the yellow crayon-第26章

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at　home　to　see　the　Prince。　　We　expect　him　this　evening。〃

〃You'll　probably　be　disappointed　then；〃　Lady　Carey　remarked；　〃for
he's　going　to　join　us　at　the　opera。　　Run　and　change　your　gown。
I'll　wait。〃

〃Are　you　sure　that　the　Prince　will　be　there？〃　Lucille　asked。

〃Certain。〃

〃Then　I　will　come；〃　she　said；　〃if　the　Duchess　will　excuse　me。〃

The　Duchess　and　Lady　Carey　were　left　alone　for　a　few　minutes。　　The
former　put　down　her　knitting。

〃Why　do　we　keep　that　woman　here；〃　she　asked；　〃now　that　Brott　has
broken　away　from　her　altogether？〃

Lady　Carey　laughed　meaningly。

〃Better　ask　the　Prince；〃　she　remarked。

The　Duchess　frowned。

〃My　dear　Muriel；〃　she　said；　〃I　think　that　you　are　wrong　to　make　such　insinuations。　　I　am　sure　that
the　Prince　is　too　much　devoted　to　our
cause　to　allow　any　personal　considerations　to　intervene。〃

Lady　Carey　yawned。

〃Rats！〃　she　exclaimed。

The　Duchess　took　up　her　knitting；　and　went　on　with　it　without　remark。
Lady　Carey　burst　out　laughing。

〃Don't　look　so　shocked；〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃It's　funny。　　I　can't　help
being　a　bit　slangy。　　You　do　take　everything　so　seriously。　　Of　course
you　can　see　that　the　Prince　is　waiting　to　make　a　fool　of　himself
over　Lucille。　　He　has　been　trying　more　or　less　all　his　life。〃

〃He　may　admire　her；〃　the　Duchess　said。　　〃I　am　sure　that　he　would
not　allow　that　to　influence　him　in　his　present　position。　　By　the
bye；　she　is　anxious　to　leave　us　now　that　the　Brott　affair　is　over。
Do　you　think　that　the　Prince　will　agree？〃

Lady　Carey's　face　hardened。

〃I　am　sure　that　he　will　not；〃　she　said　coolly。　　〃There　are　reasons
why　she　may　not　at　present　be　allowed　to　rejoin　her　husband。〃

The　Duchess　used　her　needles　briskly。

〃For　my　part；〃　she　said；　〃I　can　see　no　object　in　keeping　her　here
any　longer。　　Mr。　Brott　has　shown　himself　quite　capable　of　keeping
her　at　arm's　length。　　I　cannot　see　what　further　use　she　is。〃

Lady　Carey　heard　the　flutter　of　skirts　outside　and　rose。

〃There　are　wheels　within　wheels；〃　she　remarked。　　〃My　dear　Lucille；
what　a　charming　toilette。　　We　shall　have　the　lady　journalists
besieging　us　in　our　box。　　Paquin；　of　course。　　Good…night；　Duchess。
Glad　to　see　you're　getting　on　with　the　socks；　or　stockings；　do　you
call　them？〃

Insolent　aristocratic；　now　and　then　attractive　in　some　strange
suggestive　way；　Lady　Carey　sat　in　front　of　the　box　and　exchanged
greetings　with　her　friends。　　Presently　the　Prince　came　in　and　took
the　chair　between　the　two　women。　　Lady　Carey　greeted　him　with　a　nod。

〃Here's　Lucille　dying　to　return　to　her　lawful　husband；〃　she　remarked。
〃Odd　thing；　isn't　it？　　Most　of　the　married　women　I　ever　knew　are
dying　to　get　away　from　theirs。　　You　can　make　her　happy　or　miserable
in　a　few　moments。〃

The　Prince　leaned　over　between　them；　but　he　looked　only　at　Lucille。

〃I　wish　that　I　could；〃　he　murmured。　　〃I　wish　that　that　were　within
my　power。〃

〃It　is；〃　she　answered　coolly。　　〃Muriel　is　quite　right。　　I　am　most
anxious　to　return　to　my　husband。〃

The　Prince　said　nothing。　　Lady　Carey；　glancing　towards　him　at　that
moment；　was　surprised　at　certain　signs　of　disquietude　in　his　face
which　startled　her。

〃What　is　the　matter　with　you？〃　she　asked　almost　roughly。

〃Matter　with　me？　　Nothing；〃　he　answered。　　〃Why　this　unaccustomed
solicitude？〃

Lady　Carey　looked　into　his　face　fiercely。　　He　was　pale；　and　there
was　a　strained　look　about　his　eyes。　　He　seemed；　too；　to　be　listening。
》From　outside　in　the　street　came　faintly　to　their　ears　the　cry　of　a
newsboy。

