the illustrious prince- 第17部分

〃You　have　no　proof？〃　she　asked　breathlessly。

〃No　proof　at　all；〃　the　Ambassador　admitted。　〃I　am　scarcely　in　a　position　to　search　for　any。　The　conclusion　I　have　come　to　has　been　simply　arrived　at　through　putting　a　few　facts　together　and　considering　them　in　the　light　of　certain　events。　In　the　first　place；　we　cannot　doubt　that　the　secret　of　those　despatches　reached　at　once　the　very　people　whom　we　should　have　preferred　to　remain　in　ignorance　of　them。　Haven't　I　told　you　of　the　sudden　cessation　of　the　war　alarm　in　Japan；　when　once　she　was　assured；　by　means　which　she　could　not　mistrust；　that　it　was　not　the　intention　of　the　American　nation　to　make　war　upon　her？　The　subtlety　of　those　murders；　and　the　knowledge　by　which　they　were　inspired；　must　have　come　from　some　one　in　an　altogether　unique　position。　You　may　be　sure　that　no　one　connected　with　the　Japanese　Embassy　here　would　be　permitted　for　one　single　second　to　take　part　in　any　such　illegal　act。　They　know　better　than　that；　these　wily　Orientals。　They　will　play　the　game　from　Grosvenor　Place　right　enough。　But　Prince　Maiyo　is　here；　and　stands　apart　from　any　accredited　institution；　although　he　has　the　confidence　of　his　Ambassador　and　can　command　the　entire　devotion　of　his　own　secret　service。　I　have　not　come　to　this　conclusion　hastily。　I　have　thought　it　out；　step　by　step；　and　in　my　own　mind　I　am　now　absolutely　convinced　that　both　these　murders　were　inspired　by　Prince　Maiyo。〃

〃Even　if　this　were　so；〃　Penelope　said；　〃what　can　I　do？　Why　have　you　sent　for　me？　The　Prince　and　I　are　not　on　especially　friendly　terms。　It　is　only　just　lately　that　we　have　been　decently　civil　to　one　another。〃

The　Ambassador　looked　at　her　with　some　surprise。

〃My　dear　Penelope；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　seen　you　together　the　last　three　or　four　evenings。　The　Prince　looks　at　no　one　else　while　you　are　there。　He　talks　to　you；　I　know；　more　freely　than　to　any　other　woman。〃

〃It　is　by　chance；〃　Penelope　protested。　〃I　have　tried　to　avoid　him。〃

〃Then　I　cannot　congratulate　you　upon　your　success；〃　Mr。　Harvey　said　grimly。

〃Things　have　changed　a　little　between　us；　perhaps；〃　Penelope　said。　〃What　is　it　that　you　really　want？〃

〃I　want　to　know　this；〃　the　Ambassador　said　slowly。　〃I　want　to　know　how　Japan　became　assured　that　America　had　no　intention　of　going　to　war　with　her。　In　other　words；　I　want　to　know　whether　those　papers　which　were　stolen　from　Fynes　and　poor　Dicky　found　their　way　to　the　Japanese　Embassy　or　into　the　hands　of　Prince　Maiyo　himself。〃

〃Anything　else？〃　she　asked　with　a　faint　note　of　sarcasm　in　her　tone。

〃Yes；〃　Mr。　Harvey　replied；　〃there　is　something　else。　I　should　like　to　know　what　attitude　Prince　Maiyo　takes　towards　the　proposed　renewal　of　the　treaty　between　his　country　and　Great　Britain。〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃Even　if　we　were　friends；〃　she　said；　〃the　very　closest　of　friends；　he　would　never　tell　me。　He　is　far　too　clever。〃

〃Do　not　be　too　sure；〃　Mr。　Harvey　said。　〃Sometimes　a　man；　especially　an　Oriental；　who　does　not　understand　the　significance　of　your　sex　in　these　matters；　can　be　drawn　on　to　speak　more　freely　to　a　woman　than　he　would　ever　dream　of　doing　to　his　best　friend。　He　would　not　tell　you　in　as　many　words；　of　course。　On　the　other　hand；　he　might　show　you　what　was　in　his　mind。〃

〃He　is　going　back　very　shortly；〃　Penelope　remarked。

Mr。　Harvey　nodded。

〃That　is　why　I　sent　for　you　to　come　immediately。　You　will　see　him　tonight　at　Devenham　House。〃

〃With　all　the　rest　of　the　world；〃　she　answered；　〃but　a　man　is　not　likely　to　talk　confidentially　under　such　conditions。〃

