the illustrious prince-第8部分

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The　reporter　sighed。　He　was；　after　all；　a　little　disappointed。　Mr。　Coulson　was　obviously　a　man　of　common　sense。　His　words　were　clearly　pronounced；　and　his　reasoning　sound。　They　had　reached　the　courtyard　of　the　hotel　now；　and　the　reporter　began　to　express　his　gratitude。

〃My　first　drink　on　English　soil；〃　Mr。　Coulson　said；　as　he　handed　his　suitcase　to　the　hall…porter；　〃is　always〃

〃It's　on　me；〃　the　young　man　declared　quickly。　〃I　owe　you　a　good　deal　more　than　drinks；　Mr。　Coulson。〃

〃Well；　come　along；　anyway；〃　the　latter　remarked。　〃I　guess　my　room　is　all　right；　porter？〃turning　to　the　man　who　stood　by　his　side；　bag　in　hand。　〃I　am　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson　of　New　York；　and　I　wrote　on　ahead。　I'll　come　round　to　the　office　and　register　presently。〃

They　made　their　way　to　the　American　bar。　The　newspaper　man　and　his　new　friend　drank　together　and；　skillfully　prompted　by　the　former；　the　conversation　drifted　back　to　the　subject　of　Hamilton　Fynes。　There　was　nothing　else　to　be　learned；　however；　in　the　way　of　facts。　Mr。　Coulson　admitted　that　he　had　been　a　little　nettled　by　his　friend's　odd　manner　during　the　voyage；　and　the　strange　way　he　had　of　keeping　to　himself。

〃But；　after　all；〃　he　wound　up；　〃Fynes　was　a　crank；　when　all's　said　and　done。　We　are　all　cranks；　more　or　less；all　got　our　weak　spot；　I　mean。　It　was　secretiveness　with　our　unfortunate　friend。　He　liked　to　play　at　being　a　big　personage　in　a　mysterious　sort　of　way；　and　the　poor　chap's　paid　for　it；〃　he　added　with　a　sigh。

The　reporter　left　his　new…made　friend　a　short　time　afterwards；　and　took　a　hansom　to　his　office。　His　newspaper　at　once　issued　a　special　edition；　giving　an　interview　between　their　representative　and　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson；　a　personal　friend　of　the　murdered　man。　It　was；　after　all；　something　of　a　scoop；　for　not　one　of　the　other　passengers　had　been　found　who　was　in　a　position　to　say　anything　at　all　about　him。　The　immediate　effect　of　the　interview；　however；　was　to　procure　for　Mr。　Coulson　a　somewhat　bewildering　succession　of　callers。　The　first　to　arrive　was　a　gentleman　who　introduced　himself　as　Mr。　Jacks；　and　whose　card；　sent　back　at　first；　was　retendered　in　a　sealed　envelope　with　Scotland　Yard　scrawled　across　the　back　of　it。　Mr。　Coulson；　who　was　in　the　act　of　changing　his　clothes；　interviewed　Mr。　Jacks　in　his　chamber。

〃Mr。　Coulson；〃　the　Inspector　said；　〃I　am　visiting　you　on　behalf　of　Scotland　Yard。　We　understand　that　you　had　some　acquaintance　with　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes；　and　we　hope　that　you　will　answer　a　few　questions　for　us。〃

Mr。　Coulson　sat　down　upon　a　trunk　with　his　hairbrushes　in　his　hand。

〃Well；〃　he　declared；　〃you　detectives　do　get　to　know　things；　don't　you？〃

〃Nothing　so　remarkable　in　that；　Mr。　Coulson；〃　Inspector　Jacks　remarked　pleasantly。　〃A　newspaper　man　had　been　before　me；　I　see。〃

Mr。　Coulson　nodded。

〃That's　so；〃　he　admitted。　〃Seems　to　me　I　may　have　been　a　bit　indiscreet　in　talking　so　much　to　that　young　reporter。　I　have　just　read　his　account　of　my　interview；　and　he's　got　it　pat；　word　by　word。　Now；　Mr。　Jacks；　if　you'll　just　invest　a　halfpenny　in　that　newspaper；　you　don't　need　to　ask　me　any　questions。　That　young　man　had　a　kind　of　pleasant　way　with　him；　and　I　told　him　all　I　knew。〃

〃Just　so；　Mr。　Coulson；〃　the　Inspector　answered。　〃At　the　same　time　nothing　that　you　told　him　throws　any　light　at　all　upon　the　circumstances　which　led　to　the　poor　fellow's　death。〃

〃That；〃　Mr。　Coulson　declared；　〃is　not　my　fault。　What　I　don't　know　I　can't　tell　you。〃

