the yellow crayon-第4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！


particulars　from　me。　　When　I　say　do　a　thing　they　do　it。　　They　know
that　if　they　declined　it　would　be　their　last　day　on　the　force。〃

Mr。　Sabin　filled　his　glass　and　leaned　back　in　his　chair。

〃This；〃　he　remarked；　〃is　interesting。　　I　am　always　glad　to　have　the
opportunity　of　gaining　an　insight　into　the　customs　of　different
countries。　　I　had　an　idea　that　America　was　a　country　remarkable　for
the　amount　of　liberty　enjoyed　by　its　inhabitants。　　Your　proposed
course　of　action　seems　scarcely　in　keeping　with　this。〃

〃What　are　you　going　to　do？　　Come；　I've　got　to　have　an　answer。〃

〃I　don't　quite　understand；〃　Mr。　Sabin　remarked；　with　a　puzzled　look；
〃what　your　official　position　is　in　connection　with　the　police。〃

Mr。　Horser's　face　was　a　very　ugly　sight。　　〃Oh；　curse　my　official
position；〃　he　exclaimed　thickly。　　〃If　you　want　proof　of　what　I　say
you　shall　have　it　in　less　than　five　minutes。　　Skinner；　be　off　and
fetch　a　couple　of　constables。〃

〃I　really　must　protest；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃Mr。　Skinner　is　my　guest；
and　I　will　not　have　him　treated　in　this　fashion；　just　as　the
terrapin　is　coming　in；　too。　　Sit　down；　Mr。　Skinner；　sit　down。　　I
will　settle　this　matter　with　you　in　my　room；　Mr。　Horser；　after　I
have　dined。　　I　will　not　even　discuss　it　before。〃

Mr。　Horser　opened　his　mouth　twice；　and　closed　it　again。　　He　knew
that　his　opponent　was　simply　playing　to　gain　time；　but；　after　all；
he　held　the　trump　card。　　He　could　afford　to　wait。　　He　turned　to　a
waiter　and　ordered　a　cigar。　　Mr。　Sabin　and　Mr。　Skinner　continued
their　dinner。

Conversation　was　a　little　difficult；　though　Mr。　Sabin　showed　no
signs　of　an　impaired　appetite。　　Skinner　was　white　with　fear；　and
glanced　every　now　and　then　nervously　at　his　chief。　　Mr。　Horser
smoked　without　ceasing；　and　maintained　an　ominous　silence。　　Mr。
Sabin　at　last；　with　a　sigh；　rose；　and　lighting　a　cigarette；　took
his　stick　from　the　waiter　and　prepared　to　leave。

〃I　fear；　Mr。　Horser；〃　he　remarked；　〃that　your　presence　has　scarcely
contributed　to　the　cheerfulness　of　our　repast。　　Mr。　Skinner；　am　I
to　be　favoured　with　your　company　also　upstairs？〃

Horser　clutched　that　gentleman's　arm　and　whispered　a　few　words　in
his　ear。

〃Mr。　Skinner；〃　he　said；　〃will　join　us　presently。　　What　is　your
number？〃

〃336；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃You　will　excuse　my　somewhat　slow
progress。〃

They　crossed　the　hall　and　entered　the　elevator。　　Mr。　Horser's　face
began　to　clear。　　In　a　moment　or　two　they　would　be　in　Mr。　Sabin's
sitting…room…alone。　　He　regarded　with　satisfaction　the　other's　slim；
delicate　figure　and　the　limp　with　which　he　moved。　　He　felt　that　the
danger　was　already　over。


CHAPTER　V

BUT；　after　all；　things　did　not　exactly　turn　out　as　Mr。　Horser　had
imagined。　　The　sight　of　the　empty　room　and　the　closed　door　were
satisfactory　enough；　and　he　did　not　hesitate　for　a　moment。

〃Look　here；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃you　and　I　are　going　to　settle　this
matter　quick。　　Whatever　you　paid　Skinner　you　can　have　back　again。
But　I'm　going　to　have　that　report。〃

He　took　a　quick　step　forward　with　uplifted　hand　…　and　looked　into
the　shining　muzzle　of　a　tiny　revolver。　　Behind　it　Mr。　Sabin's　face；
no　longer　pleasant　and　courteous；　had　taken　to　itself　some　very
grim　lines。

〃I　am　a　weak　man；　Mr。　Horser；　but　I　am　never　without　the　means　of
self…defence；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said　in　a　still；　cold　tone。　　〃Be　so　good
as　to　sit　down　in　that　easy…chair。〃

Mr。　Horser　hesitated。　　For　one　moment　he　stood　as　though　about　to
carry　out　his　first　intention。　　He　stood　glaring　at　his　opponent；
his　face　contracted　into　a　snarl；　his　whole　appearance　hideous；
almost　bestial。　　Mr。　Sabin　smiled　upon　him　contemptuously　…　the
maddening；　compelling　smile　of　the　born　aristocrat。

