the yellow crayon-第38部分

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behind　him。

〃Mr。　Brott；〃　he　said；　〃can　I　speak　to　you　as　a　friend　of　Lucille's？〃

Brott；　who　distrusted　the　Prince；　looked　him　steadily　in　the　face。
Saxe　Leinitzer's　agitation　was　too　apparent　to　be　wholly　assumed。
He　had　all　the　appearance　of　being　a　man　desperately　in　earnest。

〃I　have　always　considered　myself　one；〃　Brott　answered。　　〃I　am
beginning　to　doubt；　however；　whether　the　Countess　holds　me　in　the
same　estimation。〃

〃You　found　her　hysterical；　unreasonable；　overwrought！〃　　the　Prince
exclaimed。　　〃That　is　so；　eh？〃

The　Prince　drew　a　long　breath。

〃Brott；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　forced　to　confide　in　you。　　Lucille　is　in
terrible　danger。　　I　am　not　sure　that　there　is　anybody　who　can
effectually　help　her　but　you。　　Are　you　prepared　to　make　a　great
sacrifice　for　her　sake　…　to　leave　England　at　once；　to　take　her　to
the　uttermost　part　of　the　world？〃

Brott's　eyes　were　suddenly　bright。　　The　Prince　quailed　before　the
fierceness　of　his　gaze。

〃She　would　not　go！〃　　he　exclaimed　sharply。

〃She　will；〃　the　Prince　answered。　　〃She　must！　　Not　only　that；　but
you　will　earn　her　eternal　gratitude。　　Listen；　I　must　tell　you　the
predicament　in　which　we　find　ourselves。　　It　places　Lucille's　life
in　your　hands。〃

〃What？〃

The　exclamation　came　like　a　pistol　shot。　　The　Prince　held　up　his
hand。

〃Do　not　interrupt。　　Let　me　speak。　　Every　moment　is　very　valuable。
You　heard　without　doubt　of　the　sudden　death　at　the　Carlton　Hotel。
It　took　place　in　Mr。　Sabin's　sitting…room。　　The　victim　was　Mr。
Sabin's　servant。　　The　inquest　was　this　afternoon。　　The　verdict　was
death　from　the　effect　of　poison。　　The　police　are　hot　upon　the　case。
There　was　no　evidence　as　to　the　person　by　whom　the　poison　was
administered；　but　by　a　hideous　combination　of　circumstances　one
person　before　many　hours　have　passed　will　be　under　the　surveillance
of　the　police。〃

〃And　that　person？〃　Brott　asked。

The　Prince　looked　round　and　lowered　his　voice；　although　the　room
was　empty。

〃Lucille；〃　he　whispered　hoarsely。

Brott　stepped　backwards　as　though　he　were　shot。

〃What　damned　folly！〃　　he　exclaimed。

〃It　is　possible　that　you　may　not　think　so　directly；〃　Saxe　Leinitzer
continued。　　〃The　day　it　happened　Lucille　bought　this　same　poison；
and　it　is　a　rare　one；　from　a　man　who　has　absconded。　　An　hour　before
this　man　was　found　dead；　she　called　at　the　hotel；　left　no　name；　but
went　upstairs　to　Mr。　Sabin's　room；　and　was　alone　there　for　five
minutes；　The　man　died　from　a　single　grain　of　poison　which　had　been
introduced　into　Mr。　Sabin's　special　liqueur　glass；　out　of　which　he
was　accustomed　to　drink　three　or　four　times　a　day。　　All　these　are
absolute　facts；　which　at　any　moment　may　be　discovered　by　the　police。
Added　to　that　she　is　living　apart　from　her　husband；　and　is　known　to
be　on　bad　terms　with　him。〃

Brott　as　gripping　the　back　of　a　chair。　　He　was　white　to　the　lips。

〃You　don't　think；〃　he　cried　hoarsely。　　〃You　can't　believe　…　〃

〃No〃　the　Prince　answered　quickly；　〃I　don't　believe　anything　of　the
sort。　　I　will　tell　you　as　man　to　than　that　I　believe　she　wished　Mr。
Sabin　dead。　　You　yourself　should　know　why。　　But　no；　I　don't　believe
she　went　so　far　as　that。　　It　was　an　accident。　　But　what　we　have　to
do　is　to　save　her。　　Will　you　help？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃She　must　cross　to　the　Continent　to…night　before　the　police　get　on
the　scent。　　Afterwards　she　must　double　back　to　Havre　and　take　the
Bordlaise　for　New　York　on　Saturday。　　Once　there　I　can　guarantee　her
protection。〃

