the illustrious prince- 第39部分

Lady　Grace　sighed。　Perhaps　she　had　been　a　trifle　too　daring！　She　was　willing　enough；　at　any　rate；　to　let　the　subject　drift　away。

〃Soon　the　curtain　will　go　up；〃　she　said；　〃and　we　can　talk　no　longer。　I　should　like　to　tell　you；　though；　how　glad　I　amhow　glad　we　all　arethat　you　can　come　to　us　next　week。〃

〃I　can　assure　you　that　I　am　looking　forward　to　it；〃　he　answered　a　little　gravely。　〃It　is　my　farewell　to　all　of　you；　you　know；　and　it　seems　to　me　that　those　who　will　be　your　father's　guests　are　just　those　with　whom　I　have　been　on　the　most　intimate　terms　since　I　came　to　England。

She　nodded。

〃Penelope　is　coming；〃　she　said　quickly；〃you　know　that？Penelope　and　Sir　Charles　Somerfield。〃

〃Yes；〃　he　answered；　〃I　heard　so。〃

The　curtain　went　up。　The　faint　murmur　of　the　violins　was　suddenly　caught　up　and　absorbed　in　the　thunderous　music　of　a　march。　Lady　Grace　moved　nearer　to　the　front。　Prince　Maiyo　remained　where　he　was　among　the　shadows。　The　music　was　in　his　ears；　but　his　eyes　were　half　closed。



CHAPTER　XXVIII。　PATRIOTISM

The　Duke's　chef　had　served　an　Emperor　with　honorthe　billiard　room　at　Devenham　Castle　was　the　most　comfortable　room　upon　earth。　The　three　men　who　sat　together　upon　a　huge　divan；　the　three　men　most　powerful　in　directing　the　councils　of　their　country；　felt　a　gentle　wave　of　optimism　stealing　through　their　quickened　blood。　Nevertheless　this　was　a　serious　matter　which　occupied　their　thoughts。

〃We　are　becoming；〃　the　Prime　Minister　said；　〃much　too　modern。　We　are　becoming　over…civilized　out　of　any　similitude　to　a　nation　of　men　of　blood　and　brawn。〃

〃You　are　quoting　some　impossible　person；〃　Sir　Edward　Bransome　declared。

〃One　is　always　quoting　unconsciously；〃　the　Prime　Minister　admitted　with　a　sigh。　〃What　I　mean　is　that　five　hundred　years　ago　we　should　have　locked　this　young　man　up　in　a　room　hung　with　black　crape；　and　with　a　pleasant　array　of　unfortunately　extinct　instruments　we　should　have　succeeded；　beyond　a　doubt；　in　extorting　the　truth　from　him。〃

〃And　if　the　truth　were　not　satisfactory？〃　the　Duke　asked；　lighting　a　cigar。

〃We　should　have　endeavored　to　change　his　point　of　view；〃　the　Prime　Minister　continued；　〃even　if　we　had　to　change　at　the　same　time　the　outline　of　his　particularly　graceful　figure。　The　age　of　thumbscrews　and　the　rack　was；　after　all；　a　very　virile　age。　Just　consider　for　a　moment　our　positionsthree　of　the　greatest　and　most　brilliant　statesmen　of　our　dayand　we　can　do　very　little　save　wait　for　this　young　man　to　declare　himself。　We　are　the　puppets　with　whom　he　plays。　It　rests　with　him　whether　our　names　are　written　upon　the　scroll　of　fame　or　whether　our　administration　is　dismissed　in　half　a　dozen　contemptuous　words　by　the　coming　historian。　It　rests　with　him　whether　our　friend　Bransome　here　shall　be　proclaimed　the　greatest　Foreign　Minister　that　ever　breathed；　and　whether　I　myself　have　a　statue　erected　to　me　in　Westminster　Yard；　which　shall　be　crowned　with　a　laurel　wreath　by　patriotic　young　ladies　on　the　morning　of　my　anniversary。〃

The　Duke　stretched　himself　out　with　a　sigh　of　content。　His　cigar　was　burning　well；　and　the　flavor　of　old　Armignac　lingered　still　upon　his　palate。

〃Come；〃　he　protested；　〃I　think　you　exaggerate　Maiyo's　importance　just　a　little；　Haviland。　Hesho　seems　excellently　disposed　towards　us；　and；　after　all；　I　should　have　thought　his　word　would　have　had　more　weight　in　Tokio　than　the　word　of　a　young　man　who　is　new　to　diplomacy；　and　whose　claims　to　distinction　seem　to　rest　rather　upon　his　soldiering　and　the　fact　that　he　is　a　cousin　of　the　Emperor。〃

