the illustrious prince-第26部分

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Mr。　James　B。　Coulson　nodded　appreciatively。

〃Very　good　of　you；　Sir　Edward；〃　he　said；　〃to　put　yourself　out　at　this　time　of　night　to　have　a　word　or　two　with　me。　I　am　sorry　to　have　troubled　you；　anyway；　but　the　matter　was　sort　of　urgent。〃

Sir　Edward　bent　his　head。

〃I　understand；　Mr。　Coulson；〃　he　said；　〃that　you　come　from　the　United　States。〃

〃That　is　so；　sir；〃　Mr。　Coulson　replied。　〃I　am　at　the　head　of　a　syndicate；　the　Coulson　&　Bruce　Syndicate；　which　in　course　of　time　hope　to　revolutionize　the　machinery　used　for　spinning　wool　all　over　the　world。　Likewise　we　have　patents　for　other　machinery　connected　with　the　manufacture　of　all　varieties　of　woollen　goods。　I　am　over　here　on　a　business　trip；　which　I　have　just　concluded。〃

〃Satisfactorily；　I　trust？〃　Sir　Edward　remarked。

〃Well；　I'm　not　grumbling；　sir；〃　Mr。　Coulson　assented。　〃Here　and　there　I　may　have　missed　a　thing；　and　the　old　fashioned　way　of　doing　business　on　this　side　bothers　me　a　bit；　but　on　the　whole　I'm　not　grumbling。〃

Bransome　bowed。　Perhaps；　after　all；　the　man　was　not　a　fool！

〃I　have　a　good　many　friends　round　about　Washington；〃　Mr。　Coulson　continued；　〃and　sometimes；　when　they　know　I　am　coming　across；　one　or　the　other　of　them　finds　it　convenient　to　hand　me　a　letter。　It　isn't　the　postage　stamp　that　worries　them；〃　he　added　with　a　little　laugh；　〃but　they　sort　of　feel　that　anything　committed　to　me　is　fairly　safe　to　reach　its　right　destination。〃

〃Without　disputing　that　fact　for　one　moment；　Mr。　Coulson；〃　Sir　Edward　remarked；　〃I　might　also　suggest　that　the　ordinary　mail　service　between　our　countries　has　reached　a　marvellous　degree　of　perfection。〃

〃The　Post　Office；〃　Mr。　Coulson　continued　meditatively；　〃is　a　great　institution；　both　on　your　side　and　ours；　but　a　letter　posted　in　Washington　has　to　go　through　a　good　many　hands　before　it　is　delivered　in　London。〃

Sir　Edward　smiled。

〃It　is　a　fact；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃which　the　various　Governments　of　Europe　have　realized　for　many　years；　in　connection　with　the　exchange　of　communications　one　with　the　other。　Your　own　great　country；　as　it　grows　and　expands；　becomes；　of　necessity；　more　in　touch　with　our　methods。　Did　I　understand　that　you　have　a　letter　for　me；　Mr。　Coulson？〃

Mr。　Coulson　produced　it。

〃Friend　of　mine　you　may　have　heard　of；〃　he　said；　〃asked　me　to　leave　this　with　you。　I　am　catching　the　Princess　Cecilia　from　Southampton　tomorrow。　I　thought；　perhaps；　if　I　waited　an　hour　or　so；　I　might　take　the　answer　back　with　me。〃

〃It　is　getting　late；　Mr。　Coulson；〃　Sir　Edward　reminded　him；　glancing　at　the　clock。

Mr。　Coulson　smiled。

〃I　think；　Sir　Edward；〃　he　said；　〃that　in　your　line　of　business　time　counts　for　little。〃

Sir　Edward　motioned　his　visitor　to　a　chair　and　touched　the　bell。

〃I　shall　require　the　A3X　cipher；　Sidney；〃　he　said　to　his　secretary。

Mr。　Coulson　looked　up。

〃Why；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　think　you'll　need　that。　The　letter　you've　got　in　your　hand　is　just　a　personal　one；　and　what　my　friend　has　to　say　to　you　is　written　out　there　in　black　and　white。〃

Sir　Edward　withdrew　the　enclosure　from　its　envelope　and　raised　his　eyebrows。

〃Isn't　this　a　trifle　indiscreet？〃　he　asked。

〃Why；　I　should　say　not；〃　Mr。　Coulson　answered。　〃My　friendMr。　Jones　we'll　call　himknew　me　and；　I　presume；　knew　what　he　was　about。　Besides；　that　is　a　plain　letter　from　the　head　of　a　business　firm　toshall　we　say　a　client？　There's　nothing　in　it　to　conceal。〃