〃Well？〃

〃She　cannot　go　alone。〃

〃You　mean　that　I　should　go　with　her？〃

〃Yes！　　Get　her　right　away；　and　I　will　employ　special　detectives　and
have　the　matter　cleared　up；　if　ever　it　can　be。　　But　if　she　remains
here　I　fear　that　nothing　can　save　her　from　the　horror　of　an　arrest；
even　if　afterwards　We　are　able　to　save　her。　　You　yourself　risk　much；
Brott。　　The　only　question　that　remains　is；　will　you　do　it？〃

〃At　her　bidding　…　yes！〃　　Brott　declared。

〃Wait　here；〃　the　Prince　answered。


CHAPTER　XXXIX

Saxe　Leinitzer　returned　to　the　morning…room；　and　taking　the　key
from　his　pocket　unlocked　the　door。　　Inside　Lucille　was　pale　with
fury。

〃What！　　I　am　a　prisoner；　then！〃　　she　exclaimed。　　〃How　dare　you
lock　me　in？　　This　is　not　your　house。　　Let　me　pass！　　I　am　tired　of
all　this　stupid　espionage。〃

The　Prince　stood　with　his　back　to　the　door。

〃It　is　for　your　own　sake；　Lucille。　　The　house　is　watched。〃

She　sank　into　a　low　chair；　trembling。　　The　Prince　had　all　the
appearance　of　a　man　himself　seriously　disturbed。

〃Lucille；〃　he　said；　〃we　will　do　what　we　can　for　you。　　The　whole
thing　is　horribly　unfortunate。　　You　must　leave　England　to…night。
Muriel　will　go　with　you。　　Her　presence　will　help　to　divert　suspicion。
Once　you　can　reach　Paris　I　can　assure　you　of　safety。　　But　in　this
country　I　am　almost　powerless。〃

〃I　must　see　Victor；〃　she　said　in　a　low　tone。　　〃I　will　not　go
without。〃

The　Prince　nodded。

〃I　have　thought　of　that。　　There　is　no　reason；　Lucille；　why　he　should
not　be　the　one　to　lead　you　into　safety。〃

〃You　mean　that？〃　she　cried。

〃I　mean　it；〃　the　Prince　answered。　　〃After　what　has　happened　you　are
of　course　of　no　further　use　to　us。　　I　am　inclined　to　think；　too；
that　we　have　been　somewhat　exacting。　　I　will　send　a　messenger　to
Souspennier　to　meet　you　at　Charing　Cross　to…night。〃

She　sprang　up。

〃Let　me　write　it　myself。〃

〃Very　well；〃　he　agreed；　with　a　shrug　of　the　shoulders。　　〃But　do　not
address　or　sign　it。　　There　is　danger　in　any　communication　between
you。〃

She　took　a　sheet　of　note…paper　and　hastily　wrote　a　few　words。

〃I　have　need　of　your　help。　　Will　you　be　at　Charing　Cross　at　twelve
o'clock　prepared　for　a　journey。　…　Lucille。〃

The　Prince　took　the　letter　from　her　and　hastily　folded　it　up。

〃I　will　deliver　it　myself；〃　he　announced。　　〃It　will　perhaps　be
safest。　　Until　I　return；　Lucille；　do　not　stir　from　the　house　or　see
any　one。　　Muriel　has　given　the　servants　orders　to　admit　no　one。
All　your　life；〃　he　added；　after　a　moment's　pause；　〃you　have　been　a
little　cruel　to　me；　and　this　time　also。　　I　shall　pray　that　you　will
relent　before　our　next　meeting。〃

She　rose　to　her　feet　and　looked　him　full　in　the　face。　　She　seemed
to　be　following　out　her　own　train　of　thought　rather　than　taking
note　of　his　words。

〃Even　now；〃　she　said　thoughtfully；　〃I　am　not　sure　that　I　can　trust
you。　　I　have　a　good　mind　to　fight　or　scream　my　way　out　of　this
house；　and　go　myself　to　see　Victor。〃

He　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃The　fighting　or　the　screaming　will　not　be　necessary；　dear
Countess；〃　he　said。　　〃The　doors　are　open　to　you。　　But　it　is　as　clear
as　day　that　if　you　go　to　the　hotel　or　near　it　you　will　at　once　be
recognised；　and　recognition　means　arrest。　　There　is　a　limit　beyond
which　one　cannot　help　a　wilful　woman。　　Take　your　life　in　your　hands
and　go　your　own　way；　or　trust　in　us　who　are　doing　our　best　to　save
you。〃

