the yellow crayon-第43部分

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won't　see　him；　so　be　off。〃

〃But　yes；　milady；〃　Annette　answered；　and　disappeared。

Lady　Carey　sipped　her　coffee。

〃I　think；〃　she　said　reflectively；　〃that　it　must　be　Melton。〃

Annette　reappeared。

〃Milady；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃His　Highness　insisted　upon　my　bringing
you　this　card。　　He　was　so　strange　in　his　manner；　milady；　that　I
thought　it　best　to　obey。〃

Lady　Carey　stretched　out　her　hand。　　A　few　words　were　scribbled　on
the　back　of　his　visiting　card　in　yellow　crayon。　　She　glanced　at　it；
tore　the　card　up；　and　threw　the　pieces　into　the　fire。

〃My　shoes　and　stockings；　Annette；〃　she　said；　〃and　just　a　morning
wrap　…　anything　will　do。〃

The　Prince　was　walking　restlessly　up　and　down　the　room；　when　Lady
Carey　entered。　　He　welcomed　her　with　a　little　cry　of　relief。

〃Heavens！〃　　he　exclaimed。　　〃I　thought　that　you　were　never　coming。〃

〃I　was　in　no　hurry；〃　she　answered　calmly。　　〃I　could　guess　your　news；
so　I　had　not　even　the　spur　of　curiosity。〃

He　stopped　short。

〃You　have　heard　nothing！　　It　is　not　possible？〃

She　shrugged　her　shoulders。

〃No；　but　I　know　you；　and　I　know　him。　　I　am　quite　prepared　to　hear
that　you　are　outwitted。　　Indeed；　to　judge　from　your　appearance
there　can　be　no　doubt　about　it。　　Remember　I　warned　you。〃

The　Prince　was　pale　with　fury。

〃No　one　could　foresee　this；〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃He　has　walked　into　the
lion's　den。〃

〃Then；〃　Lady　Carey　said；　〃I　am　quite　prepared　to　hear　that　he　tamed
the　lion。〃

〃If　there　was　one　person　living　whom　I　could　have　sworn　that　this
man　dared　not　visit；　it　was　our　Emperor；〃　the　Prince　said。　　〃It　is
only　a　few　years　since；　through　this　man's　intrigues；　Germany　was
shamed　before　the　world。〃

〃And　yet；〃　Lady　Carey　said　sweetly；　〃the　Emperor　has　received　him。〃

〃I　have　private　intelligence　from　Berlin；〃　Saxe　Leinitzer　answered。
〃Mr。　Sabin　was　in　possession　of　a　letter　written　to　him　by　the
Emperor　Frederick；　thanking　him　for　some　service　or　other；　and　the
letter　was　a　talisman。〃

〃How　like　him；〃　Lady　Carey　murmured；　〃to　have　the　letter。〃

〃What　a　pity；〃　the　Prince　sneered；　〃that　such　devotion　should　remain
unrewarded。〃

Lady　Carey　sighed。

〃He　has　broken　my　heart；〃　she　replied。

The　Prince　threw　out　his　hands。

〃You　and　I；〃　he　cried；　〃why　do　we　behave　like　children！　　Let　us
start　afresh。　　Listen！　　The　Emperor　has　summoned　me　to　Berlin。〃

〃Dear　me；〃　Lady　Carey　murmured。　　〃I　am　afraid　you　will　have　a　most
unpleasant　visit。〃

〃I　dare　not　go；〃　the　Prince　said　slowly。　　〃It　was　I　who　induced
the　Emperor　to　become　the　titular　head　of　this　cursed　Order。　　Of
course　he　knew　nothing　about　the　second　or　third　degree　members　and
our　methods。　　Without　doubt　he　is　fully　informed　now。　　I　dare　not
face　him。〃

〃What　shall　you　do？〃　Lady　Carey　asked　curiously。

〃I　am　off　to　South　America；〃　he　said。　　〃It　is　a　great　undeveloped
country；　and　there　is　room　for　us　to　move　there。　　Muriel；　you　know
what　I　want　of　you。〃

〃My　good　man；〃　she　answered；　〃I　haven't　the　faintest　idea。〃

〃You　will　come　with　me；〃　he　begged。　　〃You　will　not　send　me　into
exile　so　lonely；　a　wanderer！　　Together　there　may　be　a　great　future
before　us。　　You　have　ambition；　you　love　intrigue；　excitement；　danger。
None　of　these　can　you　find　here。　　You　shall　come　with　me。　　You　shall
not　say　no。　　Have　I　not　been　your　devoted　slave？　　Have　…　〃