〃Sit　down！〃

Mr。　Horser　sat　down；　whereupon　Mr。　Sabin　followed　suit。

〃Now　what　have　you　to　say　to　me？〃　　Mr。　Sabin　asked　quietly。

〃I　want　that　report；〃　was　the　dogged　answer。

〃You　will　not　have　it；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃You　can　take　that
for　granted。　　You　shall　not　take　it　from　me　by　force；　and　I　will
see　that　you　do　not　charm　it　out　of　my　pocket　by　other　means。　　The
information　which　it　contains　is　of　the　utmost　possible　importance
to　me。　　I　have　bought　it　and　paid　for　it；　and　I　shall　use　it。〃

Mr。　Horser　moistened　his　dry　lips。

〃I　will　give　you；〃　he　said；　〃twenty　thousand　dollars　for　its　return。〃

Mr。　Sabin　laughed　softly。

〃You　bid　high；〃　he　said。　　〃I　begin　to　suspect　that　our　friends　on
the　other　side　of　the　water　have　been　more　than　ordinarily　kind　to
you。〃

〃I　will　give　you　…　forty　thousand　dollars。〃

Mr。　Sabin　raised　his　eyebrows。

〃So　much？　　After　all；　that　sounds　more　like　fear　than　anything。
You　cannot　hope　to　make　a　profitable　deal　out　of　that。　　Dear　me！
It　seems　only　a　few　minutes　ago　that　I　heard　your　interesting　friend；
Mr。　Skinner；　shake　with　laughter　at　the　mention　of　such　a　thing　as
a　secret　society。〃

〃Skinner　is　a　blasted　fool；〃　Horser　exclaimed　fiercely。　　〃Listen
here；　Mr。　Sabin。　　You　can　read　that　report　if　you　must；　but；　as
I'm　a　living　man　you'll　not　stir　from　New　York　if　you　do。　　I'll
make　your　life　a　hell　for　you。　　Don't　you　understand　that　no　one
but　a　born　fool　would　dare　to　quarrel　with　me　in　this　city？　　I
hold　the　prison　keys；　the　police　are　mine。　　I　shall　make　my　own
charge；　whatever　I　choose；　and　they　shall　prove　it　for　me。〃

Mr。　Sabin　shook　his　head。

〃This　sounds　very　shocking；〃　he　remarked。　　〃I　had　no　idea　that　the
largest　city　of　the　most　enlightened　country　in　the　world　was　in
such　a　sorry　plight。〃

〃Oh；　curse　your　sarcasm；〃　Mr。　Horser　said。　　〃I'm　talking　facts；　and
you've　got　to　know　them。　　Will　you　give　up　that　report？　　You　can
find　out　all　there　is　in　it　for　yourself。　　But　I'm　going　to　give　it
you　straight。　　If　I　don't　have　that　report　back　unread；　you'll　never
leave　New　York。〃

Mr。　Sabin　was　genuinely　amused。

〃My　good　fellow；〃　he　said；　〃you　have　made　yourself　a　notorious
person　in　this　country　by　dint　of　incessant　bullying　and　bribing
and　corruption　of　every　sort。　　You　may　possess　all　the　powers　you
claim。　　Your　only　mistake　seems　to　be　that　you　are　too　thick…headed
to　know　when　you　are　overmatched。　　I　have　been　a　diplomatist　all　my
life；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　rising　slowly　to　his　feet；　and　with　a　sudden
intent　look　upon　his　face；　〃and　if　I　were　to　be　outwitted　by　such　a
novice　as　you　I　should　deserve　to　end　my　days　…　in　New　York。〃

Mr。　Horser　rose　also　to　his　feet。　　A　smile　of　triumph　was　on　his
lips。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃we　…　　Come　in！　　Come　in！〃　　The　door　was　thrown
open。　　Skinner　and　two　policemen　entered。　　Mr。　Sabin　leaned　towards
the　wall；　and　in　a　second　the　room　was　plunged　in　darkness。

〃Turn　on　the　lights！〃　Skinner　shouted。　　〃Seize　him！　　He's　in　that
corner。　　Use　your　clubs！〃　Horser　bawled。　　〃Stand　by　the　door　one
of　you。　　Damnation；　where　is　that　switch？〃

He　found　it　with　a　shout　of　triumph。　　Lights　flared　out　in　the　room。
They　stared　around　into　every　corner。　　Mr。　Sabin　was　not　there。
Then　Horser　saw　the　door　leading　into　the　bed…chamber；　and　flung
himself　against　it　with　a　hoarse　cry　of　rage。

〃Break　it　open！〃　he　cried　to　the　policemen。

They　hammered　upon　it　with　their　clubs。　　Mr。　Sabin's　quiet　voice
came　to　them　from　the　other　side。

〃Pray　do　not　disturb　me；　gentlemen；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　reading。〃

〃Break　it　open；　you　damned　fools！〃　Horser　cried。　　They　battered　at
it　sturdily；　but　the　door　was　a　solid　one。　　Suddenly　they　heard　the
key　turn　in　the　lock。　　Mr。　Sabin　stood　upon　the　threshold。

