the yellow crayon-第8章

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longer　politics　or　ambition。　　So　the　past　can　easily　be　expunged。
Those　who　must　be　her　guiding　influence　shall　be　mine。

〃You　will　win　her　back；〃　Felix　said。　　〃I　am　sure　of　it。〃

〃I　am　willing　to　pay　any　price　on　earth；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃If
they　can　forget　the　past　I　can。　　I　want　you　to　remember　this。　　I
want　her　to　know　it。　　I　want　them　to　know　it。　　That　is　all；　Felix。〃

Mr。　Sabin　leaned　back　in　his　seat。　　He　had　left　this　country　last
a　stricken　and　defeated　man；　left　it　with　the　echoes　of　his　ruined
schemes　crashing　in　his　ears。　　He　came　back　to　it　a　man　with　one
purpose　only；　and　that　such　a　purpose　as　never　before　had　guided
him　…　the　love　of　a　woman。　　Was　it　a　sign　of　age；　he　wondered；　this
return　to　the　humanities？　　His　life　had　been　full　of　great　schemes；
he　had　wielded　often　a　gigantic　influence；　more　than　once　he　had
made　history。　　And　now　the　love　of　these　things　had　gone　from　him。
Their　fascination　was　powerless　to　quicken　by　a　single　beat　his
steady　pulse。　　Monarchy　or　republic　…　what　did　he　care？　　It　was
Lucille　he　wanted；　the　woman　who　had　shown　him　how　sweet　even　defeat
might　be；　who　had　made　these　three　years　of　his　life　so　happy　that
they　seemed　to　have　passed　in　one　delightful　dream。　　Were　they　dead；　annihilated；　these　old
ambitions；　the　old　love　of　great　doings；　or
did　they　only　slumber？　　He　moved　in　his　seat　uneasily。

At　Euston　the　two　men　separated　with　a　silent　handshake。　　Mr。　Sabin
drove　to　one　of　the　largest　and　newest　of　the　modern　hotels　de　luxe。
He　entered　his　name　as　Mr。　Sabin　…　the　old　exile's　hatred　of　using
his　title　in　a　foreign　country　had　become　a　confirmed　habit　with
him　…　and　mingled　freely　with　the　crowds　who　thronged　into　the
restaurant　at　night。　　There　were　many　faces　which　he　remembered；
there　were　a　few　who　remembered　him。　　He　neither　courted　nor　shunned
observation。　　He　sat　at　dinner…time　at　a　retired　table；　and　found
himself　watching　the　people　with　a　stir　of　pleasure。　　Afterwards　he
went　round　to　a　famous　club；　of　which　he　had　once　been　made　a　life
member；　but　towards　midnight　he　was　wearied　of　the　dull　decorum　of
his　surroundings；　and　returning　to　the　hotel；　sought　the　restaurant
once　more。　　The　stream　of　people　coming　in　to　supper　was　greater
even　than　at　dinner…time。　　He　found　a　small　table；　and　ordered　some
oysters。　　The　sight　of　this　bevy　of　pleasure…seekers；　all　apparently
with　multitudes　of　friends；　might　have　engendered　a　sense　of
loneliness　in　a　man　of　different　disposition。　　To　Mr。　Sabin　his
isolation　was　a　luxury。　　He　had　an　uninterrupted　opportunity　of
pursuing　his　favourite　study。

There　entered　a　party　towards　midnight；　to　meet　whom　the　head…waiter
himself　came　hurrying　from　the　further　end　of　the　room；　and　whose
arrival　created　a　little　buzz　of　interest。　　The　woman　who　formed　the
central　figure　of　the　little　group　had　for　two　years　known　no　rival
either　at　Court　or　in　Society。　　She　was　the　most　beautiful　woman　in
England；　beautiful　too　with　all　the　subtle　grace　of　her　royal　descent。
There　were　women　upon　the　stage　whose　faces　might　have　borne
comparison　with　hers；　but　there　was　not　one　who　in　a　room　would　not
have　sunk　into　insignificance　by　her　side。　　Her　movements；　her
carriage　were　incomparable　…　the　inherited　gifts　of　a　race　of　women
born　in　palaces。

Mr。　Sabin；　who　neither　shunned　nor　courted　observation；　watched　her
with　a　grim　smile　which　was　not　devoid　of　bitterness。　　Suddenly　she
saw　him。　　With　a　little　cry　of　wonder　she　came　towards　him　with
outstretched　hands。

〃It　is　marvelous；〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃You？　　Really　you？〃

He　bowed　low　over　her　hands。

〃It　is　I；　dear　Helene；〃　he　answered。　　〃A　moment　ago　I　was　dreaming。
I　thought　that　I　was　back　once　more　at　Versailles；　and　in　the
presence　of　my　Queen。〃

