the illustrious prince-第44部分

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〃I　think　you　know；〃　she　answered；　〃that　you　need　not　ask　that。〃

〃You　will　marry　Sir　Charles　Somerfield；〃　he　continued；　〃and　you　will　be　happy。　In　this　country　men　develop　late。　Somerfield；　too；　will　develop；　I　am　sure。　He　will　become　worthy　even；　I　trust；　to　be　your　husband；　Miss　Penelope。　Something　was　said　of　his　going　into　Parliament。　When　he　is　Foreign　Minister　and　I　am　the　Counsellor　of　the　Emperor；　we　may　perhaps　send　messages　to　one　another；　if　not　across　the　seas；　through　the　clouds。〃

A　man's　footstep　approached　them。　Somerfield　himself　drew　near　and　hesitated。　The　Prince　rose　at　once。

〃Sir　Charles；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　been　bidding　farewell　to　Miss　Penelope。　I　have　had　news　tonight　over　the　telephone　and　I　find　that　I　must　curtail　my　visit。〃

〃The　Duke　will　be　disappointed；〃　Somerfield　said。　〃Are　you　off　at　once？〃

〃Probably　tomorrow；〃　the　Prince　answered。　〃May　I　leave　Miss　Penelope　in　your　charge？〃　he　added　with　a　little　bow。　〃The　Duke；　I　believe；　is　awaiting　me。〃

He　passed　out　of　the　conservatory。　Penelope　sat　quite　still。

〃Well；〃　Somerfield　said；　〃if　he　is　really　going〃

〃Charlie；〃　she　interrupted；　〃if　ever　you　expect　me　to　marry　you；　I　make　one　condition；　and　that　is　that　you　never　say　a　single　word　against　Prince　Maiyo。〃

〃The　man　whom　a　month　ago；〃　he　remarked　curiously；　〃you　hated！〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃I　was　an　idiot；〃　she　said。　〃I　did　not　understand　him　and　I　was　prejudiced　against　his　country。〃

〃Well；　as　he　actually　is　going　away；〃　Sir　Charles　remarked　with　a　sigh　of　content；　〃I　suppose　it's　no　use　being　jealous。〃

〃You　haven't　any　reason　to　be；〃　Penelope　answered　just　a　little　wistfully。　〃Prince　Maiyo　has　no　room　in　his　life　for　such　frivolous　creatures　as　women。〃

The　Prince　found　the　rest　of　the　party　dispersed　in　various　directions。　Lady　Grace　was　playing　billiards　with　Captain　Wilmot。　She　showed　every　disposition　to　lay　down　her　cue　when　he　entered　the　room。

〃Do　come　and　talk　to　us；　Prince；〃　she　begged。　〃I　am　so　tired　of　this　stupid　game；　and　I　am　sure　Captain　Wilmot　is　bored　to　tears。〃

The　Prince　shook　his　head。

〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　must　find　the　Duke。　I　have　just　received　a　telephone　message　and　I　fear　that　I　may　have　to　leave　tomorrow。〃

〃Tomorrow！〃　she　cried　in　dismay。

The　Prince　sighed。

〃If　not　tomorrow；　the　next　day；〃　he　answered。　〃I　have　had　a　summonsa　summons　which　I　cannot　disobey。　Shall　I　find　your　father　in　the　library；　Lady　Grace？〃

〃Yes！〃　she　answered。　〃He　is　there　with　Mr。　Haviland　and　Sir　Edward。　Are　you　really　going　to　waste　your　last　evening　in　talking　about　treaties　and　such　trifles？〃

〃I　am　afraid　I　must；〃　he　answered　regretfully。

You　are　a　hopelessly　disappointing　person；〃　she　declared　a　little　pitifully。

〃It　is　because　you　are　all　much　too　kind　to　me　that　you　think　so；〃　he　answered。　〃You　make　me　welcome　amongst　you　even　as　one　of　yourselves。　You　forgetyou　would　almost　teach　me　to　forget　that　I　am　only　a　wayfarer　here。〃

〃That　is　your　own　choice；〃　she　said；　coming　a　little　nearer　to　him。

〃Ah；　no；〃　he　answered。　〃There　is　no　choice！　I　serve　a　great　mistress；　and　when　she　calls　I　come。　There　are　no　other　voices　in　the　world　for　one　of　my　race　and　faith。　The　library　you　said；　Lady　Grace？　I　must　go　and　find　your　father。〃

