登陆注册
19621800000043

第43章 CHAPTER XXII(2)

Lucille shall not see you again until her task is over. And as for you, my dear Duke, I desire only your absence. I do not wish to hurt your feelings, but your name has been associated in the past with too many failures to inspire us with any confidence in engaging you as an ally. Countess, a carriage from Dorset House awaits you."

But Lucille sat still, and Mr. Sabin rose slowly to his feet.

"I thank you, Prince," he said, "for throwing away the mask.

Fighting is always better without the buttons. It is true that I have failed more than once, but it is also true that my failures have been more magnificent than your waddle across the plain of life.

As for your present authority, I challenge you to your face that you are using it to gain your private ends. What I have said to you I shall repeat to those whose place is above yours. Lucille shall go to Dorset House, but I warn you that I hold my life a slight thing where her welfare is concerned. Your hand is upon the lever of a great organization, I am only a unit in the world. Yet I would have you remember that more than once, Prince, when you and I have met with the odds in your favour the victory has been mine. Play the game fairly, and you have nothing to fear from me but the open opposition I have promised you. Bring but the shadow of evil upon her, misuse your power but ever so slightly against her, and I warn you that I shall count the few years of life left to me a trifle - of less than no account - until you and I cry quits."

The Prince smiled, a fat, good-natured smile, behind which the malice was indeed well hidden.

"Come, come, my dear Souspennier," he declared. "This is unworthy of you. It is positively melodramatic. It reminds me of the plays of my Fatherland, and of your own Adelphi Theatre. We should be men of the world, you and I. You must take your defeats with your victories. I can assure you that the welfare of the Countess Lucille shall be my special care."

Lucille for the first time spoke. She rose from her chair and rested her hands affectionately upon her husband's shoulder.

"Dear Victor," she said, "remember that we are in London, and, need I add, have confidence in me. The Prince of Saxe Leinitzer and I understand one another, I believe. If we do not it is not my fault.

My presence here at this moment should prove to you how eagerly I shall look forward to the time when our separation is no longer necessary."

She passed away into the inner room with a little farewell gesture tender and regretful. Mr. Sabin resumed his seat.

"I believe, Prince," he said, "that no good can come of any further conference between you and me. We understand one another too well.

Might I suggest therefore that you permit me to ring?"

The Prince rose to his feet.

"You are right," he said. "The bandying of words between you and me is a waste of time. We are both of us too old at the game. But come, before I go I will do you a good turn. I will prove that I am in a generous mood."

Mr. Sabin shrugged his shoulders.

"If anything in this world could inspire me with fear," he remarked, "it would be the generosity of the Prince of Saxe Leinitzer."

The Prince sighed.

"You always misunderstand me," he murmured. "However, I will prove my words. You spoke of an appeal."

"Certainly," Mr. Sabin answered. "I intend to impeach you for making use of the powers entrusted to you for your own private ends - in other words, for making an arbitrary misuse of your position."

The Prince nodded.

"It is very well put," he said. "I shall await the result of your appeal in fear and trembling. I confess that I am very much afraid.

But, come now, I am going to be generous. I am going to help you on a little. Do you know to whom your appeal must be made?"

"To the Grand Duke!" Mr. Sabin replied.

The Prince shook his head.

"Ah me!" he said, "how long indeed you have been absent from the world. The Grand Duke is no longer the head of our little affair.

Shall I tell you who has succeeded him?"

"I can easily find out," Mr. Sabin answered.

"Ah, but I warned you that I was in a generous mood," the Prince said, with a smile. "I will save you the trouble. With your permission I will whisper the name in your ear. It is not one which we mention lightly."

He stepped forward and bent his head for a moment. Afterwards, as he drew back, the smile upon his lips broadened until he showed all his teeth. It was a veritable triumph. Mr. Sabin, taken wholly by surprise, had not been able to conceal his consternation.

"It is not possible," he exclaimed hoarsely. "He would not dare."

But in his heart he knew that the Prince had spoken the truth.

