the yellow crayon-第32章

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〃She　has　appealed　to　you；〃　the　Prince　muttered。

〃She　has　done　nothing　so　sensible；〃　the　Duke　answered　drily。　　〃The
facts　which　I　have　just　stated　are　known　to　every　one　in　this　room。
I　perhaps　know　less　than　any　one。　　But　I　know　enough　for　this。　　I
request；　Saxe　Leinitzer；　that　you　withdraw　the　name　of　myself　and
my　wife　from　your　list　of　members；　and　that　you　understand　clearly
that　my　house　is　to　be　no　more　used　for　meetings　of　the　Society；
formal　or　informal。　　And；　further；　though　I　regret　the　apparent
inhospitality　of　my　action；　my　finger　is　now；　as　you　see；　upon　the
bell；　and　I　venture　to　wish　you　all　a　very　good…morning。　　Groves；〃
he　added　to　the　servant　who　answered　the　door；　〃the　Prince　of　Saxe
Leinitzer's　carriage　is　urgently　required。〃

The　Prince　and　Lady　Carey　descended　the　broad　steps　side　by　side。
She　was　laughing　softly　but　immoderately。　　The　Prince　was　pale
with　fury。

〃Pompous　old　ass；〃　he　muttered　savagely。　　〃He　may　have　a　worse
scandal　in　his　house　now　than　he　dreams　of。〃

She　wiped　her　eyes。

〃Have　I　not　always　told　you；〃　she　said；　〃that　intrigue　in　this
country　was　a　sheer　impossibility？　　You　may　lay　your　plans　ever　so
carefully；　but　you　cannot　foresee　such　a　contretemps　as　this。〃

〃Idiot！〃　the　Prince　cried；　〃Oh；　the　dolt！　　Why；　even　his　wife　was
amazed。〃

〃He　may　be　all　those　pleasant　things；〃　Lady　Carey；　said；　〃but　he
is　a　gentleman。〃

He　stopped　short。　　The　footman　was　standing　by　the　side　of　Lady
Carey's　victoria　with　a　rug　on　his　arm。

〃Lucille；〃　he　said　thoughtfully；　〃is　locked　in　the　morning…room。
She　is　prostrate　with　fear。　　If　the　Duke　sees　her　everything　is
over。　　Upon　my　word；　I　have　a　good　mind　to　throw　this　all　up　and
cross　to　Paris　to…night。　　Let　England　breed　her　own　revolutions。
What　do　you　say；　Muriel？　　Will　you　come　with　me？〃

She　laughed　scornfully。

〃I'd　as　soon　go　with　my　coachman；〃　she　said。

His　eyebrows　narrowed。　　A　dull；　purple　flush　crept　to　his　forehead。

〃Your　wit；〃　he　said；　〃is　a　little　coarse。　　Listen！　　You　wish　our
first　plan　to　go　through？〃

〃Of　course！〃

〃Then　you　must　get　Lucille　out　of　that　house。　　If　she　is　left　there
she　is　absolutely　lost　to　us。　　Apart　from　that；　she　is　herself　not
safe。　　Our　plan　worked　out　too　well。　　She　is　really　in　danger　from
this　Duson　affair。〃

The　laughter　died　away　from　Lady　Carey's　face。　　She　hesitated　with
her　foot　upon　the　step　of　her　carriage。

〃You　can　go　back　easily　enough；〃　the　Prince　said。　　〃You　are　the
Duke's　cousin；　and　you　were　not　included　in　his　tirade。　　Lucille　is
in　the　morning…room；　and　here　is　the　key。　　I　brought　it　away　with　me。
You　must　tell　her　that　all　our　plans　are　broken；　that　we　have
certain　knowledge　that　the　police　are　on　the　track　of　this　Duson
affair。　　Get　her　to　your　house　in　Pont　Street；　and　I　will　be　round
this　afternoon。　　Or　better　still；　take　her　to　mine。〃

Lady　Carey　stepped　back　on　to　the　pavement。　　She　was　still；　however；
hesitating。

〃Leave　her　with　the　Duke　and　Duchess；〃　the　Prince　said；　〃and　she　will
dine　with　her　husband　to…night。〃

Lady　Carey　took　the　key　from　his　hand。

〃I　will　try；〃　she　said。　　〃How　shall　you　know　whether　I　succeed？〃

〃I　will　wait　in　the　gardens；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　shall　be　out　of　sight；
but　I　shall　be　able　to　see　you　come　out。　　If　you　are　alone　I　shall
come　to　you。　　If　she　is　with　you　I　shall　be　at　your　house　in　an
hour；　and　I　promise　you　that　she　shall　leave　England　to…night　with
me。〃

〃Poor　Brott！〃　she　murmured　ironically。

The　Prince　smiled。

〃He　will　follow　her。　　Every　one　will　believe　that　they　left　London
together。　　That　is　all　that　is　required。〃

