the illustrious prince- 第2部分

The　station…master　glanced　at　the　clock。

〃It　is　now　eight　o'clock；　sir；〃　he　announced。　〃If　my　orders　down　the　line　are　properly　attended　to；　you　should　be　there　by　twenty　minutes　to　twelve。〃

Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　nodded　gravely　and　took　his　seat　in　the　car。　He　had　previously　walked　its　entire　length　and　back　again。

〃The　train　consists　only　of　this　carriage？〃　he　asked。　〃There　is　no　other　passenger；　for　instance；　travelling　in　the　guard's　brake？〃

〃Certainly　not；　sir；〃　the　station…master　declared。　〃Such　a　thing　would　be　entirely　against　the　regulations。　There　are　five　of　you；　all　told；　on　board；driver；　stoker；　guard；　saloon　attendant；　and　yourself。〃

Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　nodded；　and　appeared　satisfied。

〃No　more　luggage；　sir？　the　guard　asked。

〃I　was　obliged　to　leave　what　I　had；　excepting　this　suitcase；　upon　the　steamer；〃　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　explained。　〃I　could　not　very　well　expect　them　to　get　my　trunk　up　from　the　hold。　It　will　follow　me　to　the　hotel　tomorrow。〃　

〃You　will　find　that　the　attendant　has　light　refreshments　on　board；　sir；　if　you　should　be　wanting　anything；〃　the　station…master　announced。　〃We'll　start　you　off　now；　then。　Good…night；　sir！〃

Mr。　Fynes　nodded　genially。

〃Good…night；　Station…master！〃　he　said。　〃Many　thanks　to　you。〃



CHAPTER　II。　THE　END　OF　THE　JOURNEY

Southward；　with　low　funnel　belching　forth　fire　and　smoke　into　the　blackness　of　the　night；　the　huge　engine；　with　its　solitary　saloon　carriage　and　guard's　brake；　thundered　its　way　through　the　night　towards　the　great　metropolis。　Across　the　desolate　plain；　stripped　bare　of　all　vegetation；　and　made　hideous　forever　by　the　growth　of　a　mighty　industry；　where　the　furnace　fires　reddened　the　sky；　and　only　the　unbroken　line　of　ceaseless　lights　showed　where　town　dwindled　into　village　and　suburbs　led　back　again　into　town。　An　ugly；　thickly　populated　neighborhood；　whose　area　of　twinkling　lights　seemed　to　reach　almost　to　the　murky　skies；　hideous；　indeed　by　day；　not　altogether　devoid　now　of　a　certain　weird　attractiveness　by　reason　of　low…hung　stars。　On；　through　many　tunnels　into　the　black　country　itself；　where　the　furnace　fires　burned　oftener；　but　the　signs　of　habitation　were　fewer。　Down　the　great　iron　way　the　huge　locomotive　rushed　onward；　leaping　and　bounding　across　the　maze　of　metals；　tearing　past　the　dazzling　signal　lights；　through　crowded　stations　where　its　passing　was　like　the　roar　of　some　earth…shaking　monster。　The　station…master　at　Crewe　unhooked　his　telephone　receiver　and　rang　up　Liverpool。

〃What　about　this　special？〃　he　demanded。

〃Passenger　brought　off　from　the　Lusitania　in　a　private　tug。　Orders　are　to　let　her　through　all　the　way　to　London。〃

〃I　know　all　about　that；〃　the　station…master　grumbled。　〃I　have　three　locals　on　my　hands　already；been　held　up　for　half　an　hour。　Old　Glynn；　the　director's；　in　one　of　them　too。　Might　be　General　Manager　to　hear　him　swear。〃

〃Is　she　signalled　yet？〃　Liverpool　asked。

〃Just　gone　through　at　sixty　miles　an　hour；〃　was　the　reply。　〃She　made　our　old　wooden　sheds　shake；　I　can　tell　you。　Who's　driving　her？〃

〃Jim　Poynton；〃　Liverpool　answered。　〃The　guvnor　took　him　off　the　mail　specially。〃

〃What's　the　fellow's　name　on　board；　anyhow？〃　Crewe　asked。　〃Is　it　a　millionaire　from　the　other　side；　trying　to　make　records；　or　a　member　of　our　bloated　aristocracy？〃

