the illustrious prince- 第1部分

The　Illustrious　Prince

by　E。　Phillips　Oppenheim




CONTENTS

　I　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes；　Urgent
　II　The　End　of　the　Journey
　III　An　Incident　and　an　Accident
　IV　Miss　Penelope　Morse
　V　An　Affair　of　State
　VI　Mr。　Coulson　Interviewed
　VII　A　Fatal　Despatch
　VIII　An　Interrupted　Theatre　Party
　IX　Inspector　Jacks　Scores
　X　Mr。　Coulson　Outmatched
　XI　A　Commission
　XII　Penelope　Intervenes
　XIII　East　and　West
　XIV　An　Engagement
　XV　Penelope　Explains
　XVI　Concerning　Prince　Maiyo
　XVII　A　Gay　Night　in　Paris
　XVIII　Mr。　Coulson　is　Indiscreet
　XIX　A　Momentous　Question
　XX　The　Answer
　XXI　A　Clue
　XXII　A　Breath　From　the　East
　XXIII　On　the　Trail
　XXIV　Prince　Maiyo　Bids　High
　XXV　Hobson's　Choice
　XXVI　Some　Farewells
　XXVII　A　Prisoner
　XXVIII　Patriotism
　XXIX　A　Race
　XXX　Inspector　Jacks　Importunate
　XXXI　Good…Bye！
　XXXII　Prince　Maiyo　Speaks
　XXXIII　Unafraid
　XXXIV　Banzai




CHAPTER　I。　MR。　HAMILTON　FYNES；　URGENT

There　was　a　little　murmur　of　regret　amongst　the　five　hundred　and　eighty…seven　saloon　passengers　on　board　the　steamship　Lusitania；　mingled；　perhaps；　with　a　few　expressions　of　a　more　violent　character。　After　several　hours　of　doubt；　the　final　verdict　had　at　last　been　pronounced。　They　had　missed　the　tide；　and　no　attempt　was　to　be　made　to　land　passengers　that　night。　Already　the　engines　had　ceased　to　throb；　the　period　of　unnatural　quietness　had　commenced。　Slowly；　and　without　noticeable　motion；　the　great　liner　swung　round　a　little　in　the　river。

A　small　tug；　which　had　been　hovering　about　for　some　time；　came　screaming　alongside。　There　was　a　hiss　from　its　wave…splashed　deck；　and　a　rocket　with　a　blue　light　flashed　up　into　the　sky。　A　man　who　had　formed　one　of　the　long　line　of　passengers；　leaning　over　the　rail；　watching　the　tug　since　it　had　come　into　sight；　now　turned　away　and　walked　briskly　to　the　steps　leading　to　the　bridge。　As　it　happened；　the　captain　himself　was　in　the　act　of　descending。　The　passenger　accosted　him；　and　held　out　what　seemed　to　be　a　letter。

〃Captain　Goodfellow；〃　he　said；　〃I　should　be　glad　if　you　would　glance　at　the　contents　of　that　note。〃

The　captain；　who　had　just　finished　a　long　discussion　with　the　pilot　and　was　not　in　the　best　of　humor；　looked　a　little　surprised。

〃What；　now？〃　he　asked。

〃If　you　please；〃　was　the　quiet　answer。　〃The　matter　is　urgent。〃

〃Who　are　you？〃　the　captain　asked。

〃My　name　is　Hamilton　Fynes；〃　the　other　answered。　〃I　am　a　saloon　passenger　on　board　your　ship；　although　my　name　does　not　appear　in　the　list。　That　note　has　been　in　my　pocket　since　we　left　New　York；　to　deliver　to　you　in　the　event　of　a　certain　contingency　happening。〃

〃The　contingency　being？〃　the　captain　asked；　tearing　open　the　envelope　and　moving　a　little　nearer　the　electric　light　which　shone　out　from　the　smoking　room。

〃That　the　Lusitania　did　not　land　her　passengers　this　evening。〃

The　captain　read　the　note；　examined　the　signature　carefully；　and　whistled　softly　to　himself。

〃You　know　what　is　inside　this？〃　he　asked；　looking　into　his　companion's　face　with　some　curiosity。

〃Certainly；〃　was　the　brief　reply。

〃Your　name　is　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes；　the　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　mentioned　in　this　letter？〃

