第 31 节
作者:片片      更新:2024-11-30 11:16      字数:9322
  broke the seal and read:
  〃Monsieur; … I kill myself because it is easiest and best。  The
  poison was given me for you; but I have not the courage to become
  a murderer; or afterwards to conceal my guilt。  Monsieur has been
  a good master to me; and also Madame la Comtesse was always
  indulgent and kind。  The mistake of my life has been the joining
  the lower order of the Society。  The money which I have received
  has been but a poor return for the anxiety and trouble which have
  come upon me since Madame la Comtesse left America。  Now that I
  seek shelter in the grave I am free to warn Monsieur that the
  Prince of S。 L。 is his determined and merciless enemy; and that
  he has already made an unlawful use of his position in the Society
  for the sake of private vengeance。  If monsieur would make a
  powerful friend he should seek the Lady Muriel Carey。
  〃Monsieur will be so good as to destroy this when read。  My will
  is in my trunk。
  〃Your Grace's faithful servant;
  〃Jules Duson。〃
  Mr。 Sabin read this letter carefully through to the end。  Then he
  put it into his pocket…book and quickly rang the bell。
  〃You had better send for a doctor at once;〃 he said to the waiter
  who appeared。  〃My servant appears to have suffered from some sudden
  illness。  I am afraid that he is quite dead。〃
  CHAPTER XXIX
  You spoke; my dear Lucille;〃 the  Duchess of Dorset said; 〃of your
  departure。  Is not that a little premature?〃
  Lucille shrugged her beautiful shoulders; and leaned back in her
  corner of the couch with half…closed eyes。  The Duchess; who was
  very Anglo…Saxon; was an easy person to read; and Lucille was
  anxious to know her fate。
  〃Why premature?〃 she asked。  〃I was sent for to use my influence
  with Reginald Brott。  Well; I did my best; and I believe that for
  days it was just a chance whether I did not succeed。  However; as
  it happened; I failed。  One of his friends came and pulled him away
  just as he was wavering。  He has declared himself now once and for
  all。  After his speech at Glasgow he cannot draw back。  I was brought
  all the way from America; and I want to go back to my husband。〃
  The Duchess pursed her lips。
  〃When one has the honour; my dear;〃 she said; 〃of belonging to so
  wonderful an organisation as this we must not consider too closely
  the selfish claims of family。  I am sure that years ago I should
  have laughed at any one who had told me that I; Georgina Croxton;
  should ever belong to such a thing as a secret society; even though
  it had some connection with so harmless and excellent an
  organisation as the Primrose League。〃
  〃It does seem remarkable;〃 Lucille murmured。
  〃But look what terrible times have come upon us;〃 the Duchess
  continued; without heeding the interruption。  〃When I was a girl a
  Radical was a person absolutely without consideration。  Now all our
  great cities are hot…beds of Socialism and … and anarchism。  The
  whole country seems banded together against the aristocracy and the
  landowners。  Combination amongst us became absolutely necessary in
  some shape or form。  When the Prince came and began to drop hints
  about the way the spread of Socialism had been checked in Hungary
  and Austria; and even Germany; I was interested from the first。
  And when he went further; and spoke of the Society; it was I who
  persuaded Dorset to join。  Dear man; he is very earnest; but very
  slow; and very averse to anything at all secretive。  I am sure the
  reflection that he is a member of a secret society; even although
  it is simply a linking together of the aristocracy of Europe in
  their own defence; has kept him awake for many a night。〃
  Lucille was a little bored。
  〃The Society;〃 she said; 〃is an admirable one enough; but just now
  I am beginning to feel it a little exacting。  I think that the
  Prince expects a good deal of one。  I shall certainly ask for my
  release to…night。〃
  The Duchess looked doubtful。
  〃Release!〃 she repeated。  〃Come; is that not rather an exaggerated
  expression?  I trust that your stay at Dorset House has not in any
  way suggested an imprisonment。〃
  〃On the contrary;〃 Lucille answered; 〃you and the Duke have been
  most kind。  But you must remember that I have home of my own … and
  a husband of my own。〃
  〃I have no doubt;〃 the Duchess said; 〃that you will be able to
  return to them some day。  But you must not be impatient。  I do not
  think that the Prince has given up all hopes of Reginald Brott yet。〃
  Lucille was silent。  So her emancipation was to be postponed。  After