〃Get　me　an　evening　paper；〃　she　whispered　in　his　ear。

He　got　up　and　left　the　box。　　Lucille　was　watching　the　people　below
and　had　not　appreciated　the　significance　of　what　had　been　passing
between　the　two。　　Lady　Carey　leaned　back　in　the　box　with　half…closed
eyes。　　Her　fingers　were　clenched　nervously　together；　her　bosom　was
rising　and　falling　quickly。　　If　he　had　dared　to　defy　her！　　What　was
it　the　newsboys　were　calling？　　What　a　jargon！　　Why　did　not　Saxe
Leinitzer　return？　　Perhaps…he　was　afraid！　　Her　heart　stood　still
for　a　moment；　and　a　little　half…stifled　cry　broke　from　her　lips。
Lucille　looked　around　quickly。

〃What　is　the　matter；　Muriel？〃　she　asked。　　〃Are　you　faint？〃

〃Faint；　no；〃　Lady　Carey　answered　roughly。　　〃I'm　quite　well。　　Don't
take　any　notice　of　me。　　Do　you　hear？　　Don't　look　at　me。〃

Lucille　obeyed。　　Lady　Carey　sat　quite　still　with　her　hand　pressed
to　her　side。　　It　was　a　stifling　pain。　　She　was　sure　that　she　had
heard　at　last。　　〃Sudden　death　of　a　visitor　at　the　Carlton　Hotel。〃
The　place　was　beginning　to　go　round。

Saxe　Leinitzer　returned。　　His　face　to　her　seemed　positively　ghastly。
He　carried　an　evening　paper　in　his　hand。　　She　snatched　it　away　from
him。　　It　was　there　before　her　in　bold；　black　letters：

〃Sudden　death　in　the　Carlton　Hotel。〃

Her　eyes；　dim　a　moment　ago；　suddenly　blazed　fire　upon　him。

〃It　shall　be　a　life　for　a　life；〃　she　whispered。　　〃If　you　have　killed
him　you　shall　die。〃

Lucille　looked　at　them　bewildered。　　And　just　then　came　a　sharp　tap
at　the　box　door。　　No　one　answered　it；　but　the　door　was　softly　opened。
Mr。　Sabin　stood　upon　the　threshold。

〃Pray；　don't　let　me　disturb　you；〃　he　said。　　〃I　was　unable　to　refrain
from　paying　you　a　brief　visit。　　Why；　Prince；　Lady　Carey！　　I　can
assure　you　that　I　am　no　ghost。〃

He　glanced　from　one　to　the　other　with　a　delicate　smile　of　mockery
parting　his　thin　lips。　　For　upon　the　Prince's　forehead　the
perspiration　stood　out　like　beads；　and　he　shrank　away　from　Mr。
Sabin　as　from　some　unholy　thing。　　Lady　Carey　had　fallen　back　across
her　chair。　　Her　hand　was　still　pressed　to　her　side；　and　her　face
was　very　pale。　　A　nervous　little　laugh　broke　from　her　lips。


CHAPTER　XXX

Mr。　Sabin　found　a　fourth　chair；　and　calmly　seated　himself　by
Lucille's　side。　　But　his　eyes　were　fixed　upon　Lady　Carey。　　She
was　slowly　recovering　herself；　but　Mr。　Sabin；　who　had　never
properly　understood　her　attitude　towards　him；　was　puzzled　at　the
air　of　intense　relief　which　almost　shone　in　her　face。

〃You　seem　…　all　of　you；〃　he　remarked　suavely；　〃to　have　found　the
music　a　little　exciting。　　Wagner　certainly　knew　how　to　find　his
way　to　the　emotions。　　Or　perhaps　I　interrupted　an　interesting
discussion？〃

Lucille　smiled　gently　upon　him。

〃These　two；〃　she　said；　looking　from　the　Prince　to　Lady　Carey；　〃seem
to　have　been　afflicted　with　a　sudden　nervous　excitement；　and　yet　I　do
not　think　that　they　are；　either　of　them；　very　susceptible　to　music。〃

Lady　Carey　leaned　forward；　and　looked　at　him　from　behind　the　large
fan　of　white　feathers　which　she　was　lazily　fluttering　before　her　face。

〃Your　entrance；〃　she　murmured；　〃was　most　opportune；　besides　being
very　welcome。　　The　Prince　and　I　were　literally　…　on　the　point　of
flying　at　one　another's　throats。〃

Mr。　Sabin　glanced　at　his　neighbour　and　smiled。

〃You　are　certainly　a　little　out　of　sorts；　Saxe　Leinitzer；〃　he
remarked。　　〃You　look　pale；　and　your　hands　are　not　quite　steady。
Nerves；　I　suppose。　　You　should　see　Dr。　Carson　in　Brook　Street。〃

The　Prince　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃My　health；〃　he　said；　〃was　never　better。　　It　is　true　that　your
coming　was　somewhat　of　a　surprise；〃　he　added；　looking　steadily　at
Mr。　Sabin。　　〃I　understood　that　you　had　gone　for　a　short　journey；
and　I　was　not　expecting　to　see　you　back　again　so　soon。〃

〃Duson；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃has　taken　that　short　journey　instead。
It　was　rather　a　liberty；　but　he　left　a　letter　for　me　fully
explaining　his　motives。　　I　cannot　blame　him。〃