〃You　were　acquainted　with　Mr。　Fynes　some　years　ago？〃　the　Inspector　asked。　〃Can　you　tell　me　what　business　he　was　in　then？〃

〃Same　as　now；　for　anything　I　know；〃　Mr。　Coulson　answered。　〃He　was　a　clerk　in　one　of　the　Government　offices　at　Washington。〃

〃Government　offices；〃　Inspector　Jacks　repeated。　〃Have　you　any　idea　what　department？〃

Mr。　Coulson　was　not　sure。

〃It　may　have　been　the　Excise　Office；〃　he　remarked　thoughtfully。　〃I　did　hear；　but　I　never　took　any　particular　notice。〃

〃Did　you　ever　form　any　idea　as　to　the　nature　of　his　work？〃　Inspector　Jacks　asked。

〃Bless　you；　no！〃　Mr。　Coulson　replied；　brushing　his　hair　vigorously。　〃It　never　entered　into　my　head　to　ask　him；　and　I　never　heard　him　mention　it。　I　only　know　that　he　was　a　quiet…living；　decent　sort　of　a　chap；　but；　as　I　put　it　to　our　young　friend　the　newspaper　man；　he　was　a　crank。〃

The　Inspector　was　disappointed。　He　began　to　feel　that　he　was　wasting　his　time。

〃Did　you　know　anything　of　the　object　of　his　journey　to　Europe？〃　he　asked。

〃Nary　a　thing；〃　Mr。　Coulson　declared。　〃He　only　came　on　deck　once　or　twice；　and　he　had　scarcely　a　civil　word　even　for　me。　Why；　I　tell　you；　sir；〃　Mr。　Coulson　continued；　〃if　he　saw　me　coming　along　on　the　promenade；　he'd　turn　round　and　go　the　other　way；　for　fear　I'd　ask　him　to　come　and　have　a　drink。　A　c…r…a…n…k；　sir！　You　write　it　down　at　that；　and　you　won't　be　far　out。〃

〃He　certainly　seems　to　have　been　a　queer　lot；〃　the　Inspector　declared。　〃By　the　bye；〃　he　continued；　〃you　said　something；　I　believe；　about　his　having　had　more　money　with　him　than　was　found　upon　his　person。〃

〃That's　so；〃　Mr。　Coulson　admitted。　〃I　know　he　deposited　a　pocketbook　with　the　purser；　and　I　happened　to　be　standing　by　when　he　received　it　back。　I　noticed　that　he　had　three　or　four　thousand…dollar　bills；　and　there　didn't　seem　to　be　anything　of　the　sort　upon　him　when　he　was　found。〃

The　Inspector　made　a　note　of　this。

〃You　believe　yourself；　then；　Mr。　Coulson；〃　he　said；　closing　his　pocketbook；　〃that　the　murder　was　committed　for　the　purpose　of　robbery？〃

〃Seems　to　me　it's　common　sense；〃　Mr。　Coulson　replied。　〃A　man　who　goes　and　takes　a　special　train　to　London　from　the　docks　of　a　city　like　Liverpoola　city　filled　with　the　scum　of　the　world；　mind　youkind　of　gives　himself　away　as　a　man　worth　robbing；　doesn't　he？〃

The　Inspector　nodded。

〃That's　sensible　talk；　Mr。　Coulson；〃　he　acknowledged。　〃You　never　heard；　I　suppose；　of　his　having　had　a　quarrel　with　any　one？〃

〃Never　in　my　life；〃　Mr。　Coulson　declared。　〃He　wasn't　the　sort　to　make　enemies；　any　more　than　he　was　the　sort　to　make　friends。〃

The　Inspector　took　up　his　hat。　His　manner　now　was　no　longer　inquisitorial。　With　the　closing　of　his　notebook　a　new　geniality　had　taken　the　place　of　his　official　stiffness。

〃You　are　making　a　long　stay　here；　Mr。　Coulson？〃　he　asked。

〃A　week　or　so；　maybe；〃　that　gentleman　answered。　〃I　am　in　the　machinery　patent　linemachinery　for　the　manufacture　of　woollen　goods　mostlyand　I　have　a　few　appointments　in　London。　Afterwards　I　am　going　on　to　Paris。　You　can　hear　of　me　at　any　time　either　here　or　at　the　Grand　Hotel；　Paris；　but　there's　nothing　further　to　be　got　out　of　me　as　regards　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes。〃

The　Inspector　was　of　the　same　opinion　and　took　his　departure。　Mr。　Coulson　waited　for　some　little　time；　still　sitting　on　his　trunk　and　clasping　his　hairbrushes。　Then　he　moved　over　to　the　table　on　which　stood　the　telephone　instrument　and　asked　for　a　number。　The　reply　came　in　a　minute　or　two　in　the　form　of　a　question。