〃That　is　so；〃　the　passenger　admitted。

The　captain　nodded。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃you　had　better　get　down　on　the　lower　deck；　port　side。　By　the　bye；　have　you　any　friends　with　you？〃

〃I　am　quite　alone；〃　he　answered。

〃So　much　the　better；〃　the　captain　declared。　〃Don't　tell　any　one　that　you　are　going　ashore　if　you　can　help　it。〃

〃I　certainly　will　not；　sir；〃　the　other　answered。　〃Thank　you　very　much。〃

〃Of　course；　you　know　that　you　can't　take　your　luggage　with　you？〃　the　captain　remarked。

〃That　is　of　no　consequence　at　all；　sir；〃　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　answered。　〃I　will　leave　instructions　for　my　trunk　to　be　sent　on　after　me。　I　have　all　that　I　require；　for　the　moment；　in　this　suitcase。〃

The　captain　blew　his　whistle。　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　made　his　way　quietly　to　the　lower　deck；　which　was　almost　deserted。　In　a　very　few　minutes　he　was　joined　by　half　a　dozen　sailors；　dragging　a　rope　ladder。　The　little　tug　came　screaming　around；　and　before　any　of　the　passengers　on　the　deck　above　had　any　idea　of　what　was　happening；　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　was　on　board　the　Anna　Maria；　and　on　his　way　down　the　river；　seated　in　a　small；　uncomfortable　cabin；　lit　by　a　single　oil　lamp。

No　one　spoke　more　than　a　casual　word　to　him　from　the　moment　he　stepped　to　the　deck　until　the　short　journey　was　at　an　end。　He　was　shown　at　once　into　the　cabin；　the　door　of　which　he　closed　without　a　moment's　delay。　A　very　brief　examination　of　the　interior　convinced　him　that　he　was　indeed　alone。　Thereupon　he　seated　himself　with　his　back　to　the　wall　and　his　face　to　the　door；　and　finding　an　English　newspaper　on　the　table；　read　it　until　they　reached　the　docks。　Arrived　there；　he　exchanged　a　civil　good…night　with　the　captain；　and　handed　a　sovereign　to　the　seaman　who　held　his　bag　while　he　disembarked。

For　several　minutes　after　he　had　stepped　on　to　the　wooden　platform；　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　showed　no　particular　impatience　to　continue　his　journey。　He　stood　in　the　shadow　of　one　of　the　sheds；　looking　about　him　with　quick　furtive　glances；　as　though　anxious　to　assure　himself　that　there　was　no　one　around　who　was　taking　a　noticeable　interest　in　his　movements。　Having　satisfied　himself　at　length　upon　this　point；　he　made　his　way　to　the　London　and　North　Western　Railway　Station；　and　knocked　at　the　door　of　the　station…master's　office。　The　station…master　was　busy；　and　although　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　had　the　appearance　of　a　perfectly　respectable　transatlantic　man　of　business；　there　was　nothing　about　his　personality　remarkably　striking；nothing；　at　any　rate；　to　inspire　an　unusual　amount　of　respect。

〃You　wished　to　see　me；　sir？〃　the　official　asked；　merely　glancing　up　from　the　desk　at　which　he　was　sitting　with　a　pile　of　papers　before　him。

Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　leaned　over　the　wooden　counter　which　separated　him　from　the　interior　of　the　office。　Before　he　spoke；　he　glanced　around　as　though　to　make　sure　that　he　had　not　forgotten　to　close　the　door。

〃I　require　a　special　train　to　London　as　quickly　as　possible；〃　he　announced。　〃I　should　be　glad　if　you　could　let　me　have　one　within　half　an　hour；　at　any　rate。

The　station…master　rose　to　his　feet。

〃Quite　impossible；　sir；〃　he　declared　a　little　brusquely。　〃Absolutely　out　of　the　question！〃

〃May　I　ask　why　it　is　out　of　the　question？〃　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　inquired。

〃In　the　first　place；〃　the　station…master　answered；　〃a　special　train　to　London　would　cost　you　a　hundred　and　eighty　pounds；　and　in　the　second　place；　even　if　you　were　willing　to　pay　that　sum；　it　would　be　at　least　two　hours　before　I　could　start　you　off。　We　could　not　possibly　disorganize　the　whole　of　our　fast　traffic。　The　ordinary　mail　train　leaves　here　at　midnight　with　sleeping…cars。〃

Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　held　out　a　letter　which　he　had　produced　from　his　breast　pocket；　and　which　was；　in　appearance；　very　similar　to　the　one　which　he　had　presented；　a　short　time　ago；　to　the　captain　of　the　Lusitania。

〃Perhaps　you　will　kindly　read　this；〃　he　said。　〃I　am　perfectly　willing　to　pay　the　hundred　and　eighty　pounds。〃

The　station…master　tore　open　the　envelope　and　read　the　few　lines　contained　therein。　His　manner　underwent　at　once　a　complete　change；　very　much　as　the　manner　of　the　captain　of　the　Lusitania　had　done。　He　took　the　letter　over　to　his　green…shaded　writing　lamp；　and　examined　the　signature　carefully。　When　he　returned；　he　looked　at　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　curiously。　There　was；　however；　something　more　than　curiosity　in　his　glance。　There　was　also　respect。

〃I　will　give　this　matter　my　personal　attention　at　once；　Mr。　Fynes；〃　he　said；　lifting　the　flap　of　the　counter　and　coming　out。　〃Do　you　care　to　come　inside　and　wait　in　my　private　office？〃

〃Thank　you；〃　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　answered；　〃I　will　walk　up　and　down　the　platform。〃

〃There　is　a　refreshment　room　just　on　the　left；〃　the　station…master　remarked；　ringing　violently　at　a　telephone。　〃I　dare　say　we　shall　get　you　off　in　less　than　half　an　hour。　We　will　do　our　best；　at　any　rate。　It's　an　awkward　time　just　now　to　command　an　absolutely　clear　line；　but　if　we　can　once　get　you　past　Crewe　you'll　be　all　right。　Shall　we　fetch　you　from　the　refreshment　room　when　we　are　ready？〃

〃If　you　please；〃　the　intending　passenger　answered。

Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　discovered　that　place　of　entertainment　without　difficulty；　ordered　for　himself　a　cup　of　coffee　and　a　sandwich；　and　drew　a　chair　close　up　to　the　small　open　fire；　taking　care；　however；　to　sit　almost　facing　the　only　entrance　to　the　room。　He　laid　his　hat　upon　the　counter；　close　to　which　he　had　taken　up　his　position；　and　smoothed　back　with　his　left　hand　his　somewhat　thick　black　hair。　He　was　a　man；　apparently　of　middle　age；　of　middle　height；　clean…shaven；　with　good　but　undistinguished　features；　dark　eyes；　very　clear　and　very　bright；　which　showed；　indeed；　but　little　need　of　the　pince…nez　which　hung　by　a　thin　black　cord　from　his　neck。　His　hat；　low　in　the　crown　and　of　soft　gray　felt；　would　alone　have　betrayed　his　nationality。　His　clothes；　however；　were　also　American　in　cut。　His　boots　were　narrow　and　of　unmistakable　shape。　He　ate　his　sandwich　with　suspicion；　and　after　his　first　sip　of　coffee　ordered　a　whiskey　and　soda。　Afterwards　he　sat　leaning　back　in　his　chair；　glancing　every　now　and　then　at　the　clock；　but　otherwise　manifesting　no　signs　of　impatience。　In　less　than　half　an　hour　an　inspector；　cap　in　hand；　entered　the　room　and　announced　that　everything　was　ready。　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　put　on　his　hat；　picked　up　his　suitcase；　and　followed　him　on　to　the　platform。　A　long　saloon　carriage；　with　a　guard's　brake　behind　and　an　engine　in　front；　was　waiting　there。

〃We've　done　our　best；　sir；〃　the　station…master　remarked　with　a　note　of　self…congratulation　in　his　tone。　〃It's　exactly　twenty…two　minutes　since　you　came　into　the　office；　and　there　she　is。　Finest　engine　we've　got　on　the　line；　and　the　best　driver。　You've　a　clear　road　ahead　too。　Wish　you　a　pleasant　journey；　sir。〃

〃You　are　very　good；　sir；〃　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　declared。　〃I　am　sure　that　my　friends　on　the　other　side　will　appreciate　your　attention。　By　what　time　do　you　suppose　that　we　shall　reach　London？〃

The　station…master　glanced　at　the　clock。

〃It　is　now　eight　o'clock；　sir；〃　he　a