the yellow crayon-第38章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


have　need　of　her。　　I　forbid　her　to　leave。　　Do　you　hear？　　In　the　name
of　the　Order　I　command　her　to　remain　here。〃

Mr。　Sabin　was　quite　calm；　but　his　face　was　full　of　terrible　things。

〃Prince；〃　he　said；　〃if　I　by　any　chance　numbered　myself　amongst　your
friends　I　would　warn　you　that　you　yourself　are　a　traitor　to　your
Order。　　You　prostitute　a　great　cause　when　you　stoop　to　use　its
machinery　to　assist　your　own　private　vengeance。　　I　ask　you　for　your
own　sake　to　consider　your　words。　　Lucille　is　mine　…　mine　she　will
remain；　even　though　you　should　descend　to　something　more　despicable；
more　cowardly　than　ordinary　treason；　to　wrest　her　from　me。　　You
reproach　me　with　the　failures　of　my　life。　　Great　they　may　have　been；
but　if　you　attempt　this　you　will　find　that　I　am　not　yet　an　impotent
person。〃

The　Prince　was　white　with　rage。　　The　sight　of　Lucille　standing　by
Mr。　Sabin's　side；　her　hand　lightly　resting　upon　his；　her　dark　eyes
full　of　inscrutable　tenderness；　maddened　him。　　He　was　flouted　and
ignored。　　He　was　carried　away　by　a　storm　of　passion。　　He　tore　a
sheet　of　paper　from　his　pocket　book；　and　unlocking　a　small　gold
case　at　the　end　of　his　watch　chain；　shook　from　it　a　pencil　with
yellow　crayon。　　Mr。　Sabin　leaned　over　towards　him。

〃You　sign　it　at　your　peril；　Prince；〃　he　said。　　〃It　will　mean　worse
things　than　that　for　you。〃

For　a　second　he　hesitated。　　Lucille　also　leaned　towards　him。

〃Prince；〃　she　said；　〃have　I　not　kept　my　vows　faithfully？　　Think！
I　came　from　America　at　a　moment's　notice；　I　left　my　husband　without
even　a　word　of　farewell；　I　entered　upon　a　hateful　task；　and　though
to　think　of　it　now　makes　me　loathe　myself　…　I　succeeded。　　I　have
kept　my　vows；　I　have　done　my　duty。　　Be　generous　now；　and　let　me　go。〃

The　sound　of　her　voice　maddened　him。　　A　passionate；　arbitrary　man；
to　whom　nothing　in　life　had　been　denied；　to　be　baulked　in　this
great　desire　of　his　latter　days　was　intolerable。　　He　made　no　answer
to　either　of　them。　　He　wrote　a　few　lines　with　the　yellow　crayon
and　passed　them　silently　across　to　Lucille。

Her　face　blanched。　　She　stretched　out　an　unwilling　hand。　　But　Mr。
Sabin　intervened。　　He　took　the　paper　from　the　Prince's　hand；　and
calmly　tore　it　into　fragments。　　There　Was　a　moment's　breathless
silence。

〃Victor！〃　　Lucille　cried。　　〃Oh；　what　have　you　done！〃　

The　Prince's　face　lightened　with　an　evil　joy。

〃We　now；　I　think；〃　he　said；　〃understand　one　another。　　You　will
permit　me　to　wish　you　a　very　pleasant　evening；　and　a　speedy
leave…taking。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。

〃Many　thanks；　my　dear　Prince；〃　he　said　lightly。　　〃Make　haste　and
complete　your　charming　little　arrangements。　　Let　me　beg　of　you　to
avoid　bungling　this　time。　　Remember　that　there　is　not　in　the　whole
of　Europe　to…day　a　man　more　dangerous　to　you　than　I。〃

The　Prince　had　departed。　　Mr。　Sabin　lit　a　cigarette　and　stood　on
the　hearthrug。　　His　eyes　were　bright　with　the　joy　of　fighting。

〃Lucille；〃　he　said；　〃I　see　that　you　have　not　touched　your　liqueur。
Oblige　me　by　drinking　it。　　You　will　find　it　excellent。〃

She　came　over　to　him　and　hung　upon　his　arm。　　He　threw　his　cigarette
away　and　kissed　her　upon　the　lips。

〃Victor；〃　she　murmured；　〃I　am　afraid。　　You　have　been　rash！〃　

〃Dearest；〃　he　answered；　〃it　is　better　to　die　fighting　than　to　stand
aside　and　watch　evil　things。　　But　after　all；　there　is　no　fear。　　Come！
Your　cloak　and　dressing　case！〃

〃You　have　plans？〃　she　exclaimed；　springing　up。

〃Plans？〃　　He　laughed　at　her　a　little　reproachfully。　　〃My　dear
Lucille！　　A　carriage　awaits　us　outside；　a　special　train　with　steam
up　at　the　Gard　de　L'ouest。　　This　is　precisely　the　contingency　for
which　I　have　planned。〃