Mr。　Harvey　rose　to　his　feet。

〃It　is　only　a　chance；　of　course；〃　he　admitted；　〃but　remember　that　you　know　more　than　any　other　person　in　this　country　except　myself。　It　would　be　impossible　for　the　Prince　to　give　you　credit　for　such　knowledge。　A　casual　remark；　a　word；　perhaps；　may　be　sufficient。〃

Penelope　held　out　her　hand。　The　servant　for　whom　the　Ambassador　had　rung　was　already　in　the　room。

〃I　will　try；〃　she　promised。　〃Ask　Mrs。　Harvey　to　excuse　my　going　up　to　see　her　this　afternoon。　I　have　another　call　to　make；　and　I　want　to　rest　before　the　function　tonight。〃

The　Ambassador　bowed；　and　escorted　her　to　the　door。

〃I　have　confidence　in　you；　Penelope；〃　he　said。　〃You　will　try　your　best？〃

〃Oh；　yes！〃she　answered　with　a　queer　little　laugh；　〃I　shall　do　that。　But　I　don't　think　that　even　you　quite　understand　Prince　Maiyo！〃



CHAPTER　XII。　PENELOPE　INTERVENES

The　perfume　of　countless　roses；　the　music　of　the　finest　band　in　Europe；　floated　through　the　famous　white　ballroom　of　Devenham　House。　Electric　lights　sparkled　from　the　ceiling；　through　the　pillared　way　the　ceaseless　splashing　of　water　from　the　fountains　in　the　winter　garden　seemed　like　a　soft　undernote　to　the　murmur　of　voices；　the　musical　peals　of　laughter；　the　swirl　of　skirts；　and　the　rhythm　of　flying　feet。

Penelope　stood　upon　the　edge　of　the　ballroom；　her　hand　resting　still　upon　her　partner's　arm。　She　wore　a　dress　of　dull　rose…color；　a　soft；　clinging　silk；　which　floated　about　her　as　she　danced；　a　creation　of　Paquin's；　daring　but　delightful。　Her　eyes　were　very　full　and　soft。　She　was　looking　her　best；　and　knew　it。　Nevertheless；　she　was　just　at　the　moment；　a　little　DISTRAIT。　She　was　watching　the　brilliant　scene　with　a　certain　air　of　abstraction；　as　though　her　interest　in　it　was；　after　all；　an　impersonal　thing。

〃Jolly　well　every　one　looks　tonight；〃　her　partner；　who　was　Sir　Charles；　remarked。　〃All　the　women　seem　to　be　wearing　smart　frocks；　and　some　of　those　foreign　uniforms　are　gorgeous。〃

〃Even　the　Prince；〃　Penelope　said　thoughtfully；　〃must　find　some　reflection　of　the　philosophy　of　his　own　country　in　such　a　scene　as　this。　For　the　last　fortnight　we　have　been　surfeited　with　horrors。　We　have　had　to　go　through　all　sorts　of　nameless　things；〃　she　added；　shivering　slightly；　〃and　tonight　we　dance　at　Devenham　House。　We　dance；　and　drink　champagne；　and　marvel　at　the　flowers；　as　though　we　had　not　a　care　in　the　world；　as　though　life　moved　always　to　music。〃

Sir　Charles　frowned　a　little。

〃The　Prince　again！〃　he　said；　half　protesting。　〃He　seems　to　be　a　great　deal　in　your　thoughts　lately；　Penelope。〃

〃Why　not？〃　she　answered。　〃It　is　something　to　meet　a　person　whom　one　is　able　to　dislike。　Nowadays　the　whole　world　is　so　amiable。〃

〃I　wonder　how　much　you　really　do　dislike　him；〃　he　said。

She　looked　at　him　with　a　mysterious　smile。

〃Sometimes；〃　she　murmured　softly；　〃I　wonder　that　myself。〃

〃Leaving　the　Prince　out　of　the　question；〃　he　continued；　〃what　you　say　is　true　enough。　Only　a　few　days　ago；　you　had　to　attend　that　awful　inquest；　and　the　last　time　I　saw　dear　old　Dicky　Vanderpole；　he　was　looking　forward　to　this　very　dance。〃

〃It　seems　callous　of　us　to　have　come；〃　Penelope　declared。　〃And　yet；　if　we　hadn't；　what　difference　would　it　have　made？　Every　one　else　would　have　been　here。　Our　absence　would　never　have　been　noticed；　and　we　should　have　sat　at　home　and　had　the　blues。　But　all　the　same；　life　is　cruel。〃

