the yellow crayon-第7章

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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；　but　his　fingers　were
trembling。　　The　carriage　door　was　opened　and　a　tall；　spare　man
descended。

〃This　is　Mr。　Sabin？〃　he　remarked。

Mr。　Sabin　bowed。

〃That　is　my　name；〃　he　admitted；　〃by　which　I　have　been　generally
called　in　this　democratic　country。　　What　is　your　business　with　me？〃

〃I　rather　guess　that　you're　my　prisoner；〃　the　man　answered。　　〃If
you'll　step　right　in　here　we　can　get　away　quietly。〃

〃The　suggestion；〃　Mr。　Sabin　remarked；　〃sounds　inviting；　but　I　am
somewhat　pressed　for　time。　　Might　I　inquire　the　nature　of　the　charge
you　have　against　me？〃

〃They'll　tell　you　that　at　the　office；〃　the　man　answered。　　〃Get　in；
please。〃

Mr。　Sabin　looked　around　for　Felix；　but　he　had　disappeared。　　He　took
out　his　cigarette…case。

〃You　will　permit　me　first　to　light　a　cigarette；〃　he　remarked。

〃All　right！　　Only　look　sharp。〃

Mr。　Sabin　kept　silence　in　the　carriage。　　The　drive　was　a　long　one。
When　they　descended　he　looked　up　at　Duson；　who　sat　upon　the　box。

〃Duson；〃　he　said；　and　his　voice；　though　low；　was　terrible；　〃I　see
that　I　can　be　mistaken　in　men。　　You　are　a　villain。〃

The　man　sprung　to　his　feet；　hat　in　hand。　　His　face　was　wrung　with
emotion。

〃Your　Grace；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　true　that　I　betrayed　you。　　But　I　did
it　without　reward。　　I　am　a　ruined　man。　　I　did　it　because　the　orders
which　came　to　me　were　such　as　I　dare　not　disobey。　　Here　are　your
keys；　your　Grace；　and　money。〃

Mr。　Sabin　looked　at　him　steadily。

〃You；　too；　Duson？〃

〃I　too；　alas；　your　Grace！〃

Mr。　Sabin　considered　for　a　moment。

〃Duson；〃　he　said；　〃I　retain　you　in　my　service。　　Take　my　luggage　on
board　the　Campania　to…morrow　afternoon；　and　pay　the　bill　at　the
hotel。　　I　shall　join　you　on　the　boat。〃

Duson　was　amazed。　　The　man　who　was　standing　by　laughed。

〃If　you　take　my　advice；　sir；〃　he　remarked；　〃you'll　order　your
clothes　to　be　sent　here。　　I've　a　kind　of　fancy　the　Campania　will
sail　without　you　to…morrow。〃

〃You　have　my　orders；　Duson；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃You　can　rely　upon
seeing　me。〃

The　detective　led　the　way　into　the　building；　and　opened　the　door
leading　into　a　large；　barely　furnished　office。

〃Chief's　gone　home　for　the　night；　I　guess；〃　he　remarked。　　〃We　can
fix　up　a　shakedown　for　you　in　one　of　the　rooms　behind。〃

〃I　thank　you；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　sitting　down　in　a　high…backed　wooden
chair；　〃I　decline　to　move　until　the　charge　against　me　is　properly
explained。〃

〃There　is　no　one　here　to　do　it　just　now；〃　the　man　answered。　　Better
make　yourself　comfortable　for　a　bit。〃

〃You　detain　me　here；　then；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃without　even　a　sight
of　your　warrant　or　any　intimation　as　to　the　charge　against　me？〃

〃Oh；　the　chief'll　fix　all　that；〃　the　man　answered。　　〃Don't　you　worry。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。

In　a　magnificently　furnished　apartment　somewhere　in　the　neighbourhood
of　Fifth　Avenue　a　small　party　of　men　were　seated　round　a　card　table
piled　with　chips　and　rolls　of　bills。　　On　the　sideboard　there　was　a
great　collection　of　empty　bottles；　spirit　decanters　and　Vichy　syphons。
Mr。　Horser　was　helping　himself　to　brandy　and　water　with　one　hand　and
holding　himself　up　with　the　other。　　There　was　a　knock　at　the　door。

A　man　who　was　still　playing　looked　up。　　He　was　about　fifty　years　of
age；　clean　shaven；　with　vacuous　eyes　and　a　weak　mouth。　　He　was　the
host　of　the　party。

〃Come　in！〃　he　shouted。

A　young　man　entered　in　a　long　black　overcoat　and　soft　hat。　　He
looked　about　him　without　surprise；　but　he　seemed　to　note　Mr。
Horser's　presence　with　some　concern。　　The　man　at　the　table　threw
down　his　cards。

〃What　the　devil　do　you　want；　Smith？〃

〃An　important　despatch　from　Washington　has　just　arrived；　sir。　　I
have　brought　it　up　with　the　codebook。〃

〃From　Washington　at　this　time　of　the　night；〃　he　exclaimed　thickly。
〃Come　in　here；　Smith。〃

