the illustrious prince- 第21部分

〃My　dear　Prince；〃　the　Duchess　declared；　〃it　has　been　most　interesting。　Really；　I　found　it　hard　to　believe；　in　that　charming　room　of　yours；　that　we　had　not　actually　been　transported　to　your　wonderful　country。〃

〃You　are　very　gracious；〃　the　Prince　answered；　bowing　low。

Penelope's　hands　were　within　her　muff。　She　was　talking　some　nonsenseshe　scarcely　knew　what；　but　her　eyes　rested　everywhere　save　on　the　face　of　her　host。　Somehow　or　other　she　reached　the　door；　ran　down　the　steps　and　threw　herself　into　a　corner　of　the　brougham。　Then；　for　the　first　time；　she　allowed　herself　to　look　behind。　The　door　was　already　closed；　but　between　the　curtains　which　his　hands　had　drawn　apart；　Prince　Maiyo　was　standing　in　the　room　which　they　had　just　quitted；　and　there　was　something　in　the　calm　impassivity　of　his　white；　stern　face　which　seemed　to　madden　her。　She　clenched　her　hands　and　looked　away。

〃Really；　I　was　not　so　much　bored　as　I　had　feared；〃　the　Duchess　remarked　composedly。　〃That　Stretton…Wynne　woman　generally　gets　on　my　nerves；　but　her　nephew　seemed　to　have　a　restraining　effect　upon　her。　She　didn't　tell　me　more　than　once　about　her　husband's　bad　luck　in　not　getting　Canada；　and　she　never　even　mentioned　her　girls。　But　I　do　think；　Penelope；〃　she　continued；　〃that　I　shall　have　to　talk　to　you　a　little　seriously。　There's　the　best…looking　and　richest　young　bachelor　in　London　dying　to　marry　you；　and　you　won't　have　a　word　to　say　to　him。　On　the　other　hand；　after　starting　by　disliking　him　heartily；　you　are　making　yourself　almost　conspicuous　with　this　fascinating　young　Oriental。　I　admit　that　he　is　delightful；　my　dear　Penelope；　but　I　think　you　should　ask　yourself　whether　it　is　quite　worth　while。　Prince　Maiyo　may　take　home　with　him　many　Western　treasures；　but　I　do　not　think　that　he　will　take　home　a　wife。〃

〃If　you　say　another　word　to　me；　aunt；〃　Penelope　exclaimed；　〃I　shall　shriek！〃

The　Duchess；　being　a　woman　of　tact；　laughed　the　subject　away　and　pretended　not　to　notice　Penelope's　real　distress。　But　when　they　had　reached　Devenham　House；　she　went　to　the　telephone　and　called　up　Somerfield。

〃Charlie；〃　she　said；

〃Right　o'！〃　he　interrupted。　〃Who　is　it？〃

〃Be　careful　what　you　are　saying；〃　she　continued；　〃because　it　isn't　any　one　who　wants　you　to　take　them　out　to　supper。〃

〃I　only　wish　you　did；〃　he　answered。　〃It's　the　Duchess；　isn't　it？〃

〃The　worst　of　having　a　distinctive　voice；〃　she　sighed。　〃Listen。　I　want　to　speak　to　you。〃

〃I　am　listening　hard；〃　Somerfield　answered。　〃Hold　the　instrument　a　little　further　away　from　you；that's　better。〃


〃We　have　been　to　the　Prince's　for　tea　this　afternoonPenelope　and　I；〃　she　said。

〃I　know；〃　he　assented。　〃I　was　asked；　but　I　didn't　see　the　fun　of　it。　It　puts　my　back　up　to　see　Penelope　monopolized　by　that　fellow；〃　he　added　gloomily。

〃Well；　listen　to　what　I　have　to　say；〃　the　Duchess　went　on。　〃Something　happened　thereI　don't　know　whatto　upset　Penelope　very　much。　She　never　spoke　a　word　coming　home；　and　she　has　gone　straight　up　to　her　room　and　locked　herself　in。　Somehow　or　other　the　Prince　managed　to　offend　her。　I　am　sure　of　that；　Charlie！〃

〃I'm　beastly　sorry；〃　Somerfield　answered。　〃I　meant　to　say　that　I　was　jolly　glad　to　hear　it。〃

The　Duchess　coughed。

〃I　didn't　quite　hear　what　you　said　before；〃　she　said　severely。　〃Perhaps　it　is　just　as　well。　I　rang　up　to　say　that　you　had　better　come　round　and　dine　with　us　tonight。　You　will　probably　find　Penelope　in　a　more　reasonable　frame　of　mind。〃

