the illustrious prince- 第25部分

〃It's　of　no　consequence；〃　he　declared；　ringing　for　the　steward。　〃I'll　go　into　the　smoking　room　and　get　a　drink。　I　was　only　going　to　have　some　to　keep　you　company。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　prefer　whiskey。〃

Mr。　Coulson　sat　down　upon　the　berth。　He　seemed　indisposed　for　speech。

〃I'll　leave　you　now；　then；〃　his　friend　said；　buttoning　his　coat　around　him。　〃You　lie　flat　down　on　your　back；　and　I　think　you'll　find　yourself　all　right。〃

〃That　brandy；〃　Mr。　Coulson　muttered；　〃was　infernally…　strong。〃

His　companion　smiled　and　went　out。　In　a　quarter　of　an　hour　he　returned　and　locked　the　door。　They　were　out　in　the　Channel　now；　and　the　boat　was　pitching　heavily。　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson；　however；　knew　nothing　of　it。　He　was　sleeping　like　one　who　wakes　only　for　the　Judgment　Day。　Over　his　coat　and　waistcoat　the　other　man's　fingers　travelled　with　curious　dexterity。　The　oilskin　case　in　which　Mr。　Coulson　was　in　the　habit　of　keeping　his　private　correspondence　was　reached　in　a　very　few　minutes。　The　stranger　turned　out　the　letters　and　read　them；　one　by　one；　until　he　came　to　the　one　he　sought。　He　held　it　for　a　short　time　in　his　hand；　looked　at　the　address　with　a　faint　smile；　and　slipped　his　fingers　lightly　along　the　gummed　edge　of　the　envelope。

〃No　seal；〃　he　said　softly　to　himself。　〃My　friend　Mr。　Coulson　plays　the　game　of　travelling　agent　to　perfection。〃

He　glided　out　of　the　cabin　with　the　letter　in　his　hand。　In　about　ten　minutes　he　returned。　Mr。　Coulson　was　still　sleeping。　He　replaced　the　letter；　pressing　down　the　envelope　carefully。

〃My　friend；〃　he　whispered；　looking　down　upon　Mr。　Coulson's　uneasy　figure；　〃on　the　whole；　I　have　been　perhaps　a　little　premature。　I　think　you　had　better　deliver　this　document　to　its　proper　destination。　If　only　there　was　to　have　been　a　written　answer；　we　might　have　met　again！　It　would　have　been　most　interesting。〃

He　slipped　the　oilskin　case　back　into　the　exact　position　in　which　he　had　found　it；　and　watched　his　companion　for　several　minutes　in　silence。　Then　he　went　to　his　dressing　bag　and　from　a　phial　mixed　a　little　draught。　Lifting　the　sleeping　man's　head；　he　forced　it　down　his　throat。

〃I　think；〃　he　said；　〃I　think；　Mr。　Coulson；　that　you　had　better　wake　up。〃

He　unlocked　the　door　and　resumed　his　promenade　of　the　deck。　In　the　bows　he　stood　for　some　time；　leaning　with　folded　arms　against　a　pillar；　his　eyes　fixed　upon　the　line　of　lights　ahead。　The　great　waves　now　leaped　into　the　moonlight；　the　wind　sang　in　the　rigging　and　came　booming　across　the　waters；　the　salt　spray　stung　his　cheeks。　High　above　his　head；　the　slender　mast；　with　its　Marconi　attachment；　swang　and　dived；　reached　out　for　the　stars；　and　fell　away　with　a　shudder。　The　man　who　watched；　stood　and　dreamed　until　the　voyage　was　almost　over。　Then　he　turned　on　his　heel　and　went　back　to　see　how　his　cabin　companion　was　faring。

Mr。　Coulson　was　sitting　on　the　edge　of　his　bunk。　He　had　awakened　with　a　terrible　headache　and　a　sense　of　some　hideous　indiscretion。　It　was　not　until　he　had　examined　every　paper　in　his　pocket　and　all　his　money　that　he　had　begun　to　feel　more　comfortable。　And　in　the　meantime　he　had　forgotten　altogether　to　be　seasick。

〃Well；　how　has　the　remedy　worked？〃　the　stranger　inquired。

Mr。　Coulson　looked　him　in　the　face。　Then　he　drew　a　short　breath　of　relief。　He　had　been　indiscreet；　but　he　had　alarmed　himself　unnecessarily。　There　was　nothing　about　the　appearance　of　the　quiet；　dark　little　man；　with　the　amiable　eyes　and　slightly　foreign　manner；　in　the　least　suspicious。