He　raised　the　curtains　leading　into　a　small　anteroom；　and　turned
up　the　electric　light。　　His　clerk　laid　the　message　down　on　the
table　before　him。

〃Here　is　the　despatch；　Mr。　Mace；〃　he　said；　〃and　here　is　the
translation。〃

〃English　Ambassador　demands　immediate　explanation　of　arrest　of
Duke　Souspennier　at　Waldorf　to…night。　　Reply　immediately　what
charge　and　evidence。　　Souspennier　naturalised　Englishman。〃

Mr。　Mace　sprang　to　his　feet　with　an　oath。　　He　threw　aside　the
curtain　which　shielded　the　room　from　the　larger　apartment。

〃Horser；　come　here；　you　damned　fool！〃

Horser；　with　a　stream　of　magnificent　invectives；　obeyed　the　summons。
His　host　pointed　to　the　message。

〃Read　that！〃

Mr。　Horser　read　and　his　face　grew　even　more　repulsive。　　A　dull
purple　flush　suffused　his　cheeks；　his　eyes　were　bloodshot；　and　the
veins　on　his　forehead　stood　out　like　cords。　　He　leaned　for　several
moments　against　the　table　and　steadily　cursed　Mr。　Sabin；　the
government　at　Washington；　and　something　under　his　breath　which　he
did　not　dare　to　name　openly。

〃Oh；　shut　up！〃　his　host　said　at　last。　　〃How　the　devil　are　we　going
to　get　out　of　this？〃

Mr。　Horser　left　the　room　and　returned　with　a　tumbler　full　of　brandy
and　a　very　little　water。

〃Take　a　drink　yourself；〃　he　said。　　〃It'll　steady　you。

〃Oh；　I'm　steady　enough；〃　Mr。　Mace　replied　impatiently。　　〃I　want　to
know　how　you're　going　to　get　us　out　of　this。　　What　was　the　charge；
anyhow？〃

〃Passing　forged　bills；〃　Horser　answered。　　〃Parsons　fixed　it　up。〃

Mr。　Mace　turned　a　shade　paler。

〃Where　the　devil's　the　sense　in　a　charge　like　that？〃　he　answered
fiercely。　　〃The　man's　a　millionaire。　　He'll　turn　the　tables　on　us
nicely。〃

〃We've　got　to　keep　him　till　after　the　Campania　sails；　anyhow；〃
Horser　said　doggedly。

〃We're　not　going　to　keep　him　ten　minutes；〃　Mace　replied。　　〃I'm　going
to　sign　the　order　for　his　release。〃

Horser's　speech　was　thick　with　drunken　fury。　　〃By　…　I'll　see　that
you　don't！〃　he　exclaimed。

Mace　turned　upon　him　angrily。

〃You　selfish　fool！〃　he　muttered。　　〃You're　not　in　the　thing；　anyhow。
If　you　think　I'm　going　to　risk　my　position　for　the　sake　of　one
little　job　you're　wrong。　　I　shall　go　down　myself　and　release　him；
with　an　apology。〃

〃He'll　have　his　revenge　all　the　same；〃　Horser　answered。　　〃It's　too
late　now　to　funk　the　thing。　　They　can't　budge　you。　　We'll　see　to
that。　　We　hold　New　York　in　our　hands。　　Be　a　man；　Mace；　and　run　a
little　risk。　　It's　fifty　thousand。〃

Mace　looked　up　at　him　curiously。

〃What　do　you　get　out　of　it；　Horser？〃

Horser's　face　hardened。

〃Not　one　cent！〃　he　declared　fiercely。　　〃Only　if　I　fail　it　might　be
unpleasant　for　me　next　time　I　crossed。〃

〃I　don't　know！〃　Mace　declared　weakly。　　〃I　don't　know　what　to　do。
It's　twelve　hours；　Horser；　and　the　charge　is　ridiculous。〃

〃You　have　me　behind　you。〃

〃I　can't　tell　them　that　at　Washington；〃　Mace　said。

〃It's　a　fact；　all　the　same。　　Don't　be　so　damned　nervous。〃

Mace　dismissed　his　clerk；　and　found　his　other　guests；　too；　on　the
point　of　departure。　　But　the　last　had　scarcely　left　before　a　servant
entered　with　another　despatch。

〃Release　Souspennier。

Mace　handed　it　to　his　companion。

〃This　settles　it；〃　he　declared。　　〃I　shall　go　round　and　try　and　make
my　peace　with　the　fellow。〃

Horser　stood　in　the　way；　burly；　half…drunk　and　vicious。　　He　struck
his　host　in　the　face　with　clenched　fist。　　Mace　went　down　with
scarcely　a　groan。　　A　servant；　hearing　the　fall；　came　hurrying　back。

〃Your　master　is　drunk　and　he　has　fallen　down；〃　Horser　said。　　〃Put
him　to　bed　…　give　him　a　sleeping　draught　if　you've　got　one。〃

