the illustrious prince- 第46部分

〃You　appear　to　be　a　perfect　Secret　Service　to　yourself；　Prince；〃　he　said　smoothly。　〃Perhaps　you　can　also　tell　us　our　reply？〃

〃I　can　tell　you　this　much；〃　the　Prince　answered。　〃You　did　not　send　word　back　to　Washington　that　your　alliance　was　a　sacred　charge　upon　your　honor　and　that　its　terms　must　be　fulfilled　to　the　uttermost　letter。　Your　reply；　I　fancy；　was　more　in　the　nature　of　a　compromise。〃

〃How　do　you　know　what　our　reply　was？〃　Mr。　Haviland　asked。

〃To　tell　you　the　truth；　I　do　not；〃　the　Prince　answered；　smiling。　〃I　have　simply　told　you　what　I　am　assured　that　your　answer　must　have　been。　Let　us　leave　this　matter。　We　gain　nothing　by　discussing　it。〃

〃You　have　been　very　candid　with　us；　Prince；〃　Mr。　Haviland　remarked。　〃We　gather　that　you　are　opposed　to　a　renewal　of　our　alliance　chiefly　for　two　reasons；first；　that　you　have　formed　an　unfavorable　opinion　of　our　resources　and　capacity　as　a　nation；　and　secondly；　because　you　are　seeking　an　ally　who　would　be　of　service　to　you　in　one　particular　eventuality；　namely；　a　war　with　the　United　States。　You　have　spent　some　time　upon　the　Continent。　May　we　inquire　whether　your　present　attitude　is　the　result　of　advances　made　to　you　by　any　other　Power？　If　I　am　asking　too　much；　leave　my　question　unanswered。〃

The　Prince　shook　his　head　slowly。

〃Tonight；〃he　said；　〃I　am　speaking　to　you　as　one　who　is　willing　to　show　everything　that　is　in　his　heart。　I　will　tell　you；　then。　I　have　been　to　Germany；　and　I　can　assure　you　of　my　own　knowledge　that　Germany　possesses　the　mightiest　fighting　machine　ever　known　in　the　world's　history。　That　I　do　truthfully　and　honestly　believe。　Yet　listen　to　me。　I　have　talked　to　the　men　and　I　have　talked　to　the　officers。　I　have　seen　them　in　barracks　and　on　the　parade　ground；　and　I　tell　you　this。　When　the　time　arrives　for　that　machine　to　be　set　in　motion；　it　is　my　profound　conviction　that　the　result　will　be　one　of　the　greatest　surprises　of　modern　times。　I　say　no　more；　nor　must　you　ask　me　any　questions；　but　I　tell　you　that　we　do　not　need　Germany　as　an　ally。　I　have　been　to　Russia；　and　although　our　hands　have　crossed；　there　can　be　no　real　friendship　between　our　countries　till　time　has　wiped　out　the　memory　of　our　recent　conflict。　France　hates　us　because　it　does　not　understand　us。　The　future　of　Japan　is　just　as　clear　as　the　disaster　which　hangs　over　Great　Britain。　There　is　only　one　possible　ally　for　us；　only　one　possible　combination。　That　is　what　I　have　written　home　to　my　cousin　the　Emperor。　That　is　what　I　pray　that　our　young　professors　will　teach　throughout　Japan。。　That　is　what　it　will　be　my　mission　to　teach　my　country　people　if　the　Fates　will　that　I　return　safely　home。　East　and　West　are　too　far　apart。　We　are　well　outside　the　coming　European　struggle。　Our　strength　will　come　to　us　from　nearer　home。〃

〃China！〃　the　Prime　Minister　exclaimed。

〃The　China　of　our　own　making；〃　the　Prince　declared；　a　note　of　tense　enthusiasm　creeping　into　his　tone；〃China　recreated　after　its　great　lapse　of　a　thousand　years。　You　and　I　in　our　lifetime　shall　not　see　it；　but　there　will　come　a　day　when　the　ancient　conquests　of　Persia　and　Greece　and　Rome　will　seem　as　nothing　before　the　all…conquering　armies　of　China　and　Japan。　Until　those　days　we　need　no　allies。　We　will　have　none。　We　must　accept　the　insults　of　America　and　the　rough　hand　of　Germany。　We　must　be　strong　enough　to　wait！〃