〃At　the　same　time；〃　Sir　Edward　remarked；　〃it　might　have　been　as　well　to　have　fastened　the　flap　of　the　envelope。〃

Mr。　Coulson　held　out　his　hand。

〃Let　me　look；〃　he　said。

Sir　Edward　gave　it　into　his　hands。　Mr。　Coulson　held　it　under　the　electric　light。　There　was　no　indication　in　his　face　of　any　surprise　or　disturbance。

〃Bit　short　of　gum　in　our　stationery　office；〃　he　remarked。

Sir　Edward　was　looking　at　him　steadily。

〃My　impressions　were；〃　he　said；　〃when　I　opened　this　letter；　that　I　was　not　the　first　person　who　had　done　so。　The　envelope　flew　apart　in　my　fingers。〃

Mr。　Coulson　shook　his　head。

The　document　has　never　been　out　of　my　possession；　sir；〃　he　said。　〃It　has　not　even　left　my　person。　My　friend　Mr。　Jones　does　not　believe　in　too　much　secrecy　in　matters　of　this　sort。　I　have　had　a　good　deal　of　experience　now　and　am　inclined　to　agree　with　him。　A　letter　in　a　double…ended　envelope；　stuck　all　over　with　sealing　wax；　is　pretty　certain　to　be　opened　in　case　of　any　accident　to　the　bearer。　This　one；　as　you　may　not　have　noticed；　is　written　in　the　same　handwriting　and　addressed　in　the　same　manner　as　the　remainder　of　my　letters　of　introduction　to　various　London　and　Paris　houses　of　business。〃

Sir　Edward　said　no　more。　He　read　the　few　lines　written　on　a　single　sheet　of　notepaper；　starting　a　little　at　the　signature。　Then　he　read　them　again　and　placed　the　document　beneath　a　paper　weight　in　front　of　him。　When　he　leaned　across　the　table；　his　folded　arms　formed　a　semicircle　around　it。

〃This　letter；　Mr。　Coulson；〃　he　said；　〃is　not　an　official　communication。〃

〃It　is　not；〃　Mr。　Coulson　admitted。　〃I　fancy　it　occurred　to　my　friend　Jones　that　anything　official　would　be　hardly　in　place　and　might　be　easier　to　evade。　The　matter　has　already　cropped　up　in　negotiations　between　Mr。　Harvey　and　your　Cabinet；　but　so　far　we　are　without　any　definite　pronouncement；at　least；　that　is　how　my　friend　Mr。　Jones　looks　at　it。〃

Sir　Edward　smiled。

〃The　only　answer　your　friend　asks　for　is　a　verbal　one；〃　he　remarked。

〃A　verbal　one；〃　Mr。　Coulson　assented；　〃delivered　to　me　in　the　presence　of　one　other　person；　whose　name　you　will　find　mentioned　in　that　letter。〃

Sir　Edward　bowed　his　head。　When　he　spoke　again；　his　manner　had　somehow　changed。　It　had　become　at　once　more　official；a　trifle　more　stilted。

〃This　is　a　great　subject；　Mr。　Coulson；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　a　subject　which　has　occupied　the　attention　of　His　Majesty's　Ministers　for　many　months。　I　shall　take　the　opinion　of　the　other　person　whose　name　is　mentioned　in　this　letter；　as　to　whether　we　can　grant　Mr。　Jones'　request。　If　we　should　do　so；　it　will　not；　I　am　sure；　be　necessary　to　say　to　you　that　any　communication　we　may　make　on　the　subject　tonight　will　be　from　men　to　a　man　of　honor；　and　must　be　accepted　as　such。　It　will　be　our　honest　and　sincere　conviction；　but　it　must　also　be　understood　that　it　does　not　bind　the　Government　of　this　country　to　any　course　of　action。〃

Mr。　Coulson　smiled　and　nodded　his　head。

〃That　is　what　I　call　diplomacy；　Sir　Edward；〃　he　remarked。　〃I　always　tell　our　people　that　they　are　too　bullheaded。　They　don't　use　enough　words。　What　about　that　other　friend　of　yours？〃

Sir　Edward　glanced　at　his　watch。

〃It　is　possible；〃　he　said；　〃that　by　this　time　Mr。…　Mr。　Smith；　shall　we　call　him；　to　match　your　Mr。　Jones？is　attending　my　wife's　reception；　from　which　your　message　called　me。　If　he　has　not　yet　arrived；　my　secretary　shall　telephone　for　him。〃

