the illustrious prince- 第27部分

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃I　can　understand　their　feeling　a　bit　sore　about　it。　I'm　not　exactly　given　to　brag　when　I'm　away　from　my　own　countryone　hears　too　much　of　that　all　the　timebut　between　you　and　me；　I　shouldn't　say　that　it　was　possible　for　two　crimes　like　that　to　be　committed　in　New　York　City　and　for　the　murderer　to　get　off　scot　free　in　either　case。〃

〃The　matter；〃　Sir　Edward　declared；　〃has　given　us　a　great　deal　of　anxiety；　and　I　can　assure　you　that　the　Home　Secretary　himself　has　taken　a　strong　personal　interest　in　it；　but　at　the　same　time；　as　I　have　just　pointed　out　to　you；　our　investigations　are　rendered　the　more　difficult　from　the　fact　that　we　cannot　learn　anything　definite　concerning　this　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　or　his　visit　to　this　country。　Now；　if　we　knew；　for　instance；〃　Sir　Edward　continued；　〃that　he　was　carrying　documents；　or　even　a　letter；　similar　to　the　one　you　have　just　handed　to　me；　we　might　at　once　discover　a　motive　to　the　crime；　and　work　backwards　until　we　reached　the　perpetrator。〃

Mr。　Coulson　knocked　the　ash　from　his　cigar。

〃I　see　what　you　are　driving　at；〃　he　said。　〃I　am　sorry　I　can　be　of　no　assistance　to　you；　Sir　Edward。〃

〃Neither　in　the　case　of　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　or　in　the　case　of　Mr。　Richard　Vanderpole？〃　Sir　Edward　asked。

Mr。　Coulson　shook　his　head。

〃Quite　out　of　my　line；〃　he　declared。

〃Notwithstanding　the　fact；〃　Sir　Edward　reminded　him　quietly；　〃that　you　were　probably　the　last　person　to　see　Vanderpole　alive？　He　came　to　the　Savoy　to　call　upon　you　before　he　got　into　the　taxicab　where　he　was　murdered。　That　is　so；　isn't　it？〃

〃Sure！〃　Mr。　Coulson　answered。　〃A　nice　young　fellow　he　was；　too。　Well　set　up；　and　real　American　manners；Hail；　fellow；　well　met！'　with　you　right　away。〃

〃I　suppose；　Mr。　Coulson；〃　the　Minister　suggested　smoothly；　〃it　wouldn't　answer　your　purpose　to　put　aside　that　bluff　about　patents　for　the　development　of　the　woollen　trade　for　a　few　moments；　and　tell　me　exactly　what　passed　between　you　and　Mr。　Vanderpole　at　the　Savoy　Hotel；　and　the　object　of　his　calling　upon　you？　Whether；　for　instance；　he　took　away　with　him　documents　or　papers　intended　for　the　Embassy　and　which　you　yourself　had　brought　from　America？〃

〃You　do　think　of　things！〃　Mr。　Coulson　remarked　admiringly。　〃You're　on　the　wrong　track　this　time；　though；　sure。　Still；　supposing　I　were　able　to　tell　you　that　Mr。　Vanderpole　was　carrying　papers　of　importance　to　my　country；　and　that　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　was　also　in　possession　of　the　same　class　of　document；　how　would　it　help　you？　In　what　fresh　direction　should　you　look　then　for　the　murderers　of　these　two　men？〃

〃Mr。　Coulson；〃　Sir　Edward　said；　〃we　should　consider　the　nature　of　those　documents；　and　we　should　see　to　whose　advantage　it　was　that　they　were　suppressed。〃

Mr。　Coulson's　face　seemed　suddenly　old　and　lined。　He　spoke　with　a　new　vigor；　and　his　eyes　were　very　keen　and　bright　under　his　bushy　eyebrows。

〃And　supposing　it　was　your　country's？〃　he　asked。　〃Supposing　they　contained　instructions　to　our　Ambassador　which　you　might　consider　inimical　to　your　interests？　Do　you　mean　that　you　would　look　at　home　for　the　murderer？　You　mean　that　you　have　men　so　devoted　to　their　native　land　that　they　were　willing　to　run　the　risk　of　death　by　the　hangman　to　aid　her？　You　mean　that　your　Secret　Service　is　perfected　to　that　extent；　and　that　the　scales　of　justice　are　held　blindfolded？　Or　do　you　mean　that　Scotland　Yard　would　have　its　orders；　and　that　these　men　would　go　free？〃