  all; it was what she had feared。  She sat watching idly the Duchess's
  knitting needles。  Lady Carey came sweeping in; wonderful in a black
  velvet gown and a display of jewels almost barbaric。
  〃On my way to the opera;〃 she announced。  〃The Maddersons sent me
  their box。  Will any of you good people come?  What do you say;
  Lucille?〃
  Lucille shook her head。
  〃My toilette is deficient;〃 she said;; 〃and besides; I am staying
  at home to see the Prince。  We expect him this evening。〃
  〃You'll probably be disappointed then;〃 Lady Carey remarked; 〃for
  he's going to join us at the opera。  Run and change your gown。
  I'll wait。〃
  〃Are you sure that the Prince will be there?〃 Lucille asked。
  〃Certain。〃
  〃Then I will come;〃 she said; 〃if the Duchess will excuse me。〃
  The Duchess and Lady Carey were left alone for a few minutes。  The
  former put down her knitting。
  〃Why do we keep that woman here;〃 she asked; 〃now that Brott has
  broken away from her altogether?〃
  Lady Carey laughed meaningly。
  〃Better ask the Prince;〃 she remarked。
  The Duchess frowned。
  〃My dear Muriel;〃 she said; 〃I think that you are wrong to make such insinuations。  I am sure that
  the Prince is too much devoted to our
  cause to allow any personal considerations to intervene。〃
  Lady Carey yawned。
  〃Rats!〃 she exclaimed。
  The Duchess took up her knitting; and went on with it without remark。
  Lady Carey burst out laughing。
  〃Don't look so shocked;〃 she exclaimed。  〃It's funny。  I can't help
  being a bit slangy。  You do take everything so seriously。  Of course
  you can see that the Prince is waiting to make a fool of himself
  over Lucille。  He has been trying more or less all his life。〃
  〃He may admire her;〃 the Duchess said。  〃I am sure that he would
  not allow that to influence him in his present position。  By the
  bye; she is anxious to leave us now that the Brott affair is over。
  Do you think that the Prince will agree?〃
  Lady Carey's face hardened。
  〃I am sure that he will not;〃 she said coolly。  〃There are reasons
  why she may not at present be allowed to rejoin her husband。〃
  The Duchess used her needles briskly。
  〃For my part;〃 she said; 〃I can see no object in keeping her here
  any longer。  Mr。 Brott has shown himself quite capable of keeping
  her at arm's length。  I cannot see what further use she is。〃
  Lady Carey heard the flutter of skirts outside and rose。
  〃There are wheels within wheels;〃 she remarked。  〃My dear Lucille;
  what a charming toilette。  We shall have the lady journalists
  besieging us in our box。  Paquin; of course。  Good…night; Duchess。
  Glad to see you're getting on with the socks; or stockings; do you
  call them?〃
  Insolent aristocratic; now and then attractive in some strange
  suggestive way; Lady Carey sat in front of the box and exchanged
  greetings with her friends。  Presently the Prince came in and took
  the chair between the two women。  Lady Carey greeted him with a nod。
  〃Here's Lucille dying to return to her lawful husband;〃 she remarked。
  〃Odd thing; isn't it?  Most of the married women I ever knew are
  dying to get away from theirs。  You can make her happy or miserable
  in a few moments。〃
  The Prince leaned over between them; but he looked only at Lucille。
  〃I wish that I could;〃 he murmured。  〃I wish that that were within
  my power。〃
  〃It is;〃 she answered coolly。  〃Muriel is quite right。  I am most
  anxious to return to my husband。〃
  The Prince said nothing。  Lady Carey; glancing towards him at that
  moment; was surprised at certain signs of disquietude in his face
  which startled her。
  〃What is the matter with you?〃 she asked almost roughly。
  〃Matter with me?  Nothing;〃 he answered。  〃Why this unaccustomed
  solicitude?〃
  Lady Carey looked into his face fiercely。  He was pale; and there
  was a strained look about his eyes。  He seemed; too; to be listening。
  》From outside in the street came faintly to their ears the cry of a
  newsboy。
  〃Get me an evening paper;〃 she whispered in his ear。
  He got up and left the box。  Lucille was watching the people below
  and had not appreciated the significance of what had been passing
  between the two。  Lady Carey leaned back in the box with half…closed
  eyes。  Her fingers were clenched nervously together; her bosom was
  rising and falling quickly。  If he had dared to defy her!  What was
  it the newsboys were calling?  What a jargon!  Why did not Saxe
  Leinitzer return?  Perhaps…he was afraid!  Her heart stood still
  for a moment; and a little half…stifled cry broke from her lips。
  Lucille looked around quickly。
  〃What is the matter; Muriel?〃 she asked。  〃Are you faint?〃
  〃F