the illustrious prince-第23部分

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The　Duke　nodded。

〃It's　an　odd　thing；〃　he　remarked；　〃that　they　should　both　have　been　Americans。〃

〃Heseltine　thinks　there's　something　behind　this　correspondence；〃　the　Prime　Minister　said　slowly。　〃Washington　was　very　secretive　about　the　man　Fynes'　identity。　I　found　that　out　from　Scotland　Yard。　Do　you　know；　I'm　half　inclined　to　think；　although　I　can't　get　a　word　out　of　Harvey；　that　this　man　Fynes〃

The　Prime　Minister　hesitated。

〃Well？〃　the　Duke　asked　a　little　impatiently。

〃I　don't　want　to　go　too　far；〃　his　chief　said。　〃I　am　making　some　fresh　inquiries；　and　I　am　hoping　to　get　at　the　bottom　of　the　matter　very　shortly。　One　thing　is　very　certain；　though；　and　that　is　that　no　two　murders　have　ever　been　committed　in　this　city　with　more　cold…blooded　deliberation；　and　with　more　of　what　I　should　call　diabolical　cleverness。　Take　the　affair　of　poor　young　Vanderpole；　for　instance。　The　person　who　entered　his　taxi　and　killed　him　must　have　done　so　while　the　vehicle　was　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　road　at　one　of　the　three　blocks。　Not　only　that；　but　he　must　have　been　a　friend；　or　some　one　posing　as　a　friendsome　one；　at　any　rate；　of　his　own　order。　Vanderpole　was　over　six　feet　high；　and　as　muscular　as　a　young　bull。　He　could　have　thrown　any　one　out　into　the　street　who　had　attempted　to　assault　him　openly。〃

〃It　is　the　most　remarkable　case　I　ever　heard　of　in　my　life；〃　the　Duke　admitted；　helping　himself　to　a　cigarette　from　a　box　which　he　had　just　discovered。

〃There　is　another　point；〃　the　Prime　Minister　continued。　〃There　are　features　in　common　about　both　these　murders。　Not　only　were　they　both　the　work　of　a　most　accomplished　criminal；　but　he　must　have　been　possessed　of　an　iron　nerve　and　amazing　strength。　The　dagger　by　which　Hamilton　Fynes　was　stabbed　was　driven　through　the　middle　of　his　heart。　The　cord　with　which　Vanderpole　was　strangled　must　have　been　turned　by　a　wrist　of　steel。　No　time　for　a　word　afterwards；　mind；　or　before。　It　was　a　wonderful　feat。　I　am　not　surprised　that　the　Americans　can't　understand　it。〃

〃They　don't　suggest；　I　suppose；〃　the　Duke　asked；　〃that　we　are　not　trying　to　clear　the　matter　up？〃

〃They　don't　suggest　it；〃　his　chief　answered；　〃but　I　can't　quite　make　out　what's　at　the　back　of　their　heads。　However；　I　won't　bother　you　about　that　now。　If　I　were　to　propound　Heseltine's　theory　to　you；　you　would　think　that　he　had　been　reading　the　works　of　some　of　our　enterprising　young　novelists。　Things　will　have　cleared　up；　I　dare　say；　by　next　week。　I　am　coming　round　to　the　House　for　a　moment　if　you're　not　in　a　hurry。〃

The　Duke　assented；　and　waited　while　the　secretary　locked　up　the　papers　which　the　Prime　Minister　had　been　examining；　and　prepared　others　to　be　carried　into　the　House。　The　two　men　left　the　place　together；　and　the　Duke　pointed　toward　his　brougham。

〃Do　you　mind　walking？〃　the　Prime　Minister　said。　〃There　is　another　matter　I'd　like　to　talk　to　you　about；　and　there's　nowhere　better　than　the　streets　for　a　little　conversation。　Besides；　I　need　the　air。〃

〃With　pleasure；〃　the　Duke　answered；　who　loathed　walking。

He　directed　his　coachman　to　precede　them；　and　they　started　off；　arm　in　arm。

〃Devenham；〃　the　Prime　Minister　said；　〃we　were　speaking；　a　few　minutes　ago；　of　Prince　Maiyo。　I　want　you　to　understand　this；　that　upon　that　young　man　depends　entirely　the　success　or　failure　of　my　administration。〃