〃Oh；　you　are　wonderful；　Victor；〃　she　murmured　as　she　drew　on　her
coat。　　〃But　what　corner　of　the　earth　is　there　where　we　should　be
safe？〃

〃I　am　going；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃to　try　and　make　every　corner　of　the
earth　safe。〃

She　was　bewildered；　but　he　only　laughed　and　held　open　the　door　for
her。　　Mr。　Sabin　made　no　secret　of　his　departure。　　He　lingered　for
a　moment　in　the　doorway　to　light　a　cigarette；　he　even　stopped　to
whisper　a　few　words　to　the　little　man　in　plain　dinner　clothes　who
was　lounging　in　the　doorway。　　But　when　they　had　once　left　the　hotel
they　drove　fast。

In　less　than　half　an　hour　Paris　was　behind　them。　　They　were
traveling　in　a　royal　saloon　and　at　a　fabuulous　cost；　for　in　France
they　are　not　fond　of　special　trains。　　But　Mr。　Sabin　was　very　happy。
At　least　he　had　escaped　an　ignominious　defeat。　　It　was　left　to　him
to　play　the　great　card。

〃And　now；〃　Lucille　said；　coming　out　from　her　little　bed…chamber
which　the　femme　de　chambre　was　busy　preparing；　〃suppose　you　tell
me　where　we　are　going。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。

〃Do　not　be　alarmed；〃　he　said；　〃even　though　it　will　sound　to　you　the
least　likely　place　in　the　world。　　We　are　going　to　Berlin。〃


CHAPTER　XLIII

The　great　room　was　dimly　enough　lit；　for　the　windows　looking　out
upon　the　street　were　high　and　heavily　curtained；　The　man　who　sat
at　the　desk　was　almost　in　the　shadow。　　Yet　every　now　and　then　a
shaft　of　sunlight　fell　across　his　pale；　worn　face。　　A　strange
combination　this　of　the　worker；　the　idealist；　the　man　of　affairs。
》From　outside　came　the　hum　of　a　great　city。　　At　times；　too；　there
came　to　his　ears　as　he　sat　here　the　roar　of　nations　at　strife；
the　fierce　underneath　battle　of　the　great　countries　of　the　world
struggling　for　supremacy。　　And　here　at　this　cabinet　this　man　sat
often；　and　listened；　strenuous；　romantic；　with　the　heart　of　a　lion
and　the　lofty　imagination　of　an　eagle；　he　steered　unswervingly　on
to　her　destiny　a　great　people。　　Others　might　rest；　hut　never　he。

He　looked　up　from　the　letter　spread　out　before　him。　　Lucille　was
seated　at　his　command；　a　few　yards　away。　　Mr。　Sabin　stood
respectfully　before　him。

〃Monsieur　le　Duc；〃　he　said；　〃this　letter；　penned　by　my　illustrious
father　to　you；　is　sufficient　to　secure　my　good　offices。　　In　what
manner　can　I　serve　you？〃

〃Your　Majesty；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered；　〃in　the　first　place　by
receiving　me　here。　　In　the　second　by　allowing　me　to　lay　before
you　certain　grave　and　very　serious　charges　against　the　Order　of
the　Yellow　Crayon；　of　which　your　Majesty　is　the　titular　head。〃

〃The　Order　of　the　Yellow　Crayon；〃　the　Emperor　said　thoughtfully；
〃is　society　composed　of　aristocrats　pledged　to　resist　the　march　of
socialism。　　It　is　true　that　I　am　the　titular　head　of　this
organisation。　　What　have　you　to　say　about　it？〃

〃Only　that　your　Majesty　has　been　wholly　deceived；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said
respectfully；　〃concerning　the　methods　and　the　working　of　this
society。　　Its　inception　and　inauguration　were　above　reproach。　　I
myself　at　once　became　a　member。　　My　wife；　Countess　of　Radantz；　and
sole　representative　of　that　ancient　family；　has　been　one　all　her
life。〃

The　Emperor　inclined　his　head　towards　Lucille。

〃I　see　no　reason；〃　he　said；　〃when　our　capitals　are　riddled　with
secret　societies；　all　banded　together　against　us；　why　the　great
families　of　Europe　should　not　in　their　turn　come　together　and
display　a　united　front　against　this　common　enemy。　　The　Order　of
the　Yellow　Crayon　has　had　more　than　my　support。　　It　has　had　the
sanction　of　my　name。　　Tell　me　what　you　have　against　it。〃