〃It's　given　me　a　brute　of　a　headache；〃　he　declared；　〃but　I　certainly　haven't　been　seasick　up　till　now；　and　I　must　say　I've　never　crossed　before　without　being　ill。〃

The　stranger　laughed　soothingly。

〃That　brandy　and　soda　would　keep　you　right。〃　He　said。　〃When　we　get　to　Folkestone；　you'll　be　wanting　a　supper　basket。　Make　yourself　at　home。　I　don't　need　the　cabin。　It's　a　glorious　night　outside。　I　shouldn't　have　come　in　at　all　except　to　see　how　you　were　getting　on。〃

〃How　long　before　we　are　in？〃　Mr。　Coulson　asked。

〃About　a　quarter　of　an　hour；〃　was　the　answer。　〃I'll　come　for　you；　if　you　like。　Have　a　few　minute's　nap　if　you　feel　sleepy。〃

Mr。　Coulson　got　up。

〃Not　I！〃　he　said。　〃I　am　going　to　douse　my　head　in　some　cold　water。　That　must　have　been　the　strongest　brandy　and　soda　that　was　ever　brewed；　to　send　me　off　like　that。〃

His　friend　laughed　as　he　helped　him　out　on　to　the　deck。

〃I　shouldn't　grumble　at　it；　if　I　were　you；〃　he　said　carelessly。　〃It　saved　you　from　a　bad　crossing。〃

Mr。　Coulson　washed　his　face　and　hands　in　the　smoking　room　lavatory；　and　was　so　far　recovered；　even；　as　to　be　able　to　drink　a　cup　of　coffee　before　they　reached　the　harbor。　At　Folkestone　he　looked　everywhere　for　his　friend；　but　in　vain。　At　Charing　Cross　he　searched　once　more。　The　little　dark　gentleman；　with　the　distinguished　air　and　the　easy；　correct　speech；　who　had　mixed　his　brandy　and　soda；　had　disappeared。

〃And　I　owe　the　little　beggar　for　half　that　cabin；〃　Mr。　Coulson　thought　with　a　sensation　of　annoyance。　〃I　wonder　where　he's　hidden　himself！〃



CHAPTER　XIX。　A　MOMENTOUS　QUESTION

The　Duke　paused；　in　his　way　across　the　crowded　reception　rooms；　to　speak　to　his　host；　Sir　Edward　Bransome；　Secretary　of　State　for　Foreign　Affairs。

〃I　have　just　written　you　a　line；　Bransome；〃　he　said；　as　they　shook　hands。　〃The　chief　tells　me　that　he　is　going　to　honor　us　down　at　Devenham　for　a　few　days；　and　that　we　may　expect　you　also。〃

〃You　are　very　kind；　Duke；〃　Bransome　answered。　〃I　suppose　Haviland　explained　the　matter　to　you。〃

The　Duke　nodded。

〃You　are　going　to　help　me　entertain　my　other　distinguished　visitor；〃　he　remarked。　〃I　fancy　we　shall　be　quite　an　interesting　party。〃

Bransome　glanced　around。

〃I　hope　most　earnestly；〃　he　said；　〃that　we　shall　induce　our　young　friend　to　be　a　little　more　candid　with　us　than　he　has　been。　One　can't　get　a　word　out　of　Hesho；　but　I'm　bound　to　say　that　I　don't　altogether　like　the　look　of　things。　The　Press　are　beginning　to　smell　a　rat。　Two　leading　articles　this　morning；　I　see；　upon　our　Eastern　relations。〃

The　Duke　nodded。

〃I　read　them；〃　he　said。　〃We　are　informed　that　the　prestige　and　success　of　our　ministry　will　entirely　depend　upon　whether　or　not　we　are　able　to　arrange　for　the　renewal　of　our　treaty　with　Japan。　I　remember　the　same　papers　shrieking　themselves　hoarse　with　indignation　when　we　first　joined　hands　with　our　little　friends　across　the　sea！〃

His　secretary　approached　Bransome　and　touched　him　on　the　shoulder。

〃There　is　a　person　in　the　anteroom；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃whom　I　think　that　you　ought　to　see。〃

The　Duke　nodded　and　passed　on。　The　Secretary　drew　his　chief　on　one　side。

〃This　man　has　just　arrived　from　Paris；　sir；〃　he　continued；　〃and　is　the　bearer　of　a　letter　which　he　is　instructed　to　deliver　into　your　hands　only。〃

