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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 smoked pensively a moment or two； and
sipped the liqueur which Camperdown's own servant had just brought
him。
〃It is very hard； Helene；〃 he said； 〃to make you altogether
understand the situation； for there are certain phases of it which
I cannot discuss with you at all。 I have made my first effort to
regain Lucille； and it has failed。 It is not her fault。 I need
not say that it is not mine。 But the struggle has commenced； and
in the end I shall win。〃
〃Lucille herself … 〃 Helene began hesitatingly。
〃Lucille is； I firmly believe； as anxious to return to me as I am
anxious to have her；〃 Mr。 Sabin said。
Helene threw up her hands。
〃It is bewildering；〃 she exclaimed。
〃It must seem so to you；〃 Mr。 Sabin admitted。
〃I wish that Lucille were anywhere else；〃 Helene said。 〃The Dorset
House set； you know； although they are very smart and very
exclusive； have a somewhat peculiar reputation。 Lady Carey；
although she is such a brilliant woman； says and does the most
insolent； the most amazing things； and the Prince of Saxe Leinitzer
goes everywhere in Europe by the name of the Royal libertine。 They
are powerful enough almost to dominate society； and we poor people
who abide by the conventions are absolutely nowhere beside them。
They think that we are bourgeois because we have virtue； and
prehistoric because we are not decadent。〃
〃The Duke … 〃 Mr。 Sabin remarked。
〃Oh； the Duke is quite different； of course；〃 Helene admitted。
〃He is a fanatical Tory； very stupid； very blind to anything except
his beloved Primrose League。 How he came to lend himself to the
vagaries of such a set I cannot imagine。〃
Mr。 Sabin smiled。
〃C'est la femme toujours！〃 he remarked。 〃His Grace is； I fear；
henpecked； and the Duchess herself is the sport of cleverer people。
And now； my dear niece； I see that the time is going。 I came to
know if you could get me a card for the ball at Carmarthen House
to…night。〃
Helene laughed softly。
〃Very easily； my dear UNCLE。 Lady Carmarthen is Wolfendon's cousin；
you know； and a very good friend of mine。 I have half a dozen blank
cards here。 Shall I really see you there？〃
〃I believe so；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered。
〃And Lucille？〃
〃It is possible。〃
〃There is nothing I suppose which I can do in the way of
intervention； or anything of that sort？〃
Mr。 Sabin shook his head。
〃Lucille and I are the best of friends；〃 he answered。 〃Talk to her；
if you will。 By the bye； is that twelve o'clock？ I must hurry。
Doubtless we shall meet again at the ball。〃
But Carmarthen House saw nothing of Mr。 Sabin that night。
CHAPTER XX
Mr。 Sabin from his seat behind a gigantic palm watched her egress
from the supper…room with a little group of friends。
They came to a halt in the broad carpeted way only a few feet from
him。 Lady Carey； in a wonderful green gown； her neck and bosom
ablaze with jewels； seemed to be making her farewells。
〃I must go in and see the De Lausanacs；〃 she exclaimed。 〃They are
in the blue room supping with the Portuguese Ambassador。 I shall
be at Carmarthen House within half an hour … unless my headache
becomes unbearable。 Au revoir； all of you。 Good…bye； Laura！〃
Her friends passed on towards the great swing doors。 Lady Carey
retraced her steps slowly towards the supper…room； and made some
languid inquiries of the head waiter as to a missing handkerchief。
Then she came again slowly down the broad way and reached Mr。 Sabin。
He rose to his feet。
〃I thank you very much for your note；〃 he said。 〃You have something；
I believe； to say to me。〃
She stood before him for a moment in silence； as though not unwilling
that he should appreciate the soft splendour of her toilette。 The
jewels which encircled her neck were priceless and dazzling； the soft
material of her gown； the most delicate shade of sea green； seemed
to foam about her feet； a wonderful triumph of allegoric dressmaking。
She saw that he was studying her； and she laughed a little uneasily；
looking all the time into his eyes。