Lady　Carey　re…entered　the　house。　　The　Prince　made　his　way　into　the
gardens。　　Ten　minutes　passed　…　a　quarter　of　an　hour。　　Then　Lady　Carey
with　Lucille　reappeared；　and　stepping　quickly　into　the　victoria　were
driven　away。　　The　Prince　drew　a　little　sigh　of　relief。　　He　looked　at
his　watch；　called　a　hansom；　and　drove　to　his　club　for　lunch。

Another　man；　who　had　also　been　watching　Dorset　Rouse　from　the
gardens　for　several　hours；　also　noted　Lucille's　advent　with　relief。
He　followed　the　Prince　out　and　entered　another　hansom。

〃Follow　that　victoria　which　has　just　driven　off；〃　he　ordered。
〃Don't　lose　sight　of　it。　　Double　fare。〃

The　trap…door　fell；　and　the　man　whipped　up　his　horse。


CHAPTER　XXXVI

Mr。　Sabin　received　an　early　visitor　whilst　still　lingering　over
a　slight　but　elegant　breakfast。　　Passmore　seated　himself　in　an
easy…chair　and　accepted　the　cigar　which　his　host　himself　selected
for　him。

〃I　am　glad　to　see　you；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃This　affair　of　Duson's
remains　a　complete　mystery　to　me。　　I　am　looking　to　you　to　help　me
solve　it。〃

The　little　man　with　the　imperturbable　face　removed　his　cigar　from
his　mouth　and　contemplated　it　steadfastly。

〃It　is　mysterious；〃　he　said。　　〃There　are　circumstances　in　connection
with　it　which　even　now　puzzle　me　very　much；　very　much　indeed。　　There
are　circumstances　in　connection　with　it　also　which　I　fear　may　be　a
shock　to　you；　sir。〃

〃My　life；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　with　a　faint　smile；　〃has　been　made　up　of
shocks。　　A　few　more　or　less　may　not　hurt　me。〃

〃Duson；〃　the　detective　said；　〃was　at　heart　a　faithful　servant！〃　

〃I　believe　it；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。

〃He　was　much　attached　to　you！〃　

〃I　believe　it。〃

〃It　is　possible　that　unwittingly　he　died　for　you。〃

Mr。　Sabin　was　silent。　　It　was　his　way　of　avoiding　a　confession　of
surprise。　　And　he　was　surprised。　　〃You　believe　then；〃　he　said；
〃after　a　moment's　pause；　〃that　the　poison　was　intended　for　me？〃

〃Certainly　I　do；〃　the　detective　answered。　　〃Duson　was；　after　all；
a　valet；　a　person　of　little　importance。　　There　is　no　one　to　whom
his　removal　could　have　been　of　sufficient　importance　to　justify
such　extreme　measures。　　With　you　it　is　different。〃

Mr。　Sabin　knocked　the　ash　from　his　cigarette。

〃Why　not　be　frank　with　me；　Mr。　Passmore？〃　he　said。　　〃There　is　no
need　to　shelter　yourself　under　professional　reticence。　　Your
connection　with　Scotland　Yard　ended；　I　believe；　some　time　ago。　　You
are　free　to　speak　or　to　keep　silence。　　Do　one　or　the　other。　　Tell　me
what　you　think；　and　I　will　tell　you　what　I　know。　　That　surely　will
be　a　fair　exchange。　　You　shall　have　my　facts　for　your　surmises。〃

Passmore's　thin　lips　curled　into　a　smile。　　〃You　know　that　I　have
left　Scotland　Yard　then；　sir？〃

〃Quite　well！　　You　are　employed　by　them　often；　I　believe；　but　you
are　not　on　the　staff；　not　since　the　affair　of　Nerman　and　the　code
book。〃

If　Passmore　had　been　capable　of　reverence；　his　eyes　looked　it　at
that　moment。

〃You　knew　this　last　night；　sir？〃

〃Certainly！〃　

〃Five　years　ago；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃I　told　my　chief　that　in　you　the
detective　police　of　the　world　had　lost　one　who　must　have　been　their
king。　　More　and　more　you　convince　me　of　it。　　I　cannot　believe　that
you　are　ignorant　of　the　salient　points　concerning　Duson's　death。〃

〃Treat　me　as　being　so；　at　any　rate；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。

〃I　am　pardoned；〃　Passmore　said；　〃for　speaking　plainly　of　family
matters　…　my　concern　in　which　is　of　course　purely　professional？〃

Mr。　Sabin　looked　up　for　a　moment；　but　he　signified　his　assent。

〃You　left　America；〃　Passmore　said；　〃in　search　of　your　wife；　formerly
Countess　of　Radantz；　who　had　left　you　unexpectedly。〃

〃It　is　true！〃　　Mr。　Sabin　answered。

〃Madame　la　Duchesse　on　reaching　London　became　the　guest　of　the
Duchess　of　Dorset；　where　she　has　been　staying　since。　　Whilst　there
she　has　received　many　visits　from　Mr。　Reginald　Brott。〃

