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would never let her go again。 He was sure of that。 They would
leave England … yes； there was time still to catch the five o'clock
train。 He turned the handle of his door and entered。 A familiar
figure rose from the depths of his easy…chair。 Her hat lay on the
table； her jacket was open； one of his cigarettes was between her
lips。 But it was not Lucille。
〃Lady Carey！〃 he said slowly。 〃This is an unexpected pleasure。
Have you brought Lucille with you？〃
〃I am afraid；〃 she answered； 〃that I have no ropes strong enough。〃
〃You insinuate；〃 he remarked； 〃that Lucille would be unwilling to
come。〃
〃There is no longer any need；〃 she declared； with a hard little
laugh； 〃for insinuations。 We have all been turned out from Dorset
House neck and crop。 Lucille has accepted the inevitable。 She has
gone to Reginald's Brott's rooms。〃
Mr。 Sabin smiled。
〃Indeed。 I have just come from Dorset House myself。 The Duke has
supplied me with a highly entertaining account of his sudden
awakening。 The situation must have been humorous。〃
Her eyes twinkled。
〃it was really screamingly funny。 The Duke had on his house of
Lords manner； and we all sat round like a lot of naughty children。
If only you bad been there。〃
Mr。 Sabin smiled。 Suddenly she laid her hand upon his arm。
〃Victor；〃 she said； 〃I have come to prove that I am your friend。
You do not believe that Lucille is with Reginald Brott。 It is true！
Not only that； but she is leaving England with him to…night。 The
man's devotion is irresistible … he has been gaining on her slowly
but surely all the time。〃
〃I have noticed〃 Mr。 Sabin remarked calmly； 〃that he has been
wonderfully assiduous。 I am sure I congratulate him upon his
success； if he has succeeded。〃
〃You doubt my word of course；〃 she said。 〃But I have not come here
to tell you things。 I have come to prove them。 I presume that what
you see with your own eyes will be sufficient。〃
Mr。 Sabin shook his head。
〃Certainly not；〃 he answered。 〃I make it a rule to believe nothing
that I see； and never to trust my ears。〃
She stamped her foot lightly upon the floor。
〃How impossible you are；〃 she exclaimed。 〃I can tell you by what
train Lucille and Reginald Brott will leave London to…night。 I can
tell you why Lucille is bound to go。〃
〃Now；〃 Mr。 Sabin said； 〃you are beginning to get interesting。〃
〃Lucille must go … or run the risk of arrest for complicity in the
murder of Duson。〃
〃Are you serious？〃 Mr。 Sabin asked； with admirably assumed gravity。
〃Is it a jesting matter？〃 she answered fiercely。 〃Lucille bought
poison； the same poison which it will be proved that Duson died of。
She came here； she was the last person to enter your room before
Duson was found dead。 The police are even now searching for her。
Escape is her only chance。〃
〃Dear me；〃 Mr。 Sabin said。 〃Then it is not only for Brott's sake
that she is running away。〃
〃What does that matter？ She is going； and she is going with him。〃
〃And why；〃 he asked； 〃do you come to give me warning？ I have plenty
of time to interpose。〃
〃You can try if you will。 Lucille is in hiding。 She will not see
you if you go to her。 She is determined。 Indeed； she has no
choice。 Lucille is a brave woman in many ways； but you know that
she fears death。 She is in a corner。 She is forced to go。〃
〃Again；〃 he said； 〃I feel that I must ask you why do you give me
warning？〃
She came and stood close to him。
〃Perhaps；〃 she said earnestly； 〃I am anxious to earn your gratitude。
Perhaps； too； I know that no interposition of yours would be of any
avail。〃
Mr。 Sabin smiled。
〃Still；〃 he said； 〃I do not think that it is wise of you。 I might
appear at the station and forcibly prevent Lucille's departure。
After all； she is my wife； you know。〃
She shrugged her shoulders。
〃I am not afraid；〃 she said。 〃You will make inquiries when I have
gone； and you will find out that I have spoken the truth。 If you
keep Lucille in England you will expose her to a terrible risk。 It
is not like you to be selfish。 You will yield to necessity。〃
〃Will you tell me where Lucille is now？〃 he asked。
〃For your own sake and hers； no；〃 she answered。 〃You also are
watched。 Besides； it is too late。 She was with Brott half an hour
after the Duke turned us out of Dorset House。 Don't you understand；
Victor … won't you？ It is too late。〃
He sat down heavily in his easy…chair。 His whole appearance was
one of absolute dejection。
〃So I am to be left alone in my old age；〃 he murmured。 〃You have
your revenge now at last。 You have come to take it。〃
She sank on her knees by the side of his chair； and her arms fell
upon his shoulders。
〃How can you think so cruelly of me； Victor；〃 she murmured。 〃You
were always a little mistaken in Lucille。 She loved you； it is
true； but all her life she has been fond of change and excitement。
She came to Europe willingly … long before this Brott would have
been her slave save for your reappearance。 Can't you forget her
… for a little while？〃
Mr。 Sabin sat quite still。 Her hair brushed his cheeks； her arms
were about his neck； her whole attitude was an invitation for his
embrace。 But he sat like a figure of stone； neither repulsing nor
encouraging her。
〃You need not be alone unless you like；〃 she whispered。
〃I am an old man；〃 he said slowly； 〃and this is a hard blow for me
to bear。 I must be sure； absolutely sure that she has gone。〃
〃By this time to…morrow；〃 she murmured； 〃all the world will know it。〃
〃Come to me then；〃 he said。 〃I shall need consolation。〃
Her eyes were bright with triumph。 She leaned over him and kissed
him on the lips。 Then she sprang lightly to her feet。
〃Wait here for me；〃 she said； 〃and I will come to you。 You shall
know； Victor； that Lucille is not the only woman in the world who
has cared for you。〃
There was a tap at the door。 Lady Carey was busy adjusting her
hat。 Passmore entered； and stood hesitating upon the threshold。
Mr。 Sabin had risen to his feet。 He took one of her hands and
raised it to his lips。 She gave him a swift； wonderful look and
passed out。
Mr。 Sabin's manner changed as though by magic。 He was at once
alert and vigorous。
〃My dear Passmore；〃 he said； 〃come to the table。 We shall want
those Continental time…tables and the London A。B。C。 You will have
to take a journey to…night。〃
CHAPTER XXXVIII
The two women were alone in the morning…room of Lady Carey's house
in Pont Street。 Lucille was walking restlessly up and down twisting
her handkerchief between her fingers。 Lady Carey was watching her；
more composed； to all outward appearance； but with closely compressed
lips； and boding gleam in her eyes。
〃I think；〃 Lady Carey said； 〃that you had better see him。〃
Lucille turned almost fiercely upon her。
〃And why？〃
〃Well； for one thing he will not understand your refusal。 He may
be suspicious。〃
〃What does it matter？ I have finished with him。 I have done all
that I pledged myself to。 What more can be expected of me？ I do
not wish to see him again。〃
Lady Carey laughed。
〃At least；〃 she said； 〃I think that the poor man has a right to
re