the illustrious prince- 第33部分

〃I　wonder；〃　he　said　to　himself　thoughtfully；　〃what　that　fellow　can　have　in　his　mind！〃

Inspector　Jacks　did　not　at　once　return　to　Scotland　Yard。　On　his　way　there　he　turned　into　St。　James'　Square；　and　stood　for　several　moments　looking　at　the　corner　house　on　the　far　side。　Finally；　after　a　hesitation　which　seldom　characterized　his　movements；　he　crossed　the　road　and　rang　the　bell。　The　door　was　opened　almost　at　once　by　a　Japanese　butler。

〃Is　your　master　at　home？〃　the　Inspector　asked。

〃His　Highness　does　not　see　strangers；〃　the　man　replied　coldly。

〃Will　you　take　him　my　card？〃　the　Inspector　asked。

The　man　bowed；　and　showed　him　into　an　apartment　on　the　ground　floor。　Then　with　the　card　in　his　hand；　he　turned　reluctantly　away。

〃His　Highness　shall　be　informed　that　you　are　here；〃　he　said。　〃I　fear；　however；　that　you　waste　your　time。　I　go　to　see。〃

Inspector　Jacks　subsided　into　a　bamboo　chair　and　looked　out　of　the　window　with　a　frown　upon　his　forehead。　It　was　certain　that　he　was　not　proceeding　with　altogether　his　usual　caution。　As　a　matter　of　tactics；　this　visit　of　his　might　very　well　be　fatal！



CHAPTER　XXII。　A　BREATH　FROM　THE　EAST

Inspector　Jacks　was　a　man　who　had　succeeded　in　his　profession　chiefly　on　account　of　an　average　amount　of　natural　astuteness；　and　also　because　he　was　one　of　those　favored　persons　whose　nervous　system　was　a　whole　and　perfect　thing。　Yet；　curiously　enough；　as　he　sat　in　this　large；　gloomy　apartment　into　which　he　had　been　shown；　a　room　filled　with　art　treasures　whose　appearance　and　significance　were　entirely　strange　to　him；　he　felt　a　certain　uneasiness　which　he　was　absolutely　unable　to　understand。　He　was　somewhat　instinctive　in　his　likes　and　dislikes；　and　from　the　first　he　most　heartily　disliked　the　room　itself；its　vague　perfumes；　its　subdued　violet　coloring；　the　faces　of　the　grinning　idols；　which　seemed　to　meet　his　gaze　in　every　direction；　the　pictures　of　those　fierce…looking　warriors　who　brandished　two…edged　swords　at　him　from　the　walls。　They　belonged　to　the　period　when　Japanese　art　was　perhaps　in　its　crudest　state；　and　yet　in　this　uncertain　atmosphere　they　seemed　to　possess　an　extraordinary　vitality；　as　though　indeed　they　were　prepared　at　a　moment's　notice　to　leap　from　their　frames　and　annihilate　this　mysterious　product　of　modern　days；　who　in　black　clothes　and　silk　hat；　unarmed　and　without　physical　strength；　yet　wielded　the　powers　of　life　and　death　as　surely　as　they　in　their　time　had　done。

The　detective　rose　from　his　seat　and　walked　around　the　room。　He　made　a　show　of　examining　the　arms　against　the　walls；　the　brocaded　hangings　with　their　wonderful　design　of　faded　gold；　the　ivory　statuettes；　the　black　god　who　sat　on　his　haunches　and　into　whose　face　seemed　carved　some　dumb　but　eternal　power。　Movement　was　in　some　respects　a　solace；　but　the　sound　of　a　hansom　bell　tinkling　outside　was　a　much　greater　relief。　He　crossed　to　the　windows　and　looked　out　over　the　somewhat　silent　square。　A　hurdy…gurdy　was　playing　in　the　corner　opposite　the　club；　just　visible　from　where　he　stood。　The　members　were　passing　in　and　out。　The　commissionaire　stood　stolidly　in　his　place；　raising　every　now　and　then　his　cab　whistle　to　his　lips。　A　flickering　sunlight　fell　upon　the　wind…shaken　lilac　trees　in　the　square　enclosure。　Inspector　Jacks　found　himself　wishing　that　the　perfume　of　those　lilacs　might　reach　even　to　where　he　stood；　and　help　him　to　forget　for　a　moment　that　subtler　and　to　him　curiously　unpleasant　odor　which　all　the　time　became　more　and　more　apparent。　So　overpowering　did　he　feel　it　that　he　tried　even　to　open　the　window；　but　found　it　an　impossible　task。　The　atmosphere　seemed　to　him　to　be　becoming　absolutely　stifling。

