand　one　another。　　It　is　not　a　great　deal　that　I　ask　from
your　kindness　…　not　a　great　deal　to　you；　but　it　is　all　the
difference　between　happiness　and　misery　for　me。〃

〃This　is　a　very　worn…out　game；　Prince；〃　Lucille　said　coldly。　　〃You
have　been　making　love　to　women　in　very　much　the　same　manner　for
twenty　years；　and　I　…　well；　to　be　frank；　I　am　utterly　weary　of
being　made　love　to　like　a　doll。　　Laugh　at　me　as　you　will；　my
husband　is　the　only　man　who　interests　me　in　the　slightest。　　My
failure　to…day　is　almost　welcome　to　me。　　It　has　at　least　brought
my　work　here　to　a　close。　　Come；　Prince；　if　you　want　to　earn　my
eternal　gratitude；　tell　me　now　that　I　am　a　free　woman。〃

〃You　give　me　credit；〃　the　Prince　said　slowly；　〃for　great　generosity。
If　I　let　you　go　it　seems　to　me　that　I　shall　lose　you　altogether。
You　will　go　to　your　husband。　　He　will　take　you　away！〃

〃Why　not？〃　Lucille　asked。　　〃I　want　to　go。　　I　am　tired　of　London。
You　cannot　lose　what　you　never　possessed　…　what　you　never　had　the
slightest　chance　of　possessing。

The　Prince　laughed　softly　…　not　a　pleasant　laugh；　not　even　a
mirthful　one。

〃Dear　lady；〃　he　said；　〃you　speak　not　wisely。　　For　I　am　very　much
in　earnest　when　I　say　that　I　love　you；　and　until　you　are　kinder
to　me　I　shall　not　let　you　go。〃

〃That　is　rather　a　dangerous　threat；　is　it　not？〃　Lucille　asked。
〃You　dare　to　tell　me　openly　that　you　will　abuse　your　position；
that　you　will　keep　me　bound　a　servant　to　the　cause；　because　of
this　foolish　fancy　of　yours？〃

The　Prince　smiled　at　her　through　the　gloom　…　a　white；　set　smile。

〃It　is　no　foolish　fancy；　Lucille。　　You　will　find　that　out　before
long。　　You　have　been　cold　to　me　all　your　life。　　Yet　you　would　find
me　a　better　friend　than　enemy。〃

〃If　I　am　to　choose；〃　she　said　steadily；　〃I　shall　choose　the　latter。〃

〃As　you　will；〃　he　answered。　　〃In　time　you　will　change　your　mind。〃

The　carriage　had　stopped。　　The　Prince　alighted　and　held　out　his
hand。　　Lucille　half　rose；　and　then　with　her　foot　upon　the　step　she
paused　and　looked　around。

〃Where　are　we？〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃This　is　not　Dorset　House。〃

〃No；　we　are　in　Grosvenor　Square；〃　the　Prince　answered。　　〃I　forgot
to　tell　you　that　we　have　a　meeting　arranged　for　here　this　evening。
Permit　me。〃　　But　Lucille　resumed　her　seat　in　the　carriage。

〃It　is　your　house；　is　it　not？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes。　　My　house　assuredly。〃

〃Very　well；〃　Lucille　said。　　〃I　will　come　in　when　the　Duchess　of
Dorset　shows　herself　at　the　window　or　the　front　door　…　or　Felix；　or
even　De　Brouillae。〃

The　Prince　still　held　open　the　carriage　door。

〃They　will　all　be　here；〃　he　assured　her。　　〃We　are　a　few　minutes
early。〃

〃Then　I　will　drive　round　to　Dorset　House　and　fetch　the　Duchess。
It　is　only　a　few　yards。〃

The　Prince　hesitated。　　His　cheeks　were　very　white；　and　something
like　a　scowl　was　blackening　his　heavy；　insipid　face。

〃Lucille；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　very　foolish。　　It　is　not　much　I　ask　of
you；　but　that　little　I　will　have　or　I　pledge　my　word　to　it　that
things　shall　go　ill　with　you　and　your　husband。　　There　is　plain
speech　for　you。　　Do　not　be　absurd。　　Come　within；　and　let　us　talk。
What　do　you　fear？　　The　house　is　full　of　servants；　and　the　carriage
can　wait　for　you　here。〃