Mr。　Sabin's　face　was　as　the　face　of　a　sphinx。　　He　made　no　sign。

〃You　do　not　waste　your　time；　sir；　over　the　Society　papers。　　Yet　you
have　probably　heard　that　Madame　la　Duchesse　and　Mr。　Reginald　Brott
have　been　written　about　and　spoken　about　as　intimate　friends。　　They
have　been　seen　together　everywhere。　　Gossip　has　been　busy　with　their
names。　　Mr。　Brott　has　followed　the　Countess　into　circles　which
before　her　coming　he　zealously　eschewed。　　The　Countess　is　everywhere
regarded　as　a　widow；　and　a　marriage　has　been　confidently　spoken　of。〃

Mr。　Sabin　bowed　his　head　slightly。　　But　of　expression　there　was　in
his　face　no　sign。

〃These　things；〃　Passmore　continued；　〃are　common　knowledge。　　I　have
spoken　up　to　now　of　nothing　which　is　not　known　to　the　world。　　I
proceed　differently。〃

〃Good！〃　　Mr。　Sabin　said。

〃There　is；〃　Passmore　continued；　〃in　the　foreign　district　of　London
a　man　named　Emil　Sachs；　who　keeps　a　curious　sort　of　a　wine…shop；　and
supplements　his　earnings　by　disposing　at　a　high　figure　of　certain
rare　and　deadly　poisons。　　A　few　days　ago　the　Countess　visited　him
and　secured　a　small　packet　of　the　most　deadly　drug　the　man　possesses。〃

Mr。　Sabin　sat　quite　still。　　He　was　unmoved。

〃The　Countess；〃　Passmore　continued；　〃shortly　afterwards　visited
these　rooms。　　An　hour　after　her　departure　Duson　was　dead。　　He　died
from　drinking　out　of　your　liqueur　glass；　into　which　a　few　specks
of　that　powder；　invisible　almost　to　the　naked　eye；　had　been　dropped。
At　Dorset　House　Reginald　Brott　was　waiting　for　her。　　He　left　shortly
afterwards　in　a　state　of　agitation。〃

〃And　from　these　things；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃you　draw；　I　presume；　the
natural　inference　that　Madame　la　Duchesse；　desiring　to　marry　her
old　admirer；　Reginald　Brott；　first　left　me　in　America；　and　then；
since　I　followed　her　here；　attempted　to　poison　me

〃There　is；〃　Passmore　said；　〃a　good　deal　of　evidence　to　that　effect。〃

〃Here；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　handing　him　Duson's　letter；　〃is　some
evidence　to　the　contrary。〃

Passmore　read　the　letter　carefully。

〃You　believe　this；〃　he　asked；　〃to　be　genuine？〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。

〃I　am　sure　of　it！〃　　he　answered。

〃You　recognise　the　handwriting？〃

〃Certainly！〃
　
〃And　this　came　into　your　possession　…　how？〃

〃I　found　it　on　the　table　by　Duson's　side。〃

〃You　intend　to　produce　it　at　the　inquest？〃

〃I　think　not；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。

There　was　a　short　silence。　　Passmore　was　revolving　a　certain　matter
in　his　mind　…　thinking　hard。　　Mr。　Sabin　was　apparently　trying　to
make　rings　of　the　blue　smoke　from　his　cigarette。

〃Has　it　occurred　to　you；〃　Passmore　asked；　〃to　wonder　for　what　reason
your　wife　visited　these　rooms　on　the　morning　of　Duson's　death？〃

Mr。　Sabin　shook　his　head。

〃I　cannot　say　that　it　has。〃

〃She　knew　that　you　were　not　here；〃　Passmore　continued。　　〃She　left
no　message。　　She　came　closely　veiled　and　departed　unrecognised。〃
Mr。　Sabin　nodded。

〃There　were　reasons；〃　he　said；　〃for　that。　　But　when　you　say　that
she　left　no　message　you　are　mistaken。〃

Passmore　nodded。

〃Go　on；〃　he　said。

Mr。　Sabin　nodded　towards　a　great　vase　of　La　France　roses　upon　a
side　table。

〃I　found　these　here　on　my　return；〃　he　said；　〃and　attached　to　them
the　card　which　I　believe　is　still　there。　　Go　and　look　at　it。〃

Passmore　rose　and　bent　over　the　fragrant　blossoms。　　The　card　still
remained；　and　on　the　back　of　it；　in　a　delicate　feminine　handwriting：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃For　my　husband；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃with　love　from
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Lucille。〃


Mr。　Passmore　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　He　had　not　the　vice　of
obstinacy；　and　he　knew　when　to　abandon　a　theory。

〃I　am　corrected；〃　he　said。　　〃In　any　case；　a　mystery　remains　as　well
worth　solving。　　Who　are　these　people　at　whose　instigatio