the illustrious prince-第24部分

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〃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's　five　hundred　francs　there；　and　the　plans　of　a　loom　which　I　wouldn't　sell　for　a　good　many　thousands。〃

Mr。　Gaynsforth　possessed　himself　quickly　of　the　pocketbook；　and　satisfied　himself　that　his　friend's　description　of　its　contents　was　fairly　correct。

〃You've　nothing　else　upon　you　worth　taking　care　of？〃　he　whispered。　〃You　can　trust　me；　you　know。　You　haven't　any　papers；　or　anything　of　that　sort？〃

Then　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson；　who　was　getting　tired　of　his　part；　suddenly　sat　up；　and　a　soberer　man　had　never　occupied　that　particular　chair　in　the　Bal　Tabarin。

〃And　if　I　have；　my　young　friend；〃　he　said　calmly；　〃what　the　devil　business　is　it　of　yours？〃

Mr。　Gaynsforth　was　taken　aback　and　showed　it。　He　recovered　himself　as　quickly　as　possible；　and　realized　that　he　had　been　living　in　a　fool's　paradise　so　far　as　the　condition　of　his　companion　was　concerned。　He　realized；　also；　that　the　first　move　in　the　game　between　them　had　been　made　and　that　he　had　lost。

〃You　are　too　good　an　actor　for　me；　Mr。　Coulson；〃　he　said。　〃Suppose　we　get　to　business。〃

〃That's　all　right；〃　Mr。　Coulson　answered。　〃Let's　go　somewhere　where　we　can　get　some　supper。　We'll　go　to　the　Abbaye　Theleme；　and　you　shall　have　the　pleasure　of　entertaining　me。〃

Mr。　Gaynsforth　handed　back　the　pocketbook　and　led　the　way　out　of　the　place　without　a　word。　It　was　only　a　few　steps　up　the　hill；　and　they　found　themselves　then　in　a　supper　place　of　a　very　different　class。　Here　Mr。　Coulson；　after　a　brief　visit　to　the　lavatory；　during　which　he　obliterated　all　traces　of　his　recent　condition；　seated　himself　at　one　of　the　small　flower…decked　tables　and　offered　the　menu　to　his　new　friend。

〃It's　up　to　you　to　pay；〃　he　said；　〃so　you　shall　choose　the　supper。　Personally；　I'm　for　a　few　oysters；　a　hot　bird；　and　a　cold　bottle。〃

Mr。　Gaynsforth；　who　was　still　somewhat　subdued；　commanded　the　best　supper　procurable　on　these　lines。　Mr。　Coulson；　having　waved　his　hand　to　a　few　acquaintances　and　chaffed　the　Spanish　dancing　girls　in　their　own　language；not　a　little　to　his　companion's　astonishment；at　last　turned　to　business。

〃Come；〃　he　said；　〃you　and　I　ought　to　understand　one　another。　You　are　over　here　from　London　either　to　pump　me　or　to　rob　me。　You　are　either　a　detective　or　a　political　spy　or　a　secret　service　agent　of　some　sort；　or　you　are　on　a　lay　of　your　own。　Now；　put　it　in　a　business　form；　what　can　I　do　for　you？　Make　your　offer；　and　let's　see　where　we　are。〃

Mr。　Gaynsforth　began　to　recover　himself。　It　did　not　follow；　because　he　had　made　one　mistake；　that　he　was　to　lose　the　game。

〃I　am　neither　a　detective；　Mr。　Coulson；〃　he　said；　〃nor　a　secret　service　agent；in　fact；　I　am　nothing　of　that　sort　at　all。　I　have　a　friend；　however；　who　for　certain　reasons　does　not　care　to　approach　you　himself；　but　who　is　nevertheless　very　much　interested　in　a　particular　event；　or　rather　incident；　in　which　you　are　concerned。〃

〃Good！〃　Mr。　Coulson　declared。　〃Get　right　on。〃

〃That　friend；〃　Mr。　Gaynsforth　continued　calmly；　〃is　prepared　to　pay　a　thousand　pounds　for　full　information　and　proof　as　to　the　nature　of　those　papers　which　were　stolen　from　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　on　the　night　of　March　22nd。〃

〃A　thousand　pounds；〃　Mr。　Coulson　repeated。　〃Gee　whiz！〃

〃He　is　also；〃　the　Englishman　continued；　〃prepared　to　pay　another　thousand　for　a　satisfactory　explanation　of　the　murder　of　Mr。　Richard　Vanderpole　on　the　following　day。

