the yellow crayon-第6章

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It　is　the　language　of　diplomacy；　but　it　is　also　the　language　of
fools。〃

Their　conversation　was　for　the　moment　interrupted　by　a　fresh　murmur
of　applause；　rising　above　the　loved　hum　of　conversation；　the　laughter
of　women；　and　the　popping　of　corks。　　A　little　troop　of　waiters　had
just　wheeled　into　the　room　two　magnificent　models　of　yachts　hewn　out
of　blocks　of　solid　ice　and　crowned　with　flowers。　　On　the　one　were
the　Stars　and　Stripes；　on　the　other　the　Shamrock　and　Thistle。　　There
was　much　clapping　of　hands　and　cheering。　　Lady　Carey；　who　was
sitting　at　the　next　table　with　her　back　to　them；　joined　in　the
applause　so　heartily　that　a　tiny　gold　pencil　attached　to　her　bracelet
became　detached　and　rolled　unobserved　to　Mr。　Sabin's　side。　　Felix
half　rose　to　pick　it　up；　but　was　suddenly　checked　by　a　quick　gesture
from　his　companion。

〃Leave　it；〃　Mr。　Sabin　whispered。　　〃I　wish　to　return　it　myself。〃

He　stooped　and　picked　it　up；　a　certain　stealthiness　apparent　in　his
movement。　　Felix　watched　him　in　amazement。

〃It　is　Lady　Carey's；　is　it　not？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes。　　Be　silent。　　I　will　give　it　back　to　her　presently。〃

A　waiter　served　them　with　coffee。　　Mr。　Sabin　was　idly　sketching
something　on　the　back　of　his　menu　card。　　Felix　broke　into　a　little
laugh　as　the　man　retired。

〃Mysterious　as　ever；〃　he　remarked。

Mr。　Sabin　smiled　quietly。　　He　went　on　with　his　sketch。

〃I　do　not　want；〃　Felix　said；　〃to　seem　impatient；　but　you　must
remember　that　I　　have　come　all　the　way　from　Europe　in　response　to
a　very　urgent　message。　　As　yet　I　have　done　nothing　except　form　a
very　uncomfortable　third　at　a　luncheon　and　tea　party；　and　listen
to　a　good　deal　of　enigmatic　conversation　between　you　and　the
charming　Lady　Carey。　　This　evening　I　made　sure　that　I　should　be
enlightened。　　But　no！　　You　have　given　me　a　wonderful　dinner　…　from
you　I　expected　it。　　We　have　eaten　terrapin；　canvas…back　duck；　and
many　other　things　the　names　of　which　alone　were　known　to　me。　　But
of　the　reason　for　which　you　have　summoned　me　here　…　I　know　nothing。
Not　one　word　have　you　spoken。　　I　am　beginning　to　fear　from　your
avoidance　of　the　subject　that　there　is　some　trouble　between　you　and
Lucille。　　I　beg　that　you　will　set　my　anxiety　at　rest。〃

Mr。　Sabin　nodded。

〃It　is　reasonable；〃　he　said。　　〃Look　here！〃

He　turned　the　menu　card　round。　　On　the　back　he　had　sketched　some
sort　of　a　device　with　the　pencil　which　he　had　picked　up；　and　which
instead　of　black…lead　contained　a　peculiar　shade　of　yellow　crayon。
Felix　sat　as　though　turned　to　stone。

〃Try；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said　smoothly；　〃and　avoid　that　air　of　tragedy。
Some　of　these　good　people　might　be　curious。

Felix　leaned　across　the　table。　　He　pointed　to　the
menu　card。

〃What　does　that　mean？〃　he　muttered。

Mr。　Sabin　contemplated　it　himself　thoughtfully。　　〃Well；〃　he　said；
〃I　rather　thought　that　you　might　be　able　to　explain　that　to　me。
I　have　an　idea　that　there　is　a　society　in　Europe　…　sort　of
aristocratic　odd…fellows；　you　know　…　who　had　adopted　it　for　their
crest。　　Am　I　not　right？〃

Felix　looked　at　him　steadfastly。

〃Tell　me　two　things；〃　he　said。　　〃First；　why　you　sent　for　me；　and
secondly；　what　do　you　mean　…　by　that？〃

〃Lucille；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃has　been　taken　away　from　me。〃

〃Lucille！　　Great　God！〃

〃She　has　been　taken　away　from　me；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃without　a　single
word　of　warning。〃

Felix　pointed　to　the　menu　card。

〃By　them？〃　he　asked。

〃By　them。　　It　was　a　month　ago。　　Two　days　before　my　cable。〃

Felix　was　silent　for　several　moments。　　He　had　not　the　self…command
of　his　companion；　and　he　feared　to　trust　himself　to　speech。

〃She　has　been　taken　to　Europe；〃　Mr。　Sabin　continued。　　〃I　do　not
know；　I　cannot　even　guess　at　the　reason。　　She　left　no　word。　　I　have
been　warned　not　to　follow　her。〃