〃Awfully　good　of　you；〃　Somerfield　declared　heartily。　〃I'll　come　with　pleasure。〃

Dinner　at　Devenham　House　that　evening　was　certainly　a　domestic　meal。　Even　the　Duke　was　away；　attending　a　political　gathering。　Penelope　was　pale；　but　otherwise　entirely　her　accustomed　self。　She　talked　even　more　than　usual；　and　though　she　spoke　of　a　headache；　she　declined　all　remedies。　To　Somerfield's　surprise；　she　made　not　the　slightest　objection　when　he　followed　her　into　the　library　after　dinner。

〃Penelope；〃　he　said；　〃something　has　gone　wrong。　Won't　you　tell　me　what　it　is？　You　look　worried。〃

She　returned　his　anxious　gaze；　dry…eyed　but　speechless。

〃Has　that　fellow；　Prince　Maiyo；　done　or　said　anything〃

She　interrupted　him。

〃No！〃　she　cried。　〃No！〃　don't　mention　his　name；　please！　I　don't　want　to　hear　his　name　again　just　now。〃

〃For　my　part；〃　Somerfield　said　bitterly；　〃I　never　want　to　hear　it　again　as　long　as　I　live！〃

There　was　a　short　silence。　Suddenly　she　turned　towards　him。

〃Charlie；〃　she　said；　〃you　have　asked　me　to　marry　you　six　times。〃

〃Seven；〃　he　corrected。　〃I　ask　you　again　nowthat　makes　eight。〃

〃Very　well；〃　she　answered；　〃I　accepton　one　condition。〃

〃On　any；〃　he　exclaimed；　his　voice　trembling　with　joy。　〃Penelope；　it　sounds　too　good　to　be　true。　You　can't　be　in　earnest〃

〃I　am；〃　she　declared。　〃I　will　marry　you　if　you　will　see　that　our　engagement　is　announced　everywhere　tomorrow；　and　that　you　do　not　ask　me　for　anything　at　all；　mind；　not　evennot　anythingfor　three　months'　time；　at　least。　Promise　that　until　then　you　will　not　let　me　hear　the　sound　of　the　word　marriage？〃


〃I　promise；〃　he　said　firmly。　〃Penelope；　you　mean　it？　You　mean　this　seriously？〃

She　gave　him　her　hands　and　a　very　sad　little　smile。

〃I　mean　it；　Charlie；〃　she　answered。　〃I　will　keep　my　word。〃



CHAPTER　XV。　PENELOPE　EXPLAINS

Once　more　Penelope　found　herself　in　the　library　of　the　great　house　in　Park　Lane；　where　Mr。　Blaine…Harvey　presided　over　the　interests　of　his　country。　This　time　she　came　as　an　uninvited；　even　an　unexpected　guest。　The　Ambassador；　indeed；　had　been　fetched　away　by　her　urgent　message　from　the　reception　rooms；　where　his　wife　was　entertaining　a　stream　of　callers。　Penelope　refused　to　sit　down。

〃I　have　not　much　to　say　to　you；　Mr。　Harvey；〃　she　said。　〃There　is　just　something　which　I　have　discovered　and　which　you　ought　to　know。　I　want　to　tell　it　you　as　quickly　as　possible　and　get　away。〃

〃A　propos　of　our　last　conversation？〃　he　asked　eagerly。

She　bowed　her　head。

〃It　concerns　Prince　Maiyo；〃　she　admitted。

〃You　are　sure　that　you　will　not　sit　down？〃　he　persisted。　〃You　know　how　interesting　this　is　to　me。〃

She　smiled　faintly。

〃To　me；〃　she　said；　〃it　is　terrible。　My　only　desire　is　to　tell　you　and　have　finished　with　it。　You　remember；　when　I　was　here　last；　you　told　me　that　it　was　your　firm　belief　that　somewhere　behind　the　hand　which　murdered　Hamilton　Fynes　and　poor　Dicky　stood　the　shadow　of　Prince　Maiyo。〃

〃I　remember　it　perfectly；〃　he　answered。

〃You　were　right；〃　Penelope　said。

The　Ambassador　drew　a　little　breath。　It　was　staggering；　this；　even　if　expected。

〃I　have　talked　with　the　Prince　several　times　since　our　conversation；〃　Penelope　continued。　〃So　far　as　any　information　which　he　gave　me　or　seemed　likely　to　give　me；　I　might　as　well　have　talked　in　a　foreign　language。　But　in　his　house；　the　day　before　yesterday；　in　his　own　library；　hidden　in　a　casket　which　opened　only　with　a　secret　lock；　I　found　two　things。〃

