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he will be here。〃
The Prince picked up his cards and sorted them mechanically。
〃We shall see；〃 he remarked。 〃It is true； Countess； that you are
here； but in this instance you are set with thorns。〃
〃To continue the allegory； Prince；〃 she answered； passing on to
the next table； 〃also with poisonous berries。 But to the hand
which has no fear； neither are harmful。〃
The Prince laid down his hand。
〃Now I really believe；〃 he said gently； 〃that she meant to be rude。
Partner； I declare hearts！〃
Felix was standing out from the next table whilst has hand was
being played by General Dolinski； his partner。 He drew her a
little on one side。
〃Do not irritate Saxe Leinitzer；〃 he whispered。 〃Remember；
everything must rest with him。 Twice to…night you have brought
that smile to his lips； and I never see it without thinking of
unpleasant things。〃
〃You are right；〃 she answered； 〃but I hate him so。 He and Muriel
Carey seem to have entered into some conspiracy to lead me on to
say things which I might regret。〃
〃Saxe Leinitzer；〃 he said； 〃has never forgotten that he once
aspired to be your lover。〃
〃He has not failed to let me know it；〃 she answered。 〃He has even
dared … ah！〃
There was a sudden stir in the room。 The library door was thrown
open。 The solemn…visaged butler stood upon the threshold。
〃His Grace the Duke of Souspennier！〃 he announced。
CHAPTER XVIII
There was for the moment a dead silence。 The soft patter of cards
no longer fell upon the table。 The eyes of every one were turned
upon the newcomers。 And he； leaning upon his stick； looked only
for one person； and having found her； took no heed of any one else。
〃Lucille！〃
She rose from her seat and stood with hands outstretched towards
him； her lips parted in a delightful smile； her eyes soft with
happiness。
〃Victor； welcome！ It is like you to have found me； and I knew
that you would come。〃
He raised her fingers to his lips … tenderly … with the grace of a
prince； but all the affection of a lover。 What he said to her none
could hear； for his voice was lowered almost to a whisper。 But the
colour stained her cheeks； and her blush was the blush of a girl。
A movement of the Duchess recalled him to a sense of his social
duty。 He turned courteously to her with extended hand。
〃I trust；〃 he said； 〃that I may be forgiven my temporary fit of
aberration。 I cannot thank you sufficiently； Duchess； for your
kind invitation。〃
Her answering smile was a little dubious。
〃I am sure；〃 she said 〃that we are delighted to welcome back
amongst us so old and valued a friend。 I suppose you know every
one？〃
Mr。 Sabin looked searchingly around； exchanging bows with those
whose faces were familiar to him。 But between him and the Prince
of Saxe Leinitzer there passed no pretense at any greeting。 The
two men eyed one another for a moment coldly。 Each seemed to be
trying to read the other through。
〃I believe；〃 Mr。 Sabin said； 〃that I have that privilege。 I see；
however； that I am interrupting your game。 Let me beg you to
continue。 With your permission； Duchess； I will remain a spectator。
There are many things which my wife and I have to say to one
another。〃
The Prince of Saxe Leinitzer laid his cards softly upon the table。
He smiled upon Mr。 Sabin … a slow； unpleasant smile。
〃I think；〃 he said slowly； 〃that our game must be postponed。 It
is a pity； but I think it had better be so。〃
〃It must be entirely as you wish；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered。 〃I am at
your service now or later。〃
The Prince rose to his feet。
〃Monsieur le Due de Souspennier；〃 he said； 〃what are we to
conclude from your presence here this evening？〃
〃It is obvious；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered。 〃I claim my place amongst you。〃
〃You claim to be one of us？〃
〃I do！〃
〃Ten years ago；〃 the Prince continued； 〃you were granted immunity
from all the penalties and obligations which a co…membership with
us might involve。 This privilege was extended to you on account
of certain great operations in which you were then engaged； and
