the illustrious prince- 第33部分

〃Ten　minutes；　no　more；〃　she　insisted　good…humoredly。

The　Inspector　nodded。

〃One　question；　if　you　please；　nurse；〃　he　asked。　〃Is　the　man　going　to　live？〃

〃Not　a　doubt　about　it；〃　she　declared。　〃Why？〃

〃　A　matter　of　depositions；〃　the　Inspector　exclaimed。　〃I'd　rather　let　it　go；　though；　if　he's　sure　to　recover。〃

〃It's　a　simple　case；〃　she　answered；　〃and　his　constitution　is　excellent。　There　isn't　the　least　need　for　your　to　think　about　depositions。　Here　he　is。　Don't　talk　too　long。〃

The　Inspector　sat　down　by　the　bedside。　The　patient；　a　young　man；　welcomed　him　a　little　shyly。

〃You　have　come　to　ask　me　about　what　I　saw　in　Pall　Mall　and　opposite　the　Hyde　Park　Hotel？〃　he　said；　speaking　slowly　and　in　a　voice　scarcely　raised　above　a　whisper。　〃I　told　them　all　before　the　operation；　but　they　couldn't　send　for　you　then。　There　wasn't　time。〃

The　Inspector　nodded。

〃Tell　me　your　own　way；〃　he　said。　〃Don't　hurry。　We　can　get　the　particulars　later　on。　Glad　you're　going　to　be　mended。〃

〃It　was　touch　and　go；〃　the　young　man　declared　with　a　note　of　awe　in　his　tone。　〃If　the　omnibus　wheel　had　turned　a　foot　more；　I　should　have　lost　both　my　legs。　It　was　all　through　watching　that　chap　hop　out　of　the　taxicab；　too。〃

The　Inspector　inclined　his　head　gravely。

〃You　saw　him　get　in；　didn't　you？〃　he　asked。

〃That's　so；〃　the　patient　admitted。　〃I　was　on　my　wayCharing　Cross　to　the　Kensington　Palace　Hotel；　on　a　bicycle。　There　was　a　blockcorner　of　Pall　Mall　and　Haymarket。　I　caught　holdtaxi　in　frontto　steady　me。〃

The　nurse　bent　over　him　with　a　glass　in　her　hand。　She　raised　him　a　little　with　the　other　arm。

〃Not　too　much　of　this；　you　know；　young　man；〃　she　said　with　a　pleasant　smile。　〃Here's　something　to　make　you　strong。〃

〃Right　you　are！〃

He　drained　the　contents　of　the　glass　and　smacked　his　lips。

〃Jolly　good　stuff；〃　he　declared。　〃Where　was　I；　Mr。　Inspector？〃

〃Holding　the　back　of　a　taxicab；　corner　of　Regent　Street　and　Haymarket；〃　Inspector　Jacks　reminded　him。

The　patient　nodded。

〃There　was　an　electric　brougham；〃　he　continued；　drawn　up　alongside　the　taxi。　While　we　were　there；　waiting；　I　saw　a　chap　get　out；　speak　to　some　one　through　the　window　of　the　taxi；　open　the　door；　and　step　in。　When　we　moved　on；　he　stayed　in　the　taxi。　Dark；　slim　chap　he　was；〃　the　patient　continued；　〃a　regular　howling　swell；silk　hat；　white　muffler；　white　kid　gloves；all　the　rest　of　it。〃

〃And　afterwards？〃　the　Inspector　asked。

〃I　kept　behind　the　taxi；〃　the　youth　continued。　〃We　got　blocked　again　at　Hyde　Park　Corner。　I　saw　him　step　out　of　the　taxi　and　disappear　amongst　the　vehicles。　〃A　moment　or　two　later；　I　passed　the　taxi　and　looked　insaw　something　had　happenedthe　fellow　was　lying　side…ways。　It　gave　me　a　bit　of　a　start。　I　skidded；　and　over　I　went。　Sort　of　had　an　idea　that　every　one　in　the　world　had　started　shouting　to　me；　and　felt　that　I　was　half　underneath　an　omnibus。　Woke　up　to　find　myself　here。〃

〃Should　you　know　the　man　again？〃　the　Inspector　asked。　〃I　mean　the　man　whom　you　saw　enter　and　leave　the　taxi？〃

〃I　think　sopretty　sure！〃

The　nurse　came　up；　shaking　her　head。　Inspector　Jacks　rose　from　his　seat。

〃Right；　nurse；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　off。　Take　care　of　our　young　friend。　He　is　going　to　be　very　useful　to　us　as　soon　as　he　can　use　his　feet　and　get　about。　I'll　come　and　sit　with　you　for　half　an　hour　next　visiting　day；　if　I　may？〃　he　added；　turning　to　the　patient。