〃Can't　say　I　find　much　to　grumble　at　myself；〃　Sir　Charles　said　cheerfully。　〃I'm　frightfully　sorry　about　poor　old　Dicky；　of　course；　and　every　other　decent　fellow　who　doesn't　get　his　show。　But；　after　all；　it's　no　good　being　morbid。　Sackcloth　and　ashes　benefit　no　one。　Shall　we　have　another　turn？〃

〃Not　yet；〃　Penelope　replied。　〃Wait　till　the　crowd　thins　a　little。　Tell　me　what　you　have　been　doing　today？〃

〃Pretty　strenuous　time；〃　Sir　Charles　remarked。　〃Up　at　nine；　played　golf　at　Ranelagh　all　morning；　lunched　down　there；　back　to　my　rooms　and　changed；　called　on　my　tailor；　went　round　to　the　club；　had　one　game　of　billiards　and　four　rubbers　of　bridge。〃

〃Is　that　all？〃　Penelope　asked。

The　faint　sarcasm　which　lurked　beneath　her　question　passed　unnoticed。　Sir　Charles　smiled　good…humoredly。

〃Not　quite；〃　he　answered。　〃I　dined　at　the　Carlton　with　Bellairs　and　some　men　from　Woolwich　and　we　had　a　box　at　the　Empire　to　see　the　new　ballet。　Jolly　good　it　was；　too。　Will　you　come　one　night；　if　I　get　up　a　party？〃

〃Oh；　perhaps！〃　she　answered。　〃Come　and　dance。〃

They　passed　into　the　great　ballroom；　the　finest　in　London；　brilliant　with　its　magnificent　decorations　of　real　flowers；　its　crowd　of　uniformed　men　and　beautiful　women；　its　soft　yet　ever…present　throbbing　of　wonderful　music。　At　the　further　end　of　the　room；　on　a　slightly　raised　dais；　still　receiving　her　guests；　stood　the　Duchess　of　Devenham。　Penelope　gave　a　little　start　as　they　saw　who　was　bowing　over　her　hand。

〃The　Prince！〃　she　exclaimed。

Sir　Charles　whispered　something　a　little　under　his　breath。

〃I　wonder；〃　she　remarked　with　apparent　irrelevance；　〃whether　he　dances。〃

〃Shall　I　go　and　find　out　for　you？〃　Sir　Charles　asked。

She　had　suddenly　grown　absent。　She　had　the　air　of　scarcely　hearing　what　he　said。

〃Let　us　stop；〃　she　said。　〃I　am　out　of　breath。〃

He　led　her　toward　the　winter　garden。　They　sat　by　a　fountain；　listening　to　the　cool　play　of　the　water。

〃Penelope；〃　Somerfield　said　a　little　awkwardly；　〃I　don't　want　to　presume；　you　know；　nor　to　have　you　think　that　I　am　foolishly　jealous；　but　you　have　changed　towards　me　the　last　few　weeks；　haven't　you？〃

〃The　last　few　weeks；〃　she　answered；　〃have　been　enough　to　change　me　toward　any　one。　All　the　same；　I　wasn't　conscious　of　anything　particular　so　far　as　you　are　concerned。〃

〃I　always　thought；〃　he　continued　after　a　moment's　hesitation；　〃that　there　was　so　much　prejudice　in　your　country　againstagainst　all　Asiatic　races。〃

She　looked　at　him　steadfastly　for　a　minute。

〃So　there　is；〃　she　answered。　〃What　of　it？〃

〃Nothing；　except　that　it　is　a　prejudice　which　you　do　not　seem　to　share；〃　he　remarked。

〃In　a　way　I　do　share　it；〃　she　declared；　〃but　there　are　exceptions；　sometimes　very　wonderful　exceptions。〃

〃Prince　Maiyo；　for　instance；〃　he　said　bitterly。　〃Yet　a　fortnight　ago　I　could　have　sworn　that　you　hated　him。〃

〃I　think　that　I　do　hate　him；〃　Penelope　affirmed。　〃I　try　to。　I　want　to。　I　honestly　believe　that　he　deserves　my　hatred。　I　have　more　reason　for　feeling　this　way　than　you　know　of；　Sir　Charles。〃

〃If　he　has　dared〃　Somerfield　began。

〃He　has　dared　nothing　that　he　ought　not　to；〃　Penelope　interrupted。　〃His　manners　are　altogether　too　perfect。　It　is　the　chill　faultlessness　of　the　man　which　is　so　depressing。　Can't　you　understand；〃　she　added；　speaking　in　a　tone　of