〃The　name's　Fynes；　or　something　like　it；〃　was　the　reply。　〃He　didn't　look　much　like　a　millionaire。　Came　into　the　office　carrying　a　small　handbag　and　asked　for　a　special　to　London。　Guvnor　told　him　it　would　take　two　hours　and　cost　a　hundred　and　eighty　pounds。　Told　him　he'd　better　wait　for　the　mail。　He　produced　a　note　from　some　one　or　other；　and　you　should　have　seen　the　old　man　bustle　round。　We　started　him　off　in　twenty　minutes。〃

The　station…master　at　Crewe　was　interested。　He　knew　very　well　that　it　is　not　the　easiest　thing　in　the　world　to　bring　influence　to　bear　upon　a　great　railway　company。

〃Seems　as　though　he　was　some　one　out　of　the　common；　anyway；〃　he　remarked。　〃The　guvnor　didn't　let　on　who　the　note　was　from；　I　suppose？〃

〃Not　he；〃　Liverpool　answered。　〃The　first　thing　he　did　when　he　came　back　into　the　office　was　to　tear　it　into　small　pieces　and　throw　them　on　the　fire。　Young　Jenkins　did　ask　him　a　question；　and　he　shut　him　up　pretty　quick。〃

〃Well；　I　suppose　we　shall　read　all　about　it　in　the　papers　tomorrow；〃　Crewe　remarked。　〃There　isn't　much　that　these　reporters　don't　get　hold　of。　He　must　be　some　one　out　of　the　commonsome　one　with　a　pull；　I　mean；or　the　captain　of　the　Lusitania　would　never　have　let　him　off　before　the　other　passengers。　When　are　the　rest　of　them　coming　through？〃

〃Three　specials　leave　here　at　nine　o'clock　tomorrow　morning；〃　was　the　reply。　〃Good　night。〃

The　station…master　at　Crewe　hung　up　his　receiver　and　went　about　his　duties。　Twenty　miles　southward　by　now；　the　special　was　still　tearing　its　way　into　the　darkness。　Its　solitary　passenger　had　suddenly　developed　a　fit　of　restlessness。　He　left　his　seat　and　walked　once　or　twice　up　and　down　the　saloon。　Then　he　opened　the　rear　door；　crossed　the　little　open　space　between；　and　looked　into　the　guard's　brake。　The　guard　was　sitting　upon　a　stool；　reading　a　newspaper。　He　was　quite　alone；　and　so　absorbed　that　he　did　not　notice　the　intruder。　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　quietly　retreated；　closing　the　door　behind　him。　He　made　his　way　once　more　through　the　saloon；　passed　the　attendant；　who　was　fast　asleep　in　his　pantry；　and　was　met　by　a　locked　door。　He　let　down　the　window　and　looked　out。　He　was　within　a　few　feet　of　the　engine；　which　was　obviously　attached　direct　to　the　saloon。　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　resumed　his　seat；　having　disturbed　nobody。　He　produced　some　papers　from　his　breast　pocket；　and　spread　them　out　on　the　table　before　him。　One；　a　sealed　envelope；　he　immediately　returned；　slipping　it　down　into　a　carefully　prepared　place　between　the　lining　and　the　material　of　his　coat。　Of　the　others　he　commenced　to　make　a　close　and　minute　investigation。　It　was　a　curious　fact；　however；　that　notwithstanding　his　recent　searching　examination；　he　looked　once　more　nervously　around　the　saloon　before　he　settled　down　to　his　task。　For　some　reason　or　other；　there　was　not　the　slightest　doubt　that　for　the　present；　at　any　rate；　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　was　exceedingly　anxious　to　keep　his　own　company。　As　he　drew　nearer　to　his　journey's　end；　indeed；　his　manner　seemed　to　lose　something　of　that　composure　of　which；　during　the　earlier　part　of　the　evening；　he　had　certainly　been　possessed。　Scarcely　a　minute　passed　that　he　did　not　lean　sideways　from　his　seat　and　look　up　and　down　the　saloon。　He　sat　like　a　man　who　is　perpetually　on　the　qui　vive。　A　furtive　light　shone　in　his　eyes；　he　was　manifestly　uncomfortable。　Yet　how　could　a　man　be　safer　from　espionage　than　he！

Rugby　telephoned　to　Liverpool；　and　received　very　much　the　same　answer　as　Crewe。　Euston　followed　suit。