Lucille　smiled　at　him　…　a　maddening　smile。

〃I　am　not　a　child；〃　she　said；　〃and　such　conversations　as　I　am　forced
to　hold　with　you　will　not　be　under　your　own　roof。　　Be　so　good　as　to
tell　the　coachman　to　drive　to　Dorset　House。〃

The　Prince　turned　on　his　heel　with　a　furious　oath。

〃He　can　drive　you　to　Hell；〃　he　answered　thickly。

Lucille　found　the　Duchess　and　Lady　Carey　together　at　Dorset　House。
She　looked　from　one　to　the　other。

〃I　thought　that　there　was　a　meeting　to…night；〃　she　remarked。

The　Duchess　shook　her　head。

〃Not　to…night；〃　she　answered。　　〃It　would　not　be　possible。　　Genera1
Dolinski　is　dining　at　Marlborough　House；　and　De　Broullae　is　in
Paris。　　Now　tell　us　all　about　Mr。　Brott。〃

〃He　has　gone　to　Scotland；〃　Lucille　answered。　　〃I　have　failed。〃

Lady　Carey　looked　up　from　the　depths　of　the　chair　in　which　she　was
lounging。

〃And　the　prince？〃　she　asked。　　〃He　went　to　meet　you！〃

〃He　also　failed；〃　Lucille　answered。


CHAPTER　XXVII

Mr。　SABIN　drew　a　little　breath；　partly　of　satisfaction　because　he
had　discovered　the　place　he　sought；　and　partly　of　disgust　at　the
neighbourhood　in　which　he　found　himself。　　Nevertheless；　he　descended
three　steps　from　the　court　into　which　he　had　been　directed；　and
pushed　open　the　swing　door；　behind　which　Emil　Sachs　announced　his
desire　to　supply　the　world　with　dinners　at　eightpence　and　vin
ordinaire　at　fourpence　the　small　bottle。

A　stout　black…eyed　woman　looked　up　at　his　entrance　from　behind　the
counter。　　The　place　was　empty。

〃What　does　monsieur　require　she　asked；　peering　forward　through　the
gloom　with　some　suspicion。　　For　the　eightpenny　dinners　were　the
scorn　of　the　neighbourhood；　and　strangers　were　rare　in　the　wine
shop　of　Emil　Sachs。

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。

〃One　of　your　excellent　omelettes；　my　good　Annette；〃　he　answered；
〃if　your　hand　has　not　lost　its　cunning！〃

She　gave　a　little　cry。

〃It　is　monsieur！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃After　all　these　years　it　is
monsieur！　　Ab；　you　will　pardon　that　I　did　not　recognise　you。　　This
place　is　a　cellar。　　Monsieur　has　not　changed。　　In　the　daylight　one
would　know　him　anywhere。〃

The　woman　talked　fast；　but　even　in　that　dim　light　Mr。　Sabin　knew
quite　well　that　she　was　shaking　with　fear。　　He　could　see　the　corners
of　her　mouth　twitch。　　Her　black　eyes　rolled　incessantly；　but　refused
to　meet　his。　　Mr。　Sabin　frowned。

〃You　are　not　glad　to　see　me；　Annette！〃

She　leaned　over　the　counter。

〃For　monsieur　s　own　sake；〃　she　whispered；　〃go！〃

Mr。　Sabin　stood　quite　still　for　a　short　space　of　time。

〃Can　I　rest　in　there　for　a　few　minutes？〃　he　asked；　pointing　to　the
door　which　led　into　the　room　beyond。

The　woman　hesitated。　　She　looked　up　at　the　clock　and　down　again。

〃Emil　will　return；〃　she　said；　〃at　three。　　Monsieur　were　best　out　of
the　neighbourhood　before　then。　　For　ten　minutes　it　might　be　safe。〃

Mr。　Sabin　passed　forward。　　The　woman　lifted　the　flap　of　the　counter
and　followed　him。　　Within　was　a　smaller　room；　far　cleaner　and　better
appointed　than　the　general　appearance　of　the　place　promised。　　Mr。
Sabin　seated　himself　at　one　of　the　small　tables。　　The　linen　cloth；
he　noticed；　was　spotless；　the　cutlery　and　appointments　polished　and
clean。

