more　to　your　old　place。　　I　am　happy　to　say　that　there　appears　to　be
  no　reason　why　your　claim　should　not　be　fully　admitted。〃
  Mr。　Sabin　rose　to　his　feet。
  〃I　presume；〃　he　said；　〃that　no　very　active　demands　are　likely　to　be
  made　upon　my　services。　　In　this　country　more　than　any　other　I　fear
  that　the　possibilities　of　my　aid　are　scanty。〃
  The　Prince　smiled。
  〃It　is　a　fact；〃　he　said；　〃which　we　all　appreciate。　　Upon　you　at
  present　we　make　no　claim。〃
  There　was　a　moment's　intense　silence。　　A　steely　light　glittered　in
  Mr。　Sabin's　eyes。　　He　and　the　Prince　alone　remained　standing。　　The
  Duchess　of　Dorset　watched　them　through　her　lorgnettes；　Lady　Carey
  watched　too　with　an　intense　eagerness；　her　eyes　alight　with　mingled
  cruelty　and　excitement。　　Lucille's　eyes　were　so　bright　that　one
  might　readily　believe　the　tears　to　be　glistening　beneath。
  CHAPTER　XIX
  I　will　not　pretend；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃to　misunderstand　you。　　My
  help　is　not　required　by　you　in　this　enterprise；　whatever　it　may　be；
  in　which　you　are　engaged。　　On　the　contrary；　you　have　tried　by　many
  and　various　ways　to　keep　me　at　a　distance。　　But　I　am　here；　Prince
  …　here　to　be　dealt　with　and　treated　according　to　my　rights。〃
  The　Prince　stroked　his　fair　moustache。
  〃I　am　a　little　puzzled；〃　he　admitted；　〃as　to　this　…　shall　I　not
  call　it　self…assertiveness？　…　on　the　part　of　my　good　friend
  Souspennier。〃
  〃I　will　make　it　quite　clear　then；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃Lucille；
  will　you　favour　me　by　ringing　for　your　maid。　　The　carriage　is　at
  the　door。〃
  The　Prince　held　out　his　hand。
  〃My　dear　Souspennier；〃　he　said；　〃you　must　not　think　of　taking
  Lucille　away　from　us。〃
  〃Indeed；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered　coolly。　　〃Why　not？〃
  〃It　must　be　obvious　to　you；〃　the　Prince　answered；　〃that　we　did　not
  send　to　America　for　Lucille　without　an　object。　　She　is　now　engaged
  in　an　important　work　upon　our　behalf。　　It　is　necessary　that　she
  should　remain　under　this　roof。〃
  〃I　demand；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃that　the　nature　of　that　necessity
  should　be　made　clear　to　me。〃
  The　Prince　smiled　with　the　air　of　one　disposed　to　humour　a　wilful
  child。
  〃Come！〃　he　said。　　〃You　must　know　very　well　that　I　cannot　stand　here
  and　tell　you　the　bare　outline；　much　less　the　details　of　an　important
  movement。　　To…morrow；　at　any　hour　you　choose；　one　from　amongst　us
  shall　explain　the　whole　matter　…　and　the　part　to　be　borne　in　it　by
  the　Countess！〃
  〃And　to…night？〃　Mr。　Sabin　asked。
  The　Prince　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　glanced　at　the　clock。
  〃To…night；　my　dear　friend；〃　he　said；　〃all　of　us；　I　believe；　go　on
  to　a　ball　at　Carmarthen　House。　　It　would　grieve　me　also；　I　am　sure；
  Duke；　to　seem　inhospitable；　but　I　am　compelled　to　mention　the　fact
  that　the　hour　for　which　the　carriages　have　been　ordered　is　already
  at　hand。〃
  Mr。　Sabin　reflected　for　a　few　moments。
  〃Did　I　understand　you　to　say；〃　he　asked；　〃that　the　help　to　be　given
  to　you　by　my　wife；　Lucille；　Duchess　of　Souspennier；　entailed　her
  remaining　under　this　roof？〃
  The　Prince　smiled　seraphically。
  〃It　is　unfortunate；〃　he　murmured；　〃since　you　have　been　so　gallant
  as　to　follow　her；　but　it　is　true！　　You　will　understand　this
  perfectly　…　to…morrow。〃
  〃And　why　should　I　wait　until　to…morrow？〃　Mr。　Sabin　asked　coolly。
  〃I　fear；〃　the　Prince　said；　〃that　it　is　a　matter　of　necessity。〃
  Mr。　Sabin　glanced　for　a　moment　in　turn　at　the　faces　of　all　the
  little　company　as　though　seeking　to　discover　how　far　the　attitude
  of　his　opponent　met　with　their　approval。　　Lady　Carey's　thin　lips
  were　curved　in　a　smile；　and　her　eyes　met　his　mockingly。　　The
  others　remained　imperturbable。　　Last　of　all　he　looked　at　Lucille。
  〃It　seems；〃　he　said；　smiling　towards　her；　〃that　I　am　called　upon
  to　pay　a　heavy　entrance　fee　on　my　return　amongst　your　friends。　　But
  the　Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer　forgets　that　he　has　shown　me　no
  authority；　or　given　me　no　valid　reason　why　I　should　tolerate　such
  flagrant　interference　with　my　personal　affairs。〃
  〃To…morrow　…　to…morrow；　my　good　sir！〃　the　Prince　interrupted。
  〃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　sm