She　laughed　softly。

〃There　may　be　no　Versailles；〃　she　murmured；　〃but　you　will　be　a
courtier　to　the　end　of　your　days。〃

〃At　least；〃　he　said；　〃believe　me　that　my　congratulations　come　from
my　heart。　　Your　happiness　is　written　in　your　face；　and　your　husband
must　be　the　proudest　man　in　England。〃

He　was　standing　now　by　her　side；　and　he　held　out　his　hand　to　Mr。
Sabin。

〃I　hope；　sir；〃　he　said　pleasantly；　〃that　you　bear　me　no　ill　…　will。〃

〃It　would　be　madness；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃To　be　the　most　beautiful
peeress　in　England　is　perhaps　for　Helene　a　happier　fate　than　to　be
the　first　queen　of　a　new　dynasty。〃

〃And　you；　uncle？〃　Helene　said。　　〃You　are　back　from　your　exile　then。
How　often　I　have　felt　disposed　to　smile　when　I　thought　of　you；　of
all　men；　in　America。

〃I　went　into　exile；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered；　〃and　I　found　paradise。　　The
three　years　which　have　passed　since　I　saw　you　last　have　been　the
happiest　of　my　life。〃

〃Lucille！〃　Helene　exclaimed。

〃Is　my　wife；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。

〃Delightful！〃　Helene　murmured。　　〃She　is　with　you　then；　I　hope。
Indeed；　I　felt　sure　that　I　saw　her　the　other　night　at　the　opera。〃

〃At　the　opera！〃　Mr。　Sabin　for　a　moment　was　silent。　　He　would　have
been　ashamed　to　confess　that　his　heart　was　beating　strongly；　that　a
crowd　of　eager　questions　trembled　upon　his　lips。　　He　recovered
himself　after　a　moment。

〃Lucille　is　not　with　me　for　the　moment；〃　he　said　in　measured　tones。
〃I　am　detaining　you　from　your　guests；　Helene。　　If　you　will　permit
me　I　will　call　upon　you。〃

〃Won't　you　join　us？〃　Lord　Camperdown　asked　courteously。　　〃We　are
only　a　small　party　…　the　Portuguese　Ambassador　and　his　wife；　the
Duke　of　Medchester；　and　Stanley　Phillipson。〃

Mr。　Sabin　rose　at　once。

〃I　shall　be　delighted；〃　he　said。

Lord　Camperdown　hesitated　for　a　moment。

〃I　present　Monsieur　le　Due　de　Souspennier；　I　presume？〃　he　remarked；
smiling。

Mr。　Sabin　bowed。

〃I　am　Mr。　Sabin；〃　he　said；　〃at　the　hotels　and　places　where　one
travels。　　To　my　friends　I　have　no　longer　an　incognito。　　It　is　not
necessary。〃

It　was　a　brilliant　little　supper　party；　and　Mr。　Sabin　contributed
at　least　his　share　to　the　general　entertainment。　　Before　they
dispersed　he　had　to　bring　out　his　tablets　to　make　notes　of　his
engagements。　　He　stood　on　the　top　of　the　steps　above　the　palm…court
to　wish　them　good…bye；　leaning　on　his　stick。　　Helene　turned　back
and　waved　her　hand。

〃He　is　unchanged；〃　she　murmured；　〃yet　I　fear　that　there　must　be
trouble。〃

〃Why？　　He　seemed　cheerful　enough；〃　her　husband　remarked。

She　dropped　her　voice　a　little。

〃Lucille　is　in　London。　　She　is　staying　at　Dorset　House。〃


CHAPTER　X

Mr。　Sabin　was　deep　in　thought。　　He　sat　in　an　easy…chair　with　his
back　to　the　window；　his　hands　crossed　upon　his　stick；　his　eyes
fixed　upon　the　fire。　　Duson　was　moving　noiselessly　about　the　room；
cutting　the　morning's　supply　of　newspapers　and　setting　them　out
upon　the　table。　　His　master　was　in　a　mood　which　he　had　been　taught
to　respect。　　It　was　Mr。　Sabin　Who　broke　the　silence。

〃Duson！〃

〃Your　Grace！〃

〃I　have　always；　as　you　know；　ignored　your　somewhat　anomalous
position　as　the　servant　of　one　man　and　the　slave　of　a　society。
The　questions　which　I　am　about　to　ask　you　you　can　answer　or　not；
according　to　your　own　apprehensions　of　what　is　due　to　each。〃

〃I　thank　your　Grace！〃

〃My　departure　from　America　seemed　to　incite　the　most　violent
opposition　on　the　part　of　your　friends。　　As　you　know；　it　was　with
a　certain　amount　of　difficulty　that　I　reached　this　country。　　Now；
however；　I　am　left　altogether　alone。　　I　have　not　received　a　single
warning　letter。　　My　comings　and　goings；　although　purposely　devoid
of　the　~lightest　secrecy；　are　absolutely　undisturbed。　　Yet　I　have
some　reason　to　believe　that　your　mistress　is　in　London。〃