The　Prince　stroked　his　moustache。

〃Ah！〃　he　remarked。　　〃That　is　a　pity。　　You　may；　however；　find　it
politic；　even　necessary；　to　join　him　very　shortly。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled　grimly。

〃I　shall　go　when　I　am　ready；〃　he　said；　〃not　before！〃

Lucille　looked　from　one　to　the　other　with　protesting　eyebrows。

〃Come；〃　she　said；　〃it　is　very　impolite　of　you　to　talk　in　riddles
before　my　face。　　I　have　been　flattering　myself；　Victor；　that　you
were　here　to　see　me。　　Do　not　wound　my　vanity。〃

He　whispered　something　in　her　ear；　and　she　laughed　softly　back　at
him。　　The　Prince；　with　the　evening　paper　in　his　hand；　escaped　from
the　box；　and　found　a　retired　spot　where　he　could　read　the　little
paragraph　at　his　leisure。　　Lady　Carey　pretended　to　be　absorbed　by
the　music。

〃Has　anything　happened；　Victor？〃　Lucille　whispered。

He　hesitated。

〃Well；　in　a　sense；　yes；〃　he　admitted。　　〃I　appear　to　have　become
unpopular　with　our　friend；　the　Prince。　　Duson；　who　has　always　been
a　spy　upon　my　movements；　was　entrusted　with　a　little　sleeping
draught　for　me；　which　he　preferred　to　take　himself。　　That　is　all。〃

〃Duson　is　…　〃

He　nodded。

〃He　is　dead！〃

Lucille　went　very　pale。

〃This　is　horrible！〃　she　murmured

〃The　Prince　is　a　little　annoyed；　naturally；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃It
is　vexing　to　have　your　plans　upset　in　such　a　manner。〃

She　shuddered。

〃He　is　hateful！　　Victor；　I　fear　that　he　does　not　mean　to　let　me
leave　Dorset　House　just　yet。　　I　am　almost　inclined　to　become；　like
you；　an　outcast。　　Who　knows　…　we　might　go　free。　　Bloodshed　is　always
avoided　as　much　as　possible；　and　I　do　not　see　how　else　they　could
strike　at　me。　　Social　ostracism　is　their　chief　weapon。　　But　in
America　that　could　not　hurt　us。〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃Not　yet；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　sure　that　Saxe　Leinitzer　is　not　playing
the　game。　　But　he　is　too　well　served　here　to　make　defiance　wise。〃

〃You　run　the　risk　yourself；〃　she　protested。

He　smiled。

〃It　is　a　different　matter。　　By　the　bye；　we　are　overheard。〃

Lady　Carey　had　forgotten　to　listen　any　more　to　the　music。　　She　was
watching　them　both；　a　steely　light　in　her　eyes；　her　fingers
nervously　entwined。　　The　Prince　was　still　absent。

〃Pray　do　not　consider　me；〃　she　begged。　　〃So　far　as　I　am　concerned；
your　conversation　is　of　no　possible　interest。　　But　I　think　you　had
better　remember　that　the　Prince　is　in　the　corridor　just　outside。〃

〃We　are　much　obliged　to　you；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃The　Prince　may　hear
every　word　I　have　to　say　about　him。　　But　all　the　same；　I　thank　you
for　your　warning。

〃I　fear　that　we　are　very　unsociable；　Muriel；〃　Lucille　said；　〃and；
after　all；　I　should　never　have　been　here　but　for　you。〃

Lady　Carey　turned　her　left　shoulder　upon　them。

〃I　beg；〃　she　said；　〃that　you　will　leave　me　alone　with　the　music。
I　prefer　it。〃

The　Prince　suddenly　stood　upon　the　threshold。　　His　hand　rested
lightly　upon　the　arm　of　another　man。

〃Come　in；　Brott；〃　he　said。　　〃The　women　will　be　charmed　to　see　you。
And　I　don't　suppose　they've　read　your　speeches。　　Countess；　here　is
the　man　who　counts　all　equal　under　the　sun；　who　decries　class；　and
recognises　no　social　distinctions。　　Brott　was　born　to　lead　a
revolution。　　He　is　our　natural　enemy。　　Let　us　all　try　to　convert　him。〃

Brott　was　pale；　and　deep　new　lines　were　furrowed　on　his　face。
Nevertheless　he　smiled　faintly　as　he　bowed　over　Lucille's　fingers。

〃My　introduction；〃　he　remarked；　〃is　scarcely　reassuring。　　Yet　here
at　least；　if　anywhere　in　the　world；　we　should　all　meet　upon　equal
ground。　　Music　is　a　universal　leveler。〃

〃And　we　haven't　a　chance；〃　Lady　Carey　remarked　with　uplifted
eyebrows；　〃of　listening　to　a　bar　of　it。〃

Lucille　welcomed　the　newcomer　coldly。　　Nevertheless；　he　manoeuvred
himself　into　the　place　by　her　side。　　She　took　up　her　fan　and
commenced　swinging　i