the yellow crayon-第25章

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Brott　remains　the　enemy　of　our　cause　and　Order。　　Yet　some　say　that
his　influence　upon　the　people　is　lessened。　　In　any　case；　my　work　is
over。　　He　began　to　mistrust　me　long　ago。　　To…day　I　believe　that
mistrust　is　the　only　feeling　he　has　in　connection　with　me。　　I　shall
demand　my　release。〃

〃I　am　afraid；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃that　Saxe　Leinitzer　has　other　reasons
for　keeping　you　at　Dorset　House。〃

She　shrugged　her　shoulders。

〃He　has　been　very　persistent　even　before　I　left　Vienna。　　But　he　must
know　that　it　is　hopeless。　　I　have　never　encouraged　him。〃

〃I　am　sure　of　it；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃It　is　the　incorrigible　vanity
of　the　man　which　will　not　be　denied。　　He　has　been　taught　to　believe
himself　irresistible。　　I　have　never　doubted　you　for　a　single　moment；
Lucille。　　I　could　not。　　But　you　have　been　the　slave　of　these　people
long　enough。　　As　you　say；　your　task　is　over。　　Its　failure　was　always
certain。　　Brott　believes　in　his　destiny；　and　it　will　be　no　slight
thing　which　will　keep　him　from　following　it。　　They　must　give　you
back　to　me。〃

〃We　will　go　back　to　America；〃　she　said。　　〃I　have　never　been　so
happy　as　at　Lenox。〃

〃Nor　I；〃　Mr。　Sahin　said　softly。

〃Besides；〃　she　continued；　〃the　times　have　changed　since　I　joined
the　Society。　　In　Hungary　you　know　how　things　were。　　The　Socialists
were　carrying　all　before　them；　a　united　solid　body。　　The　aristocracy
were　forced　to　enter　into　some　sort　of　combination　against　them。
We　saved　Austria；　I　am　not　sure　that　we　did　not　save　Russia。　　But
England　is　different。　　The　aristocracy　here　are　a　strong　resident
class。　　They　have　their　House　of　Lords；　they　own　the　land；　and　will
own　it　for　many　years　to　come；　their　position　is　unassailable。　　It
is　the　worst　country　in　Europe　for　us　to　work　in。　　The　very　climate
and　the　dispositions　of　the　people　are　inimical　to　intrigue。　　It　is
Muriel　Carey　who　brought　the　Society　here。　　It　was　a　mistake。　　The
country　is　in　no　need　of　it。　　There　is　no　scope　for　it。〃

〃If　only　one　could　get　beyond　Saxe　Leinitzer；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。

She　shook　her　head。

〃Behind　him；〃　she　said；　〃there　is　only　the　one　to　whom　all　reference
is　forbidden。　　And　there　is　no　man　in　the　world　who　would　be　less
likely　to　listen　to　an　appeal　from　you　…　or　from　me。〃

〃After　all；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃though　Saxe　Leinitzer　is　our　enemy；
I　am　not　sure　that　he　can　do　us　any　harm。　　If　he　declines　to
release　you　…　well；　when　the　twelve　months　are　up　you　are　free
whether　he　wishes　it　or　not。　　He　has　put　me　outside　the　pale。　　But
this　is　not；　or　never　was；　a　vindictive　Society。　　They　do　not　deal
in　assassinations。　　In　this　country　at　least　anything　of　the；　sort
is　rarely　attempted。　　If　I　were　a　young　man　with　my　life　to　live　in
the　capitals　of　Europe　I　should　be　more　or　less　a　social　outcast；　I
suppose。　　But　I　am　proof　against　that　sort　of　thing。〃

Lucille　looked　a　little　doubtful。

〃The　Prince；〃　she　said；　〃is　an　intriguer　of　the　old　school。　　I　know
that　in　Vienna　he　has　more　than　once　made　use　of　more　violent　means
than　he　would　dare　to　do　here。　　And　there　is　an　underneath　machinery
very　seldom　used；　I　believe；　and　of　which　none　of　us　who　are　ordinary
members　know　anything　at　all；　which　gives　him　terrible　powers。〃

Mr。　Sabin　nodded　grimly。

〃It　was　worked　against　me　in　America；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　got　the　best
of　it。　　Here　in　England　I　do　not　believe　that　he　would　dare　to　use
it。　　If　so；　I　think　that　before　now　it　would　have　been　aimed　at
Brott。　　I　have　just　read　his　Glasgow　speech。　　If　he　becomes
Premier　it　will　lead　to　something　like　a　revolution。〃

She　sighed。

〃Brott　is　a　clever　man；　and　a　strong　man；〃　she　said。　　〃I　am　sorry
for　him；　but　I　do　not　believe　that　he　will　never　become　Prime
Minister　of　England。〃