Mr。　Coulson　indicated　his　approval。

〃Seems　to　me；〃　he　remarked；　〃that　I　have　struck　a　fortunate　evening　for　my　visit。〃

Sir　Edward　touched　the　bell　and　his　secretary　appeared。

〃Sidney；〃　he　said；　〃I　want　you　to　find　the　gentleman　whose　name　I　am　writing　upon　this　piece　of　paper。　If　he　is　not　in　the　reception　rooms　and　has　not　arrived；　telephone　for　him。　Say　that　I　shall　be　glad　if　he　would　come　this　way　at　once。　He　will　understand　that　it　is　a　matter　of　some　importance。〃

The　secretary　bowed　and　withdrew；　after　a　glance　at　the　piece　of　paper　which　he　held　in　his　hand。　Sir　Edward　turned　toward　his　visitor。

〃Mr。　Coulson；〃　he　said；　〃will　you　allow　me　the　privilege　of　offering　you　some　refreshment？〃

〃I　thank　you；　sir；〃　Mr。　Coulson　answered。　〃I　am　in　want　of　nothing　but　a　smoke。〃

Sir　Edward　turned　to　the　bell；　but　his　visitor　promptly　stopped　him。

〃If　you　will　allow　me；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃I　will　smoke　one　of　my　own。　Home…made　article；　five　dollars　a　hundred；　but　I　can't　stand　these　strong　Havanas。　Try　one。〃

Sir　Edward　waved　them　away。

〃If　you　will　excuse　me；〃　he　said；　〃I　will　smoke　a　cigarette。　Since　you　are　here；　Mr。　Coulson；　I　may　say　that　I　am　very　glad　to　meet　you。　I　am　very　glad；　also；　of　this　opportunity　for　a　few　minutes'　conversation　upon　another　matter。〃

Mr。　Coulson　showed　some　signs　of　surprise。

〃How's　that？〃　he　asked。

〃There　is　another　subject；〃　Sir　Edward　said；　〃which　I　should　like　to　discuss　with　you　while　we　are　waiting　for　Mr。　Smith。〃



CHAPTER　XX。　THE　ANSWER

Mr。　Coulson　moved　his　cigar　into　a　corner　of　his　mouth；　as　though　to　obtain　a　clear　view　of　his　questioner's　face。　His　expression　was　one　of　bland　interest。

〃Well；　I　guess　you've　got　me　puzzled；　Sir　Edward；〃　he　said。　〃You　aren't　thinking　of　doing　anything　in　woollen　machinery；　are　you？〃

Sir　Edward　smiled。

〃I　think　not；　Mr。　Coulson；〃　he　answered。　〃At　any　rate；　my　question　had　nothing　to　do　with　your　other　very　interesting　avocation。　What　I　wanted　to　ask　you　was　whether　you　could　tell　me　anything　about　a　compatriot　of　yoursa　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes？〃

〃Hamilton　Fynes！〃　Mr。　Coulson　repeated　thoughtfully。　〃Why；　that's　the　man　who　got　murdered　on　the　cars；　going　from　Liverpool　to　London。〃

〃That　is　so；〃　Sir　Edward　admitted。

Mr。　Coulson　shook　his　head。

〃I　told　that　reporter　fellow　all　I　knew　about　him；〃　he　said。　〃He　was　an　unsociable　sort　of　chap；　you　know；　Sir　Edward；　and　he　wasn't　in　any　line　of　business。〃

〃H'm！　I　thought　he　might　have　been；〃　the　Minister　answered；　glancing　keenly　for　a　moment　at　his　visitor。　〃To　tell　you　the　truth；　Mr。　Coulson；　we　have　been　a　great　deal　bothered　about　that　unfortunate　incident；　and　by　the　subsequent　murder　of　the　young　man　who　was　attached　to　your　Embassy　here。　Scotland　Yard　has　strained　every　nerve　to　bring　the　guilty　people　to　justice；　but　so　far　unsuccessfully。　It　seems　to　me　that　your　friends　on　the　other　side　scarcely　seem　to　give　us　credit　for　our　exertions。　They　do　not　help　us　in　the　least。　They　assure　us　that　they　had　no　knowledge　of　Mr。　Fynes　other　than　has　appeared　in　the　papers。　They　recognize　him　only　as　an　American　citizen　going　about　his　legitimate　business。　A　little　more　confidence　on　their　part　would；　I　think；　render　our　task　easier。〃

Mr。　Coulson　scratched　his　chin　for　a　moment　thoughtfully。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃I　can　understand　their　feeling　a　bit　sore　about　it。　I'm　not　exactly　given　to　brag　when　I'm　away　from　my　own　co