He　turned　around　and　walked　uneasily　toward　the　door。　He　decided　then　that　this　was　some　sort　of　gruesome　nightmare　with　which　he　was　afflicted。　He　was　quite　certain　that　in　a　few　minutes　he　would　wake　in　his　little　iron　bedstead　with　the　sweat　upon　his　forehead　and　a　reproachful　consciousness　of　having　eaten　an　indiscreet　supper。　It　could　not　possibly　be　a　happening　in　real　life！　It　could　not　be　true　that　his　knees　were　sinking　beneath　the　weight　of　his　body；　that　the　clanging　of　iron　hammers　was　really　smiting　the　drums　of　his　ears；　that　the　purple　of　the　room　was　growing　red；　and　that　his　veins　wee　strained　to　bursting！　He　threw　out　his　arms　in　a　momentary　instinct　of　fiercely　struggling　consciousness。　The　idols　on　the　walls　jeered　at　him。　Those　strangely　clad　warriors　seemed　to　him　now　to　be　looking　down　upon　his　discomfiture　with　a　satanic　smile；　mocking　the　pygmy　who　had　dared　to　raise　his　hand　against　one　so　jealously　guarded。　Clang　once　more　went　the　blacksmith's　hammers；　and　then　chaos！　。　。。

The　end　of　the　nightmare　was　not　altogether　according　to　Inspector　Jacks'　expectations。　He　found　himself　in　a　small　back　room；　stretched　upon　a　sofa　before　the　open　French…windows；　through　which　came　a　pleasant　vision　of　waving　green　trees　and　a　pleasanter　stream　of　fresh　air。　His　first　instinct　was　to　sniff；　and　a　sense　of　relief　crept　through　him　when　he　realized　that　this　room；　at　any　rate；　was　free　from　abnormal　odors。　He　sat　up　on　the　couch。　A　pale…faced　Japanese　servant　stood　by　his　side　with　a　glass　in　his　hand。　A　few　feet　away；　the　man　whom　he　had　come　to　visit　was　looking　down　upon　him　with　an　expression　of　grave　concern　in　his　kindly　face。

〃You　are　better；　I　trust；　sir？〃　Prince　Maiyo　said。

〃I　am　better；〃　Inspector　Jacks　muttered。　〃I　don't　knowI　can't　imagine　what　happened　to　me。〃

〃You　were　not　feeling　quite　well；　perhaps；　this　morning；〃　the　Prince　said　soothingly。　〃A　little　run　down；　no　doubt。　Your　professionI　gather　from　your　card　that　you　come　from　Scotland　Yardis　an　arduous　one。　I　came　into　the　room　and　found　you　lying　upon　your　back；　gasping　for　breath。〃

Inspector　Jacks　was　making　a　swift　recovery。　He　noticed　that　the　glass　which　the　man…servant　was　holding　was　empty。　He　had　a　dim　recollection　of　something　having　been　forced　through　his　lips。　Already　he　was　beginning　to　feel　himself　again。

〃I　was　absolutely　and　entirely　well；〃　he　declared　stoutly；　〃both　when　I　left　home　this　morning　and　when　I　entered　that　room　to　wait　for　you。　I　don't　know　what　it　was　that　came　over　me；〃　he　continued　doubtfully；　〃but　the　atmosphere　seemed　suddenly　to　become　unbearable。〃

