Grahame　looked　at　him　in　wonder；　and　Brott　faced　him　sturdily。
  〃It　seems　like　treason　to　you；　Grahame！〃　he　said。　　〃So　it　does　to
  me　now。　　I　want　nothing　in　the　future　to　come　between　us；〃　he
  continued　more　slowly；　〃and　I　should　like　if　I　can　to　expunge　the
  memory　of　this　interview。　　And　so　I　am　going　to　tell　you　the　truth。〃
  Grahame　held　out　his　hand。
  〃Don't！〃　he　said。　　〃I　can　forget　without。〃
  I3rott　shook　his　head。
  〃No；〃　he　said。　　〃You　had　better　understand　everything。　　The
  halfpenny　press　told　the　truth。　　Yet　only　half　the　truth。　　I　have
  been　to　all　these　places；　wasted　my　time；　wasted　their　time；　from
  a　purely　selfish　reason　…　to　be　near　the　only　woman　I　have　ever
  cared　for；　the　woman；　Grahame！〃
  〃I　knew　it；〃　Grahame　murmured。　　〃I　fought　against　the　belief；　I
  thought　that　I　had　stifled　it。　　But　I　knew　it　all　the　time。〃
  〃If　I　have　seemed　lukewarm　sometimes　of　late；〃　Brott　said；　〃there
  is　the　cause。　　She　is　an　aristocrat；　and　my　politics　are　hateful
  to　her。　　She　has　told　me　so　seriously；　playfully；　angrily。　　She
  has　let　me　feel　it　in　a　hundred　ways。　　She　has　drawn　me　into
  discussions　and　shown　the　utmost　horror　of　my　views。　　I　have　cared
  for　her　all　my　life；　and　she　knows　it。　　And　I　think；　Grahame；　that
  lately　she　has　been　trying　constantly；　persistently；　to　tone　down
  my　opinions。　　She　has　let　me　understand　that　they　are　a　bar　between
  us。　　And　it　is　a　horrible　confession；　Grahame；　but　I　believe　that
  I　was　wavering。　　This　invitation　from　Letheringham　seemed　such　a
  wonderful　opportunity　for　compromise。〃
  〃This　must　never　go　out　of　the　room；〃　Grahame　said　hoarsely。　　〃It
  would　ruin　your　popularity。　　They　would　never　trust　you　again。
  〃I　shall　tell　no　one　else；〃　Brott　said。
  〃And　it　is　over？〃　Grahame　demanded　eagerly。
  〃It　is　over。〃
  *　　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　　*
  The　Duke　of　Dorset；　who　entertained　for　his　party；　gave　a　great
  dinner　that　night　at　Dorset　House；　and　towards　its　close　the
  Prince　of　Saxe　Leinitzer；　who　was　almost　the　only　non…political
  guest；　moved　up　to　his　host　in　response　to　an　eager　summons。　　The
  Duke　was　perturbed。
  〃You　have　heard　the　news；　Saxe　Leinitzer？〃
  〃I　did　not　know　of　any　news；〃　the　Prince　answered。　　〃What　is　it？〃
  〃Brott　has　refused　to　join　with　Letheringham　in　forming　a　ministry。
  It　is　rumoured　even　that　a　coalition　was　proposed；　and　that　Brott
  would　have　nothing　to　do　with　it。〃
  The　Prince　looked　into　his　wineglass。
  〃Ah！〃　he　said。
  〃This　is　disturbing　news；〃　the　Duke　continued。　　You　do　not　seem　to
  appreciate　its　significance。〃
  The　Prince　looked　up　again。
  〃Perhaps　not；〃　he　said。　　〃You　shall　explain　to　me。〃
  〃Brott　refuses　to　compromise；〃　the　Duke　said。　　〃He　stands　for　a
  ministry　of　his　own　selection。　　Heaven　only　knows　what　mischief
  this　may　mean。　　His　doctrines　are　thoroughly　revolutionary。　　He　is
  an　iconoclast　with　a　genius　for　destruction。　　But　he　has　the　ear　of
  the　people。　　He　is　to…day　their　Rienzi。〃
  The　Prince　nodded。
  〃And　Lucille？〃　he　remarked。　　〃What　does　she　say？〃
  〃I　have　not　spoken　to　her；〃　the　Duke　answered。　　〃The　news　has　only
