little novels-第28章
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〃When you left the Prince's dominions； my dear sir； you no doubt believed yourself to be a free agent。 Quite a mistake！ You were a mere puppet； and the strings that moved you were pulled by the Doctor。
〃Let me tell you how。
〃On a certain night； which you well remember； the Princess was unexpectedly summoned to the presence of her father。 His physician's skill had succeeded in relieving the illustrious Prince； prostrate under nervous miseries。 He was able to attend to a state affair of importance； revealed to him by the Doctorwho then for the first time acknowledged that he had presented himself at Court in a diplomatic； as well as in a medical capacity。
〃This state affair related to a proposal for the hand of the Princess； received from the Grand Duke through the authorized medium of the Doctor。 Her Highness； being consulted； refused to consider the proposal。 The Prince asked for her reason。 She answered： 'I have no wish to be married。' Naturally irritated by such a ridiculous excuse； her father declared positively that the marriage should take place。
〃The impression produced on the Grand Duke's favorite and emissary was of a different kind。
〃Certain suspicions of the Princess and yourself； which you had successfully contrived to dissipate； revived in the Doctor's mind when he heard the lady's reason for refusing to marry his royal master。 It was now too late to regret that he had suffered himself to be misled by cleverly managed appearances。 He could not recall the favorable report which he had addressed to the Dukeor withdraw the proposal of marriage which he had been commanded to make。
〃In this emergency； the one safe course open to him was to get rid of Youand； at the same time； so to handle circumstances as to excite against you the pride and anger of the Princess。 In the pursuit of this latter object he was assisted by one of the ladies in waiting； sincerely interested in the welfare of her gracious mistress； and therefore ardently desirous of seeing her Highness married to the Duke。
〃A wretched old French conspirator was made the convenient pivot on which the intrigue turned。
〃An order for the arrest of this foreign republican having been first obtained； the Prince was prevailed on to extend his distrust of the Frenchman to the Frenchman's niece。 You know this already； but you don't know why it was done。 Having believed from the first that you were really in love with the young lady； the Doctor reckoned confidently on your devoting yourself to the protection of a friendless girl； cruelly exiled at an hour's notice。
〃The one chance against us was that tender considerations； associated with her Highness； might induce you to hesitate。 The lady in waiting easily moved this obstacle out of the way。 She abstained from delivering a letter addressed to you； intrusted to her by the Princess。 When the great lady asked why she had not received your reply； she was informed （quite truly） that you and the charming opera singer had taken your departure together。 You may imagine what her Highness thought of you； and said of you； when I mention in conclusion that she consented； the same day； to marry the Duke。
〃So； Mr。 Ernest； these clever people tricked you into serving their interests； blindfold。 In relating how it was done； I hope I may have assisted you in forming a correct estimate of the state of your own intelligence。 You have made a serious mistake in adopting your present profession。 Give up diplomacyand get a farmer to employ you in keeping his sheep。〃
* * * * *
Do I sometimes think regretfully of the Princess？
Permit me to mention a circumstance； and to leave my answer to be inferred。 Jeanne is Lady Medhurst。
MR。 LISMORE AND THE WIDOW。
I。
LATE in the autumn； not many years since； a public meeting was held at the Mansion House； London； under the direction of the Lord Mayor。
The list of gentlemen invited to address the audience had been chosen with two objects in view。 Speakers of celebrity； who would rouse public enthusiasm； were supported by speakers connected with commerce； who would be practically useful in explaining the purpose for which the meeting was convened。 Money wisely spent in advertising had produced the customary resultevery seat was occupied before the proceedings began。
Among the late arrivals； who had no choice but to stand or to leave the hall； were two ladies。 One of them at once decided on leaving the hall。 〃I shall go back to the carriage；〃 she said； 〃and wait for you at the door。〃 Her friend answered； 〃I shan't keep you long。 He is advertised to support the second Resolution； I want to see himand that is all。〃
An elderly gentleman； seated at the end of a bench； rose and offered his place to the lady who remained。 She hesitated to take advantage of his kindness； until he reminded her that he had heard what she said to her friend。 Before the third Resolution was proposed； his seat would be at his own disposal again。 She thanked him； and without further ceremony took his place He was provided with an opera…glass； which he more than once offered to her； when famous orators appeared on the platform； she made no use of it until a speakerknown in the City as a ship…ownerstepped forward to support the second Resolution。
His name （announced in the advertisements） was Ernest Lismore。
The moment he rose； the lady asked for the opera…glass。 She kept it to her eyes for such a length of time； and with such evident interest in Mr。 Lismore； that the curiosity of her neighbors was aroused。 Had he anything to say in which a lady （evidently a stranger to him） was personally interested？ There was nothing in the address that he delivered which appealed to the enthusiasm of women。 He was undoubtedly a handsome man； whose appearance proclaimed him to be in the prime of lifemidway perhaps between thirty and forty years of age。 But why a lady should persist in keeping an opera…glass fixed on him all through his speech； was a question which found the general ingenuity at a loss for a reply。
Having returned the glass with an apology； the lady ventured on putting a question next。 〃Did it strike you； sir； that Mr。 Lismore seemed to be out of spirits？〃 she asked。
〃I can't say it did； ma'am。〃
〃Perhaps you noticed that he left the platform the moment he had done？〃
This betrayal of interest in the speaker did not escape the notice of a lady； seated on the bench in front。 Before the old gentleman could answer； she volunteered an explanation。
〃I am afraid Mr。 Lismore is troubled by anxieties connected with his business；〃 she said。 〃My husband heard it reported in the City yesterday that he was seriously embarrassed by the failure〃
A loud burst of applause made the end of the sentence inaudible。 A famous member of Parliament had risen to propose the third Resolution。 The polite old man took his seat； and the lady left the hall to join her friend。
〃Well； Mrs。 Callender； has Mr。 Lismore disappointed you？〃
〃Far from it！ But I have heard a report about him which has alarmed me： he is said to be seriously troubled about money matters。 How can I find out his address in the City？〃
〃We can stop at the first stationer's shop we pass； and ask to look at the Directory。 Are you going to pay Mr。 Lismore a visit？〃
〃I am going to think about it。〃
II。
THE next day a clerk entered Mr。 Lismore's private room at the office； and presented a visiting…card。 Mrs。 Callender had reflected； and had arrived at a decision。 Underneath her name she had written these explanatory words： 〃On important business。〃
〃Does she look as if she wanted money？〃 Mr。 Lismore inquired。
〃Oh dear； no！ She comes in her carriage。〃
〃Is she young or old？〃
〃Old； sir。〃
To Mr。 Lismoreconscious of the disastrous influence occasionally exercised over busy men by youth and beautythis was a recommendation in itself。 He said： 〃Show her in。〃
Observing the lady； as she approached him； with the momentary curiosity of a stranger； he noticed that she still preserved the remains of beauty。 She had also escaped the misfortune； common to persons at her time of life； of becoming too fat。 Even to a man's eye； her dressmaker appeared to have made the most of t