The　Prime　Minister　sighed。

〃Dear　Duke；〃　he　said；　〃no　one　of　us；　not　even　myself；　has　ever　done　that　young　man　justice。　To　me　he　represents　everything　that　is　most　strenuous　and　intellectual　in　Japanese　manhood。　The　spirit　of　that　wonderful　country　runs　like　the　elixir　of　life　itself　through　his　veins。　Since　the　day　he　brought　me　his　letter　from　the　Emperor；　I　have　watched　him　carefully；　and　I　believe　I　can　honestly　declare　that　not　once　in　these　eighteen　months　has　he　looked　away　from　his　task；　nor　has　he　given　to　one　single　person　even　an　inkling　of　the　thoughts　which　have　passed　through　his　mind。　He　came　back　from　the　Continent；　from　Berlin；　from　Paris；　from　Petersburg；　with　a　mass　of　acquired　information　which　would　have　made　some　of　our　blue…books　read　like　Hans　Andersen's　Fairy　Tales。　He　had　made　up　his　mind　exactly　what　he　thought　of　each　country；　of　their　political　systems；　of　their　social　life；　of　their　military　importance。　He　had　them　all　weighed　up　in　the　hollow　of　his　hand。　He　was　willing　to　talk　as　long　as　I；　for　instance；　was　willing　to　listen。　He　spoke　of　everybody　whom　he　had　met　and　every　place　which　he　had　visited　without　reserve；　and　yet　I　guarantee　that　there　is　no　person　in　England　today；　however　much　he　may　have　talked　with　him；　who　knows　in　the　least　what　his　true　impressions　are。〃

〃Haviland　is　right；〃　Bransome　agreed。　〃Many　a　time　I　have　caught　myself　wondering；　when　he　talks　so　easily　about　his　travels；　what　the　real　thoughts　are　which　lie　at　the　back　of　his　brain。　We　know；　of　course；　what　the　object　of　those　travels　was。　He　went　as　no　tourist。　He　went　with　a　deep　and　solemn　purpose　always　before　him。　He　went　to　find　out　whether　there　was　any　other　European　Power　whose　alliance　would　be　a　more　advantageous　thing　for　Japan　than　a　continuation　of　their　alliance　with　us。　Such　a　thing　has　never　been　mentioned　or　hinted　at　between　us；　but　we　know　it　all　the　same。〃

〃I　wonder；〃　the　Duke　remarked；　〃whether　we　shall　really　get　the　truth　out　of　him　before　he　goes。〃

The　Prime　Minister　shook　his　head。

〃Look　at　him　now　teaching　old　Lady　Saunderson　how　to　hold　her　cue。　He　singled　her　out　because　she　was　the　least　attractive　person　playing；　because　no　one　took　any　particular　notice　of　her；　and　every　one　seemed　disposed　to　let　her　go　her　own　way！　Those　girls　were　all　buzzing　around　him　as　though　he　were　something　holy；　but　you　see　how　gently　he　eluded　them！　Watch　what　an　interest　she　is　taking　in　the　game　now。　He　has　been　encouraging　the　poor　old　lady　until　her　last　few　shots　have　been　quite　good。　That　is　Maiyo　all　the　world　over。　I　will　wager　that　he　is　thinking　of　nothing　on　earth　at　this　moment　but　of　making　that　poor　old　lady　feel　at　her　ease　and　enjoy　her　game。　A　stranger；　looking　on；　would　imagine　him　to　be　just　a　kind…hearted；　simple…minded　fellow。　Yet　there　is　not　one　of　us　three　who　has　wit　enough　to　get　a　single　word　from　him　against　his　will。　You　shall　see。　There　is　an　excellent　opportunity　here。　I　suppose　both　of　you　read　his　speech　at　the　Herrick　Club　last　night？〃


I　did；〃　the　Duke　answered。

〃And　I；〃　Bransome　echoed。　〃It　seemed　to　me　that　he　spoke　a　little　more　freely　than　usual。〃

〃He　went　as　near　to　censure　as　I　have　ever　heard　him　when　speaking　of　any　of　the　institutions　of　our　country；〃　the　Prime　Minister　declared。　〃I　will　ask　him　about　it　directly　we　get　the　chance。　You　shall　see　how　he　will　evade　the　point。〃