  just　come。〃
  〃We　will　speak　to　her；〃　the　Prince　said；　〃together。〃
  Afterwards　in　the　library　there　was　a　sort　of　informal　meeting；　and
  their　opportunity　came。
  〃So　you　have　failed；　Countess；〃　her　host　said；　knitting　his　grey
  brows　at　her。
  She　smilingly　acknowledged　defeat。
  〃But　I　can　assure　you；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　was　very　near　success。
  Only　on　Monday　he　had　virtually　made　up　his　mind　to　abandon　the
  extreme　party　and　cast　in　his　lot　with　Letheringham。　　What　has
  happened　to　change　him　I　do　not　know。〃
  The　Prince　curled　his　fair　moustache。
  〃It　is　a　pity；〃　he　said；　〃that　he　changed　his　mind。　　For　one　thing
  is　very　certain。　　The　Duke　and　I　are　agreed　upon　it。　　A　Brott
  ministry　must　never　be　formed。〃
  She　looked　up　quickly。
  〃What　do　you　mean？〃
  The　Prince　answered　her　without　hesitation。
  〃If　one　course　fails；〃　he　said；　〃another　must　be　adopted。　　I　regret
  having　to　make　use　of　means　which　are　somewhat　clumsy　and　obvious。
  But　our　pronouncement　on　this　one　point　is　final。　　Brott　must　not
  be　allowed　to　form　a　ministry。〃
  She　looked　at　him　with　something　like　horror　in　her　soft　full　eyes。
  〃What　would　you　do？〃　she　murmured。
  The　Prince　shrugged　his　shoulders。
  〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃we　are　not　quite　medieval　enough　to　adopt　the
  only　really　sensible　method　and　remove　Mr。　Brott　permanently　from
  the　face　of　the　earth。　　We　should　stop　a　little　short　of　that；　but
  I　can　assure　you　that　Mr。　Brott's　health　for　the　next　few　months　is
  a　matter　for　grave　uncertainty。　　It　is　a　pity　for　his　sake　that　you
  failed。〃
  She　bit　her　lip。
  〃Do　you　know　if　he　is　still　in　London？〃　she　asked。
  〃He　must　be　on　the　point　of　leaving　for　Scotland；〃　the　Duke　answered。
  〃If　he　once　mounts　the　platform　at　Glasgow　there　will　be　no　further
  chance　of　any　compromise。　　He　will　be　committed　irretrievably　to
  his　campaign　of　anarchy。〃
  〃And　to　his　own　disaster；〃　the　Prince　murmured。
  Lucille　remained　for　a　moment　deep　in　thought。　　Then　she　looked　up。
  〃If　I　can　find　him　before　he　starts；〃　she　said　hurriedly；　〃I　will
  make　one　last　effort。〃
  CHAPTER　XXV
  He　peered　forward　over　his　desk　at　the　tall　graceful　figure　whose
  entrance　had　been　so　noiseless；　and　whose　footsteps　had　been　so
  light　that　she　stood　almost　within　a　few　feet　of　him　before　he　was
  even　aware　of　her　presence。　　Then　his　surprise　was　so　great　that　he
  could　only　gasp　out　her　name。
  〃You！　　Lucille！〃
  She　smiled　upon　him　delightfully。
  〃Me！　　Lucille！　　Don't　blame　your　servant。　　I　assured　him　that　I　was
  expected；　so　he　allowed　me　to　enter　unannounced。　　His　astonishment
  was　a　delightful　testimony　to　your　reputation；　by　the　bye。　　He　was
  evidently　not　used　to　these　invasions。〃
  Brott　had　recovered　himself　by　this　time；　and　if　any　emotion　still
  remained　he　was　master　of　it。
  〃You　must　forgive　my　surprise！〃　he　said。　　〃You　have　of　course
  something　important　to　say　to　me。　　Will　you　not　loosen　your　cloak？〃
  She　unfastened　the　clasp　and　seated　herself　in　his　most　comfortable
  chair。　　The　firelight　flashed　and　glittered　on　the　silver　ornaments