〃And　what　of　Reginald　Brott？〃　she　asked。

〃Brott？〃　the　Prince　repeated　impatiently。　　〃Who　cares　what　becomes
of　him？　　You　have　made　him　seem　a　fool；　but；　Lucille；　to　tell　you
the　truth；　I　am　sorry　that　we　did　not　leave　this　country　altogether
alone。　　There　is　not　the　soil　for　intrigue　here；　or　the　possibility。
Then；　too；　the　police　service　is　too　stolid；　too　inaccessible。　　And
even　our　friends；　for　whose　aid　we　are　here　…　well；　you　heard　the
Duke。　　The　cast…iron　Saxon　idiocy　of　the　man。　　The　aristocracy　here
are　what　they　call　bucolic。　　It　is　their　own　fault。　　They　have
intermarried　with　parvenus　and　Americans　for　generations。　　They　are
a　race　by　themselves。　　We　others　may　shake　ourselves　free　from　them。
I　would　work　in　any　country　of　the　globe　for　the　good　of　our　cause；
but　never　again　in　England。〃

Lucille　shivered　a　little。

〃I　am　not　in　the　humour　for　argument；〃　she　declared。　　〃If　you　would
earn　my　gratitude　take　that　note　to　my　husband。　　He　is　the　only　man
I　feel　sure　of　…　whom　I　know　can　protect　me。〃

The　Prince　bowed　low。

〃It　is　our　farewell；　Countess；〃　he　said。

〃I　cannot　pretend；〃　she　answered；　〃to　regret　it。〃

Saxe　Leinitzer　left　the　room。　　There　was　a　peculiar　smile　upon　his
lips　as　he　crossed　the　hall。　　Brott　was　still　awaiting　for　him。

〃Mr。　Brott；〃　he　said；　〃the　Countess　is；　as　I　feared；　too　agitated
to　see　you　again　for　the　present；　or　any　one　else。　　She　sends　you；
however；　this　message。〃

He　took　the　folded　paper　from　his　waistcoat　pocket　and　handed　it
to　the　other　man。　　Brott　read　it　through　eagerly。　　His　eyes　shone。

〃She　accepts　the　situation；　then？〃　he　exclaimed。

〃Precisely！　　Will　you　pardon　me；　my　friend；　if　I　venture　upon　one
other　word。　　Lucille　is　not　an　ordinary　woman。　　She　is　not　in　the
least　like　the　majority　of　her　sex；　especially；　I　might　add；　amongst
us。　　The　fact　that　her　husband　was　living　would　seriously　influence
her　consideration　of　any　other　man　…　as　her　lover。　　The　present
crisis；　however；　has　changed　everything。　　I　do　not　think　that　you
will　have　cause　to　complain　of　her　lack　of　gratitude。〃

Brott　walked　out　into　the　streets　with　the　half　sheet　of　note…paper
twisted　up　between　his　fingers。　　For　the　first　time　for　months　he
was　conscious　of　a　distinct　and　vivid　sense　of　happiness。　　The
terrible　period　of　indecision　was　past。　　He　knew　now　where　he　stood。
Nor　was　his　immediate　departure　from　England　altogether　unpleasant
to　him。　　His　political　career　was　shattered　…　friends　and　enemies
were　alike　cold　to　him。　　Such　an　act　of　cowardice　as　his；　such
pitiful　shrinking　back　at　the　last　fateful　moment；　was　inexplicable
and　revolting。　　Even　Letheringham　was　barely　civil。　　It　was　certain
that　his　place　in　the　Cabinet　would　be　intolerable。　　He　yearned　for
escape　from　it　all；　and　the　means　of　escape　were　now　at　hand。　　In
after　years　he　knew　very　well　that　the　shadow　of　his　broken　trust；
the　torture　of　his　misused　opportunities；　would　stand　for　ever
between　him　and　the　light。　　But　at　that　moment　he　was　able　to　clear
his　mind　of　all　such　disquieting　thoughts。　　He　had　won　Lucille
　…　never　mind　at　what　cost；　at　what　peril！　　He　had　won　Lucille！

He　was　deeply　engrossed；　and　his　name　was　spoken　twice　in　his　ear
before　he　turned　round。　　A　small；　somewhat　shabby…looking　man；　with
tired　eyes　and　more　than　a　day's　growth　of　beard　upon　his　chin；　had
accosted　him。

〃Mr。　Brot