〃You　are　serious？〃　the　Duke　exclaimed。

〃Absolutely；〃　the　Prime　Minister　answered。　〃I　know　quite　well　what　he　is　here　for。　He　is　here　to　make　up　his　mind　whether　it　will　pay　Japan　to　renew　her　treaty　with　us；　or　whether　it　would　be　more　to　her　advantage　to　enter　into　an　alliance　with　any　other　European　power。　He　has　been　to　most　of　the　capitals　in　Europe。　He　has　been　here　with　us。　By　this　time　he　has　made　up　his　mind。　He　knows　quite　well　what　his　report　will　be。　Yet　you　can't　get　a　word　out　of　him。　He　is　a　delightful　young　fellow；　I　know；　but　he　is　as　clever　as　any　trained　diplomatist　I　have　ever　come　across。　I've　had　him　to　dine　with　me　alone；　and　I've　done　all　that　I　could　to　make　him　talk。　When　he　went　away；　I　knew　just　exactly　as　much　as　I　did　before　he　came。〃

He　seems　pleased　enough　with　us；〃　the　Duke　remarked。

〃I　am　not　so　sure；〃　the　Prime　Minister　answered。　〃He　has　travelled　about　a　good　deal　in　England。　I　heard　of　him　in　Manchester　and　Sheffield；　Newcastle　and　Leicester；　absolutely　unattended。　I　wonder　what　he　was　doing　there。〃

〃From　my　experience　of　him；〃　the　Duke　said；　〃I　don't　think　we　shall　know　until　he　chooses　to　tell　us。〃

〃I　am　afraid　you　are　right；〃　the　Prime　Minister　declared。　〃At　the　same　time　you　might　just　drop　a　hint　to　your　wife；　and　to　that　remarkably　clever　young　niece　of　hers；　Miss　Penelope　Morse。　Of　course；　I　don't　expect　that　he　would　unbosom　himself　to　any　one；　but；　to　tell　you　the　truth；　as　we　are　situated　now；　the　faintest　hint　as　regards　his　inclinations；　or　lack　of　inclinations；　towards　certain　things　would　be　of　immense　service。　If　he　criticised　any　of　our　institutions；　for　instance；　his　remarks　would　be　most　interesting。　Then　he　has　been　spending　several　months　in　various　capitals。　He　would　not　be　likely　to　tell　any　one　his　whole　impressions　of　those　few　months；　but　a　phrase；　a　word；　even　a　gesture；　to　a　clever　woman　might　mean　a　great　deal。　It　might　also　mean　a　great　deal　to　us。〃

〃I'll　mention　it；〃　the　Duke　promised；　〃but　I　am　afraid　my　womenfolk　are　scarcely　up　to　this　sort　of　thing。　The　best　plan　would　be　to　tackle　him　ourselves　down　at　Devenham。〃

〃I　thought　of　that；〃　the　Prime　Minister　assented。　〃That　is　why　I　am　coming　down　myself　and　bringing　Bransome。　If　he　will　have　nothing　to　say　to　us　within　a　week　or　so　of　his　departure；　we　shall　know　what　to　think。　Remember　my　words；　Devenham；when　our　chronicler　dips　his　pen　into　the　ink　and　writes　of　our　government；　our　foreign　policy；　at　least；　will　be　judged　by　our　position　in　the　far　East。　Exactly　what　that　will　be　depends　upon　Prince　Maiyo。　With　a　renewal　of　our　treaty　we　could　go　to　the　country　tomorrow。　Without　it；　especially　if　the　refusal　should　come　from　them；　there　will　be　some　very　ugly　writing　across　the　page。〃

The　Duke　threw　away　his　cigarette。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃we　can　only　do　our　best。　The　young　man　seems　friendly　enough。〃

The　Prime　Minister　nodded。

〃It　is　precisely　his　friendliness　which　I　fear；〃　he　said。



CHAPTER　XVII。　A　GAY　NIGHT　IN　PARIS

Mr。　James　B。　Coulson　was　almost　as　much　at　home　at　the　Grand　　Hotel；　Paris；　as　he　had　been　at　the　Savoy　in　London。　His　headquarters　were　at　the　American　Bar；　where　he　approved　of　the　cocktails；patronized　the　highballs；　and　continually　met　fellow…countrymen　with　whom　he　gossiped　and　visited　various　places　of　amusement。　His　business　during　the　daytime　he　kept　to　himself；　but　he　certainly　was　possessed　of　a　bagful　of　documents　and　drawings　relating　to　sundry　patents　connected　with　the　manufacture　of　woollen　goods；　the　praises　of　which　he　was　always　ready　to　sing　in　a　most　enthusiastic　fashion。