〃I　was　not　thinking　of　my　own　country；〃　Sir　Edward　admitted。　〃I　must　confess　that　my　thoughts　had　turned　elsewhere。〃

〃Let　me　tell　you　this；　sir；〃　Mr。　Coulson　continued。　〃I　should　imagine　that　the　trouble　with　Washington；　if　there　is　any；　is　simply　that　they　will　not　believe　that　your　police　have　a　free　hand。　They　will　not　believe　that　you　are　honestly　and　genuinely　anxious　for　the　discovery　of　the　perpetrator　of　these　crimes。　I　speak　without　authority；　you　understand？　I　am　no　more　in　a　position　to　discuss　this　affair　than　any　other　tourist　from　my　country　who　might　happen　to　come　along。〃

Sir　Edward　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃Can　you　suggest　any　method；〃　he　asked　a　little　dryly；　〃by　means　of　which　we　might　remove　this　unfortunate　impression？〃

Mr。　Coulson　flicked　the　ash　once　more　from　the　end　of　his　cigar　and　looked　at　it　thoughtfully。

〃This　isn't　my　show；〃　he　said；　〃and；　you　understand；　I　am　giving　the　views　of　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson；　and　nobody　but　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson；　but　if　I　were　in　your　position；　and　knew　that　a　friendly　country　was　feeling　a　little　bit　sore　at　having　two　of　her　citizens　disposed　of　so　unceremoniously；　I'd　do　my　best　to　prove；　by　the　only　possible　means；　that　I　was　taking　the　matter　seriously。〃

〃The　only　possible　means　being？〃　Sir　Edward　asked。

〃I　guess　I'd　offer　a　reward；〃　Mr。　Coulson　admitted。

Sir　Edward　did　not　hesitate　for　a　moment。

〃Your　idea　is　an　excellent　one；　Mr。　Coulson；〃　he　said。　〃It　has　already　been　mooted；　but　we　will　give　it　a　little　emphasis。　Tomorrow　we　will　offer　a　reward　of　one　thousand　pounds　for　any　information　leading　to　the　apprehension　of　either　murderer。〃

〃That　sounds　bully；〃　Mr。　Coulson　declared。

〃You　think　that　it　will　have　a　good　effect　upon　your　friends　in　Washington？〃

〃Me？〃　Mr。　Coulson　asked。　〃I　know　nothing　about　it。　I've　given　you　my　personal　opinion　only。　Seems　to　me；　though；　it's　the　best　way　of　showing　that　you're　in　earnest。〃

〃Before　we　quit　this　subject　finally；　Mr。　Coulson；〃　Sir　Edward　said；　〃I　am　going　to　ask　you　a　question　which　you　have　been　asked　before。〃

〃Referring　to　Hamilton　Fynes？〃　Mr。　Coulson　asked。

〃Yes！〃

〃Get　your　young　man　to　lay　his　hand　on　that　copy　of　the　Comet；〃　Mr。　Coulson　begged　earnestly。　〃I　told　that　pushing　young　journalist　all　I　knew　and　a　bit　more。　I　assure　you；　my　information　isn't　worth　anything。〃

〃Was　it　meant　to　be　worth　anything？〃　Sir　Edward　asked。

Mr。　Coulson　remained　imperturbable。

〃If　you　don't　mind；　Sir　Edward；〃　he　said；　〃I　guess　we'll　drop　the　subject　of　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes。　We　can't　get　any　forwarder。　Let　it　go　at　that。〃

There　was　a　knock　at　the　door。　Sir　Edward's　secretary　ushered　in　a　tall；　plainly　dressed　gentleman；　who　had　the　slightly　aggrieved　air　of　a　man　who　has　been　kept　out　of　his　bed　beyond　the　usual　time。

〃My　dear　Bransome；〃　he　said；　shaking　hands；　〃isn't　this　a　little　unreasonable　of　you？　Business　at　this　hour　of　the　night！　I　was　in　the　midst　of　a　most　amusing　conversation　with　a　delightful　acquaintance　of　your　wife's；　a　young　lady　who　turned　up　her　nose　at　Hegel　and　had　developed　a　philosophy　of　her　own。　I　was　just　beginning　to　grasp　its　first　principles。　Nothing　else；　I　am　quite　sure；　would　have　kept　me　awake。〃

Sir　Edward　leaned　across　the　table　towards　Mr。　Coulson。　Mr。　Coulson　had　risen　to　his　feet。