〃Glad　to　see　you；〃　the　youth　answered。　〃My　people　live　down　in　the　country；　and　I　haven't　many　pals。〃

Inspector　Jacks　left　the　hospital　thoughtfully。　The　smell　of　anaesthetics　somehow　reminded　him　of　the　library　in　the　house　at　the　corner　of　St。　James'　Square。　It　was　not　altogether　by　chance；　perhaps；　that　he　found　himself　walking　in　that　direction。　He　was　in　Pall　Mall；　in　fact；　before　he　realized　where　he　was；　and　at　the　corner　of　St。　James'　Square　and　Pall　Mall　he　came　face　to　face　with　Prince　Maiyo；　walking　slowly　westwards。

The　meeting　between　the　two　men　was　a　characteristic　one。　The　Inspector　suffered　no　signs　of　surprise　or　even　interest　to　creep　into　his　expressionless　face。　The　Prince；　on　the　other　hand；　did　not　attempt　to　conceal　his　pleasure　at　this　unexpected　encounter。　His　lips　parted　in　a　delightful　smile。　He　ignored　the　Inspector's　somewhat　stiff　salute；　and　insisted　upon　shaking　him　cordially　by　the　hand。

〃Mr。　Inspector　Jacks；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　the　one　person　whom　I　desired　to　see。　You　are　not　busy；　I　hope？　You　can　talk　with　me　for　five　minutes？〃

The　Inspector　hesitated　for　a　moment。　He　was　versed　in　every　form　of　duplicity；　and　yet　he　felt　that　in　the　presence　of　this　young　aristocrat；　who　was　smiling　upon　him　so　delightfully；　he　was　little　more　than　a　babe　in　wisdom；　an　amateur　pure　and　simple。　He　was　conscious；　too；　of　a　sentiment　which　rarely　intruded　itself　into　his　affairs。　He　was　conscious　of　a　strong　liking　for　this　debonair；　pleasant…faced　young　man；　who　treated　him　not　only　as　an　equal；　but　as　an　equal　in　whose　society　he　found　an　especial　pleasure。

〃I　have　the　time　to　spare；　sir；　certainly；〃　he　admitted。

The　Prince　smiled　gayly。

〃Inspector　Jacks；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　a　wonderful　man。　Even　now　you　are　asking　yourself；　What　does　he　want　to　say　to　mePrince　Maiyo？　Is　he　going　to　ask　me　questions；　or　will　he　tell　me　things　which　I　should　like　to　hear？'　You　know；　Mr。　Inspector　Jacks；　between　ourselves；　you　are　just　a　little　interested　in　me；　is　it　not　so？〃

The　detective　was　dumb。　He　stood　there　patiently　waiting。　He　had　the　air　of　a　man　who　declines　to　commit　himself。

〃Just　a　little　interested　in　me；　I　think；〃　the　Prince　murmured；　smiling　at　his　companion。　〃Ah；　well；　many　of　the　things　I　do　over　here；　perhaps；　must　seem　very　strange。　And　that　reminds　me。　Only　a　short　time　ago　you　were　asking　questions　about　the　man　who　travelled　from　Liverpool　to　London　and　reached　his　destination　with　a　dagger　through　his　heart。　Tell　me；　Mr。　Inspector　Jacks；　have　you　discovered　the　murderer　yet？〃

〃Not　yet；〃　the　detective　answered。

〃I　have　heard　you　speak　of　this　affair；〃　the　Prince　continued；　〃and　before　now　I　expected　to　read　in　the　papers　that　you　had　put　your　hand　upon　the　guilty　one。　If　you　have　not　done　so；　I　am　very　sure　that　there　is　some　explanation。〃

〃It　is　better　sometimes　to　wait；〃　the　detective　said　quietly。

〃The　Prince　bowed　as　one　who　understands。

〃I　think　so；〃　he　assented；　〃I　think　I　follow　you。　On　the　very　next　day　there　was　another　tragedy　which　seemed　to　me　even　more　terrible。　I　mean　the　murder　of　that　young　fellow　Vanderpole；　of　the　American　Embassy。　Mr。　Inspector　Jacks；　has　it　ever　occurred　to　you；　I　wonder；　that　it　might　be　as　well　to　let　the　solution　of　one　await　the　solution　of　the　other？〃

