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〃They have kept their word；〃 he said softly to himself； 〃after many
years。 After many years！〃
* * * * *
Duson came in to undress him shortly afterwards。 He saw signs of
the struggle； but made no comment。 Mr。 Sabin； after a moment's
hesitation； took a phial from his pocket and poured a few drops into
a wineglassful of water。
〃Duson；〃 he said； 〃bring me some despatch forms and a pencil。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
Mr。 Sabin wrote for several moments。 Then he placed the forms in
an envelope； sealed it； and handed it to Duson。
〃Duson；〃 he said； 〃that fellow Horser is annoyed with me。 If I
should be arrested on any charge； or should fail to return to the
hotel within reasonable time； break that seal and send off the
telegrams。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
Mr。 Sabin yawned。
〃I need sleep；〃 he said。 〃Do not call me to…morrow morning until
I ring。 And； Duson！〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃The Campania will sail from New York somewhere about the tenth of
October。 I wish to secure the whole of stateroom number
twenty…eight。 Go round to the office as soon as they open； secure
that room if possible； and pay a deposit。 No other will do。 Also
one for yourself。〃
〃Very good； sir。〃
CHAPTER VI
Here's a lady inquiring for you； sir … just gone up to your room in
the elevator；〃 the hotel clerk remarked to Mr。 Sabin as he paused
on his way to the door to hand in his key。 〃Shall I send a boy up？〃
Mr。 Sabin hesitated。
〃A lady？〃 he remarked tentatively。
The hotel clerk nodded。
〃Yes。 I didn't notice the name； but she was an Englishwoman。 I'll
send up。〃
〃Thank you； I will return；〃 Mr。 Sabin said。 〃If I should miss her
on the way perhaps you will kindly redirect her to my rooms。〃
He rang for the elevator； and was swiftly transported to his own
floor。 The door of his sitting…room was open。 Duson was talking
to a tall fair woman； who turned swiftly round at the sound of his
approach。
〃Ah； they found you； then！〃 she exclaimed； coming towards him with
outstretched hands。 〃Isn't this a strange place and a strange
country for us to meet once more in？〃
He greeted her gallantly； but with a certain reserve； of which she
was at once aware。
〃Are there any countries in the world left which are strange to so
great a traveler as Lady Muriel Carey？〃 he said。 〃The papers
here have been full of your wonderful adventures in South Africa。〃
She laughed。
〃Everything shockingly exaggerated； of course；〃 she declared。 〃I
have really been plagued to death since I got here with interviewers；
and that sort of person。 I wonder if you know how glad I am to see
you again？〃
〃You are very kind； indeed；〃 he said。 〃Certainly there was no one
whom I expected less to see over here。 You have come for the yacht
races； I suppose？〃
She looked at him with a faint smile and raised eyebrows。
〃Come；〃 she said； 〃shall we lie to one another？ Is it worth while？
Candour is so much more original。〃
〃Candour by all means then； I beg；〃 he answered。
〃I have come over with the Dalkeiths； ostensibly to see the yacht
races。 Really I have come to see you。〃
Mr。 Sabin bowed。
〃I am delightfully flattered；〃 he murmured。
〃I don't exactly mean for the pleasure of gazing into your face
once more；〃 she continued。 〃I have a mission！〃
Mr。 Sabin looked up quickly。
〃Great heavens！ You； too！〃 he exclaimed。
She nodded。
〃Why not？〃 she asked coolly。 〃I have been in it for years； you
know； and when I got back from South Africa everything seemed so
terribly slow that I begged for some work to do。〃
〃And they sent you here … to me？〃
〃Yes；〃 she answered； 〃and I was here also a few weeks ago； but you
must not ask me anything about that。〃
Mr。 Sabin's eyebrows contracted； his face darkened。 She shrank
a little away from him。
〃So it is you who have robbed me of her； then；〃 he said slowly。
〃Yes； the description fits you well enough。 I ask you； Lady Carey；
to remember the last time when chance brought you and me together。
Have I deserved this from you？〃
She made a little gesture of impotence。
〃Do be reasonable！〃 she begged。 〃What choice had I？〃
He looked at her steadfastly。
〃The folly of women … of clever women such as you；〃 he said； 〃is
absolutely amazing。 You have deliberately made a slave of
yourself … 〃
〃One must have distraction；〃 she murmured。
〃Distraction！ And so you play at this sort of thing。 Is it worth
while？〃
Her eyes for a moment clouded over with weariness。
〃When one has filled the cup of life to the brim for many years；〃
she said； 〃what remains that is worth while？〃
He bowed。
〃You are a young woman；〃 he said。 〃You should not yet have learned
to speak with such bitterness。 As for me … well； I am old indeed。
In youth and age the affections claim us。 I am approaching my
second childhood。〃
She laughed derisively； yet not unkindly。 〃What folly！〃 she
exclaimed。
〃You are right；〃 he admitted。 〃I suppose it is the fault of old
associations。〃
〃In a few minutes；〃 she said； smiling at him； 〃we should have become
sentimental。〃
〃I；〃 he admitted； 〃was floundering already。〃
She shrugged her shoulders。
〃You talk as though sentiment were a bog。〃
〃There have been worse similes；〃 he declared。
〃How horrid！ And do you know； sir； for all your indignation you
have not yet even inquired after your wife's health。〃
〃I trust；〃 he said； 〃that she is well。〃
〃She is in excellent health。〃
〃Your second visit to this country；〃 he remarked； 〃follows very
swiftly upon your first。〃
She nodded。
〃I am here；〃 she said； 〃〃on your account。〃
〃You excite my interest；〃 he declared。 〃May I know your mission？〃
〃I have to remind you of your pledge；〃 she said； 〃to assure you
of Lucille's welfare； and to prevent your leaving the country。〃
〃Marvelous！〃 he exclaimed； with a slight mocking smile。 〃And may
I ask what means you intend to employ to keep me here？〃
〃Well；〃 she said； 〃I have large discretionary powers。 We have a
very strong branch over on this side； but I would very much rather
induce you to stay here without applying to them。〃
〃And the inducements？〃 he asked。
She took a cigarette from a box which stood on the table and lit
one。
〃Well；〃 she said； 〃I might appeal to your hospitality； might I not？
I am in a strange country which you have made your home。 I want to
be shown round。 Do you remember dining with me one night at the
Ambassador's？ It was very hot； even for Paris； and we drove
afterwards in the Bois。 Ask me to dine with you here； won't you？
I have never quite forgotten the last time。〃
Mr。 Sabin laughed softly； but with undisguised mirth。
〃Come；〃 he said； 〃this is an excellent start。 You are to play the
Circe up to date； and I am to be beguiled。 How ought I to answer
you？ I do remember the Ambassador's； and I do remember driving
down the Bois in your victoria； and holding … I believe I am right
… your hand。 You have no right to disturb those charming memories
by attempting to turn them into bathos。〃
She blew out a little cloud of tobacco smoke； and watched it
thoughtfully。
〃Ah！〃 she remarked。 〃I wonder who is better