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〃No！ To…night！〃 Mr。 Sabin answered sharply。 〃Lucille； in the
absence of any reasonable explanation； I challenge the right of the
Prince of Saxe Leinitzer to rob me even for an hour of my dearest
possession。 I appeal to you。 Come with me and remain with me
until it has been proved； if ever it can be proved； that greater
interests require our separation。 If there be blame I will take it。
Will you trust yourself to me
Lucille half rose； but Lady Carey's hand was heavy upon her
shoulder。 As though by a careless movement General Dolinski and
Raoul de Brouillac altered their positions slightly so as to come
between the two。 The Duke of Dorset had left the room。 Then Mr。
Sabin knew that they were all against him。
〃Lucille；〃 he said； 〃have courage！ I wait for you。〃
She looked towards him； and her face puzzled him。 For there
flashed across the shoulders of these people a glance which was
wholly out of harmony with his own state of barely subdued passion
… a glance half tender； half humorous； full of subtle promise。
Yet her words were a blow to him。
〃Victor； how is it possible？ Believe me； I come if I could。
To…morrow … very soon； it may be possible。 But now。 You hear what
the Prince says。 I fear that he is right！〃
To Mr。 Sabin the shock was an unexpected one。 He had never doubted
but that she at least was his side。 Her words found him unprepared；
and a moment he showed his discomfiture。 His recovery however； was
swift and amazing。 He bowed to Lucille； and by the time he raised
his head even the reproach had gone from his eyes。
〃Dear lady；〃 he said； 〃I will not venture to dispute your decision。
Prince； will you appoint a time to…morrow when this matter shall be
more fully explained to me？〃
The Prince's smile was sweetness itself； and his tone very gentle。
But Mr。 Sabin； who seldom yielded to any passionate impulse； kept
his teeth set and his hand clenched； lest the blow he longed to
deal should escape him。
〃At midday to…morrow I shall be pleased to receive you；〃 he said。
〃The Countess； with her usual devotion and good sense； has； I trust；
convinced you that our action is necessary！〃
〃To…morrow at midday；〃 Mr。 Sabin said； 〃I will be here。 I have the
honour to wish you all good…night。〃
His farewell was comprehensive。 He did not even single out Lucille
for a parting glance。 But down the broad stairs and across the
hall of Dorset House he passed with weary steps； leaning heavily
upon his stick。 It was a heavy blow which had fallen upon him。 As
yet he scarcely realised it。
His carriage was delayed for a few moments； and just as he was
entering it a young woman； plainly dressed in black； came hurrying
out and slipped a note into his hand。
〃Pardon； monsieur；〃 she exclaimed； with a smile。 I feared that I
was too late。〃
Mr。 Sabin's fingers closed over the note； and he stepped blithely
into the carriage。 But when he tore it open and saw the handwriting
he permitted himself a little groan of disappointment。 It was not
from her。 He read the few lines and crushed the sheet of paper in
his hand。
〃I am having supper at the Carlton with some friends on our way
to C。 H。 I want to speak to you for a moment。 Be in the Palm
Court at 12。15； but do not recognise me until I come to you。 If
possible keep out of sight。 If you should have left my maid will
bring this on to your hotel。
〃M。 C。〃
Mr。 Sabin leaned back in his carriage； and a frown of faint
perplexity contracted his forehead。
If I were a younger man；〃 he murmured to himself； 〃I might believe
that this woman was really in earnest； as well as being Saxe
Leinitzer's jackal。 We were friendly enough in Paris that year。
She is unscrupulous enough； of course。 Always with some odd fancy
for the grotesque or unlikely。 I wonder … 〃
He pulled the check…string； and was driven to Camperdown House。 A
great many people were coming and going。 Mr。 Sabin found Helene's
maid； and learnt that her mistress was just going to her room； and
would be alone for a few minutes。 He scribbled a few words on the
back of a card； and was at once taken up to her boudoir。
〃My dear UNCLE；〃 Helene exclaimed； 〃you have arrived most
opportunely。 We have just got rid of a few dinner people； and we
are going on to Carmarthen House presently。 Take that easy…chair；
please； and； light a cigarette。 Will you have a liqueur？ Wolfendon
has some old brandy which every one seems to think wonderful。〃
〃You are very kind； Helene；〃 Mr。 Sabin said。 〃I cannot refuse
anything which you offer in so charming a manner。 But I shall not
keep you more than a few minutes。〃
〃We need not leave for an hour；〃 Helene said； 〃and I am dressed
except for my jewels。 Tell me； have you seen Lucille？ I am so
anxious to know。〃
〃I have seen Lucille this evening；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered。
〃At Dorset House！〃
〃Yes。〃
Helene sat down； smiling。
〃Do tell me all about it。〃
〃There is very little to tell；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered。
〃She is with you … she returns at least！〃
Mr。 Sabin shook his head。
〃No；〃 he answered。 〃She remains at Dorset House。〃
Helene was silent。 Mr。 Sabin smoked pensively a moment or two； and
sipped the liqueur which Camperdown's own servant had just brought
him。
〃It is very hard； Helene；〃 he said； 〃to make you altogether
understand the situation； for there are certain phases of it which
I cannot discuss with you at all。 I have made my first effort to
regain Lucille； and it has failed。 It is not her fault。 I need
not say that it is not mine。 But the struggle has commenced； and
in the end I shall win。〃
〃Lucille herself … 〃 Helene began hesitatingly。
〃Lucille is； I firmly believe； as anxious to return to me as I am
anxious to have her；〃 Mr。 Sabin said。
Helene threw up her hands。
〃It is bewildering；〃 she exclaimed。
〃It must seem so to you；〃 Mr。 Sabin admitted。
〃I wish that Lucille were anywhere else；〃 Helene said。 〃The Dorset
House set； you know； although they are very smart and very
exclusive； have a somewhat peculiar reputation。 Lady Carey；
although she is such a brilliant woman； says and does the most
insolent； the most amazing things； and the Prince of Saxe Leinitzer
goes everywhere in Europe by the name of the Royal libertine。 They
are powerful enough almost to dominate society； and we poor people
who abide by the conventions are absolutely nowhere beside them。
They think that we are bourgeois because we have virtue； and
prehistoric because we are not decadent。〃
〃The Duke … 〃 Mr。 Sabin remarked。
〃Oh； the Duke is quite different； of course；〃 Helene admitted。
〃He is a fanatical Tory； very stupid； very blind to anything except
his beloved Primrose League。 How he came to lend himself to the
vagaries of such a set I cannot imagine。〃
Mr。 Sabin smiled。
〃C'est la femme toujours！〃 he remarked。 〃His Grace is； I fear；
henpecked； and the Duchess herself is the sport of cleverer people。
And now； my dear niece； I see that the time is going。 I came to
know if you could get me a card for the ball at Carmarthen House
to…night。〃
Helene laughed softly。
〃Very