A　footman　entered　the　room　and　made　his　way　to　the　Duke's　chair。

〃Your　Grace；〃　he　said；　〃a　gentleman　is　ringing　up　from　Downing　Street　who　says　he　is　speaking　from　the　Home　Office。〃

〃Whom　does　he　want？〃　the　Duke　asked。

〃Both　Your　Grace　and　Mr。　Haviland；〃　the　man　replied。　〃He　wished　me　to　say　that　the　matter　was　of　the　utmost　importance。〃

The　Duke　rose　at　once　and　glanced　at　the　clock。

〃It　is　an　extraordinary　hour；〃　he　remarked；　〃for　Heseltine　to　be　wanting　us。　Shall　we　go　and　see　what　it　means；　Haviland？　You　will　excuse　us；　Prince？〃

The　Prince　bowed。

〃I　think　that　we　have　talked　enough　of　serious　affairs　tonight；〃　he　said。　〃I　shall　challenge　Sir　Edward　to　a　game　of　billiards。〃



CHAPTER　XXXIII。　UNAFRAID

The　Prince；　still　fully　attired；　save　that　in　place　of　his　dress　coat　he　wore　a　loose　smoking　jacket；　stood　at　the　windows　of　his　sitting　room　at　Devenham　Castle；　looking　across　the　park。　In　the　somewhat　fitful　moonlight　the　trees　had　taken　to　themselves　grotesque　shapes。　Away　in　the　distance　the　glimmer　of　the　sea　shone　like　a　thin　belt　of　quicksilver。　The　stable　clock　had　struck　two。　The　whole　place　seemed　at　rest。　Only　one　light　was　gleaming　from　a　long　low　building　which　had　been　added　to　the　coach　houses　of　recent　years　for　a　motor　garage。　That　one　light；　the　Prince　knew；　was　on　his　account。　There　his　chauffeur　waited；　untiring　and　sleepless；　with　his　car　always　ready　for　that　last　rush　to　the　coast；　the　advisability　of　which　the　Prince　had　considered　more　than　once　during　the　last　twenty…four　hours。　The　excitement　of　the　evening；　the　excitement　of　his　unwonted　outburst；　was　still　troubling　him。　It　was　not　often　that　he　had　so　far　overstepped　the　bounds　which　his　natural　caution；　his　ever…present　self…restraint；　imposed　upon　him。　He　paced　restlessly　to　and　fro　from　the　sitting　room　to　the　bedroom　and　back　again。　He　had　told　the　truth；the　bare；　simple　truth。　He　had　seen　the　letters　of　fire　in　the　sky；　and　he　had　read　them　to　these　people　because　of　their　kindness；　because　of　a　certain　affection　which　he　bore　them。　To　them　it　must　have　sounded　like　a　man　speaking　in　a　strange　tongue。　They　had　not　understood。　Perhaps；　even；　they　would　not　believe　in　the　absolute　sincerity　of　his　motives。　Again　he　paused　at　the　window　and　looked　over　the　park　to　that　narrow；　glittering　stretch　of　sea。　Why　should　he　not　for　once　forget　the　traditions　of　his　race；　the　pride　which　kept　him　there　to　face　the　end！　There　was　still　time。　The　cruiser　which　the　emperor　had　sent　was　waiting　for　him　in　Southampton　Harbor。　In　twenty…four　hours　he　would　be　in　foreign　waters。　He　thought　of　these　things　earnestly；　even　wistfully；　and　yet　he　knew　that　he　could　not　go。　Perhaps　they　would　be　glad　of　an　opportunity　of　getting　rid　of　him　now　that　he　had　spoken　his　mind。　In　any　case；　right　was　on　their　side。　The　end；　if　it　must　come；　was　simple　enough！

He　turned　away　from　the　window　with　a　little　shrug　of　the　shoulders。　Even　as　he　did　so；　there　came　a　faint　knocking　at　the　door。　His　servant　had　already　retired。　For　a　moment　it　seemed　to　him　that　it　could　mean　but　one　thing。　While　he　hesitated；　the　handle　was　softly　turned　and　the　door　opened。　To　his　amazement；　it　was　Penelope　who　stood　upon　the　threshold。

〃Miss　Morse！〃　he　exclaimed　breathlessly。

She　held　out　her　hand　as　though　to　bid　him　remain　silent。　For　several　seconds　she　seemed　to　be　listening。　Then　very　softly　she　closed　the　door　behind　her。