〃You　obey？〃

〃I　sail　to…morrow。〃

〃And　I？〃　Felix　asked。

Mr。　Sabin　looked　for；　a　moment　at　the　drawing　on　the　back　of　the
menu　card；　and　up　at　Felix。　　Felix　shook　his　head。

〃You　must　know；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　am　powerless。〃

〃You　may　be　able　to　help　me；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃without　compromising
yourself。〃

〃Impossible！〃　Felix　declared。　　〃But　what　did　they　want　with　Lucille？〃

〃That；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃is　what　I　am　desirous　of　knowing。　　It　is
what　I　trust　that　you；　my　dear　Felix；　may　assist　me　to　discover。〃

〃You　are　determined；　then；　to　follow　her？〃

Mr。　Sabin　helped　himself　to　a　liqueur　from　the　bottle　by　his　side。

〃My　dear　Felix；〃　he　said　reproachfully；　〃you　should　know　me　better
than　to　ask　me　such　a　question。〃

Felix　moved　uneasily　in　his　chair。

〃Of　course；〃　he　said；　〃it　depends　upon　how　much　they　want　to　keep
you　apart。　　But　you　know　that　you　are　running　great　risks？〃

〃Why；　no；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃I　scarcely　thought　that。　　I　have
understood　that　the　society　was　by　no　means　in　its　former　flourishing　condition。〃

Felix　laughed　scornfully。

〃They　have　never　been；〃　he　answered；　〃richer　or　more　powerful。
During　the　last　twelve　months　they　have　been　active　in　every　part
of　Europe。〃

Mr。　Sabin's　face　hardened。

〃Very　well！〃　he　said。　　〃We　will　try　their　strength。〃

〃We！〃　Felix　laughed　shortly。　　〃You　forget　that　my　hands　are　tied。
I　cannot　help　you　or　Lucille。　　You　must　know　that。〃

〃You　cannot　interfere　directly；〃　Mr。　Sabin　admitted。　　〃Yet　you　are
Lucille's　brother；　and　I　am　forced　to　appeal　to　you。　　If　you　will
be　my　companion　for　a　little　while　I　think　I　can　show　you　how　you
can　help　Lucille　at　any　rate；　and　yet　run　no　risk。〃

The　little　party　at　the　next　table　were　breaking　up　at　last。　　Lady
Carey；　pale　and　bored；　with　tired；　swollen　eyes　…　they　were　always
a　little　prominent　…　rose　languidly　and　began　to　gather　together
her　belongings。　　As　she　did　so　she　looked　over　the　back　of　her　chair
and　met　Mr。　Sabin's　eyes。　　He　rose　at　once　and　bowed。　　She　cast　a
quick　sidelong　glance　at　her　companions；　which　he　at　once　understood。

〃I　have　the　honour；　Lady　Carey；〃　he　said；　〃of　recalling　myself　to
your　recollection。　　We　met　in　Paris　and　London　not　so　very　many　years
ago。　　You　perhaps　remember　the　cardinal's　dinner？〃

A　slight　smile　flickered　upon　her　lips。　　The　man's　adroitness　always
excited　her　admiration。

〃I　remember　it　perfectly；　and　you；　Duke；〃　she　answered。　　〃Have　you
made　your　home　on　this　side　of　the　water？〃

Mr。　Sabin　shook　his　head　slowly。

〃Home！〃　he　repeated。　　〃Ah；　I　was　always　a　bird　of　passage；　you
remember。　　Yet　I　have　spent　three　very　delightful　years　in　this
country。〃

〃And　I；〃　she　said；　lowering　her　tone　and　leaning　towards　him；　〃one
very　stupid；　idiotic　day。〃

Mr。　Sabin　assumed　the　look　of　a　man　who　denies　any　personal
responsibility　in　an　unfortunate　happening。

〃It　was　regrettable；〃　he　murmured；　〃but　I　assure　you　that　it　was
unavoidable。　　Lucille's　brother　must　have　a　certain　claim　upon　me；
and　it　was　his　first　day　in　America。〃

She　was　silent　for　a　moment。　　Then　she　turned　abruptly　towards　the
door。　　Her　friends　were　already　on　the　way。

〃Come　with　me；〃　she　said。　　〃I　want　to　speak　to　you。〃

He　followed　her　out　into　the　lobby。　　Felix　came　a　few　paces　behind。
The　restaurant　was　still　full　of　people；　the　hum　of　conversation
almost　drowning　the　music。　　Every　one　glanced　curiously　at　Lady
Carey；　who　was　a　famous　woman。　　She　carried　herself　with　a　certain
insolent　indifference；　the　national　deportment　of　her　sex　and　rank。
The　women　whispered　together　that　she　was　〃very　English。〃

In　the　lobby　she　turned　suddenly　upon　Mr。　Sabin。

〃Will　you　take　me　back　to　my　hotel？〃　she　asked　pointedly。

〃I　regret　that　I　cannot；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　have　promised　to　show
Felix　some　of　the　wonders　of　New　York　by　night。〃