〃This　gentleman；〃　he　said；　〃is　Mr。　Smith。〃

The　newcomer　opened　his　lips　to　protest；　but　Sir　Edward　held　out　his　hand。

〃One　moment；〃　he　begged。　〃Our　friend　hereMr。　J。　B。　Coulson　from　New　Yorkhas　brought　a　letter　from　America。　He　is　sailing　tomorrow；leaving　London　somewhere　about　eight　o'clock　in　the　morning；　I　imagine。　He　wishes　to　take　back　a　verbal　reply。　The　letter；　you　will　understand；　comes　from　a　Mr。　Jones；　and　the　reply　is　delivered　in　the　presence　ofMr。　Smith。　Our　friend　here　is　not　personally　concerned　in　these　affairs。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　believe　he　has　been　on　the　Continent　exploiting　some　patents　of　his　own　invention。〃

The　newcomer　accepted　the　burden　of　his　altered　nomenclature　and　took　up　the　letter。　He　glanced　at　the　signature；　and　his　manner　became　at　once　more　interested。　He　accepted　the　chair　which　Sir　Edward　had　placed　by　his　side；　and；　drawing　the　electric　light　a　little　nearer；　read　the　document　through；　word　by　word。　Then　he　folded　it　up；　and　glanced　first　at　his　colleague　and　afterwards　at　Mr。　Coulson。

〃I　understand；〃　he　said；　〃that　this　is　a　private　inquiry　from　a　private　gentleman；　who　is　entitled；　however；　to　as　much　courtesy　as　it　is　possible　for　us　to　show　him。〃

〃That　is　exactly　the　position；　sir；〃　Mr。　Coulson　replied。　〃Negotiations　of　a　more　formal　character　are　naturally　conducted　between　your　Foreign　Office　and　the　Foreign　Office　of　my　country。　These　few　lines　come　from　man　to　man。　I　think　that　it　occurred　to　my　friend　that　it　might　save　a　great　deal　of　trouble；　a　great　deal　of　specious　diplomacy；　and　a　great　many　hundred　pages　of　labored　despatches；　if；　at　the　bottom　of　it　all；　he　knew　your　true　feelings　concerning　this　question。　It　is；　after　all；　a　simple　matter；〃　Mr。　Coulson　continued；　〃and　yet　it　is　a　matter　with　so　many　ramifications　that　after　much　discussion　it　might　become　a　veritable　chaos。〃

Mr。　Smith　inclined　his　head　gently。

〃I　appreciate　the　situation；〃　he　said。　〃My　friend　hereSir　Edward　Bransomeand　I　have　already　discussed　the　matter　at　great　length。　We　have　also　had　the　benefit　of　the　advice　and　help　of　a　greater　Foreign　Minister　than　either　of　us　could　ever　hope　to　become。　I　see　no　objection　to　giving　you　the　verbal　reply　you　ask　for。　Do　you；　Bransome？〃

〃None　whatever；　sir。〃

〃I　leave　it　to　you　to　put　it　in　your　own　words；〃　Mr。　Smith　continued。　〃The　affair　is　within　your　province；　and　the　policy　of　His　Majesty's　Ministers　is　absolutely　fixed。〃

Sir　Edward　turned　toward　their　visitor。

〃Mr。　Coulson；〃　he　said；　〃we　are　asked　by　your　friend；　in　a　few　plain　words；　what　the　attitude　of　Great　Britain　would　be　in　the　event　of　a　war　between　Japan　and　America。　My　answerour　answerto　you　is　this；no　war　between　Japan　and　America　is　likely　to　take　place　unless　your　Cabinet　should　go　to　unreasonable　and　uncalled…for　extremes。　We　have　ascertained；　beyond　any　measure　of　doubt；　the　sincere　feeling　of　our　ally　in　this　matter。　Japan　does　not　desire　war；　is　not　preparing　for　it；　is　unwilling　even　to　entertain　the　possibility　of　it。　At　the　same　time　she　feels　that　her　sons　should　receive　the　same　consideration　from　every　nation　in　the　world　as　the　sons　of　other　people。　Personally　it　is　our　profound　conviction　that　the　good　sense；　the　fairness；　and　the　generous　instincts　of　your　great　country　will　recognize　this　and　act　accordingly。　War　between　your　country　and　Japan　is　an　impossible　thing。　The　thought　of　it　exists　only　in　the　frothy　vaporings　of　cheap　newspapers；　and　the　sensational　utterances　of　the　catch　politician　who