the illustrious prince-第12部分
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He looked at her as one might have looked at a child；kindly； even tolerantly。 He was scarcely so tall as she was； and Penelope's attitude towards him was marked all the time with a certain frigidity。 Yet he spoke to her with the quiet； courteous confidence of the philosopher who unbends to talk to a child。
〃In this country；〃 he said； 〃you place so high a value upon the gift of life。 Nothing moves you so greatly as the killing of one man by another； or the death of a person whom you know。〃
〃There is no tragedy in the world so great！〃 Penelope declared。
The Prince shrugged his shoulders very slightly。
〃My dear Miss Morse；〃 he said； 〃it is so that you think about life and death here。 Yet you call yourselves a Christian countryyou have a very beautiful faith。 With us； perhaps； there is a little more philosophy and something a little less definite in the trend of our religion。 Yet we do not dress Death in black clothes or fly from his outstretched hand。 We fear him no more that we do the night。 It is a thing that comesa thing that must be。〃
He spoke so softly； and yet with so much conviction； that it seemed hard to answer him。 Penelope； however； was conscious of an almost feverish desire either to contradict him or to prolong the conversation by some means or other。
〃Your point of view；〃 she said； 〃is well enough； Prince； for those who fall in battle； fighting for their country or for a great cause。 Don't you think； though； that the horror of death is a more real thing in a case like this； where a man is killed in cold blood for the sake of robbery； or perhaps revenge？〃
〃One cannot tell；〃 the Prince answered thoughtfully。 〃The battlefields of life are there for every one to cross。 This mysterious gentleman who seems to have met with his death so unexpectedlyhe； too； may have been the victim of a cause； knowing his dangers； facing them as a man should face them。〃
The Duchess sighed。
〃I am quite sure； Prince；〃 she said； 〃that you are a romanticist。 But； apart from the sentimental side of it； do things like this happen in your country？〃
〃Why not？〃 the Prince answered。 〃It is as I have been saying： for a worthy cause； or a cause which he believed to be worthy； there is no man of my country worthy of the name who would not accept death with the same resignation that he lays his head upon the pillow and waits for sleep。〃
Sir Charles raised his glass and bowed across the table。
〃To our great allies！〃 he said； smiling。
The Prince drank his glass of water thoughtfully。 He drank wine only on very rare occasions； and then under compulsion。 He turned to the Duchess。
〃A few days ago；〃 he said； 〃I heard myself described as being much too serious a person。 Tonight I am afraid that I am living up to my reputation。 Our conversation seems to have drifted into somewhat gloomy channels。 We must ask Miss Morse； I think； to help us to forget。 They say；〃 he continued； 〃that it is the young ladies of your country who hold open the gates of Paradise for their menkind。〃
He was looking into her eyes。 His tone was half bantering； half serious。 From across the table Penelope knew that Somerfield was watching her closely。 Somehow or other； she was irritated and nervous； and she answered vaguely。 Sir Charles intervened with a story about some of their acquaintances； and the conversation drifted into more ordinary channels。
〃Some day； I suppose；〃 the Duchess remarked； as the service of dinner drew toward a close； 〃you will have restaurants like this in Tokio？〃
The Prince assented。
〃Yes；〃 he said without enthusiasm； 〃they will come。 Our heritage from the West is a sure thing。 Not in my days； perhaps； or in the days of those that follow me； but they will come。〃
〃I think that it is absolutely wicked of Dicky；〃 the Duchess declared； as they rose from the table。 〃I shall never rely upon him again。〃
〃After all； perhaps； it isn't his fault；〃 Penelope said； breathing a little sigh of relief as she rose to her feet。 〃Mr。 Harvey is not always considerate； and I know that several of the staff are away on leave。〃
〃That's right； my dear；〃 the Duchess said； smiling； 〃stick up for your countrymen。 I suppose he'll find us sometime during the evening。 We can all go to the theatre together； the omnibus is outside。〃
The little party passed through the foyer and into the hall of the hotel； where they waited while the Duchess' carriage was called。 Mr。 Coulson was there in an easy chair； smoking a cigar； and watching the people coming and going。 He studied the passers…by with ah air of impersonal but pleased interest。 Penelope and Lady Grace were certainly admirable foils。 The latter was fair； with beautiful complexiona trifle sunburnt； blue eyes； good…humored mouth； and features excellent in their way； but a little lacking in expression。 Her figure was good； her movements slow but not ungraceful； her dress of white ivory satin a little extravagant for the occasion。 She looked exactly what she was；a well…bred； well…disposed； healthy young Englishwoman； of aristocratic parentage。 Penelope； on the other hand； more simply dressed； save for the string of pearls which hung from her neck； had the look of a creature from another world。 She had plenty of animation； a certain nervous energy seemed to keep her all the time restless。 She talked ceaselessly； sometimes to the Prince； more often to Sir Charles。 Her gray…green eyes were bright； her cheeks delicately flushed。 She spoke and looked and moved as one on fire with the joy of life。 The Prince； noticing that Lady Grace had been left to herself for the last few moments； moved a little towards her and commenced a courteous conversation。 Sir Charles took the opportunity to bend over his companion。
