the yellow crayon-第36章

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the　Prince　even　so　far　as　to　give　him　that　message。　　For　I　know
very　well　that　if　Victor　had　received　it　he　would　have　been　here。〃

Lady　Carey　took　up　a　great　pile　of　papers　and　looked　them　carelessly
through。

〃I　am　afraid；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　do　not　agree　with　you。　　I　do　not
think　that　Saxe　Leinitzer　had　any　desire　except　to　see　you　safely
away。　　I　believe　that　he　will　be　quite　as　disappointed　as　you　are
that　your　husband　is　not　here　to　aid　you。　　Some　one　must　see　you
safely　on　the　steamer　at　Havre。　　Perhaps　he　will　come　himself。〃

〃I　shall　wait　in　Paris；〃　Lucille　said　quietly；　〃for　my　husband。〃

〃You　may　wait；〃　Lady　Carey　said；　〃for　a　very　long　time。〃

Lucille　looked　at　her　steadily。　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃What　a　fool　you　are；　Lucille。　　If　to　other　people　it　seems　almost
certain　on　the　face　of　it　that　you　were　responsible　for　that　drop
of　poison　in　your　husband's　liqueur　glass；　why　should　it　not　seem
so　to　himself？〃

Lucille　laughed；　but　there　was　a　look　of　horror　in　her　dark　eyes。

〃How　absurd。　　　I　know　Victor　better　than　to　believe　him　capable　of
such　a　suspicion。　　Just　as　he　knows　me　better　than　to　believe　me
capable　of　such　an　act。〃

〃Really。　　But　you　were　in　his　rooms　secretly　just　before。〃

〃I　went　to　leave　some　roses　for　him；〃　Lucille　answered。　　〃And　if
you　would　like　to　know　it；　I　will　tell　you　this。　　I　left　my　card
tied　to　them　with　a　message　for　him。〃

Lady　Carey　yawned。

〃A　remarkably　foolish　thing　to　do；〃　she　said。　　〃That　may　cause　you
trouble　later　on。　　Great　heavens；　what　is　this？〃

She　held　the　evening　paper　open　in　her　hand。　　Lucille　leaned　over
with　blanched　face。

〃What　has　happened？〃　she　cried。　　〃Tell　me；　can't　you！〃

〃Reginald　Brott　has　been　shot　in　Piccadilly；〃　Lady　Carey　said。

〃Is　he　hurt？〃　Lucille　asked。

〃He　is　dead！〃

They　read　the　brief　announcement　together。　　The　deed　had　been
committed　by　a　man　whose　reputation　for　sanity　had　long　been
questioned；　one　of　Brott's　own　constituents。　　He　was　in　custody；
and　freely　admitted　his　guilt。　　The　two　women　looked　at　one　another
in　horror。　　Even　Lady　Carey　was　affected。

〃What　a　hateful　thing；〃　she　said。　　〃I　am　glad　that　we　had　no　hand
in　it。〃

〃Are　you　so　sure　that　we　hadn't？〃　Lucille　asked　bitterly。　　〃You　see
what　it　says。　　The　man　killed　him　because　of　his　political　apostasy。
We　had　something　to　do　with　that　at　least。〃

Lady　Carey　was　recovering　her　sang　froid。

〃Oh；　well；〃　she　said；　〃indirect　influences　scarcely　count；　or　one
might　trace　the　causes　of　everything　which　happens　back　to　an　absurd
extent。　　If　this　man　was　mad　he　might　just　as　well　have　shot　Brott
for　anything。〃

Lucille　made　no　answer。　　She　leaned　back　and　closed　her　eyes。　　She
did　not　speak　again　till　they　reached　Dover。

They　embarked　in　the　drizzling　rain。　　Lady　Carey　drew　a　little
breath　of　relief　as　they　reached　their　cabin；　and　felt　the　boat
move　beneath　them。

〃Thank　goodness　that　we　are　really　off。　　I　have　been　horribly
nervous　all　the　time。　　If　they　let　you　leave　England　they　can　have
no　suspicion　as　yet。〃

Lucille　was　putting　on　an　ulster　and　cap　to　go　out　on　deck。

〃I　am　not　at　all　sure；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　shall　not　return　to
England。　　At　any　rate；　if　Victor　does　not　come　to　me　in　Paris　I
shall　go　to　him。〃

〃What　beautiful　trust！〃　Lady　Carey　answered。　　〃My　dear　Lucille；　you
are　more　like　a　school…girl　than　a　woman　of　the　world。〃


A　steward　entered　with　a　telegram　for　Lucille。　　It　was　banded　in　at
the　Haymarket；　an　hour　before　their　departure。　　Lucille　read　it；　and
her　face　blanched。　　〃I　thank　you　for　your　invitation；　but　I　fear
that　it　would　not　be　good　for　my　health。　…　S。〃

Lady　Carey　looked　over　her　shoulder。　　She　laughed　hardly。

〃How　brutal！〃　　she　murmured。　　〃But；　then；　Victor　can　be　brutal
sometimes；　can't　he？〃

