the yellow crayon-第33章

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worth　solving。　　Who　are　these　people　at　whose　instigation　Duson　was
to　have　murdered　you　…　these　people　whom　Duson　feared　so　much　that
suicide　was　his　only　alternative　to　obeying　their　behests？〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled　faintly。

〃Ah；　my　dear　Passmore；〃　he　said；　〃you　must　not　ask　me　that　question。
I　can　only　answer　you　in　this　way。　　If　you　wish　to　make　the　biggest
sensation　which　has　ever　been　created　in　the　criminal　world；　to
render　yourself　immortal；　and　your　fame　imperishable　…　find　out！　　I
may　not　help　you；　I　doubt　whether　you　will　find　any　to　help　you。　But
if　you　want　excitement；　the　excitement　of　a　dangerous　chase　after
a　tremendous　quarry；　take　your　life　in　your　hands；　go　in　and　win。

Passmore's　withered　little　face　lit　up　with　a　gleam　of　rare
excitement。

〃These　are　your　enemies；　sir；〃　he　said。　　〃They　have　attempted　your
life　once；　they　may　do　it　again。　　Assume　the　offensive　yourself。
Give　me　a　hint。〃

Mr。　Sabin　shook　his　head。

〃That　I　cannot　do；〃　he　said。　　〃I　have　saved　you　from　wasting　your
time　on　a　false　scent。　　I　have　given　you　something　definite　to　work
upon。　　Further　than　that　I　can　do　nothing。〃

Passmore　looked　his　disappointment；　but　he　knew　Mr。　Sabin　better
than　to　argue　the　matter。

〃You　will　not　even　produce　that　letter　at　the　inquest？〃　he　asked。

〃Not　even　that；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。

Passmore　rose　to　his　feet。

〃You　must　remember；〃　he　said；　〃that　supposing　any　one　else　stumbles
upon　the　same　trail　as　I　have　been　pursuing；　and　suspicion　is
afterwards　directed　towards　madame；　your　not　producing　that　letter
at　the　inquest　will　make　it　useless　as　evidence　in　her　favour。〃

〃I　have　considered　all　these　things；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃I　shall
deposit　the　letter　in　a　safe　place。　　But　its　use　will　never　be
necessary。　　You　are　the　only　man　who　might　have　forced　me　to　produce
it；　and　you　know　the　truth。〃

Passmore　rose　reluctantly。

〃I　want　you；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃to　leave　me　not　only　your　address；
but　the　means　of　finding　you　at　any　moment　during　the　next
four…and…twenty　hours。　　I　may　have　some　important　work　for　you。〃

The　man　smiled　as　he　tore　leaf　from　his　pocketbook　and　a　made　a
few　notes。

〃I　shall　be　glad　to　take　any　commission　from　you；　sir；〃　he　said。
〃To　tell　you　the　truth；　I　scarcely　thought　that　you　would　be　content
to　sit　down　and　wait。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。

〃I　think；〃　he　said；　〃that　very　shortly　I　can　find　you　plenty　to　do。〃


CHAPTER　XXXVII

Mr。　Sabin　a　few　minutes　afterwards　ordered　his　carriage；　and　was
driven　to　Dorset　House。　　He　asked　for　Lucille；　but　was　shown　at　once
into　the　library；　where　the　Duke　was　awaiting　him。　　Then　Mr。　Sabin
knew　that　something　had　happened。

The　Duke　extended　his　hand　solemnly。

〃My　dear　Souspennier；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　glad　to　see　you。　　I　was　in
fact　on　the　point　of　despatching　a　messenger　to　your　hotel。〃

〃I　am　glad；〃　Mr。　Sabin　remarked；　〃that　my　visit　is　opportune。　　To
tell　you　the　truth；　Duke；　I　am　anxious　to　see　my　wife。〃

The　Duke　coughed。

〃I　trust；〃　he　said；　〃that　you　will　not　for　a　moment　consider　me
guilty　of　any　discourtesy　to　the　Countess；　for　whom　I　have　a　great
respect　and　liking。　　But　it　has　come　to　my　knowledge　that　the
shelter　of　my　roof　and　name　were　being　given　to　proceedings　of　which
I　heartily　disapproved。　　I　therefore　only　a　few　hours　ago　formally
broke　off　all　connection　with　Saxe　Leinitzer　and　his　friends；　and　to
put　the　matter　plainly；　I　expelled　them　from　the　house。〃

〃I　congratulate　you　heartily；　Duke；　upon　a　most　sensible　proceeding；〃
Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃But　in　the　meantime　where　is　my　wife？〃

〃Your　wife　was　not　present　at　the　time；〃　the　Duke　answered；　〃and　I
had　not　the　slightest　intention　of　including　her　in　the　remarks　I
made。　　Whether　she　understood　this　or　not　I　cannot　say；　but　I　have
since　been　given　to　understand　that　she　left　with　them。〃