〃What　were　they？〃　the　Ambassador　asked　quickly。

〃A　roll　of　silken　cord；〃　Penelope　said；　〃such　as　was　used　to　strangle　poor　Dicky；　and　a　strangely　shaped　dagger　exactly　like　the　picture　of　the　one　with　which　Hamilton　Fynes　was　stabbed。〃

〃Did　he　know　that　you　found　them？〃　Mr。　Blaine…Harvey　asked。

〃He　was　with　me；〃　Penelope　answered。　〃He　even；　at　my　request；　opened　the　casket。　He　must　have　forgotten　that　they　were　there。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　the　Ambassador　said　thoughtfully；　〃he　never　knew。〃

〃One　cannot　tell；〃　Penelope　answered。

〃Did　he　say　anything　when　you　discovered　them？〃　the　Ambassador　asked。

〃Nothing；〃　Penelope　declared。　〃It　was　not　necessary。　I　saw　his　face。　He　knows　that　I　understand。　It　may　have　been　some　one　else　connected　with　the　house；　of　course；　but　the　main　fact　is　beyond　all　doubt。　Those　murders　were　instigated；　if　they　were　not　committed；　by　the　Prince。〃

The　Ambassador　walked　to　the　window　and　back　again。

〃Penelope；〃　he　said；　〃you　have　only　confirmed　what　I　felt　must　be　so；　but　even　then　the　certainty　of　it　is　rather　a　shock。〃

She　gave　him　her　hand。

〃I　have　told　you　the　truth；〃　she　said。　〃Make　what　use　of　it　you　will。　There　is　one　other　thing；　perhaps；　which　I　ought　to　tell　you。　The　Prince　is　going　back　to　his　own　country　very　shortly。〃

Mr。　Harvey　nodded。

〃I　have　just　been　given　to　understand　as　much；〃　he　said。　〃At　present　he　is　to　be　met　with　every　day。　I　believe　that　he　is　even　now　in　my　drawing　rooms。〃

〃Where　I　ought　to　be；〃　Penelope　said；　turning　toward　the　door；　〃only　I　felt　that　I　must　see　you　first。〃

〃I　will　not　come　with　you；〃　Mr。　Harvey　said。　〃There　is　no　need　for　our　little　conference　to　become　the　subject　of　comment。　By　the　bye；〃　he　added；　〃let　me　take　this　opportunity　of　wishing　you　every　happiness。　I　haven't　seen　Somerfield　yet；　but　he　is　a　lucky　fellow。　As　an　American；　however；　I　cannot　help　grudging　another　of　our　most　popular　daughters　to　even　the　best　of　Englishmen。〃

Penelope's　smile　was　a　little　forced。

〃Thank　you　very　much；〃　she　said。　〃It　is　all　rather　in　the　air；　at　present；　you　know。　We　are　not　going　to　be　married　for　some　time。〃

〃When　it　comes　off；〃　the　Ambassador　said；　〃I　am　going　to　talk　to　the　Duchess　and　Miss　Morse。　I　think　that　I　ought　to　give　you　away。〃

Penelope　made　her　way　into　Mrs。　Blaine…Harvey's　reception　rooms；　crowded　with　a　stream　of　guests；　who　were　sitting　about；　drinking　tea　and　listening　to　the　music；　passing　in　and　out　all　the　time。　Curiously　enough；　almost　the　first　person　whom　she　saw　was　the　Prince。　He　detached　himself　from　a　little　group　and　came　at　once　towards　her。　He　took　her　hand　in　his　and　for　a　moment　said　nothing。　Notwithstanding　the　hours　of　strenuous　consideration；　the　hours　which　she　had　devoted　to　anticipating　and　preparing　for　this　meeting；　she　felt　her　courage　suddenly　leaving　her；　a　sinking　at　the　knees；　a　wild　desire　to　escape；　at　any　cost。　The　color　which　had　been　so　long　denied　her　streamed　into　her　cheeks。　There　was　something　baffling；　yet　curiously　disturbing；　in　the　manner　of　his　greeting。

〃Is　it　true？〃　he　asked。

She　did　not　pretend　to　misunderstand　him。　It　was　amazing　that　he　should　ignore　that　other　tragical　incident；　that　he　should　think　of　nothing　but　this！　Yet；　in　a　way；　she　accepted　it　as　a　natural　thing。

〃Is　it　true　that　I　am　engaged　to　Sir　Charles　Somerfield；〃　she　an