〃Penelope；〃 he said；〃you are queer tonight。 Tell me what it is？ You don't really dislike the Prince； do you？〃
〃Why； of course not；〃 she answered； looking back into the restaurant and listening； as though interested in the music。 〃He is odd； though； isn't he？ He is so serious and； in a way； so convincing。 He is like a being transplanted into an absolutely alien soil。 One would like to laugh at him； and one can't。〃
〃He is rather an anomaly；〃 Sir Charles said； humming lightly to himself。 〃I suppose； compared with us matter…of…fact people； he must seem to your sex quite a romantic figure。〃
〃He makes no particular appeal to me at all；〃 Penelope declared。
Somerfield was suddenly thoughtful。
〃Sometimes； Penelope；〃 he said； 〃I don't quite understand you； especially when we speak about the Prince。 I have come to the conclusion that you either like him very much； or you dislike him very much； or you have some thoughts about him which you tell to no one。〃
She lifted her skirts。 The carriage had been called。
〃I like your last suggestion；〃 she declared。 〃You may believe that that is true。〃
On their way out； the Prince was accosted by some friends and remained talking for several moments。 When he entered the omnibus； there seemed to Penelope； who found herself constantly watching him closely； a certain added gravity in his demeanor。 The drive to the theatre was a short one； and conversation consisted only of a few disjointed remarks。 In the lobby the Prince laid his hand upon Somerfield's arm。
〃Sir Charles；〃 he said； 〃if I were you； I would keep that evening paper in your pocket。 Don't let the ladies see it。〃
Somerfield looked at him in surprise。
〃What do you mean？〃 he asked。
〃To me personally it is of no consequence；〃 the Prince answered； 〃but your womenfolk feel these things so keenly； and Mr。 Vanderpole is of the same nationality； is he not； as Miss Morse？ If you take my advice； you will be sure that they do not see the paper until after they get home this evening。〃
〃Has anything happened to Dicky？〃 Somerfield asked quickly。
The Prince's face was impassive； he seemed not to have heard。 Penelope had turned to wait for them。
〃The Duchess thinks that we had better all go into the box；〃 she said。 〃We have two stalls as well； but as Dicky is not here there is really room for five。 Will you get some programmes； Sir Charles？〃
Somerfield stopped for a minute； under pretence of seeking some change； and tore open his paper。 The Prince led Penelope down the carpeted way。
〃I heard what you and Sir Charles were saying；〃 she declared quietly。 〃Please tell me what it is that has happened to Dicky？〃
The Prince's face was grave。
〃I am sorry；〃 he replied。 〃I did not know that our voices would travel so far。〃
〃It was not yours；〃 she said。 〃It was Sir Charles'。 Tell me quickly what it is that has happened？〃
〃Mr。 Vanderpole；〃 the Prince answered； 〃has met with an accident；a somewhat serious one； I fear。 Perhaps；〃 he added； 〃it would be as well； after all； to break this to the Duchess。 I was forgetting the prejudices of your country。 She will doubtless wish that our party should be broken up。〃
Penelope was suddenly very white。 He whispered in her ear。
〃Be brave；〃 he said。 〃It is your part。〃
She stood still for a moment； and then moved on。 His words had had a curious effect upon her。 The buzzing in her ears had ceased； there was something to be doneshe must do it！ She passed into the box； the door of which the attendant was holding open。
〃Duchess；〃 she said； 〃I am so sorry； but I am afraid that something has happened to Dicky。 If you do not mind； I am going to ask Sir Charles to take me home。〃
〃But my dear child！〃 the Duchess exclaimed。
〃Miss Morse is quite right；〃 the Prince said quietly。 〃I think it would be better for her to leave at once。 If you will allow me； I will explain to you later。〃
She left the box without another word； and took Somerfield's arm。
〃We two are to go；〃 she murmured。 〃The Prince will explain to the Duchess。〃
The Prince closed the box door behind them。 He placed a chair for the Duchess so that she was not in view of the house。
〃A very sad thing has happened；〃 he said quietly。 〃Mr。 Vanderpole met with an accident in a taxicab this evening。 From the latest reports； it seems that he is dead！〃
CHAPTER IX。 INSPECTOR JACKS SCORES
There followed a few days of pleasurable interest to all Englishmen who travelled in the tube and read their halfpenny papers。 A great and enlightened Press had already solved the proble