Lucille　tore　it　into　small　pieces　without　a　word。　　Lady　Carey
waited　for　a　remark　from　her　in　vain。

〃I；　too；〃　she　said　at　last；　〃have　had　some　telegrams。　　I　have　been
hesitating　whether　to　show　them　to　you　or　not。　　Perhaps　you　had
better　see　them。〃

She　produced　them　and　spread　them　out。　　The　first　was　dated　about
the　same　time　as　the　one　Lucille　had　received。

〃Have　seen　S。　with　message　from　Lucille。　　Fear　quite　useless；　as
he　believes　worst。〃

The　second　was　a　little　longer。

〃Have　just　heard　S。　has　left　for　Liverpool；　and　has　engaged　berth　in
Campania；　sailing　to…morrow。　　Break　news　to　Lucille　if　you　think　well。
Have　wired　him　begging　return；　and　promising　full　explanation。〃

〃If　these；〃　Lucille　said　calmly；　〃belonged　to　me　I　should　treat　them
as　I　have　my　own。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃I　should　tear　them　up。〃

Lady　Carey　shrugged　her　shoulders　with　the　air　of　one　who　finds
further　argument　hopeless。

〃I　shall　have　no　more　to　say　to　you；　Lucille；　on　this　subject；〃　she
said。　　〃You　are　impossible。　　In　a　few　days　you　will　be　forced　to
come　round　to　my　point　of　view。　　I　will　wait　till　then。　　And　in　the
meantime；　if　you　think　I　am　going　to　tramp　up　and　down　those　sloppy
decks　and　gaze　at　the　sea　you　are　very　much　mistaken。　　I　am　going
to　lie　down　like　a　civilized　being；　and　try　and　get　a　nap。　　You　had
better　do　the　same。〃

Lucille　laughed。

〃For　my　part；〃　she　said；　〃I　find　any　part　of　the　steamer　except　the
deck　intolerable。　　I　am　going　now　in　search　of　some　fresh　air。
Shall　I　send　your　woman　along？〃

Lady　Carey　nodded；　for　just　then　the　steamer　gave　a　violent　lurch；
and　she　was　not　feeling　talkative。　　Lucille　went　outside　and　walked
up　and　down　until　the　lights　of　Calais　were　in　sight。　　All　the　time
she　felt　conscious　of　the　observation　of　a　small　man　clad　in　a　huge
mackintosh；　whose　peaked　cap　completely　obscured　his　features。　　As
they　were　entering　the　harbour　she　purposely　stood　by　his　side。　　He
held　on　to　the　rail　with　one　hand　and　turned　towards　her。

〃It　has　been　quite　a　rough　passage；　has　it　not？〃　he　remarked。

She　nodded。

〃I　have　crossed；〃　she　said；　〃when　it　has　been　much　worse。　　I　do　not
mind　so　long　as　one　may　come　on　deck。〃

〃Your　friend；〃　he　remarked；　〃is　perhaps　not　so　good　a　sailor？〃

〃I　believe；〃　Lucille　said；　〃that　she　suffers　a　great　deal。　　I　just
looked　in　at　her；　and　she　was　certainly　uncomfortable。〃

The　little　man　gripped　the　rail　and　held　on　to　his　cap　with　the
other　hand。

〃You　are　going　to　Paris？〃　he　asked。

Lucille　nodded。

〃Yes。〃

They　were　in　smoother　water　now。　　He　was　able　to　relax　his　grip　of
the　rail。　　He　turned　towards　Lucille；　and　she　saw　him　for　the　first
time　distinctly　…　a　thin；　wizened…up　little　man；　with　shrewd　kindly
eyes；　and　a　long　deeply　cut　mouth。

〃I　trust；〃　he　said；　〃that　you　will　not　think　me　impertinent；　but　it
occurred　to　me　that　you　have　noticed　some　apparent　interest　of　mine
in　your　movements　since　you　arrived　on　the　boat。〃

Lucille　nodded。

〃It　is　true；〃　she　answered。　　〃That　is　why　I　came　and　stood　by　your
side。　　What　do　you　want　with　me？〃

〃Nothing；　madam；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　am　here　altogether　in　your
interests。　　If　you　should　want　help　I　shall　be　somewhere　near　you
for　the　next　few　hours。　　Do　not　hesitate　to　appeal　to　me。　　My
mission　here　is　to　be　your　protector　should　you　need　one。〃

Lucille's　eyes　grew　bright；　and　her　heart　beat　quickly。

〃Tell　me；〃　she　said；　〃who　sent　you？〃

He　smiled。

〃I　think　that　you　know；〃　he　answered。　　〃One　who　I　can　assure　you
will　never　allow　you　to　suffer　any　harm。　　I　have　exceeded　my
instructions　in　speaking　to　you；　but　I　fancied　that　you　were　looking
worried。　　You　need　not。　　I　can　assure　you　that　you　need　have　no
cause。〃