〃You　can　take　him　to…morrow。〃

〃To…morrow；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃he　leaves　for　the　West。〃

She　looked　closely　into　his　impassive　face。

〃I　suppose　that　you　are　lying；〃　she　said　shortly。

〃Your　candour；〃　he　answered　coldly；　〃sometimes　approaches　brutality。〃

She　leaned　towards　him；　her　face　suddenly　softened。

〃We　are　playing　a　foolish　game　with　one　another；〃　she　murmured。　　〃I
offer　you　an　alliance；　my　friendship；　perhaps　my　help。〃

〃What　can　I　do；〃　he　answered　gravely；　〃save　be　grateful　…　and　accept？〃

〃Then　…　〃

She　stopped　short。　　It　was　Mr。　Sabin's　luck　which　had　intervened。
Herbert　Daikeith　stood　at　her　elbow。

〃Lady　Carey；〃　he　said；　〃they're　all　gone　but　the　mater　and　I。
Forgive　my　interrupting　you；〃　he　added　hastily。

〃You　can　go　on；　Herbert；〃　she　added。　　〃The　Duc　de　Souspennier　will
bring　me。〃

Mr。　Sabin；　who　had　no　intention　of　doing　anything　of　the　sort；
turned　towards　the　young　man　with　a　smile。

〃Lady　Carey　has　not　introduced　us；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　have　seen　you
at　Ranelagh　quite　often。　　If　you　are　still　keen　on　polo　you　should
have　a　try　over　here。　　I　fancy　you　would　find　that　these　American
youngsters　can　hold　their　own。　　All　right；　Felix；　I　am　ready　now。
Lady　Carey；　I　shall　do　myself　the　honour　of　waiting　upon　you　early
to…morrow　morning；　as　I　have　a　little　excursion　to　propose。
Good…night。〃

She　shrugged　her　shoulders　ever　so　slightly　as　she　turned　away。　　Mr。
Sabin　smiled　…　faintly　amused。　　He　turned　to　Felix。

〃Come；〃　he　said；　〃we　have　no　time　to　lose。〃


CHAPTER　VIII

I　regret；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said　to　Felix　as　they　sat　side　by　side　in　the
small　coupe；　〃that　your　stay　in　this　country　will　be　so　brief。〃

〃Indeed；〃　Felix　answered。　　〃May　I　ask　what　you　call　brief？〃

Mr。　Sabin　looked　out　of　the　carriage　window。

〃We　are　already；〃　he　said；　〃on　the　way　to　England。〃

Felix　laughed。

〃This；〃　he　said；　〃is　like　old　times。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。

〃The　system　of　espionage　here；〃　he　remarked；　〃is　painfully　primitive。
It　lacks　finesse　and　judgment。　　The　fact　that　I　have　taken　expensive
rooms　on　the　Campania；　and　that　I　have　sent　many　packages　there；
that　my　own　belongings　are　still　in　my　rooms　untouched；　seems　to　our
friends　conclusive　evidence　that　I　am　going　to　attempt　to　leave
America　by　that　boat。　　They　have；　I　believe；　a　warrant　for　my　arrest
on　some　ridiculous　charge　which　they　intend　to　present　at　the　last
moment。　　They　will　not　have　the　opportunity。〃

〃But　there　is　no　other　steamer　sailing　to…morrow；　is　there？〃　Felix
asked。

〃Not　from　New　York；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered；　〃but　it　was　never　my
intention　to　sail　from　New　York。　　We　are　on　our　way　to　Boston　now；
and　we　sail　in　the　Saxonia　at　six　o'clock　to…morrow　morning。

〃We　appear　to　be　stopping　at　the　Waldorf；〃　Felix　remarked。

〃It　is　quite　correct；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃Follow　me　through　the
hall　as　quickly　as　possible。　　There　is　another　carriage　waiting　at
the　other　entrance；　and　I　expect　to　find　in　it　Duson　and　my
dressing…case。

They　alighted　and　made　their　way　though　the　crowded　vestibules。　　At
the　Thirty…fourth　Street　entrance　a　carriage　was　drawn　up。　　Duson
was　standing　upon　the　pavement；　his　pale；　nervous　face　whiter　than
ever　under　the　electric　light。　　Mr。　Sabin　stopped　short。

〃Felix；〃　he　said；　〃one　word。　　If　by　any　chance　things　have　gone
wrong　they　will　not　have　made　any　arrangements　to　detain　you。　　Catch
the　midnight　train　to　Boston　and　embark　on　the　Saxonia。　　There　will
be　a　cable　for　you　at　Liverpool。　　But　the　moment　you　leave　me　send
this　despatch。〃

Felix　nodded　and　put　the　crumpled…up　piece　of　paper　in　his　pocket。
The　two　men　passed　on。　　Duson　took　off　his　hat；　bu