Inspector　Jacks　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃Occasionally；〃　he　admitted　reluctantly；　〃when　one　is　following　up　a　clue；　one　discovers　things。〃

〃You　are　wonderful！〃　the　Prince　declared。　〃You　are；　indeed！　I　know　what　is　in　your　mind。　You　have　said　to　yourself；　Between　these　two　murders　there　is　some　connection。　They　were　both　done　by　the　hand　of　a　master　criminal。　The　victims　in　both　cases　were　Americans。'　You　said　to　yourself；　First　of　all；　I　will　discover　the　motive；　then；　perhaps；　a　clue　which　seems　to　belong　to　the　one　will　lead　me　to　the　other；　or　both？'　You　are　not　sure　which　way　to　turn。　There　is　nothing　there　upon　which　you　can　lay　your　hand。　You　say　to　yourself；　I　will　make　a　bluff。'　That　is　the　word；　is　it　not？　You　come　to　me。　You　tell　me　gravely　that　you　have　reason　to　suspect　some　one　in　my　household。　That　is　because　you　believe　that　the　crimes　were　perpetrated　by　some　one　of　my　country。　You　do　not　ask　for　information。　You　think；　perhaps；　that　I　would　not　give　it。　You　confront　me　with　a　statement。　It　was　very　clever　of　you；　Mr。　Inspector　Jacks。〃

〃I　had　reason　for　what　I　did；　sir；〃　the　detective　said。

〃No　doubt；〃　the　Prince　agreed。　〃And　now；　tell　me；　when　are　you　going　to　electrify　us　all？　When　is　the　great　arrest　to　take　place？〃

The　detective　coughed　discreetly。

〃I　am　not　yet　in　a　position；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃to　make　any　definite　announcement。〃

〃Cautious；　Mr。　Jacks；　cautious！〃　the　Prince　remarked　smilingly。　〃It　is　a　great　quality；a　quality　which　I；　too；　have　learned　how　to　appreciate。　And　now　for　our　five　minutes'　talk。　If　I　say　to　you；　　Return　home　with　me；'　I　think　you　will　remember　that　unpleasant　room　of　mine；　and　you　will　recollect　an　important　engagement　at　Scotland　Yard。　In　the　clubs　one　is　always　overheard。　Walk　with　me　a　little　way；　Mr。　Jacks；　in　St。　James'　Park。　We　can　speak　there　without　fear　of　interruption。　Come！〃

He　thrust　his　arm　through　the　detective's　and　led　him　across　the　street。　Mr。　Inspector　Jacks　was　only　human；　and　he　yielded　without　protest。　They　passed　St。　James'　Palace　and　on　to　the　broad　promenade；　where　there　were　few　passers…by　and　no　listeners。

〃You　see；　my　dear　Inspector；〃　the　Prince　said；　〃I　am　really　a　sojourner　in　your　marvellous　city　not　altogether　for　pleasure。　My　stay　over　here　is　more　in　the　light　of　a　mission。　I　have　certain　arrangements　which　I　wish　to　effect　for　the　good　of　my　country。　Amongst　them　is　one　concerning　which　I　should　like　to　speak　to　you。〃

〃To　me；　sir？〃　Inspector　Jacks　repeated。

The　Prince　twirled　his　cane　and　nodded　his　head。

〃It　is　a　very　important　matter；　Mr。　Jacks；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　nothing　less　than　a　desire　on　the　part　of　the　city　government　of　Tokio　to　perfect　thoroughly　their　police　system　on　the　model　of　yours　over　here。　We　are　a　progressive　nation；　you　know；　Mr。　Jacks；　but　we　are　also　a　young　nation；　and　though　I　think　that　we　advance　all　the　time；　we　are　still　in　many　respects　a　long　way　behind　you。　We　have　no　Scotland　Yard　in　Tokio。　To　be　frank　with　you；　the　necessity　for　such　an　institution　has　become　a　real　thing　with　us　only　during　the　last　few　years。　Do　you　read　history；　Mr。　Jacks？〃

The　Inspector　was　doubtful。

〃I　can't　say；　sir；〃　he　admitted；　〃that　I　have　done　much　reading　since　I　left　school；　and　that　was　many　years　ago。〃

〃Well；〃　the　Prince　said；　〃It　is　one　of　the　axioms　of　history；　Mr。　Jacks；　that　as　a　country　becomes　civilized　and　consequently　more　prosperous；　there　is　a　corresponding　growth　in　her　criminal　classes；　a　corresponding　need　for　a　different　state　of　laws　by　which　to　judge　them；　a　different　machinery　for　checking　thei