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longer politics or ambition。 So the past can easily be expunged。
Those who must be her guiding influence shall be mine。
〃You will win her back；〃 Felix said。 〃I am sure of it。〃
〃I am willing to pay any price on earth；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered。 〃If
they can forget the past I can。 I want you to remember this。 I
want her to know it。 I want them to know it。 That is all； Felix。〃
Mr。 Sabin leaned back in his seat。 He had left this country last
a stricken and defeated man； left it with the echoes of his ruined
schemes crashing in his ears。 He came back to it a man with one
purpose only； and that such a purpose as never before had guided
him … the love of a woman。 Was it a sign of age； he wondered； this
return to the humanities？ His life had been full of great schemes；
he had wielded often a gigantic influence； more than once he had
made history。 And now the love of these things had gone from him。
Their fascination was powerless to quicken by a single beat his
steady pulse。 Monarchy or republic … what did he care？ It was
Lucille he wanted； the woman who had shown him how sweet even defeat
might be； who had made these three years of his life so happy that
they seemed to have passed in one delightful dream。 Were they dead； annihilated； these old
ambitions； the old love of great doings； or
did they only slumber？ He moved in his seat uneasily。
At Euston the two men separated with a silent handshake。 Mr。 Sabin
drove to one of the largest and newest of the modern hotels de luxe。
He entered his name as Mr。 Sabin … the old exile's hatred of using
his title in a foreign country had become a confirmed habit with
him … and mingled freely with the crowds who thronged into the
restaurant at night。 There were many faces which he remembered；
there were a few who remembered him。 He neither courted nor shunned
observation。 He sat at dinner…time at a retired table； and found
himself watching the people with a stir of pleasure。 Afterwards he
went round to a famous club； of which he had once been made a life
member； but towards midnight he was wearied of the dull decorum of
his surroundings； and returning to the hotel； sought the restaurant
once more。 The stream of people coming in to supper was greater
even than at dinner…time。 He found a small table； and ordered some
oysters。 The sight of this bevy of pleasure…seekers； all apparently
with multitudes of friends； might have engendered a sense of
loneliness in a man of different disposition。 To Mr。 Sabin his
isolation was a luxury。 He had an uninterrupted opportunity of
pursuing his favourite study。
There entered a party towards midnight； to meet whom the head…waiter
himself came hurrying from the further end of the room； and whose
arrival created a little buzz of interest。 The woman who formed the
central figure of the little group had for two years known no rival
either at Court or in Society。 She was the most beautiful woman in
England； beautiful too with all the subtle grace of her royal descent。
There were women upon the stage whose faces might have borne
comparison with hers； but there was not one who in a room would not
have sunk into insignificance by her side。 Her movements； her
carriage were incomparable … the inherited gifts of a race of women
born in palaces。
Mr。 Sabin； who neither shunned nor courted observation； watched her
with a grim smile which was not devoid of bitterness。 Suddenly she
saw him。 With a little cry of wonder she came towards him with
outstretched hands。
〃It is marvelous；〃 she exclaimed。 〃You？ Really you？〃
He bowed low over her hands。
〃It is I； dear Helene；〃 he answered。 〃A moment ago I was dreaming。
I thought that I was back once more at Versailles； and in the
presence of my Queen。〃
She laughed softly。
〃There may be no Versailles；〃 she murmured； 〃but you will be a
courtier to the end of your days。〃
〃At least；〃 he said； 〃believe me that my congratulations come from
my heart。 Your happiness is written in your face； and your husband
must be the proudest man in England。〃
He was standing now by her side； and he held out his hand to Mr。
Sabin。
〃I hope； sir；〃 he said pleasantly； 〃that you bear me no ill … will。〃
〃It would be madness；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered。 〃To be the most beautiful
peeress in England is perhaps for Helene a happier fate than to be
the first queen of a new dynasty。〃
〃And you； uncle？〃 Helene said。 〃You are back from your exile then。
How often I have felt disposed to smile when I thought of you； of
all men； in America。
〃I went into exile；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered； 〃and I found paradise。 The
three years which have passed since I saw you last have been the
happiest of my life。〃
〃Lucille！〃 Helene exclaimed。
〃Is my wife；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered。
〃Delightful！〃 Helene murmured。 〃She is with you then； I hope。
Indeed； I felt sure that I saw her the other night at the opera。〃
〃At the opera！〃 Mr。 Sabin for a moment was silent。 He would have
been ashamed to confess that his heart was beating strongly； that a
crowd of eager questions trembled upon his lips。 He recovered
himself after a moment。
〃Lucille is not with me for the moment；〃 he said in measured tones。
〃I am detaining you from your guests； Helene。 If you will permit
me I will call upon you。〃
〃Won't you join us？〃 Lord Camperdown asked courteously。 〃We are
only a small party … the Portuguese Ambassador and his wife； the
Duke of Medchester； and Stanley Phillipson。〃
Mr。 Sabin rose at once。
〃I shall be delighted；〃 he said。
Lord Camperdown hesitated for a moment。
〃I present Monsieur le Due de Souspennier； I presume？〃 he remarked；
smiling。
Mr。 Sabin bowed。
〃I am Mr。 Sabin；〃 he said； 〃at the hotels and places where one
travels。 To my friends I have no longer an incognito。 It is not
necessary。〃
It was a brilliant little supper party； and Mr。 Sabin contributed
at least his share to the general entertainment。 Before they
dispersed he had to bring out his tablets to make notes of his
engagements。 He stood on the top of the steps above the palm…court
to wish them good…bye； leaning on his stick。 Helene turned back
and waved her hand。
〃He is unchanged；〃 she murmured； 〃yet I fear that there must be
trouble。〃
〃Why？ He seemed cheerful enough；〃 her husband remarked。
She dropped her voice a little。
〃Lucille is in London。 She is staying at Dorset House。〃
CHAPTER X
Mr。 Sabin was deep in thought。 He sat in an easy…chair with his
back to the window； his hands crossed upon his stick； his eyes
fixed upon the fire。 Duson was moving noiselessly about the room；
cutting the morning's supply of newspapers and setting them out
upon the table。 His master was in a mood which he had been taught
to respect。 It was Mr。 Sabin Who broke the silence。
〃Duson！〃
〃Your Grace！〃
〃I have always； as you know； ignored your somewhat anomalous
position as the servant of one man and the slave of a society。
The questions which I am about to ask you you can answer or not；
according to your own apprehensions of what is due to each。〃
〃I thank your Grace！〃
〃My departure from America seemed to incite the most violent
opposition on the par