〃You　will　have　to　be　quick　if　you　mean　to　get　hold　of　him；〃　the　Duke　remarked。　〃See；　the　game　is　over　and　there　he　goes　with　Penelope。〃

The　Prime　Minister　rose　to　his　feet　and　intercepted　them　on　their　way　to　the　door。

〃Miss　Morse；〃　he　said；　〃may　we　ransom　the　Prince？　We　want　to　talk　to　him。〃

〃Do　you　insinuate；〃　she　laughed；　〃that　he　is　a　captive　of　mine？〃

〃We　are　all　captives　of　Miss　Morse's；〃　Bransome　said　with　a　bow；　〃and　all　enemies　of　Somerfield's。〃

Somerfield；　hearing　his　name；　came　up　to　them。　The　Duchess；　too；　strolled　over　to　the　fire。　The　Prime　Minister　and　Bransome　returned　with　Maiyo　towards　the　corner　of　the　room　where　they　had　been　sitting。

〃Prince；〃　the　Prime　Minister　said；　〃we　have　been　talking　about　your　speech　at　the　Herrick　Club　last　night。〃

The　Prince　smiled　a　little　gravely。

〃Did　I　say　too　much？〃　he　asked。　〃It　all　came　as　a　surprise　to　methe　toast　and　everything　connected　with　it。　I　saw　my　name　down　to　reply；　and　it　seemed　discourteous　of　me　not　to　speak。　But；　as　yet；　I　do　not　altogether　understand　these　functions。　I　did　not　altogether　understand；　for　instance；　how　much　I　might　say　and　how　much　I　ought　to　leave　unsaid。〃

〃〃We　have　read　what　you　said；〃　Bransome　remarked。　〃What　we　should　like　to　hear；　if　I　may　venture　to　say　so；　is　what　you　left　unsaid。〃

The　Prince　for　a　moment　was　thoughtful。　Perhaps　he　remembered　that　the　days　had　passed　when　it　was　necessary　for　him　to　keep　so　jealously　his　own　counsel。　Perhaps　his　natural　love　of　the　truth　triumphed。　He　felt　a　sudden　longing　to　tell　these　people　who　had　been　kind　to　him　the　things　which　he　had　seen　amongst　them；　the　things　which　only　a　stranger　coming　fresh　to　the　country　could　perhaps　fully　comprehend。

〃What　I　said　was　of　little　importance；〃　the　Prince　remarked；　〃but　I　felt　myself　placed　in　a　very　difficult　position。　Before　I　knew　what　to　expect；　I　was　listening　to　a　glorification　of　the　arms　of　my　country　at　the　expense　of　Russia。　I　was　being　hailed　as　one　of　a　nation　who　possess　military　genius　which　had　not　been　equalled　since　the　days　of　Hannibal　and　Caesar。　Many　things　of　that　sort　were　said；　many　things　much　too　kind；　many　things　which　somehow　it　grieved　me　to　listen　to。　And　when　I　stood　up　to　reply；　I　felt　that　the　few　words　which　I　must　say　would　sound；　perhaps；　ungracious；　but　they　must　be　said。　It　was　one　of　those　occasions　which　seemed　to　call　for　the　naked　truth。〃

Penelope　and　the　Duchess　had　joined　the　little　group。

〃May　we　stay？〃　the　former　asked。　〃I　read　every　word　of　your　speech；〃　she　added；　turning　to　the　Prince。　〃Do　tell　us　why　you　spoke　so　severely；　what　it　was　that　you　objected　to　so　strongly　in　General　Ennison's　remarks？〃

The　Prince　turned　earnestly　towards　her。

〃My　dear　young　lady；〃　he　said；　〃all　that　I　objected　to　was　this　over…glorification　of　the　feats　of　arms　accomplished　by　us。　People　over　here　did　not　understand。　On　the　one　side　were　the　great　armies　of　Russia；men　drawn；　all　of　them；　from　the　ranks　of　the　peasant；　men　of　low　nerve　force；　men　who　were　not　many　degrees　better　than　animals。　They　came　to　fight　against　us　because　it　was　their　business　to　fight；　because　for　fighting　they　drew　their　scanty　pay；　their　food；　and　their　drink；　and　the　clothes　they　wore。　They　fought　because　if　they　refused　they　faced　the　revolver　bullets　of　thei