the yellow crayon-第6部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


position。　　You　wouldn't　find　London　at　all　a　good　place　to　live　in
just　now；　even　if　you　ever　got　there　…　which　I　am　inclined　to　doubt。
And　secondly；　here　am　I　…　〃

〃Circe！〃　he　murmured。

〃Waiting　to　be　entertained；　in　a　strange　country；　almost　friendless。
I　want　to　be　shown　everything；　taken　everywhere。　　And　I　am　dying　to
see　your　home　at　Lenox。　　I　do　not　think　your　attitude　towards　me　in
the　least　hospitable。〃

〃Come；　you　are　judging　me　very　quickly；〃　he　declared。　　〃What
opportunities　have　I　had？〃

〃What　opportunities　can　there　be　if　you　sail　by　the　Campania？〃

〃You　might　dine　with　me　to…night　at　least。〃

〃Impossible！　　The　Dalkeiths　have　a　party　to　meet　me。　　Come　too；
won't　you？　　They　love　dukes　…　even　French　ones。〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃There　is　no　attraction　for　me　in　a　large　party；〃　he　answered。　　〃I
am　getting　to　an　age　when　to　make　conversation　in　return　for　a
dinner　seems　scarcely　a　fair　exchange。〃

〃From　your　host's　point　of　view；　or　yours？〃

〃From　both！　　Besides；　one's　digestion　suffers。〃

〃You　are　certainly　getting　old；〃　she　declared。　　〃Come；　I　must　go。
You　haven't　been　a　bit　nice　to　me。　　When　shall　I　see　you　again？〃

〃It　is；〃　he　answered；　〃for　you　to　say。〃

She　looked　at　him　for　a　moment　thoughtfully。

〃Supposing；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　cried　off　the　yacht　race　to…day。
Would　you　take　me　out　to　lunch？〃

He　smiled。

〃My　dear　lady；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　for　Circe　to　command　…　and　for　me
to　obey。〃

〃And　you'll　come　and　have　tea　with　me　afterwards　at　the　Waldorf？〃

〃That；〃　Mr。　Sabin　declared；　〃will　add　still　further　to　my　happiness。〃

〃Will　you　call　for　me；　then　…　and　where　shall　we　have　lunch；　and　at
what　time？　　I　must　go　and　develop　a　headache　at　once；　or　that
tiresome　Dalkeith　boy　will　be　pounding　at　my　door。〃

〃I　will　call　for　you　at　the　Waldorf　at　half…past　one；〃　Mr。　Sabin
said。　　〃Unless　you　have　any　choice；　I　will　take　you　to　a　little
place　downtown　where　we　can　imagine　ourselves　back　on　the　Continent；
and　where　we　shall　be　spared　the　horror　of　green　corn。〃

〃Delightful；〃　she　murmured；　buttoning　her　glove。　　〃Then　you　shall
take　me　for　a　drive　to　Fifth　Avenue；　or　to　see　somebody's　tomb；
and　my　woman　shall　make　some　real　Russian　tea　for　us　in　my
sitting…room。　　Really；　I　think　I'm　doing　very　well　for　the　first
day。　　Is　the　spell　beginning　to　work？〃

〃Hideously；〃　he　assured　her。　　〃I　feel　already　that　the　only　thing　I
dread　in　life　are　these　two　hours　before　luncheon。〃

She　nodded。

〃That　is　quite　as　it　should　be。　　Don't　trouble　to　come　down　with
me。　　I　believe　that　Dalkeith　pere　is　hanging　round　somewhere；　and
in　view　of　my　headache　perhaps　you　had　better　remain　in　the
background　for　the　moment。　　At　one…thirty；　then！〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled　as　she　passed　out　of　the　room；　and　lit　a　cigarette。

〃I　think；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃that　the　arrival　of　Felix　is
opportune。〃


CHAPTER　VII

They　sat　together　at　a　small　table；　looking　upon　a　scene　which　was
probably　unique　in　the　history　of　the　great　restaurant。　　The　younger
man　was　both　frankly　interested　and　undoubtedly　curious。　　Mr。　Sabin；
though　his　eyes　seemed　everywhere；　retained　to　the　full　extent　that
nonchalance　of　manner　which　all　his　life　he　had　so　assiduously
cultivated。

〃It　is　wonderful；　my　dear　Felix；〃　he　said；　leisurely　drawing　his
cigarette…case　from　his　pocket；　〃wonderful　what　good　fellowship　can
be　evolved　by　a　kindred　interest　in　sport；　and　a　bottle　or　so　of
good　champagne。　　But；　after　all；　this　is　not　to　be　taken　seriously。〃

〃Shamrock　the　fourth！　　Shamrock　the　fourth！〃

A　tall　young　American；　his　thick　head　of　hair；　which　had　once　been
carefully　parted　in　the　middle；　a　little　disheveled；　his　hard；
clean…cut　face　flushed　with　enthusiasm；　had　risen　to　his　feet　and
stood　with　a　brimming　glass　of　champagne　high　over　his　head。　　Almost
every　one　in　the　room　rose　to　their　feet。　　A　college　boy　sprang　upon
a　table　with　extended　arms。　　The　Yale　shout　split　the　room。　　The
very　glasses　on　the　table　rattled。

〃Columbia！　　Columbia！〃

It　was　an　Englishman　now　who　had　leaped　upon　a　vacant　table　with
upraised　glass。　　There　was　an　answering　roar　of　enthusiasm。　　Every
one　drank；　and　every　one　sat　down　again　with　a　pleasant　thrill　of
excitement　at　this　unique　scene。　　Felix　leaned　back　in　his　chair
and　marveled。

〃One　would　have　imagined；〃　he　murmured；　〃that　America　and　England
together　were　at　war　with　the　rest　of　the　world　and　had　won　a　great
victory。　　To　think　that　this　is　all　the　result　of　a　yacht　race。　　It
is　incredible！〃

〃All　your　life；　my　dear　Felix；〃　Mr。　Sabin　remarked；　〃you　have
underrated　the　sporting　instinct。　　It　has　a　great　place　amongst　the
impulses　of　the　world。　　See　how　it　has　brought　these　people
together。〃

〃But　they　are　already　of　the　same　kin；〃　Felix　remarked。　　〃Their
interests　and　aims　are　alike。　　Their　destinies　are　surely　identical。〃

Mr。　Sabin；　who　had　lit　his　cigarette；　watched　the　blue　smoke　curl
upwards；　and　was　thoughtful　for　a　moment。

〃My　dear　Felix！〃　he　said。　　〃You　are　very；　very　young。　　The　interests
of　two　great　nations　such　as　America　and　England　can　never　be　alike。
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