〃Say；　your　friend's　got　the　stuff！〃　Mr。　Coulson　remarked　admiringly。

〃My　friend　is　not　a　poor　man；〃　Mr。　Gaynsforth　admitted。　〃You　see；　there's　a　sort　of　feeling　abroad　that　these　two　things　are　connected。　I　am　not　working　on　behalf　of　the　police。　I　am　not　working　on　behalf　of　any　one　who　desires　the　least　publicity。　But　I　am　working　for　some　one　who　wants　to　know　and　is　prepared　to　pay。〃

〃That's　a　very　interesting　job　you're　on；　and　no　mistake；〃　Mr。　Coulson　declared。　〃I　wonder　you　waste　time　coming　over　here　on　the　spree　when　you've　got　a　piece　of　business　like　that　to　look　after。〃〃I　came　over　here；〃　Mr。　Gaynsforth　replied；　〃entirely　on　the　matter　I　have　mentioned　to　you。〃

〃What；　over　here　to　Paris？〃　Mr。　Coulson　exclaimed。

〃Not　only　to　Paris；〃　the　other　replied　dryly；　〃but　to　discover　one　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson；　whose　health　I　now　have　the　pleasure　of　drinking。〃

Mr。　Coulson　drained　the　glass　which　the　waiter　had　just　filled。

〃Well；　this　licks　me！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃How　any　one　in　their　senses　could　believe　that　there　was　any　connection　between　me　and　Hamilton　Fynes　or　that　other　young　swell；　I　can't　imagine。〃

〃You　knew　Hamilton　Fynes；〃　Mr。　Gaynsforth　remarked。　〃That　fact　came　out　at　the　inquest。　You　appeared　to　have　known　him　better　than　most　men。　Mr。　Vanderpole　had　just　left　you　when　he　was　murdered；that　also　came　out　at　the　inquest。〃

〃Kind　of　queer；　wasn't　it；〃　Mr。　Coulson　remarked　meditatively；　〃how　I　seemed　to　get　hung　up　with　both　of　them？　You　may　also　remember　that　at　the　inquest　Mr。　Vanderpole's　business　with　me　was　testified　to　by　the　chief　of　his　department。〃

〃Certainly；〃　Mr。　Gaynsforth　answered。　〃However；　that's　neither　here　nor　there。　Everything　was　properly　arranged；　so　far　as　you　were　concerned；　of　course。　That　doesn't　alter　my　friend's　convictions。　This　is　a　business　matter　with　me；　and　if　the　two　thousand　pounds　don't　sound　attractive　enough；　well；　the　amount　must　be　revised；　that's　all。　But　I　want　you　to　understand　this；　Mr。　Coulson；　I　represent　a　man　or　a　syndicate；　or　call　it　what　you　will。〃

〃Call　it　a　Government；〃　Mr。　Coulson　muttered　under　his　breath。

〃Call　it　what　you　will；〃　Mr。　Gaynsforth　continued；　with　an　air　of　not　having　heard　the　interruption；　〃we　have　the　money　and　we　want　the　information。　You　can　give　it　to　us　if　you　like。　We　don't　ask　for　too　much。　We　don't　even　ask　for　the　name　of　the　man　who　committed　these　crimes。　But　we　do　want　to　know　the　nature　of　those　papers；　exactly　what　position　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　occupied　in　the　Stamp　and　Excise　Duty　department　at　Washington；　and；　finally；　what　the　mischief　you　are　doing　over　here　in　Paris。〃

〃Have　you　ordered　the　supper？〃　Mr。　Coulson　inquired　anxiously。

〃I　have　ordered　everything　you　suggested；〃　Mr。　Gaynsforth　answered；〃some　oysters；　a　chicken　en　casserole；　lettuce　salad；　some　cheese；　and　a　magnum　of　Pommery。〃

〃It　is　understood　that　you　are　my　host？〃　Mr。　Coulson　insisted。

〃Absolutely；〃　his　companion　declared。　〃I　consider　it　an　honor。〃

〃Then；〃　Mr。　Coulson　said；　pointing　out　his　empty　glass　to　the　SOMMELIER；　〃we　may　as　well　understand　one　another。　To　you　I　am　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson；　travelling　in　patents　for　woollen　machinery。　If　you　put　a　quarter　of　a　million　of　francs　upon　that　table；　I　am　still　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson；　travelling　in　woollen　machinery。　And　if　you　add　a　million　to　that；　and　pile　up　the　notes　so　high　that　they　touch　the　ceiling；　I　remain　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson；　travelling　in　patents　for　woollen　machinery。　Now；　if　you'll　get　that　firmly　into　your　head　and　stick　to　it　and　believe　it；　there's　no　reason　why　you　and　I　shouldn't　have　a　pleasant　evening。〃