〃This；　I　presume；〃　he　remarked；　〃is　not　where　you　serve　the
eightpenny　table　d'hote？〃

The　woman　shrugged　her　shoulders。

〃But　it　would　not　be　possible；〃　she　answered。　　〃We　have　no　customers
for　that。　　If　one　arrives　we　put　together　a　few　scraps。　　But　one　must
make　a　pretense。　　Monsieur　understands？〃

Mr。　Sabin　nodded。

〃I　will　take；〃　he　said；　〃a　small　glass　of　fin　champagne。〃

She　vanished；　and　reappeared　almost　immediately　with　the　brandy　in
a　quaintly　cut　liqueur　glass。　　A　glance　at　the　clock　as　she　passed
seemed　to　have　increased　her　anxiety。

〃If　monsieur　will　drink　his　liqueur　and　depart；〃　she　prayed。　　〃Indeed；
it　will　be　for　the　best。〃

Mr。　Sabin　set　down　his　glass。　　His　steadfast　gaze　seemed　to　reduce
Annette　into　a　state　of　nervous
panic。

〃Annette；〃　he　said；　〃they　have　placed　me　upon　the
list。〃

〃It…is　true；　monsieur；〃　she　answered。　　〃Why　do　you　come　here？〃

〃I　wanted　to　know　first　for　certain　that　they　had　ventured　so　far；〃
Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃I　believe　that　I　am　only　the　second　person　in
this　country　who　has　been　so　much　honoured。〃

The　woman　drew　nearer　to　him。

〃Monsieur；〃　she　said；　〃your　only　danger　is　to　venture　into　such
parts　as　these。　　London　is　so　safe；　and　the　law　is　merciless。　　They
only　watch。　　They　will　attempt　nothing。　　Do　not　leave　England。
There　is　here　no　machinery　of　criminals。　　Besides；　the　life　of
monsieur　is　insured。〃

〃Insured？〃　Mr。　Sabin　remarked　quietly。　　〃That　is　good　news。　　And
who　pays　the　premium？〃

〃A　great　lady；　monsieur！　　I　know　no　more。　　Monsieur　must　go　indeed。
He　has　found　his　way　into　the　only　place　in　London　where　he　is　not
safe。〃

Mr。　Sabin　rose。

〃You　are　expecting；　perhaps；〃　he　said；　〃one　of　my　friends　from
the　…　〃

She　interrupted　him。

〃It　is　true；〃　she　declared。　　He　may　be　here　at　any　instant。　　The
time　is　already　up。　　Oh；　monsieur；　indeed；　indeed　it　would　not　do
for　him　to　find　you。〃

Mr。　Sabin　moved　towards　the　door。

〃You　are　perhaps　right；〃　he　said　regretfully；　〃although　I　should
much　like　to　hear　about　this　little　matter　of　life　insurance　while
I　am　here。〃

〃Indeed；　monsieur；〃　Annette　declared；　〃I　know　nothing。　　There　is
nothing　which　I　can　tell　monsieur。〃

Mr。　Sabin　suddenly　leaned　forward。　　His　gaze　was　compelling。　　His
tone　was　low　but　terrible。

〃Annette；〃　he　said；　〃obey　me。　　Send　Emil　here。〃

The　woman　trembled；　but　she　did　not　move。　　Mr。　Sabin　lifted　his
forefinger　and　pointed　slowly　to　the　door。　　The　woman's　lips　parted；
but　she　seemed　to　have　lost　the　power　of　speech。

〃Send　Emil　here！〃　Mr。　Sabin　repeated　slowly。

Annette　turned　and　left　the　room；　groping　her　way　to　the　door　as
though　her　eyesight　had　become　uncertain。　　Mr。　Sabin　lit　a　cigarette
and　looked　for　a　moment　carefully　into　the　small　liqueur　glass　out
of　which　he　had　drunk。

〃That　was　unwise；〃　he　said　softly　to　himself。　　〃Just　such　a　blunder
might　have　cost　me　everything。〃

He　held　it　up　to　the　light　and　satisfied　himself　that　no　dregs
remained。　　Then　he　took　from　his　pocket　a　tiny　little　revolv