The　servant　bent　over　the　unconscious　man。

〃Hadn't　I　better　fetch　a　doctor；　sir？〃　he　asked。　　〃I'm　afraid　he's
hurt。〃

〃Not　he！〃　　Horser　answered　contemptuously。　　〃He's　cut　his　cheek　a
little；　that's　all。　　Put　him　to　bed。　　Say　I　shall　be　round　again　by
nine　o'clock。〃

Horser　put　on　his　coat　and　left　the　house。　　The　morning　sunlight
was　flooding　the　streets。　　Away　down　town　Mr。　Sabin　was　dozing　in
his　high…backed　chair。


CHAPTER　IX

Felix；　after　an　uneventful　voyage；　landed　duly　at　Liverpool。　　To
his　amazement　the　first　person　he　saw　upon　the　quay　was　Mr。　Sabin；
leaning　upon　his　stick　and　smoking　a　cigarette。

〃Come；　come；　Felix！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Don't　look　at　me　as　though　I
were　a　ghost。　　You　have　very　little　confidence　in　me；　after　all；　I
see。〃

〃But　…　how　did　you　get　here？〃

〃The　Campania；　of　course。　　I　had　plenty　of　time。　　It　was　easy　enough
for　those　fellows　to　arrest　me；　but　they　never　had　a　chance　of
holding　me。〃

〃But　how　did　you　get　away　in　time？〃

Mr。　Sabin　sighed。

〃It　was　very　simple；〃　he　said。　　〃One　day；　while　one　of　those
wonderful　spies　was　sleeping　on　my　doormat　I　slipped　away　and　went
over　to　Washington；　saw　the　English　Ambassador；　convinced　him　of　my
bonafides；　told　him　very　nearly　the　whole　truth。　　He　promised　if　I
wired　him　that　I　was　arrested　to　take　my　case　up　at　once。　　You　sent
the　despatch；　and　he　kept　his　word。　　I　breakfasted　on　Saturday
morning　at　the　Waldorf；　and　though　a　great　dray　was　driven　into
my　carriage　on　the　way　to　the　boat；　I　escaped；　as　I　always　do　…　and
here　I　am。〃

〃Unhurt！〃　Felix　remarked　with　a　smile；　〃as　usual！〃

Mr。　Sabin　nodded。

〃The　driver　of　my　carriage　was　killed；　and　Duson　had　his　arm　broken；〃
he　said。　　〃I　stepped　out　of　the　debris　without　a　scratch。　　Come　into
the　Customs　House　now　and　get　your　baggage　through。　　I　have　taken　a
coupe　on　the　special　train　and　ordered　lunch。〃

Before　long　they　were　on　the　way　to　London。　　Mr。　Sabin；　whilst
luncheon　was　being　served；　talked　only　of　the　lightest　matters。
But　afterwards；　when　coffee　was　served　and　be　had　lit　a　cigarette；
he　leaned　over　towards　Felix。

〃Felix；〃　he　said；　〃your　sister　is　dear　to　you？〃

〃She　is　the　only　creature　on　earth；〃　Felix　said；　〃whom　I　care　for。
She　is　very　dear　to　me；　indeed。〃

〃Am　I　right；〃　Mr。　Sabin　asked；　〃in　assuming　that　the　old　enmity
between　us　is　dead；　that　the　last　few　years　has　wiped　away　the　old
soreness

〃Yes；〃　Felix　answered。　　〃I　know　that　she　was　happy　with　you。　　That
is　enough　for　me。〃

〃You　and　I；〃　Mr。　Sabin　continued；　〃must　work　out　her　salvation。　　Do
not　be　afraid　that　I　am　going　to　ask　you　impossibilities。　　I　know
that　our　ways　must　lie　apart。　　You　can　go　to　her　at　once。　　It　may
be　many；　many　months　before　I　can　catch　even　a　glimpse　of　her。
Never　mind。　　Let　me　feel　that　she　has　you　within　the　circle；　and　I
without；　with　our　lives　devoted　to　her。〃

〃You　may　rely　upon　that；〃　Felix　answered。　　〃Wherever　she　is　I　am
going。　　I　shall　be　there。　　I　will　watch　over　her。〃

Mr。　Sabin　sighed。

〃The　more　difficult　task　is　mine；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　have　no　fear　of
failure。　　I　shall　find　her　surrounded　by　spies；　by　those　who　are
now　my　enemies。　　Still；　they　will　find　it　hard　to　shake　me　off。　　It
may　be　that　they　took　her　from　me　only　out　of　revenge。　　If　that　be
so　my　task　will　be　easier。　　If　there　are　other　dangers　which　she　is
called　upon　to　face；　it　is　still　possible　that　they　might　accept　my
service　instead。〃

〃You　would　give　it？〃　Felix　exclaimed。

〃To　the　last　drop　of　blood　in　my　body；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃Save
for　my　love　for　her　I　am　a　dead　man　upon　the　earth。　　I　have　no
longer　politics　or　ambition。　　So　the　past　can　easily　be　expunged。
Those　who　must　be　her　guiding　influence　shall　be　m