Mr。　Gaynsforth；　although　he　was　an　Englishman　and　young；　showed　himself　to　be　possessed　of　a　sense　of　humor。　He　leaned　back　in　his　seat　and　roared　with　laughter。

〃Mr。　Coulson；〃　he　said；　〃I　congratulate　you　and　your　employers。　To　the　lower　regions　with　business！　Help　yourself　to　the　oysters　and　pass　the　wine。〃



CHAPTER　XVIII。　MR。　COULSON　IS　INDISCREET

On　the　following　morning　Mr。　Coulson　received　what　he　termed　his　mail　from　America。　Locked　in　his　room　on　the　fifth　floor　of　the　hotel；　he　carefully　perused　the　contents　of　several　letters。　A　little　later　he　rang　and　ordered　his　bill。　At　four　o'clock　he　left　the　Gare　du　Nord　for　London。

Like　many　other　great　men；　Mr。　Coulson　was　not　without　his　weakness。　He　was　brave；　shrewd；　and　far…seeing。　He　enjoyed　excellent　health；　and　he　scarcely　knew　the　meaning　of　the　word　nerves。　Nevertheless　he　suffered　from　seasickness。　The　first　thing　he　did；　therefore；　when　aboard　the　boat　at　Boulogne；　was　to　bespeak　a　private　cabin。　The　steward　to　whom　he　made　his　application　shook　his　head　with　regret。　The　last　two　had　just　been　engaged。　Mr。　Coulson　tried　a　tip；　and　then　a　larger　tip；　with　equal　lack　of　success。　He　was　about　to　abandon　the　effort　and　retire　gloomily　to　the　saloon；　when　a　man　who　had　been　standing　by；　wrapped　in　a　heavy　fur　overcoat；　intervened。

〃I　am　afraid；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃that　it　is　I　who　have　just　secured　the　last　cabin。　If　you　care　to　share　it　with　me；　however；　I　shall　be　delighted。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　use　it　very　little　myself。　The　night　has　turned　out　so　fine　that　I　shall　probably　promenade　all　the　time。〃

〃If　you　will　allow　me　to　divide　the　expense；〃　Mr。　Coulson　replied；　〃I　shall　be　exceedingly　obliged　to　you；　and　will　accept　your　offer。　I　am；　unfortunately；　a　bad　sailor。〃

〃That　is　as　you　will；　sir；〃　the　gentleman　answered。　〃The　amount　is　only　trifling。〃

The　night　was　a　bright　one；　but　there　was　a　heavy　sea　running；　and　even　in　the　harbor　the　boat　was　rocking。　Mr。　Coulson　groaned　as　he　made　his　way　across　the　threshold　of　the　cabin。

〃I　am　going　to　have　a　horrible　time；〃　he　said　frankly。　〃I　am　afraid　you'll　repent　your　offer　before　you've　done　with　me。〃

His　new　friend　smiled。

〃I　have　never　been　seasick　in　my　life；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　only　engage　a　cabin　for　fear　of　wet　weather。　A　fine　night　like　this　I　shall　not　trouble　you；　so　pray　be　as　ill　as　you　like。〃

〃It's　nothing　to　laugh　at；〃　Mr。　Coulson　remarked　gloomily。

〃Let　me　give　you　a　little　advice；〃　his　friend　said；　〃and　I　can　assure　you　that　I　know　something　of　these　matters；　for　I　have　been　on　the　sea　a　great　deal。　Let　me　mix　you　a　stiff　brandy　and　soda。　Drink　it　down　and　eat　only　a　dry　biscuit。　I　have　some　brandy　of　my　own　here。〃

〃Nothing　does　me　any　good；〃　Mr。　Coulson　groaned。

〃This；〃　the　stranger　remarked；　producing　a　flask　from　his　case　and　dividing　the　liquor　into　equal　parts；　〃may　send　you　to　sleep。　If　so；　you'll　be　across　before　you　wake　up。　〃Here's　luck！〃

Mr。　Coulson　drained　his　glass。　His　companion　was　in　the　act　of　raising　his　to　his　lips　when　the　ship　gave　a　roll；　his　elbow　caught　the　back　of　a　chair；　and　the　tumbler　slipped　from　his　fingers。

〃It'