〃It's　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson　from　New　York；　landed　this　afternoon　from　the　Lusitania；〃　Mr。　Coulson　said。　〃I　am　at　the　Savoy　Hotel；　speaking　from　my　roomnumber　443。〃

There　was　a　brief　silencethen　a　reply。

〃You　had　better　be　in　the　bar　smoking…room　at　seven　o'clock。　If　nothing　happens；　don't　leave　the　hotel　this　evening。〃

Mr。　Coulson　replaced　the　receiver　and　rang　off。　A　page…boy　knocked　at　the　door。

〃Young　lady　downstairs　wishes　to　see　you；　sir；〃　he　announced。

Mr。　Coulson　took　up　the　card　from　the　tray。

〃Miss　Penelope　Morse；〃　he　said　softly　to　himself。　〃Seems　to　me　I'm　rather　popular　this　evening。　Say　I'll　be　down　right　away；　my　boy。〃

〃Very　good；　sir；〃　the　page　answered。　〃There's　a　gentleman　with　her；　sir。　His　card's　underneath　the　lady's。〃

Mr。　Coulson　examined　the　tray　once　more。　A　gentleman's　visiting　card　informed　him　that　his　other　caller　was　Sir　Charles　Somerfield；　Bart。

〃Bart；〃　Mr。　Coulson　remarked　thoughtfully。　〃I'm　not　quite　catching　on　to　that；　but　I　suppose　he　goes　in　with　the　young　lady。〃

〃They're　both　together；　sir；〃　the　boy　announced。

Mr。　Coulson　completed　his　toilet　and　hurried　downstairs



CHAPTER　VII。　A　FATAL　DESPATCH

Mr。　Coulson　found　his　two　visitors　in　the　lounge　of　the　hotel。　He　had　removed　all　traces　of　his　journey；　and　was　attired　in　a　Tuxedo　dinner　coat；　a　soft…fronted　shirt；　and　a　neatly　arranged　black　tie。　He　wore　broad…toed　patent　boots　and　double　lines　of　braid　down　the　outsides　of　his　trousers。　The　page　boy；　who　was　on　the　lookout　for　him；　conducted　him　to　the　corner　where　Miss　Penelope　Morse　and　her　companion　were　sitting　talking　together。　The　latter　rose　at　his　approach；　and　Mr。　Coulson　summed　him　up　quickly；a　well…bred；　pleasant…mannered；　exceedingly　athletic　young　Englishman；　who　was　probably　not　such　a　fool　as　he　looked；that　is；　from　Mr。　Coulson's　standpoint；　who　was　not　used　to　the　single　eyeglass　and　somewhat　drawling　enunciation。

〃Mr。　Coulson；　isn't　it？〃　the　young　man　asked；　accepting　the　other's　outstretched　hand。　〃We　are　awfully　sorry　to　disturb　you；　so　soon　after　your　arrival；　too；　but　the　fact　is　that　this　young　lady；　Miss　Penelope　Morse；〃Mr。　Coulson　bowed；〃was　exceedingly　anxious　to　make　your　acquaintance。　You　Americans　are　such　birds　of　passage　that　she　was　afraid　you　might　have　moved　on　if　she　didn't　look　you　up　at　once。〃

Penelope　herself　intervened。

〃I'm　afraid　you're　going　to　think　me　a　terrible　nuisance；　Mr。　Coulson！〃　she　exclaimed。　Mr。　Coulson；　although　he　did　not　call　himself　a　lady's　man；　was　nevertheless　human　enough　to　appreciate　the　fact　that　the　young　lady's　face　was　piquant　and　her　smile　delightful。　She　was　dressed　with　quiet　but　elegant　simplicity。　The　perfume　of　the　violets　at　her　waistband　seemed　to　remind　him　of　his　return　to　civilization。

〃Well；　I'll　take　my　risks　of　that；　Miss　Morse；〃　he　declared。　〃If　you'll　only　let　me　know　what　I　can　do　for　you〃

〃It's　about　poor　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes；〃　she　explained。　〃I　took　up　the　evening　paper　only　half　an　hour　ago；　and　read　your　interview　with　the　reporter。　I　simply　couldn't　help　stopping　to　ask　whether　you　could　give　me　any　further　particulars　about　that　horrible　affair。　I　didn't　dare　to　come　here　all　alone；　so　I　asked　Sir　Charles　to　come　along　with　me。〃

Mr。　Coulson；　being　invited　to　do　so；　seated　himself　on　the　l