〃Who's　this　you're　sending　up　tonight？〃　the　station…master　asked。　〃Special's　at　Willington　now；　come　through　without　a　stop。　Is　some　one　trying　to　make　a　record　round　the　world？〃

Liverpool　was　a　little　tired　of　answering　questions；　and　more　than　a　little　tired　of　this　mysterious　client。　The　station…master　at　Euston；　however；　was　a　person　to　be　treated　with　respect。

〃His　name　is　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes；　sir；〃　was　the　reply。　〃That　is　all　we　know　about　him。　They　have　been　ringing　us　up　all　down　the　line；　ever　since　the　special　left。〃

〃Hamilton　Fynes；〃　Euston　repeated。　〃Don't　know　the　name。　Where　did　he　come　from？〃

〃Off　the　Lusitania；　sir。〃

〃But　we　had　a　message　three　hours　ago　that　the　Lusitania　was　not　landing　her　passengers　until　tomorrow　morning；〃　Euston　protested。

〃They　let　our　man　off　in　a　tug；　sir；〃　was　the　reply。

〃It　went　down　the　river　to　fetch　him。　The　guvnor　didn't　want　to　give　him　a　special　at　this　time　of　night；　but　he　just　handed　him　a　note；　and　we　made　things　hum　up　here。　He　was　on　his　way　in　half　an　hour。　We　have　had　to　upset　the　whole　of　the　night　traffic　to　let　him　through　without　a　stop。〃

Such　a　client　was；　at　any　rate；　worth　meeting。　The　station…master　brushed　his　coat；　put　on　his　silk　hat；　and　stepped　out　on　to　the　platform。



CHAPTER　III。　AN　INCIDENT　AND　AN　ACCIDENT

Smoothly　the　huge　engine　came　gliding　into　the　stationa　dumb；　silent　creature　now；　drawing　slowly　to　a　standstill　as　though　exhausted　after　its　great　effort。　Through　the　windows　of　the　saloon　the　station…master　could　see　the　train　attendant　bending　over　this　mysterious　passenger；　who　did　not　seem；　as　yet；　to　have　made　any　preparations　for　leaving　his　place。　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　was　seated　at　a　table　covered　with　papers；　but　he　was　leaning　back　as　though　he　had　been　or　was　still　asleep。　The　station…master　stepped　forward；　and　as　he　did　so　the　attendant　came　hurrying　out　to　the　platform；　and；　pushing　back　the　porters；　called　to　him　by　name。

〃Mr。　Rice；〃　he　said；　〃If　you　please；　sir；　will　you　come　this　way？〃

The　station…master　acceded　at　once　to　the　man's　request　and　entered　the　saloon。　The　attendant　clutched　at　his　arm　nervously。　He　was　a　pale；　anaemic…looking　little　person　at　any　time；　but　his　face　just　now　was　positively　ghastly。

〃What　on　earth　is　the　matter　with　you？〃　the　station…master　asked　brusquely。

〃There's　something　wrong　with　my　passenger；　sir；〃　the　man　declared　in　a　shaking　voice。　〃I　can't　make　him　answer　me。　He　won't　look　up；　and　I　don'tI　don't　think　he's　asleep。　An　hour　ago　I　took　him　some　whiskey。　He　told　me　not　to　disturb　him　againhe　had　some　papers　to　go　through。〃

The　station…master　leaned　over　the　table。　The　eyes　of　the　man　who　sat　there　were　perfectly　wide…open；　but　there　was　something　unnatural　in　their　fixed　stare；something　unnatural；　too；　in　the　drawn　grayness　of　his　face。

〃This　is　Euston；　sir；〃　the　station…master　began；〃the　terminus〃

Then　he　broke　off　in　the　middle　of　his　sentence。　A　cold　shiver　was　creeping　through　his　veins。　He；　too；　began　to　stare；　he　felt　the　color　leaving　his　own　cheeks。　With　an　effort　he　turned　to　the　attendant。

〃Pull　down　the　blinds；〃　he　ordered；　in　a　voice　which　he　should　never　have　recognized　as　his　own。　〃Quick！　Now　turn　out　those　porters；　and　tell　the　inspector　to　stop　anyone　from　coming　into　the　car。〃

The　attendant；　who　was　shaking　like　a　leaf；　obeyed。　The　station…master　turned　away　and　drew　a　long　breath。　He　himself　was　cons