the object of which was not foreign to our own aims。 You are aware
that the period of that immunity is long since past。〃
Mr。 Sabin leaned with both hands upon his stick； and his face was
like the face of a sphinx。 Only Lucille； who knew him best of all
those there； saw him wince for a moment before this reminder of his
great failure。
〃I am not accustomed；〃 Mr。 Sabin said quietly； 〃to shirk my share
of the work in any undertaking with which I am connected。 Only in
this case I claim to take the place of the Countess Lucille； my
wife。 I request that the task； whatever it may be which you have
imposed upon her； may be transferred to me。〃
The Prince's smile was sweet； but those who knew him best wondered
what evil it might betoken for his ancient enemy。
〃You offer yourself； then； as a full member？〃
〃Assuredly！〃
〃Subject；〃 he drawled； 〃to all the usual pains and privileges？〃
〃Certainly！〃
The Prince played with the cards upon the table。 His smooth； fair
face was unruffled； almost undisturbed。 Yet underneath he was
wondering fiercely； eagerly； how this might serve his ends。
〃The circumstances；〃 he said at last； 〃are peculiar。 I think that
we should do well to consult together … you and I； Felix； and
Raoul here。〃
The two men named rose up silently。 The Prince pointed to a
small round table at the farther end of the apartment； half
screened off by a curtained recess。
〃Am I also；〃 Mr。 Sabin asked； 〃of your company？〃
The Prince shook his head。
〃I think not；〃 he said。 〃In a few moments we will return。〃
Mr。 Sabin moved away with a slight enigmatic gesture。 Lucille
gathered up her skirts； making room for him by her side on a
small sofa。
〃It is delightful to see you； Victor；〃 she murmured。 〃It is
delightful to know that you trusted me。〃
Mr。 Sabin looked at her； and the smile which no other woman had
ever seen softened for a moment his face。
〃Dear Lucille；〃 he murmured； 〃how could you ever doubt it？ There
was a day； I admit； when the sun stood still； when； if I had felt
inclined to turn to light literature； I should have read aloud
the Book of Job。 But afterwards … well； you see that I am here。〃
She laughed。
〃I knew that you would come；〃 she said； 〃and yet I knew that it
would be a struggle between you and them。 For … the Prince … 〃 she
murmured； lowering her voice； 〃had pledged his word to keep us
apart。〃
Mr。 Sabin raised his head； and his eyes traveled towards the
figure of the man who sat with his back to them in the far distant
corner of the room。
〃The Prince；〃 he said softly； 〃is faithful to his ancient enmities。〃
Lucille's face was troubled。 She turned to her companion with a
little grimace。
〃He would have me believe；〃 she murmured； 〃that he is faithful to
other things besides his enmities。〃
Mr。 Sabin smiled。
〃I am not jealous；〃 he said softly； 〃of the Prince of Saxe Leinitzer！〃
As though attracted by the mention of his name； which must； however；
have been unheard by him； the Prince at that moment turned round and
looked for a moment towards them。 He shot a quick glance at Lady
Carey。 Almost at once she rose from her chair and came across to
them。
〃The Prince's watch…dog；〃 Lucille murmured。 〃Hateful woman！ She is
bound hand and foot to him； and yet … 〃
Her eyes met his； and he laughed。
〃Really；〃 he said； 〃you and I in our old age might be hero and
heroine of a little romance … the undesiring objects of a hopeless
affection！〃
Lady Carey sank into a low chair by their side。 〃You two；〃 she
said； with a slow； malicious smile； 〃are a pattern to this wicked
world。 Don't you know that such fidelity is positively sinful； and
after three years in such a country too？〃
〃It is the approach of senility；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered her。 〃I am
an old man； Lady Muriel！〃
She shrugged her shoulders。
〃You are like Ulysses；〃 she said。 〃The gods； or rather the
goddesses； have helped you towards immortality。〃
〃It is；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered； 〃the moss delicious piece of flattery
I have ever heard。〃
〃Calypso；〃 she murmured； nodding towards Lucille； 〃is by your side。〃
〃Rea