Her　eyes　filled　with　tears。

〃I　knew；〃　she　said；　〃that　those　telegrams　were　forgeries。〃

He　looked　carefully　around。

〃I　know　nothing　about　any　telegrams；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　am　here　to
see　that　no　harm　comes　to　you；　and　I　promise　you　that　it　shall　not。
Your　friend　is　looking　out　of　the　cabin　door。　　I　think　we　may
congratulate　ourselves；　madam；　on　an　excellent　passage。〃

Lady　Carey　disembarked；　a　complete　wreck；　leaning　on　the　arm　of　her
maid；　and　with　a　bottle　of　smelling　salts　clutched　in　her　hand。　　She
slept　all　the　way　in　the　train；　and　only　woke　up　when　they　were
nearing　Paris。　　She　looked　at　Lucille　in　astonishment。

〃Why；　what　on　earth　have　you　been　doing　to　yourself？〃　she　exclaimed。
〃You　look　disgustingly　fit　and　well。〃

Lucille　laughed　softly。

〃Why　not？　I　have　had　a　nap；　and　we　are　almost　at　Paris。　　I　only
want　a　bath　and　a　change　of　clothes　to　feel　perfectly　fresh。〃

But　Lady　Carey　was　suspicious。

〃Have　you　seen　any　one　you　know　upon　the　train？〃　she　asked。

Lucille　shook　her　head。

〃Not　a　soul。　　A　little　man　whom　I　spoke　to　on　the　steamer　brought
me　some　coffee。　　That　is　all。〃

Lady　Carey　yawned　and　shook　out　her　skirts。　　〃I　suppose　I'm　getting
old；〃　she　said。　　〃I　couldn't　look　as　you　do　with　as　much　on　my　mind
as　you　must　have；　and　after　traveling　all　night　too。〃

Lucille　laughed。

〃After　all；〃　she　said；　〃you　know　that　I　am　a　professional　optimist；
and　I　have　faith　in　my　luck。　　I　have　been　thinking　matters　over
calmly；　and；　to　tell　you　the　truth；　I　am　not　in　the　least　alarmed。〃

Lady　Carey　looked　at　her　curiously。

〃Has　the　optimism　been　imbibed；〃　she　asked；　〃or　is　it　spontaneous？〃

Lucille　smiled。

〃Unless　the　little　man　in　the　plaid　mackintosh　poured　it　into　the
coffee　with　the　milk；〃　she　said；　〃I　could　not　possibly　have　imbibed
it；　for　I　haven't　spoken　to　another　soul　since　we　left。〃

〃Paris！　　Here　we　are；　thank　goodness。　　Celeste　can　see　the　things
through　the　customs。　　She　is　quite　used　to　it。　　We　are　going　to　the
Ritz；　I　suppose！〃　


CHAPTER　XLI

At　eight　o'clock　in　the　evening　Lucille　knocked　at　the　door　of
Lady　Carey's　　suite　of　rooms　at　the　hotel。　　There　was　no　answer。
A　chambermaid　who　was　near　came　smiling　up。

〃Miladi　has；　I　think；　descended　for　dinner；〃　she　said。

Lucille　looked　at　her　watch。　　She　saw　that　she　was　a　few　minutes
late；　so　she　descended　to　the　restaurant。　　The　small　table　which
they　had　reserved　was；　however；　still　unoccupied。　　Lucille　told　the
waiter　that　she　would　wait　for　a　few　moments；　and　sent　for　an
English　newspaper。

Lady　Carey　did　not　appear。　　A　quarter　of　an　hour　passed。　　The　head
waiter　came　up　with　a　benign　smile。

〃Madam　will　please　to　be　served？〃　he　suggested；　with　a　bow。

〃I　am　waiting　for　my　friend　Lady　Carey；〃　Lucille　answered。　　〃I
understood　that　she　had　come　down。　　Perhaps　you　will　send　and　see
if　she　is　in　the　reading…room。〃

〃With　much　pleasure；　madam；〃　the　man　answered。

In　a　few　minutes　he　returned。

〃Madam's　friend　was　the　Lady　Carey？〃　he　asked。

Lucille　nodded。

The　man　was　gently　troubled。

〃But；　Miladi　Carey；〃　he　said；　〃has　left　more　than　an　hour　ago。〃

Lucille　looked　up；　astonished。

〃Left　the　hotel？〃　she　exclaimed。

〃But　yes；　madam；〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Miladi　Carey　left　to　catch　the
boat　train　at　Calais　for　England。〃

〃It　is　impossible；〃　Lucille　answered。　　〃We　only　arrived　at　midday。〃

〃I　will　inquire　again；〃　the　man　declared。　　〃But　it　was　in　the　office
that　they　told　me　so。〃

〃They　told　you　quite　correctly；〃　said　a　familiar　voice。　　〃I　have
come　to　take　her　place。　　Countess；　I　trust　that　in　me　you　will
recognise　an　efficient　substitute。〃

It　was　the　Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer　who　was　calmly　seating　himself
opposite　to　he