Mr。　Coulson　was　not　a　man　whose　acquaintance　it　was　difficult　to　make。　From　five　to　seven　every　afternoon；　scorning　the　attractions　of　the　band　outside　　and　the　generally　festive　air　which　pervaded　the　great　tea　rooms；　he　sat　at　the　corner　of　the　bar　　upon　an　article　of　furniture　which　resembled　more　than　anything　else　an　office　stool；　dividing　　his　attention　between　desultory　conversation　with　any　other　gentleman　who　might　be　indulging　in　a　drink；　and　watching　the　billiards　in　which　some　of　his　compatriots　were　usually　competing。　It　was　not；　so　far　as　one　might　judge；　a　strenuous　life　which　Mr。　Coulson　was　leading。　He　had　been　known　once　or　twice　to　yawn；　and　he　had　somewhat　the　appearance　of　a　man　engaged　in　an　earnest　but　at　times　not　altogether　successful　attempt　to　kill　time。　Perhaps　for　that　reason　he　made　acquaintances　with　a　little　more　than　his　customary　freedom。　There　was　a　young　Englishman；　for　instance；　whose　name；　it　appeared；　was　Gaynsforth；　with　whom；　after　a　drink　or　two　at　the　bar；　he　speedily　became　on　almost　intimate　terms。

Mr。　Gaynsforth　was　a　young　man；　apparently　of　good　breeding　and　some　means。　He　was　well　dressed；　of　cheerful　disposition；　knew　something　about　the　woollen　trade；　and　appeared　to　take　a　distinct　liking　to　his　new　friend。　The　two　men；　after　having　talked　business　together　for　some　time；　arranged　to　dine　together　and　have　what　they　called　a　gay　evening。　They　retired　to　their　various　apartments　to　change；　Mr。　Gaynsforth　perfectly　well　satisfied　with　his　progress；　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson　with　a　broad　grin　upon　his　face。

After　a　very　excellent　dinner；　for　which　Mr。　Gaynsforth　insisted　upon　paying；　they　went　to　the　Folies　Bergeres；　where　the　Englishman　developed　a　thirst　which；　considering　the　coolness　of　the　evening；　was　nothing　short　of　amazing。　Mr。　Coulson；　however；　kept　pace　with　him　steadily；　and　toward　midnight　their　acquaintance　had　steadily　progressed　until　they　were　certainly　on　friendly　if　not　affectionate　terms。　A　round　of　the　supper　places；　proposed　by　the　Englishman；　was　assented　to　by　Mr。　Coulson　with　enthusiasm。　About　three　o'clock　in　the　morning　Mr。　Coulson　had　the　appearance　of　a　man　for　whom　the　troubles　of　this　world　are　over；　and　who　was　realizing　the　ecstatic　bliss　of　a　temporary　Nirvana。　Mr。　Gaynsforth；　on　the　other　hand；　although　half　an　hour　ago　he　had　been　boisterous　and　unsteady；　seemed　suddenly　to　have　become　once　more　the　quiet；　discreet…looking　young　Englishman　who　had　first　bowed　to　Mr。　Coulson　in　the　bar　of　the　Grand　Hotel　and　accepted　with　some　diffidence　his　offer　of　a　drink。　To　prevent　his　friend　being　jostled　by　the　somewhat　mixed　crowd　in　which　they　then　were；　Mr。　Gaynsforth　drew　nearer　and　nearer　to　him。　He　even　let　his　hand　stray　over　his　person；　as　though　to　be　sure　that　he　was　not　carrying　too　much　in　his　pockets。

〃Say；　old　man；〃　he　whispered　in　his　ear；they　were　sitting　side　by　side　now　in　the　Bal　Tabarin；〃if　you　are　going　on　like　this；　Heaven　knows　where　you'll　land　at　the　end　of　it　all！　I'll　look　after　you　as　well　as　I　can；where　you　go；　I'll　gobut　we　can't　be　together　every　second　of　the　time。　Don't　you　think　you'd　be　safer　if　you　handed　over　your　pocketbook　to　me？〃

〃Right　you　are！〃　Mr。　Coulson　declared；　falling　a　little　over　on　one　side。　〃Take　it　out　of　my　pocket。　Be　careful　of　it　now。　There'