He　passed　out；　closing　the　door　behind　him。　Captain　Wilmot　chalked　his　cue　carefully。

〃That's　the　queerest　fellow　I　ever　knew　in　my　life；〃　he　said。　〃He　seems　all　the　time　as　though　his　head　were　in　the　clouds。〃

Lady　Grace　sighed。　She　too　was　chalking　her　cue。

〃I　wonder；〃　she　said；　〃what　it　would　be　like　to　live　in　the　clouds。〃



CHAPTER　XXXII。　PRINCE　MAIYO　SPEAKS

The　library　at　Devenham　Castle　was　a　large　and　sombre　apartment；　with　high　oriel　windows　and　bookcases　reaching　to　the　ceiling。　It　had　an　unused　and　somewhat　austere　air。　Tonight　especially　an　atmosphere　of　gloom　seemed　to　pervade　it。　The　Prince；　when　he　opened　the　door；　found　the　three　men　who　were　awaiting　him　seated　at　an　oval　table　at　the　further　end　of　the　room。

〃I　do　not　intrude；　I　trust？〃　the　Prince　said。　〃I　understood　that　you　wished　me　to　come　here。〃

〃Certainly；〃　the　Duke　answered；　〃we　were　sitting　here　awaiting　your　arrival。　Will　you　take　this　easy　chair？　The　cigarettes　are　at　your　elbow。〃

The　Prince　declined　the　easy　chair　and　leaned　for　a　moment　against　the　table。

〃Perhaps　later；〃　he　said。　〃Just　now　I　feel　that　you　have　something　to　say　to　me。　Is　it　not　so？　I　talk　better　when　I　am　standing。〃

It　was　the　Prime　Minister　who　made　the　first　plunge。　He　spoke　without　circumlocution；　and　his　tone　was　graver　than　usual。

〃Prince；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　perhaps　the　last　time　that　we　shall　all　meet　together　in　this　way。　You　go　from　us　direct　to　the　seat　of　your　Government。　So　far　there　has　been　very　little　plain　speaking　between　us。　It　would　perhaps　be　more　in　accord　with　etiquette　if　we　let　you　go　without　a　word；　and　waited　for　a　formal　interchange　of　communications　between　your　Ambassador　and　ourselves。　But　we　have　a　feeling；　Sir　Edward　and　I；　that　we　should　like　to　talk　to　you　directly。　Before　we　go　any　further；　however；　let　me　ask　you　this　question。　Have　you　any　objection；　Prince；　to　discussing　a　certain　matter　here　with　us？〃

The　Prince　for　several　moments　made　no　reply。　He　was　still　standing　facing　the　fireplace；　leaning　slightly　against　the　table　behind　him。　On　his　right　was　the　Duke；　seated　in　a　library　chair。　On　his　left　the　Prime　Minister　and　Sir　Edward　Bransome。　The　Prince　seemed　somehow　to　have　become　the　central　figure　of　the　little　group。

〃Perhaps；〃　he　said；　〃if　you　had　asked　me　that　question　a　month　ago；　Mr。　Haviland；　I　might　have　replied　to　you　differently。　Circumstances；　however；　since　then　have　changed。　My　departure　will　take　place　so　soon；　and　the　kindness　I　have　met　here　from　all　of　you　has　been　so　overwhelming；　that　if　you　will　let　me　I　should　like　to　speak　of　certain　things　concerning　which　no　written　communication　could　ever　pass　between　our　two　countries。〃

〃I　can　assure　you；　my　dear　Prince；　that　we　shall　very　much　appreciate　your　doing　so；〃　Mr。　Haviland　declared。

〃I　think；〃　the　Prince　continued；　〃that　the　greatest　and　the　most　subtle　of　all　policies　is　the　policy　of　perfect　truthfulness。　Listen　to　me；　then。　The　thing　which　you　have　in　your　mind　concerning　me　is　true。　Two　years　I　have　spent　in　this　country　and　in　other　countries　of　Europe。　These　two　years　have　not　been　spent　in　purposeless　travel。　On　the　contrary；　I　have　carried　with　me　always　a　definite　and　very　fixed　purpose。〃

The　Prime　Minister　and　Bransome　exchanged　rapid　glances。

〃That　has　been　our　belief　from　the　first；〃　Bransome　remarked。

〃I　came　to　Europe；〃　the　Prince　continued　gravely；　〃to　make　a　report　to　my　cousin　the　Emperor　of　Japan　as　to　whether　I　believed　that　a　renewal　of　our　alliance　with　you　would　be　advantageous　to　my　country。　I　need　not　shrink　from　discussing　this　matter　with　you　now；　for　my　report　is　made。　It　is；　even　now；　on　its　way　to　the　Emperor。〃