同类推荐
  • 谴告篇

    谴告篇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 平台纪事本末

    平台纪事本末

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 书断列传

    书断列传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说不空罥索陀罗尼仪轨经

    佛说不空罥索陀罗尼仪轨经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说摩邓女经

    佛说摩邓女经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 创世游戏神

    创世游戏神

    获神器穿越各个宇宙和游戏世界,无论是CF,CS,口袋妖怪还是三体,亮剑都可以随意出入的世界。
  • 博爱:胡适人生讲演集

    博爱:胡适人生讲演集

    《读点大师:胡适人生讲演集·博爱》收录胡适先生不同时间、不同地点关于人生 问题的讲演实录,内容详尽充实,原汁原味地再现一代大师的讲演风采,还原当时中国社会的风起云涌,让我们领略特定时代风口浪尖上催生的伟大思想和智慧结晶。 胡适先生主张修己以安天下:“为己而后可以为人,求学而后可以救国”,这种圆融的态度在当时曾引起轩然大波,但在今天看来,这种通达的思想未尝不是饱含着热情和希望,将民族的气节和精神有力地传承下去。他给读者带来的不一样的声音,足可以引起我们对人生更深层的思考。
  • 流行词语看中国

    流行词语看中国

    本书就是从“流行词语”的巧妙角度,撷取人民群众不断变化的流行词语,忠实记录了改革开放30年来中国人在物质生活、意识形态、道德情操、文化时尚变迁与进步的过程,以及与此有关联的背景史料,从各个方面,展示了改革开放的历史画卷,留下了中国民众真实、具象的集体记忆。
  • 穿越之妹控

    穿越之妹控

    穿越后她看到了两个美男,一个是其大师兄廉晖;另一个则是自以为是她大哥的慕容湛。只是不巧的很,这两个都有很严重的妹控倾向。顾湄泪目,本姑娘惹不起还躲不起么?
  • 你是我心上的刺

    你是我心上的刺

    她做过沈华笙名正言顺的女朋友,也做过见不得光的情人,她曾以为,自己会这么一直死皮赖脸的活在他的身边。只是曾经的轰轰烈烈到头来仍然是一场空。因为他痛失了两个孩子,搭上一条腿,却从未得到过他的一分怜悯,母亲的逝去让她终于选择了背叛。他锒铛入狱,她隔着铁窗望着他,一眼万年……当一层又一层的真相揭开,才知道,那些荒谬是有多么的可笑。原以为到了无可奈何的地步,却不想多年后相见,她又如同藤蔓一样缠绕上来。“沈华笙,不管是出于爱,还是恨,我们注定要纠缠一生!”情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 园香

    园香

    当年,他阴差阳错,沦入她家。看着他和她的青梅竹马亲亲我我,谈婚论嫁,默默打望。时隔运转,再次出现在她面前之时,他已不再是以前那个沉默憨厚的男子了,于是又一个扮猪吃老虎的故事开始了。
  • 小白女与大叔死神的30天契约

    小白女与大叔死神的30天契约

    每个女生都在自己17岁的时幻想,从天而降一个白马王子,和自己谈一场罗曼蒂克的恋爱。然而在安楹17岁生日的时候从天而降的不是王子而是死神,好吧死神也就算了,死神不都是英俊高大帅气吗?为啥我的这个死神是个30岁的大叔,还总是那么腹黑,最关键的是他见我第一面就说我还能活30天。啊啊不要啊我的病马上就要治好了我还没有男朋友啊啊不要啊
  • 绝赋天才

    绝赋天才

    绝赋天才被测试出毫无修炼资质的废物;一部宝典,天下任一神通功法,竟可模仿,甚至超越!草根少年,怀揣梦想,不依附权贵,不畏惧强权,一步一脚印,天道酬勤,踏上巅峰!
  • 皇帝修仙传

    皇帝修仙传

    死去不是最可怕的,可怕的是死去以后重新复活过来,面对一个焦头烂额的局面,自己苦心经营的皇朝面临破碎,还有一群对自己不依不挠的老情人,当自己要改变这一切的时候,一直追随者自己的部下却站出来反对,到底是兄弟重要还是情人重要?权力,道义熟重,熟轻......稀世的珍宝,旷世的道法,狗血的剧情,卖萌的宠物尽在本书。
  • 校园实用经典警语名句(实用一生的语言精华丛书)

    校园实用经典警语名句(实用一生的语言精华丛书)

    《实用一生的语言精华丛书:校园实用经典警语名句》是一本科普类读物。歇后语、座右铭、格言等无疑都是一种浓缩的语言精华,可能经过千百年来人们的不断提炼和传承,才得以流传至今。《实用一生的语言精华丛书:校园实用经典警语名句》主要内容为警语名句的语言精华。集趣味性和知识性于一身,可以作为广大青少年朋友修身养性、努力学习的一个指路明灯。