〃I　have　grave　things　to　say　concerning　it；〃　Mr。　Sahin　answered；
〃and　concerning　those　who　have　wilfully　deceived　your　Majesty。
The　influences　to　be　wielded　by　the　society　were　mainly；　I　believe；
wealth；　education；　and　influence。　　There　was　no　mention　made　of
murder；　of　an　underground　alliance　with　the　'gamins'　of　Paris；　the
dregs　of　humanity；　prisoners；　men　skilled　in　the　art　of　secret
death。〃

The　Emperor's　tone　was　stern；　almost　harsh。

〃Duc　de　Souspennier；　what　are　these　things　which　you　are　saying？〃
he　asked。

〃Your　Majesty；　I　speak　the　truth；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered　firmly。
〃There　are　in　the　Order　of　the　Yellow　Crayon　three　degrees　of
membership。　　The　first；　which　alone　your　Majesty　knows　of；　simply
corresponds　with　what　in　England　is　known　as　the　Primrose　League。
The　second　knows　that　beneath　is　another　organisation　pledged　to
frustrate　the　advance　of　socialism；　if　necessary　by　the　use　of
their　own　weapons。　　The　third；　whose　meetings　and　signs　and　whose
whole　organisation　is　carried　on　secretly；　is　allied　in　every
capital　in　Europe　with　criminals　and　murderers。　　With　its　great
wealth　it　has　influence　in　America　as　well　as　in　every　city　of
the　world　where　there　are　police　to　be　suborned；　or　desperate　men
to　be　bought　for　tools。　　At　the　direction　of　this　third　order
Lavinski　died　suddenly　in　the　Hungarian　House　of　Parliament；　Herr
Krettingen　was　involved　in　a　duel；　the　result　of　which　was　assured
beforehand；　and　Reginald　Brott；　the　great　English　statesman；　was
ruined　and　disgraced。　　I　myself　have　just　narrowly　escaped　death
at　his　hands；　and　in　my　place　my　servant　has　been　driven　to　death。
Of　all　these　things；　your　Majesty；　I　have　brought　proofs。〃

The　Emperor's　face　was　like　a　carven　image；　but　his　tone　was　cold
and　terrible。

〃If　these　things　have　been　sanctioned；〃　he　said；　〃by　those　who　are
responsible　for　my　having　become　the　head　of　the　Order；　they　shall
feel　my　vengeance。〃

〃Your　Majesty；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said　earnestly；　〃a　chance　disclosure；　and
all　might　come　to　light。　　I　myself　could　blazon　the　story　through
Europe。　　Those　who　are　responsible　for　the　third　degree　of　the　Order
of　the　Yellow　Crayon；　and　for　your　Majesty's　ignorance　concerning
its　existence；　have　trifled　with　the　destiny　of　the　greatest
sovereign　of　modern　times。〃

〃The　Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer；〃　the　Emperor　said；　〃is　the　acting
head　of　the　Order。〃

〃The　Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said　firmly；　〃is
responsible　for　the　existence　of　the　third　degree。　　It　is　he　who
has　connected　the　society　with　a　system　of　corrupt　police　or
desperate　criminals　in　every　great　city。　　It　is　the　Prince　of　Saxe
Leinitzer；　your　Majesty；　and　his　horde　of　murderers　from　whom　I
have　come　to　seek　your　Majesty's　protection。　　I　have　yet　another
charge　to　make　against　him。　　He　has　made；　and　is　making　still；　use
of　the　society　to　further　his　own　private　intrigues。　　In　the　name
of　the　Order　he　brought　my　wife　from　America。　　She　faithfully
carried　out　the　instructions　of　the　Council。　　She　brought　about
the　ruin　of　Reginald　Brott。　　By　the　rules　of　the　society　she　was
free　then　to　return　to　her　home。　　The　Prince；　who　had　been　her
suitor；　declined　to　let　her　go。　　My　life　was　attempted。　　The　story
of　the　Prince's　treason　is　here；　with　the　necessary　proofs。　　I
know　that　orders　have　been　given　to　the　hired　murderers　of　the
society　for　my　assassination。　　My　life　even　here　is　probably　an
uncertain　thing。　　But　I　have　told　your　Majesty　the　truth；　and　the
papers　which　I　have　brought　with　me　contain　proof　of　my　words。〃

The　Emperor　struck　a　bell　and　gave　a　few　orders　to　the　young　officer
who　immediately　answered　it。　　Then　he　turned　again　to　Mr。　Sabin。

〃I　have　summoned　Saxe　Leinitzer　to　Berlin；〃　he　said。　　〃These　matters
shall　be　gone　into　most　thoroughly。　　In　the　meantime　what　can　I　do
for　you？〃

〃We　will　await　the　coming　of　the　Prince；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered　grimly。

　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　　*

Lady　Carey　passed　from　her　bath…room　into　a　luxurious　little
dressing…room。　　Her　lette