Mr。　Sabin　sipped　his　wine　thoughtfully。

〃I　believe；〃　he　said；　〃that　intrigue　is　the　resource　of　those　who
have　lived　their　lives　so　quickly　that　they　have　found　weariness。
For　these　things　to…day　interest　me　very　little。　　I　am　only　anxious
to　have　you　back　again；　Lucille；　to　find　ourselves　on　our　way　to
our　old　home。〃

She　laughed　softly。

〃And　I　used　to　think；〃　she　said；　〃that　after　all　I　could　only　keep
you　a　little　time　…　that　presently　the　voices　from　the　outside　world
would　come　whispering　in　your　ears；　and　you　would　steal　back　again
to　where　the　wheels　of　life　were　turning。〃

〃A　man；〃　he　answered；　〃is　not　easily　whispered　out　of　Paradise。〃

She　laughed　at　him。

〃Ah；　it　is　so　easy；〃　she　said；　〃to　know　that　your　youth　was　spent
at　a　court。〃

〃There　is　only　one　court；〃　he　answered；　〃where　men　learn　to　speak
the　truth。〃

She　leaned　back　in　her　chair。

〃Oh；　you　are　incorrigible；〃　she　said　softly。　　〃The　one　role　in　life
in　which　I　fancied　you　ill　at　ease　you　seem　to　fill　to　perfection。〃

〃And　that？〃

〃You　are　an　adorable　husband！〃

〃I　should　like；〃　he　said；　〃a　better　opportunity　to　prove　it！〃

〃Let　us　hope；〃　she　murmured；　〃that　our　separation　is　nearly　over。
I　shall　appeal　to　the　Prince　to…night。　　My　remaining　at　Dorset
House　is　no　longer　necessary。〃

〃I　shall　come；〃　he　said；　〃and　demand　you　in　person。〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃No！　　They　would　not　let　you　in；　and　it　would　make　it　more
difficult。　　Be　patient　a　little　longer。〃

He　came　and　sat　by　her　side。　　She　leaned　over　to　meet　his　embrace。

〃You　make　patience；〃　he　murmured；　〃a　torture！〃

　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　　*

Mr。　Sabin　walked　home　to　his　rooms　late　in　the　afternoon；　well
content　on　the　whole　with　his　day。　　He　was　in　no　manner　prepared
for　the　shock　which　greeted　him　on　entering　his　sitting…room。
Duson　was　leaning　back　in　his　most　comfortable　easy…chair。

〃Duson！〃　Mr。　Sabin　said　sharply。　　〃What　does　this　mean？〃

There　was　no　answer。　　Mr。　Sabin　moved　quickly　forward；　and　then
stopped　short。　　He　had　seen　dead　men；　and　he　knew　the　signs。　　Duson
was　stone　dead。

Mr。　Sabin's　nerve　answered　to　this　demand　upon　it。　　He　checked　his
first　impulse　to　ring　the　bell；　and　looked　carefully　on　the　table
for　some　note　or　message　from　the　dead　man。　　He　found　it　almost　at
once　…　a　large　envelope　in　Duson's　handwriting。　　Mr。　Sabin　hastily
broke　the　seal　and　read：

　　〃Monsieur；　…　I　kill　myself　because　it　is　easiest　and　best。　　The
　　poison　was　given　me　for　you；　but　I　have　not　the　courage　to　become
　　a　murderer；　or　afterwards　to　conceal　my　guilt。　　Monsieur　has　been
　　a　good　master　to　me；　and　also　Madame　la　Comtesse　was　always
　　indulgent　and　kind。　　The　mistake　of　my　life　has　been　the　joining
　　the　lower　order　of　the　Society。　　The　money　which　I　have　received
　　has　been　but　a　poor　return　for　the　anxiety　and　trouble　which　have
　　come　upon　me　since　Madame　la　Comtesse　left　America。　　Now　that　I
　　seek　shelter　in　the　grave　I　am　free　to　warn　Monsieur　that　the
　　Prince　of　S。　L。　is　his　determined　and　merciless　enemy；　and　that
　　he　has　already　made　an　unlawful　use　of　his　position　in　the　Society
　　for　the　sake　of　private　vengeance。　　If　monsieur　would　make　a
　　powerful　friend　he　should　seek　the　Lady　Muriel　Carey。

　　〃Monsieur　will　be　so　good　as　to　destroy　this　when　read。　　My　will
　　is　in　my　trunk。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Your　Grace's　faithful　servant；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Jules　Duson。〃

Mr。　Sabin　read　this　letter　carefully　through　to　the　end。　　Then　he
put　it　into　his　pocket…book　and　quickly　rang　the　bell。

〃You　had　better　send　for　a　doctor　at　once；〃　he　said　to　the　waiter
who　appeared。　　〃My　servant　appears　to　have　suffered　from　some　sudden
illness。　　I　am　afraid　that　he　is　quite　dead。〃