There　was　a　moment's　silence；　a　silence　which　in　this　corner　of　the　great　room　seemed　marked　with　a　certain　poignancy。　It　was　the　Prime　Minister　who　broke　it。

〃The　report；〃　he　said；　〃is　out　of　your　hands。　The　official　decision　of　your　Government　will　reach　us　before　long。　Is　there　any　reason　why　you　should　not　anticipate　that　decision；　why　you　should　not　tell　us　frankly　what　your　advice　was？〃

〃There　is　no　reason；〃　the　Prince　answered。　　〃I　will　tell　you。　I　owe　that　to　you　at　least。　I　have　advised　the　Emperor　not　to　renew　the　treaty。〃

〃Not　to　renew；〃　the　Prime　Minister　echoed。

This　time　the　silence　was　portentous。　It　was　a　blow；　and　there　was　not　one　of　the　three　men　who　attempted　to　hide　his　dismay。

〃I　am　afraid；〃　the　Prince　continued　earnestly；　〃that　to　you　I　must　seem　something　of　an　ingrate。　I　have　been　treated　by　every　one　in　this　country　as　the　son　of　a　dear　friend。　The　way　has　been　made　smooth　for　me　everywhere。　Nothing　has　been　hidden。　From　all　quarters　I　have　received　hospitality　which　I　shall　never　forget。　But　you　are　three　just　men。　I　know　you　will　realize　that　my　duty　was　to　my　country　and　to　my　country　alone。　No　one　else　has　any　claims　upon　me。　What　I　have　seen　I　have　written　of。　What　I　believe　I　have　spoken。〃

〃Prince；〃　Mr。　Haviland　said；　〃there　is　no　one　here　who　will　gainsay　your　honesty。　You　came　to　judge　us　as　a　nation　and　you　have　found　us　wanting。　At　least　we　can　ask　you　why？〃

The　Prince　sighed。

〃It　is　hard；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　very　hard。　When　I　tell　you　of　the　things　which　I　have　seen；　remember；　if　you　please；　that　I　have　seen　them　with　other　eyes　than　yours。　The　conditions　which　you　have　grown　up　amongst　and　lived　amongst　all　your　days　pass　almost　outside　the　possibility　of　your　impartial　judgment。　You　have　lived　with　them　too　long。　They　have　become　a　part　of　you。　Then；　too；　your　national　weakness　bids　your　eyes　see　what　you　would　have　them　see。〃

〃Go　on；〃　Mr。　Haviland　said；　drumming　idly　with　his　fingers　upon　the　table。

〃I　have　had　to　ask　myself；〃　the　Prince　continued；〃it　has　been　my　business　to　ask　myself　what　is　your　position　as　a　great　military　power；　and　the　answer　I　have　found　is　that　as　a　great　military　power　it　does　not　exist。　I　have　had　to　ask　myself　what　would　happen　to　your　country　in　the　case　of　a　European　war；　where　your　fleet　was　distributed　to　guard　your　vast　possessions　in　every　quarter　of　the　world；　and　the　answer　to　that　is　that　you　are；　to　all　practical　purposes；　defenceless。　In　almost　any　combination　which　could　arrange　itself；　your　country　is　at　the　mercy　of　the　invader。〃

Bransome　leaned　forward　in　his　chair。

〃I　can　disprove　it；〃　he　declared　firmly。　〃Come　with　me　to　Aldershot　next　week；　and　I　will　show　you　that　those　who　say　that　we　have　no　army　are　ignorant　alarmists。　The　Secretary　for　War　shall　show　you　our　new　scheme　for　defensive　forces。　You　have　gone　to　the　wrong　authorities　for　information　on　these　matters；　Prince。　You　have　been　entirely　and　totally　misled。〃

The　Prince　drew　a　little　breath。

〃Sir　Edward；〃　he　said；　〃I　do　not　speak　to　you　rashly。　I　have　not　looked　into　these　affairs　as　an　amateur。　You　forget　that　I　have　spent　a　week　at　Aldershot；　that　your　Secretary　for　War　gave　me　two　days　of　his　valuable　time。　Every　figure　with　which　you　could　furnish　me　I　am　already　possessed　o