Bransome　nodded。

〃Is　he　known　to　us　at　all？〃　he　asked。　〃From　whom　does　the　letter　come？〃

The　young　man　hesitated。

〃The　letter　itself；　sir；　has　nothing　to　do　with　France；　I　imagine；〃　he　said。　〃The　person　I　refer　to　is　an　American；　and　although　I　have　no　positive　information；　I　believe　that　he　is　sometimes　intrusted　with　the　carrying　of　despatches　from　Washington　to　his　Embassy。　Once　or　twice　lately　I　have　had　it　reported　to　me　that　communications　from　the　other　side　to　Mr。　Harvey　have　been　sent　by　hand。　It　seems　as　though　they　had　some　objection　to　committing　important　documents　to　the　post。〃

Bransome　walked　through　the　crowded　rooms　by　the　side　of　his　secretary；　stopping　for　a　moment　to　exchange　greetings　here　and　there　with　his　friends。　His　wife　was　giving　her　third　reception　of　the　session　to　the　diplomatic　world。

〃Washington　has　certainly　shown　signs　of　mistrust　lately；〃　he　remarked；　〃but　if　communications　from　them　are　ever　tampered　with；　it　is　more　likely　to　be　on　their　side　than　ours。　They　have　a　particularly　unscrupulous　Press　to　deal　with；　besides　political　intriguers。　If　this　person　you　speak　of　is　really　the　bearer　of　a　letter　from　there；〃　he　added；　〃I　think　we　can　both　guess　what　it　is　about。〃

The　secretary　nodded。

〃Shall　I　ring　up　Mr。　Haviland；　sir？〃　He　asked。

〃Not　yet；〃　Bransome　answered。　〃It　is　just　possible　that　this　person　requires　an　immediate　reply；　in　which　case　it　may　be　convenient　for　me　not　to　be　able　to　get　at　the　Prime　Minister。　Bring　him　along　into　my　private　room；　Sidney。〃

Sir　Edward　Bransome　made　his　way　to　his　study；　opened　the　door　with　a　Yale　key；　turned　on　the　electric　lights；　and　crossed　slowly　to　the　hearthrug。　He　stood　there；　for　several　moments；　with　his　elbow　upon　the　mantelpiece；　looking　down　into　the　fire。　A　darker　shadow　had　stolen　across　his　face　as　soon　as　he　was　alone。　In　his　court　dress　and　brilliant　array　of　orders；　he　was　certainly　a　very　distinguished…looking　figure。　Yet　the　last　few　years　had　branded　lines　into　his　face　which　it　was　doubtful　if　he　would　ever　lose。　To　be　Secretary　of　State　for　Foreign　Affairs　to　the　greatest　power　which　the　world　had　as　yet　known　must　certainly　seem；　on　paper；　to　be　as　brilliant　a　post　as　a　man's　ambition　could　covet。　Many　years　ago　it　had　seemed　so　to　Bransome　himself。　It　was　a　post　which　he　had　deliberately　coveted；　worked　for；　and　strived　for。　And　now；　when　in　sight　of　the　end；　with　two　years　of　office　only　to　run；　he　was　appalled　at　the　ever…growing　responsibilities　thrust　upon　his　shoulders。　There　was　never；　perhaps；　a　time　when；　on　paper；　things　had　seemed　smoother；　when　the　distant　mutterings　of　disaster　were　less　audible。　It　was　only　those　who　were　behind　the　curtain　who　realized　how　deceptive　appearances　were。

In　a　few　minutes　his　secretary　reappeared；　ushering　in　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson。　Mr。　Coulson　was　still　a　little　pale　from　the　effects　of　his　crossing；　and　he　wore　a　long；　thick　ulster　to　conceal　the　deficiencies　of　his　attire。　Nevertheless　his　usual　breeziness　of　manner　had　not　altogether　deserted　him。　Sir　Edward　looked　him　up　and　down；　and　finding　him　look　exactly　as　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson　of　the　Coulson　&　Bruce　Syndicate　should　look；　was　inclined　to　wonder　whether　his　secretary　had　made　a　mistake。

〃I　was　told　that　you　wished　to　see　me；〃　he　said。　〃I　am　Sir　Edward　Bransome。〃

Mr。　James　B。　Coulson　nodded　appreciatively。

〃Very　good　of　you；　Sir　Edward；〃　he　said；　〃to　put　yourself　out　at　this　time　of　night　to　have