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of the place is entirely misleading。 These people are old servants
of mine。 I can answer for the luncheon。〃
〃You can also eat it；〃 came the prompt reply。 〃I am returning to
the carriage。〃
〃But 〃
Mr。 Sabin emerged through the swing door。 〃Your discretion； my
dear Lucille；〃 he said； smiling； 〃is excellent。 The place is
indeed better than it seems； and Annette's cookery may be all that
the Prince claims。 Yet I think I know better places for a luncheon
party； and the ventilation is not of the best。 May I suggest that
you come with me instead to the Milan？〃
〃Victor！ You here？〃
Mr。 Sabin smiled as he admitted the obvious fact。 The Prince's
face was as black as night。
〃Believe me；〃 Mr。 Sabin said； turning to the Prince； 〃I sympathise
entirely with your feelings at the present moment。 I myself have
suffered in precisely the same manner。 The fact is； intrigue in
this country is almost an impossibility。 At Paris； Vienna； Pesth；
how different！ You raise your little finger； and the deed is done。 Superfluous people … like
myself … are removed like the hairs from
your chin。 But here intrigue seems indeed to exist only within the
pages of a shilling novel； or in a comic opera。 The gentleman with
a helmet there； who regards us so benignly； will presently earn a
shilling by calling me a hansom。 Yet in effect he does me a far
greater service。 He stands for a multitude of cold Anglo…Saxon
laws； adamant； incorruptible； inflexible … as certain as the laws
of Nature herself。 I am quite aware that by this time I ought to
be lying in a dark cellar with a gag in my mouth； or perhaps in
the river with a dagger in my chest。 But here in England； no！〃
The Prince smiled … to all appearance a very genial smile。
〃You are right； my dear friend；〃 he said； 〃yet what you say
possesses； shall we call it； a somewhat antediluvian flavour。
Intrigue is no longer a clumsy game of knife and string and bowl。
It becomes to…day a game of finesse。 I can assure you that I have
no desire to give a stage whistle and have you throttled at my feet。
On the contrary； I beg you to use my carriage； which you will find
in the street。 You will lunch at the Milan with Lucille； and I
shall retire discomfited to eat alone at my club。 But the game is
a long one； my dear friend。 The new methods take time。〃
〃This conversation；〃 Mr。 Sabin said to Lucille； 〃is interesting；
but it is a little ungallant。 I think that we will resume it at
some future occasion。 Shall we accept the Prince's offer； or shall
we be truly democratic and take a hansom。〃
Lucille passed her arm through his and laughed。
〃You are robbing the Prince of me；〃 she declared。 〃Let us leave
him his carriage。〃
She nodded her farewells to Saxe Leinitzer； who took leave of them
with a low bow。 As they waited at the corner for a hansom Mr。 Sabin
glanced back。 The Prince had disappeared through the swing doors。
〃I want you to promise me one thing；〃 Lucille said earnestly。
〃It is promised；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered。
〃You will not ask me the reason of my visit to this place？〃
〃I have no curiosity；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered。 〃Come！〃
CHAPTER XXVIII
Mr。 Sabin； contrary to his usual custom； engaged a private room at
the Milan。 Lucille was in the highest spirits。
〃If only this were a game instead of reality！〃 she said； flashing
a brilliant smile at him across the table； 〃I should find it most
fascinating。 You seem to come to me always when I want you most。
And do you know； it is perfectly charming to be carried off by you
in this manner。〃
Mr。 Sabin smiled at her； and there was a look in his eyes which
shone there for no other woman。
〃It is in effect；〃 he said； 〃keeping me young。 Events seem to have
enclosed us in a curious little cobweb。 All the time we are
struggling between the rankest primitivism and the most delicate
intrigue。 To…day is the triumph of primitivism。〃
〃Meaning that you； the medieval knight； have carried me off； the
distressed maiden； on your shoulder。〃
〃Having confounded my enemy；〃 he continued； smiling； 〃by an
embarrassing situation； a little argument； and the distant view
of a policeman's helmet。〃
〃This；〃 she remarked； with a little satisfied sigh as she selected
an ortolan； 〃is a very satisfactory place to be carried off to。
And you；〃 she added； leaning across the table and touching his
fingers for a moment tenderly； 〃are a very delightful knight…errant。〃
He raised the fingers to his lips … the waiter had left the room。
She blushed； but yielded her hand readily enough。
〃Victor；〃 she murmured； 〃you would spoil the most faithless woman
on earth for all her lovers。 You make me very impatient。〃
〃Impatience； then；〃 he declared； 〃must be the most infectious of
fevers。 For I too am a terrible sufferer。〃
〃If only the Prince；〃 she said； 〃would be reasonable。〃
〃I am afraid；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered； 〃that from him we have not much
to hope for。〃
〃Yet；〃 she continued； 〃I have fulfilled all the conditions。 Reginald
Brott remains the enemy of our cause and Order。 Yet some say that
his influence upon the people is lessened。 In any case； my work is
over。 He began to mistrust me long ago。 To…day I believe that
mistrust is the only feeling he has in connection with me。 I shall
demand my release。〃
〃I am afraid；〃 Mr。 Sabin said； 〃that Saxe Leinitzer has other reasons
for keeping you at Dorset House。〃
She shrugged her shoulders。
〃He has been very persistent even before I left Vienna。 But he must
know that it is hopeless。 I have never encouraged him。〃
〃I am sure of it；〃 Mr。 Sabin said。 〃It is the incorrigible vanity
of the man which will not be denied。 He has been taught to believe
himself irresistible。 I have never doubted you for a single moment；
Lucille。 I could not。 But you have been the slave of these people
long enough。 As you say； your task is over。 Its failure was always
certain。 Brott believes in his destiny； and it will be no slight
thing which will keep him from following it。 They must give you
back to me。〃
〃We will go back to America；〃 she said。 〃I have never been so
happy as at Lenox。〃
〃Nor I；〃 Mr。 Sahin said softly。
〃Besides；〃 she continued； 〃the times have changed since I joined
the Society。 In Hungary you know how things were。 The Socialists
were carrying all before them； a united solid body。 The aristocracy
were forced to enter into some sort of combination against them。
We saved Austria； I am not sure that we did not save Russia。 But
England is different。 The aristocracy here are a strong resident
class。 They have their House of Lords； they own the land； and will
own it for many years to come； their position is unassailable。 It
is the worst country in Europe for us to work in。 The very climate
and the dispositions of the people are inimical to intrigue。 It is
Muriel Carey who brought the Society here。 It was a mistake。 The
country is in no need of it。 There is no scope for it。〃
〃If only one could get beyond Saxe Leinitzer；〃 Mr。 Sabin said。
She shook her head。
〃Behind him；〃 she said； 〃there is only the one to whom all reference
is forbidden。 And there is no man in the world who w