Prince　Maiyo　nodded　understandingly。

〃People　often　complain；〃　he　admitted。　〃So　many　of　my　hangings　in　the　room　have　been　wrapped　in　spices　to　preserve　them；　and　my　people　burn　dead　blossoms　there　occasionally。　Some　of　us；　too；〃　he　concluded；　〃are　very　susceptible　to　strange　odors。　I　should　imagine；　perhaps；　that　you　are　one　of　them。〃

Inspector　Jacks　shook　his　head。

〃I　call　myself　a　strong　man；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　couldn't　have　believed　that　anything　of　the　sort　would　have　happened　to　me。〃

〃I　shouldn't　worry　about　it；〃　the　Prince　said　gently。　〃Go　and　see　your　doctor；　if　you　like；　but　I　have　known　many　people；　perfectly　healthy；　affected　in　the　same　way。　I　understood　that　you　wished　to　have　a　word　with　me。　Do　you　feel　well　enough　to　enter　upon　your　business　now；　or　would　you　prefer　to　make　another　appointment？〃

〃I　am　feeling　quite　well　again；　thank　you；〃　the　Inspector　said　slowly。　〃If　you　could　spare　me　a　few　minutes；　I　should　be　glad　to　explain　the　matter　which　brought　me　here。〃

The　Prince　merely　glanced　at　his　servant；　who　bowed　and　glided　noiselessly　from　the　room。　Then　he　drew　an　easy　chair　to　the　side　of　the　couch　where　Mr。　Jacks　was　still　sitting。

〃I　am　very　much　interested　to　meet　you；　Mr。　Inspector　Jacks；〃　he　remarked；　with　a　glance　at　the　card　which　he　was　still　holding　in　his　fingers。　〃I　have　studied　very　many　of　your　English　institutions　during　my　stay　over　here　with　much　interest；　but　it　has　not　been　my　good　fortune　to　have　come　into　touch　at　all　with　your　police　system。　Sir　Goreham　Briggsyour　chief；　I　believehas　invited　me　several　times　to　Scotland　Yard；　and　I　have　always　meant　to　avail　myself　of　his　kindness。　You　come　to　me；　perhaps；　from　him？〃

The　Inspector　shook　his　head。

〃My　business；　Prince；〃　he　said；　〃is　a　little　more　personal。〃

Prince　Maiyo　raised　his　eyebrows。

〃Indeed？〃　he　said。　〃Well；　whatever　it　is；　let　us　hear　it。　I　trust　that　I　have　not　unconsciously　transgressed　against　your　laws？〃

Inspector　Jacks　hesitated。　After　all；　his　was　not　so　easy　a　task。

〃Prince；〃　he　said；　〃my　errand　is　not　in　any　way　a　pleasant　one；　and　I　should　be　very　sorry　indeed　to　find　myself　in　the　position　of　bringing　any　annoyance　upon　a　stranger　and　a　gentleman　who　is　so　highly　esteemed。　At　the　same　time　there　are　certain　duties　in　connection　with　my　every…day　life　which　I　cannot　ignore。　In　England；　as　I　dare　say　you　know；　sir；　the　law　is　a　great　leveller。　I　have　heard　that　it　is　not　quite　so　in　your　country；　but　over　here　we　all　stand　equal　in　its　sight。〃

〃That　is　excellent；〃　the　Prince　said。　〃Please　believe；　Mr。　Inspector　Jacks；　that　I　do　not　wish　to　stand　for　a　single　moment　between　you　and　your　duty；　whatever　it　may　be。　Let　me　hear　just　what　you　have　to　say；　as　though　I　were　an　ordinary　dweller　here。　While　I　am　in　England；　at　any　rate；〃　he　added　with　a　smile；　〃I　am　subject　to　your　laws；　and　I　do　my　best　to　obey　them。〃

〃It　has　fallen　to　my　lot；〃　Inspector　Jacks　said；　〃to　take　charge　of　the　in