She　stopped　him。　　Her　lips　were　parted　in　a　smile　of　good…natured
scorn。

〃Don't　be　absurd；　Saxe　Leinitzer。　　It　is　true　that　I　love　intrigue；
excitement　and　danger。　　That　is　what　made　me　join　your　Order；　and
really　I　have　had　quite　a　little　excitement　out　of　it；　for　which
I　suppose　I　ought　to　thank　you。　　But　as　for　the　rest；　why；　you　are
talking　rubbish。　　I　would　go　to　South　America　to…morrow　with　the
right　man；　but　with　you；　why；　it　won't　bear　talking　about。　　It　makes
me　angry　to　think　that　you　should　believe　me　capable　of　such　shocking
taste　as　to　dream　of　going　away　with　you。〃

He　flung　himself　from　the　room。　　Lady　Carey　went　back　to　her　coffee
and　letters。　　She　sent　for　Annette。

〃Annette；〃　she　directed；　〃we　shall　go　to　Melton　to…morrow。　　Wire
Haggis　to　have　the　Lodge　in　order；　and　carriages　to　meet　the　midday
train。　　I　daresay　I　shall　take　a　few　people　down　with　me。　　Let
George　go　around　to　Tattershalls　at　once　and　make　an　appointment
for　me　there　at　three　o'clock　this　afternoon。　　Look　out　my　habits
and　boots；　too；　Annette。〃

Lady　Carey　leaned　back　in　her　chair　for　a　moment　with　half…closed
eyes。

〃I　think；〃　she　murmured；　〃that　some　of　us　in　our　youth　must　have
drunk　from　some　poisoned　cup；　something　which　turned　our　blood　into
quicksilver。　　I　must　live；　or　I　must　die。　　I　must　have　excitement
every　hour；　every　second；　or　break　down。　　There　are　others　too
　…　many　others。　　No　wonder　that　that　idiot　of　a　man　in　Harley
Street　talked　to　me　gravely　about　my　heart。　　No　excitement。　　A
quiet　life！　　Bah！　　Such　wishy…washy　coffee　and　only　one　cigarette。〃

She　lit　it　and　stood　up　on　the　hearthrug。　　Her　eyes　were　half
closed；　every　vestige　of　colour　had　left　her　cheeks；　her　hand　was
pressed　hard　to　her　side。　　For　a　few　minutes　she　seemed　to　struggle
for　breath。　　Then　with　a　little　lurch　as　though　still　giddy；　she
stooped；　and　picking　up　her　fallen　cigarette；　thrust　it　defiantly
between　her　teeth。

〃Not　this　way；〃　she　muttered。　　〃From　a　horse's　back　if　I　can　with
the　air　rushing　by；　and　the　hot　joy　of　it　in　one's　heart　。。。　Only
I　hope　it　won't　hurt　the　poor　old　gee　。。。　Come　in；　Annette。　　What
a　time　you've　been；　child。

***'**

The　Emperor　sent　for　Mr。　Sabin。　　He　declined　to　recognise　his
incognito。

〃Monsieur　le　Duc；〃　he　said；　〃if　proof　of　your　story　were　needed
it　is　here。　　The　Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer　has　ignored　my　summons。
He　has　fled　to　South　America。〃

Mr。　Sabin　bowed。

〃A　most　interesting　country；〃　he　murmured；　〃for　the　Prince。〃

〃You　yourself　are　free　to　go　when　and　where　you　will。　　You　need　no
longer　have　any　fears。　　The　Order　does　not　exist。　　I　have　crushed　it。〃

Mr。　Sabin　bowed。

〃Your　Majesty；〃　he　said；　〃has　shown　exemplary　wisdom。〃

〃From　its　inception；〃　the　Emperor　said；　〃I　believe　that　the　idea　was
a　mistaken　one。　　I　must　confess　that　its　originality　pleased　me；　my
calmer　reflections；　however；　show　me　that　I　was　wrong。　　It　is　not
for　the　nobles　of　the　earth　to　copy　the　methods　of　socialists　and
anarchists。　　These　men　are　a　pest　upon　humanity；　but　they　may　have
their　good　uses。　　They　may　help　us　to　govern　alertly；　vigorously；
always　with　our　eyes　and　ears　strained　to　catch　the　signs　of　the
changing　times。　　Monsieur　le　Duc；　should　you　decide　to　take　up　your
residence　in　this　country　I　shall　at　all　times　be　glad　to　receive
you。　　But　your　future　is　entirely　your　own。〃

Mr。　Sabin　accepted　his　dismissal　from　audience；　and　went　back　to
Lucille。

〃The　Prince；〃　he　told　her；　〃has　gone…to　South　America。　　The　Order
does　not　exist　any　longer。　　Will　you　dine　in　Vienna；　or　in
Frankfort？〃

She　held　out　her　arms。

〃You　wonderful　man！〃　　she　cried。







End