〃How　long　ago？〃　Mr。　Sabin　asked。

〃Several　hours；　I　fear；〃　the　Duke　answered。　　〃I　should　like；
Souspennier；　to　express　to　you　my　regrets　that　I　was　ever　induced
to　become　connected　in　any　way　with　proceedings　which　must　have
caused　you　a　great　deal　of　pain。　　I　beg　you　to　accept　my　apologies。

〃I　do　not　blame　you；　Duke；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃My　one　desire　now　is
to　wrest　my　wife　away　from　this　gang。　　Can　you　tell　me　whether　she
left　alone　or　with　any　of　them？〃

〃I　will　endeavour　to　ascertain；〃　the　Duke　said；　ringing　the　bell。

But　before　the　Duke's　somewhat　long…winded　series　of　questions　had
gone　very　far　Mr。　Sabin　grasped　the　fact　that　the　servants　had
been　tampered　with。　　Without　wasting　any　more　time　he　took　a
somewhat　hurried　leave　and　drove　back　to　the　hotel。　　One　of　the
hall　porters　approached　him；　smiling。

〃There　is　a　lady　waiting　for　you　in　your　rooms；　sir；〃　he　announced。
〃She　arrived　a　few　minutes　ago。〃

Mr。　Sabin　rang　for　the　elevator；　got　out　at　his　floor　and　walked
down　the　corridor；　leaning　a　little　more　heavily　than　usual　upon
his　stick。　　If　indeed　it　were　Lucille　who　had　braved　all　and　come
to　him　the　way　before　them　might　still　be　smooth　sailing。　　He
would　never　let　her　go　again。　　He　was　sure　of　that。　　They　would
leave　England　…　yes；　there　was　time　still　to　catch　the　five　o'clock
train。　　He　turned　the　handle　of　his　door　and　entered。　　A　familiar
figure　rose　from　the　depths　of　his　easy…chair。　　Her　hat　lay　on　the
table；　her　jacket　was　open；　one　of　his　cigarettes　was　between　her
lips。　　But　it　was　not　Lucille。

〃Lady　Carey！〃　　he　said　slowly。　　〃This　is　an　unexpected　pleasure。
Have　you　brought　Lucille　with　you？〃

〃I　am　afraid；〃　she　answered；　〃that　I　have　no　ropes　strong　enough。〃

〃You　insinuate；〃　he　remarked；　〃that　Lucille　would　be　unwilling　to
come。〃

〃There　is　no　longer　any　need；〃　she　declared；　with　a　hard　little
laugh；　〃for　insinuations。　　We　have　all　been　turned　out　from　Dorset
House　neck　and　crop。　　Lucille　has　accepted　the　inevitable。　　She　has
gone　to　Reginald's　Brott's　rooms。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。

〃Indeed。　　I　have　just　come　from　Dorset　House　myself。　　The　Duke　has
supplied　me　with　a　highly　entertaining　account　of　his　sudden
awakening。　　The　situation　must　have　been　humorous。〃

Her　eyes　twinkled。

〃it　was　really　screamingly　funny。　　The　Duke　had　on　his　house　of
Lords　manner；　and　we　all　sat　round　like　a　lot　of　naughty　children。
If　only　you　bad　been　there。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。　　Suddenly　she　laid　her　hand　upon　his　arm。

〃Victor；〃　she　said；　〃I　have　come　to　prove　that　I　am　your　friend。
You　do　not　believe　that　Lucille　is　with　Reginald　Brott。　　It　is　true！
Not　only　that；　but　she　is　leaving　England　with　him　to…night。　　The
man's　devotion　is　irresistible　…　he　has　been　gaining　on　her　slowly
but　surely　all　the　time。〃

〃I　have　noticed〃　Mr。　Sabin　remarked　calmly；　〃that　he　has　been
wonderfully　assiduous。　　I　am　sure　I　congratulate　him　upon　his
success；　if　he　has　succeeded。〃

〃You　doubt　my　word　of　course；〃　she　said。　　〃But　I　have　not　come　here
to　tell　you　things。　　I　have　come　to　prove　them。　　I　presume　that　what
you　see　with　your　own　eyes　will　be　sufficient。〃

Mr。　Sabin　shook　his　head。

〃Certainly　not；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　make　it　a　rule　to　believe　nothing
that　I　see；　and　never　to　trust　my　ears。〃

She　stamped　her　foot　lightly　upon　the　floor。

〃How　impossible　you　are；〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃I　can　tell　you　by　what
train　Lucille　and　Reginald　Brott　will　leave　London　to…night。　　I　can
tell　you　why　Lucille　is　bound　to　go。〃

〃Now；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃you　are　beginning　to　get　interesting。〃

〃Lucille　must　go　…　or　run　the　risk　of　arrest　for　complicity　in　the
murder　of　Duson。〃