〃Gentlemen！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃These　are　my　private　apartments。　　Why
this　violence？〃

He　held　out　the　paper。

〃This　is　mine；〃　he　said。　　〃The　information　which　it　contains　is
bought　and　paid　for。　　But　if　the　giving　it　up　will　procure　me　the
privilege　of　your　departure；　pray　take　it。

Horser　was　purple　with　rage。　　He　pointed　with　shaking　fist　to　the
still；　calm　figure。

〃Arrest　him；〃　he　ordered。　　〃Take　him　to　the　cells。〃

Mr。　Sabin　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃I　am　ready；〃　he　said；　〃but　it　is　only　fair　to　give　you　this　warning。
I　am　the　Duke　of　Souspennier；　and　I　am　well　known　in　England　and
France。　　The　paper　which　you　saw　me　hand　to　the　porter　in　the　hall
as　we　stepped　into　the　elevator　was　a　despatch　in　cipher　to　the
English　Ambassador　at　Washington；　claiming　his　protection。　　If　you
take　me　to　prison　to…night　you　will　have　him　to　deal　with　to…morrow。〃

Mr。　Horser　bore　himself　in　defeat　better　than　at　any　time　during
the　encounter。　　He　turned　to　the　constables。

〃Go　down　stairs　and　wait　for　me　in　the　hail；〃　he　ordered。　　〃You　too；
Skinner。〃　

They　left　the　room。　　Horser　turned　to　Mr。　Sabin；　and　the　veins　on
his　forehead　stood　out　like　whipcord。

〃I　know　when　I'm　beaten；〃　he　said。　　〃Keep　your　report；　and　be　damned
to　you。　　But　remember　that　you　and　I　have　a　score　to　settle；　and　you
can　ask　those　who　know　me　how　often　Dick　Horser　comes　out　underneath
in　the　long　run。〃

He　followed　the　others。　　Mr。　Sabin　sat　down　in　his　easy…chair　with　a
quiet　smile　upon　his　lips。　　Once　more　he　glanced　through　the　brief
report。　　Then　his　eyes　half　closed；　and　he　sat　quite　still　…　a　tired；
weary…looking　man；　almost　unnaturally　pale。

〃They　have　kept　their　word；〃　he　said　softly　to　himself；　〃after　many
years。　　After　many　years！〃

　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　　*

Duson　came　in　to　undress　him　shortly　afterwards。　　He　saw　signs　of
the　struggle；　but　made　no　comment。　　Mr。　Sabin；　after　a　moment's
hesitation；　took　a　phial　from　his　pocket　and　poured　a　few　drops　into
a　wineglassful　of　water。

〃Duson；〃　he　said；　〃bring　me　some　despatch　forms　and　a　pencil。〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

Mr。　Sabin　wrote　for　several　moments。　　Then　he　placed　the　forms　in
an　envelope；　sealed　it；　and　handed　it　to　Duson。

〃Duson；〃　he　said；　〃that　fellow　Horser　is　annoyed　with　me。　　If　I
should　be　arrested　on　any　charge；　or　should　fail　to　return　to　the
hotel　within　reasonable　time；　break　that　seal　and　send　off　the
telegrams。〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

Mr。　Sabin　yawned。

〃I　need　sleep；〃　he　said。　　〃Do　not　call　me　to…morrow　morning　until
I　ring。　　And；　Duson！〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃The　Campania　will　sail　from　New　York　somewhere　about　the　tenth　of
October。　　I　wish　to　secure　the　whole　of　stateroom　number
twenty…eight。　　Go　round　to　the　office　as　soon　as　they　open；　secure
that　room　if　possible；　and　pay　a　deposit。　　No　other　will　do。　　Also
one　for　yourself。〃

〃Very　good；　sir。〃


CHAPTER　VI

Here's　a　lady　inquiring　for　you；　sir　…　just　gone　up　to　your　room　in
the　elevator；〃　the　hotel　clerk　remarked　to　Mr。　Sabin　as　he　paused
on　his　way　to　the　door　to　hand　in　his　key。　　〃Shall　I　send　a　boy　up？〃

Mr。　Sabin　hesitated。

〃A　lady？〃　he　remarked　tentatively。

The　hotel　clerk　nodded。

〃Yes。　　I　didn't　notice　the　name；　but　she　was　an　Englishwoman。　　I'll
send　up。〃

〃Thank　you；　I　will　return；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃If　I　should　miss　her
on　the　way　perhaps　you　will　kindly　redirect　her　to　my　rooms。〃

　He　rang　for　the　elevator；　and　was　swiftly　transported　to　his　own
floor。　　The　door　of　his　sitting…room　was　open。　　Duson　was　talking
to　a　tall　fair　woman；　who　turned　swiftly　round　at　the　sound　of　his
approach。

〃Ah；　they　found　you；　then！〃　she　exclaimed；　coming　towards　him　with
outstretched　hands。　　〃Isn't　this　a　strange　place　and　a　strange
country　for　us　to　me