〃Miss　Penelope；〃　he　cried　softly；　〃you　must　not　come　in　here！　Please！〃

She　ignored　his　outstretched　hand；　advancing　a　little　further　into　the　room。　There　was　tragedy　in　her　white　face。　She　seemed　to　be　shaking　in　every　limb；　but　not　with　nervousness。　Directly　he　looked　into　her　eyes；　he　knew　very　well　that　the　thing　was　close　at　hand！

〃Listen！〃　she　whispered。　〃I　had　to　come！　You　don't　know　what　is　going　on！　For　the　last　half　hour　the　telephone　has　been　ringing　continuously。　It　is　about　you！　The　Home　Office　has　been　ringing　up　to　speak　to　the　Prime　Minister。　The　Chief　Inspector　of　Scotland　Yard　has　been　to　see　them。　One　of　their　detectives　has　collected　evidence　which　justifies　them　in　issuing　a　warrant　for　your　arrest。〃

〃For　my　arrest；〃　the　Prince　repeated。

〃Don't　you　understand？〃　she　continued　breathlessly。　〃Don't　you　see　how　horrible　it　is？　They　mean　to　arrest　you　for　the　murder　of　Hamilton　Fynes　and　Dicky　Vanderpole！〃

〃If　this　must　be　so；〃　the　Prince　answered；　〃why　do　they　not　come？　I　am　here。〃

〃But　you　must　not　stay　here！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃You　must　escape！　It　is　too　terrible　to　think　that　you　shouldoh；　I　can't　say　it！that　you　should　have　to　face　these　charges。　If　you　are　guilty；　well；　Heaven　help　you！If　you　are　guilty；　I　want　you　to　escape　all　the　same！〃

He　looked　at　her　with　the　puzzled　air　of　one　who　tries　to　reason　with　a　child。

〃Dear　Miss　Penelope；〃　he　said；　〃This　is　kind　of　you；　but；　after　all；　remember　that　I　am　a　man；　and　I　must　not　run　away。〃

〃But　you　cannot　meet　these　charges！〃　she　interrupted。　〃You　cannot　meet　them！　You　know　it！　Oh；　don't　think　I　can't　appreciate　your　point　of　view！　If　you　killed　those　men；　you　killed　them　to　obtain　papers　which　you　believed　were　necessary　for　the　welfare　of　your　country。　Oh；　it　is　not　I　who　judge　you！　You　did　not　do　it；　I　know；　for　your　own　gain。　You　did　it　because　you　are；　heart　and　soul；　a　patriot。　But　here；　alas！　they　do　not　understand。　Their　whole　standpoint　is　different。　They　will　judge　you　as　they　would　a　common　criminal。　You　must　fly；you　must；　indeed！〃

〃Dear　Miss　Penelope；〃　he　said；　〃I　cannot　do　that！　I　cannot　run　away　like　a　thief　in　the　dark。　If　this　thing　is　to　come；　it　must　come。〃

〃But　you　don't　understand！〃　she　continued；　wringing　her　hands。　〃You　think　because　you　are　a　great　prince　and　a　prince　of　a　friendly　nation　that　the　law　will　treat　you　differently。　It　will　not！　They　have　talked　of　it　downstairs。　You　are　not　formally　attached　to　any　one　in　this　country。　You　are　not　even　upon　the　staff　of　the　Embassy。　You　are　here　on　a　private　mission　as　a　private　person；　and　there　is　no　way　in　which　the　Government　can　intervene；　even　if　it　would。　You　are　subject　to　its　laws　and　you　have　broken　them。　For　Heaven's　sake；　fly！　You　have　your　motor　car　here。　Let　your　man　drive　you　to　Southampton　and　get　on　board　the　Japanese　cruiser。　You　mustn't　wait　a　single　moment。　I　believe　that　tomorrow　morning　will　be　too　late！〃

He　took　her　hands　in　his　very　tenderly　and　yet　with　something　of　reverence　in　his　gesture。　He　looked　into　her　eyes　and　he　spoke　very　earnestly。　Every　word　seemed　to　come　from　his　heart。

〃Dear　Miss　Penelope；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　very；　very　kind　of　you　to　have　come　here　and　warned　me。　Only　you　cannot　quite　understand　what　this　thing　means　to　me。　Remember　what　I　told　you　once。　Life　and　death　to　your　people　in　this　country　seem　to　be　the　greatest　things　which　the　mind　of　man　can　hold。　It　is　not　so　with　us。　We　are　brought　up　differently。　In　a　worthy　cause