〃Are　you　serious？〃　Mr。　Sabin　asked；　with　admirably　assumed　gravity。

〃Is　it　a　jesting　matter？〃　she　answered　fiercely。　　〃Lucille　bought
poison；　the　same　poison　which　it　will　be　proved　that　Duson　died　of。
She　came　here；　she　was　the　last　person　to　enter　your　room　before
Duson　was　found　dead。　　The　police　are　even　now　searching　for　her。
Escape　is　her　only　chance。〃

〃Dear　me；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃Then　it　is　not　only　for　Brott's　sake
that　she　is　running　away。〃

〃What　does　that　matter？　　She　is　going；　and　she　is　going　with　him。〃

〃And　why；〃　he　asked；　〃do　you　come　to　give　me　warning？　I　have　plenty
of　time　to　interpose。〃

〃You　can　try　if　you　will。　　Lucille　is　in　hiding。　　She　will　not　see
you　if　you　go　to　her。　　She　is　determined。　　Indeed；　she　has　no
choice。　　Lucille　is　a　brave　woman　in　many　ways；　but　you　know　that
she　fears　death。　　She　is　in　a　corner。　　She　is　forced　to　go。〃

〃Again；〃　he　said；　〃I　feel　that　I　must　ask　you　why　do　you　give　me
warning？〃

She　came　and　stood　close　to　him。

〃Perhaps；〃　she　said　earnestly；　〃I　am　anxious　to　earn　your　gratitude。
Perhaps；　too；　I　know　that　no　interposition　of　yours　would　be　of　any
avail。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。

〃Still；〃　he　said；　〃I　do　not　think　that　it　is　wise　of　you。　　I　might
appear　at　the　station　and　forcibly　prevent　Lucille's　departure。
After　all；　she　is　my　wife；　you　know。〃

She　shrugged　her　shoulders。

〃I　am　not　afraid；〃　she　said。　　〃You　will　make　inquiries　when　I　have
gone；　and　you　will　find　out　that　I　have　spoken　the　truth。　　If　you
keep　Lucille　in　England　you　will　expose　her　to　a　terrible　risk。　　It
is　not　like　you　to　be　selfish。　　You　will　yield　to　necessity。〃

〃Will　you　tell　me　where　Lucille　is　now？〃　he　asked。

〃For　your　own　sake　and　hers；　no；〃　she　answered。　　〃You　also　are
watched。　　Besides；　it　is　too　late。　　She　was　with　Brott　half　an　hour
after　the　Duke　turned　us　out　of　Dorset　House。　　Don't　you　understand；
Victor　…　won't　you？　　It　is　too　late。〃

He　sat　down　heavily　in　his　easy…chair。　　His　whole　appearance　was
one　of　absolute　dejection。

〃So　I　am　to　be　left　alone　in　my　old　age；〃　he　murmured。　　〃You　have
your　revenge　now　at　last。　　You　have　come　to　take　it。〃

She　sank　on　her　knees　by　the　side　of　his　chair；　and　her　arms　fell
upon　his　shoulders。

〃How　can　you　think　so　cruelly　of　me；　Victor；〃　she　murmured。　　〃You
were　always　a　little　mistaken　in　Lucille。　　She　loved　you；　it　is
true；　but　all　her　life　she　has　been　fond　of　change　and　excitement。
She　came　to　Europe　willingly　…　long　before　this　Brott　would　have
been　her　slave　save　for　your　reappearance。　　Can't　you　forget　her
　…　for　a　little　while？〃

Mr。　Sabin　sat　quite　still。　　Her　hair　brushed　his　cheeks；　her　arms
were　about　his　neck；　her　whole　attitude　was　an　invitation　for　his
embrace。　　But　he　sat　like　a　figure　of　stone；　neither　repulsing　nor
encouraging　her。

〃You　need　not　be　alone　unless　you　like；〃　she　whispered。

〃I　am　an　old　man；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃and　this　is　a　hard　blow　for　me
to　bear。　　I　must　be　sure；　absolutely　sure　that　she　has　gone。〃

〃By　this　time　to…morrow；〃　she　murmured；　〃all　the　world　will　know　it。〃

〃Come　to　me　then；〃　he　said。　　〃I　shall　need　consolation。〃

Her　eyes　were　bright　with　triumph。　　She　leaned　over　him　and　kissed
him　on　the　lips。　　Then　she　sprang　lightly　to　her　feet。

〃Wait　here　for　me；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　will　come　to　you。　　You　shall
know；　Victor；　that　Lucille　is　not　the　only　woman　in　the　world　who
has　cared　for　you。〃

There　was　a　tap　at　the　door。　　Lady　Carey　was　busy　adjusting　her
hat。　　Passmore　entered；　and　stood　hesitating　upon　the　threshold。
Mr。　Sabin　had　risen　to　his　feet。　　He　took　one　of　her　hands　and
raised　it　to　his　lips。　　She　gave　him　a　swift；　wonderful　look　and
passed　out。

Mr。　Sabin's　manner　changed　as　though　by　magic。　　He　was　at　on