CHAPTER　XXIX

You　spoke；　my　dear　Lucille；〃　the　　Duchess　of　Dorset　said；　〃of　your
departure。　　Is　not　that　a　little　premature？〃

Lucille　shrugged　her　beautiful　shoulders；　and　leaned　back　in　her
corner　of　the　couch　with　half…closed　eyes。　　The　Duchess；　who　was
very　Anglo…Saxon；　was　an　easy　person　to　read；　and　Lucille　was
anxious　to　know　her　fate。

〃Why　premature？〃　she　asked。　　〃I　was　sent　for　to　use　my　influence
with　Reginald　Brott。　　Well；　I　did　my　best；　and　I　believe　that　for
days　it　was　just　a　chance　whether　I　did　not　succeed。　　However；　as
it　happened；　I　failed。　　One　of　his　friends　came　and　pulled　him　away
just　as　he　was　wavering。　　He　has　declared　himself　now　once　and　for
all。　　After　his　speech　at　Glasgow　he　cannot　draw　back。　　I　was　brought
all　the　way　from　America；　and　I　want　to　go　back　to　my　husband。〃

The　Duchess　pursed　her　lips。

〃When　one　has　the　honour；　my　dear；〃　she　said；　〃of　belonging　to　so
wonderful　an　organisation　as　this　we　must　not　consider　too　closely
the　selfish　claims　of　family。　　I　am　sure　that　years　ago　I　should
have　laughed　at　any　one　who　had　told　me　that　I；　Georgina　Croxton；
should　ever　belong　to　such　a　thing　as　a　secret　society；　even　though
it　had　some　connection　with　so　harmless　and　excellent　an
organisation　as　the　Primrose　League。〃

〃It　does　seem　remarkable；〃　Lucille　murmured。

〃But　look　what　terrible　times　have　come　upon　us；〃　the　Duchess
continued；　without　heeding　the　interruption。　　〃When　I　was　a　girl　a
Radical　was　a　person　absolutely　without　consideration。　　Now　all　our
great　cities　are　hot…beds　of　Socialism　and　…　and　anarchism。　　The
whole　country　seems　banded　together　against　the　aristocracy　and　the
landowners。　　Combination　amongst　us　became　absolutely　necessary　in
some　shape　or　form。　　When　the　Prince　came　and　began　to　drop　hints
about　the　way　the　spread　of　Socialism　had　been　checked　in　Hungary
and　Austria；　and　even　Germany；　I　was　interested　from　the　first。
And　when　he　went　further；　and　spoke　of　the　Society；　it　was　I　who
persuaded　Dorset　to　join。　　Dear　man；　he　is　very　earnest；　but　very
slow；　and　very　averse　to　anything　at　all　secretive。　　I　am　sure　the
reflection　that　he　is　a　member　of　a　secret　society；　even　although
it　is　simply　a　linking　together　of　the　aristocracy　of　Europe　in
their　own　defence；　has　kept　him　awake　for　many　a　night。〃

Lucille　was　a　little　bored。

〃The　Society；〃　she　said；　〃is　an　admirable　one　enough；　but　just　now
I　am　beginning　to　feel　it　a　little　exacting。　　I　think　that　the
Prince　expects　a　good　deal　of　one。　　I　shall　certainly　ask　for　my
release　to…night。〃

The　Duchess　looked　doubtful。

〃Release！〃　she　repeated。　　〃Come；　is　that　not　rather　an　exaggerated
expression？　　I　trust　that　your　stay　at　Dorset　House　has　not　in　any
way　suggested　an　imprisonment。〃

〃On　the　contrary；〃　Lucille　answered；　〃you　and　the　Duke　have　been
most　kind。　　But　you　must　remember　that　I　have　home　of　my　own　…　and
a　husband　of　my　own。〃

〃I　have　no　doubt；〃　the　Duchess　said；　〃that　you　will　be　able　to
return　to　them　some　day。　　But　you　must　not　be　impatient。　　I　do　not
think　that　the　Prince　has　given　up　all　hopes　of　Reginald　Brott　yet。〃

Lucille　was　silent。　　So　her　emancipation　was　to　be　postponed。　　After
all；　it　was　what　she　had　feared。　　She　sat　watching　idly　the　Duchess's
knitting　needles。　　Lady　Carey　came　sweeping　in；　wonderful　in　a　black
velvet　gown　and　a　display　of　jewels　almost　barbaric。

〃On　my　way　to　the　opera；〃　she　announced。　　〃The　Maddersons　sent　me
their　box。　　Will　any　of　you　good　people　come？　　What　do　you　say；
Lucille？〃

Lucille　shook　her　head。

〃My　toilette　is　deficient；〃　she　said；；　〃and　besides；　I　am　staying
at　home　to　see　the　Prince。　　We　expect　him　this　evening。〃

〃You'll　probably　be　disappointed　then；〃　Lady