〃Your　Grace　will　pardon　me；〃　Duson　said；　〃but　there　is　outside　a
gentleman　waiting　to　see　you　to　whom　you　might　address　the　same
questions　with　better　results；　for　compared　with　him　I　know　nothing。
It　is　Monsieur　Felix。〃

〃Why　have　you　kept　him　waiting？〃　Mr。　Sabin　asked。

〃Your　Grace　was　much　absorbed；〃　Duson　answered。

Felix　was　smoking　a　cigarette；　and　Mr。　Sabin　greeted　him　with　a
certain　grim　cordiality。

〃Is　this　permitted　…　this　visit？〃　he　asked；　himself　selecting　a
cigarette　and　motioning　his　guest　to　a　chair。

〃It　is　even　encouraged；〃　Felix　answered。

〃You　have　perhaps　some　message？〃

〃None。〃

〃I　am　glad　to　see　you；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃Just　now　I　am　a　little
puzzled。　　I　will　put　the　matter　to　you。　　You　shall　answer　or　not；
at　your　own　discretion。〃

〃I　am　ready；〃　Felix　declared。

〃You　know　the　difficulty　with　which　I　escaped　from　America；〃　Mr。
Sabin　continued。　　〃Every　means　which　ingenuity　could　suggest　seemed
brought　to　bear　against　me。　　And　every　movement　was　directed；　if　not
from　here；　from　some　place　in　Europe。　　Well；　I　arrived　here　four
days　ago。　　I　live　quite　openly；　I　have　even　abjured　to　some　extent
my　incognito。　　Yet　I　have　not　received　even　a　warning　letter。　　I　am
left　absolutely　undisturbed。〃

Felix　looked　at　him　thoughtfully。

〃And　what　do　you　deduce　from　this？〃　he　asked。

〃I　do　not　like　it；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered　drily。

〃After　all；〃　Felix　remarked；　〃it　is　to　some　extent　natural。　　The
very　openness　of　your　life　here　makes　interference　with　you　more
difficult；　and　as　to　warning　letters　…　well；　you　have　proved　the
uselessness　of　them。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃At　the　same　time；　if　I　were　a
superstitious　person　I　should　consider　this　inaction　ominous。〃

〃You　must　take　account　also；〃　Felix　said；　〃of　the　difference　in　the
countries。　　In　England　the　police　system；　if　not　the　most　infallible
in　the　world；　is　certainly　the　most　incorruptible。　　There　was　never
a　country　in　which　security　of　person　and　life　was　so　keenly　watched
over　as　here。　　In　America；　up　to　a　certain　point；　a　man　is　expected
to　look　after　himself。　　The　same　feeling　does　not　prevail　here。〃

Mr。　Sabin　assented。

〃And　therefore；〃　he　remarked；　〃for　the　purposes　of　your　friends　I
should　consider　this　a　difficult　and　unpromising　country　in　which
to　work。〃

〃Other　countries；　other　methods！〃　Felix　remarked　laconically。

〃Exactly！　　It　is　the　new　methods　which　I　am　anxious　to　discover；〃
Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃No　glimmering　of　them　as　yet　has　been　vouchsafed
to　me。　　Yet　I　believe　that　I　am　right　in　assuming　that　for　the
moment　London　is　the　headquarters　of　your　friends；　and　that　Lucille
is　here？〃

〃If　that　is　meant　for　a　question；〃　Felix　said；　〃I　may　not　answer　it。〃

Mr。　Sabin　nodded。

〃Yet；〃　he　suggested；　〃your　visit　has　an　object。　　To　discover　my
plans　perhaps！　　You　are　welcome　to　them。〃

Felix　thoughtfully　knocked　the　ashes　off　his　cigarette。

〃My　visit　had　an　object；〃　he　admitted；　〃but　it　was　a　personal　one。
I　am　not　actually　concerned　in　the　doings　of　those　whom　you　have
called　my　friends。〃

〃We　are　alone；〃　Mr。　Sabin　reminded　him。　　〃My　time　is　yours。〃

〃You　and　I；〃　Felix　said；　〃have　had　our　periods　of　bitter　enmity。
With　your　marriage　to　Lucille　these；　so　far　as　I　am　concerned；
ended　for　ever。　　I　will　even　admit　that　in　my　younger　days　I　was
prejudiced　against　you。　　That　has　passed　away。　　You　have　been　all
your　days　a　bold　and　unscrupulous　schemer；　but　ends　have　at　any
rate　been　worthy　ones。　　To…day　I　am　able　to　regard　you　with
feelings　of　friendliness。　You　are　the　husband　of　my　dear　sister；
and　for　years　I　know　that　you　made　her　very　happy。　　I　ask　you；　will
you　believe　in　this　statement