  of　her　dress；　her　neck　and　arms；　with　their　burden　of　jewels；　gleamed
  like　porcelain　in　the　semi…darkness　outside　the　halo　of　his　student
  lamp。　　And　he　saw　that　her　dark　hair　hung　low　behind　in　graceful
  folds　as　he　had　once　admired　it。　　He　stood　a　little　apart；　and　she
  noted　his　traveling　clothes　and　the　various　signs　of　a　journey
  about　the　room。
  〃You　may　be　glad　to　see　me；〃　she　remarked；　looking　at　him　with　a
  smile。　　〃You　don't　look　it。〃
  〃I　am　anxious　to　hear　your　news；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　am　convinced
  that　you　have　something　important　to　say　to　me。〃
  〃Supposing；〃　she　answered；　still　looking　at　him　steadily；　〃supposing
  I　were　to　say　that　I　had　no　object　in　coming　here　at　all　…　that　it
  was　merely　a　whim？　　What　should　you　say　then？〃
  〃I　should　take　the　liberty；〃　he　answered　quietly；　〃of　doubting　the
  evidence　of　my　senses。〃
  There　was　a　moment's　silence。　　She　felt　his　aloofness。　　It　awoke
  in　her　some　of　the　enthusiasm　with　which　this　mission　itself　had
  failed　to　inspire　her。　　This　man　was　measuring　his　strength　against
  hers。
  〃It　was　not　altogether　a　whim；〃　she　said；　her　eyes　falling　from
  his；　〃and　yet　…　now　I　am　here　…　it　does　not　seem　easy　to　say　what
  was　in　my　mind。〃
  He　glanced　towards　the　clock。
  〃I　fear；〃　he　said；　〃that　it　may　sound　ungallant；　but　in　case　this
  somewhat　mysterious　mission　of　yours　is　of　any　importance　I　had
  better　perhaps　tell　you　that　in　twenty　minutes　I　must　leave　to　catch
  the　Scotch　mail。〃
  She　rose　at　once　to　her　feet；　and　swept　her　cloak　haughtily　around
  her。
  〃I　have　made　a　mistake；〃　she　said。　　〃Be　so　good　as　to　pardon　my
  intrusion。　　I　shall　not　trouble　you　again。〃
  She　was　half…way　across　the　room。　　She　was　at　the　door；　her　hand
  was　upon　the　handle。　　He　was　white　to　the　lips；　his　whole　frame　was
  shaking　with　the　effort　of　intense　repression。　　He　kept　silence；
  till　only　a　flutter　of　her　cloak　was　to　be　seen　in　the　doorway。
  And　then　the　cry　which　he　had　tried　so　hard　to　stifle　broke　from
  his　lips。
  〃Lucille！　Lucille！〃
  She　hesitated；　and　came　back　…　looking　at　him；　so　he　thought；　with
  trembling　lips　and　eyes　soft　with　unshed　tears。
  〃I　was　a　brute；〃　he　murmured。　　〃I　ought　to　be　grateful　for　this
  chance　of　seeing　you　once　more；　of　saying　good…bye　to　you。〃
  〃Good…bye！〃　she　repeated。
  〃Yes；〃　he　said　gravely。　　〃It　must　be　good…bye。　　I　have　a　great　work
  before　me；　and　it　will　cut　me　off　completely　from　all　association
  with　your　world　and　your　friends。　　Something　wider　and　deeper　than
  an　ocean　will　divide　us。　　Something　so　wide　that　our　hands　will
  never　reach　across。〃
  〃You　can　talk　about　it　very　calmly；〃　she　said；　without　looking　at
  him。
  〃I　have　been　disciplining　myself；〃　he　answered。
  She　rested　her　face　upon　her　hand；　and　looked　into　the　fire。
  〃I　suppose；〃　she　said；　〃this　means　that　you　have　refused　Mr。
  Letheringham's　offer。〃
  〃I　have　refused　it；〃　he　answered。
  〃I　am　sorry；〃　she　said　simply。
  She　rose　from　her　chair　with　a　sudden　start；　began　to　draw　on　her
  cloak；　and　then　let　it　fall　altogether　from　her　shoulders。
  〃Why　do　you　do　t