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〃Impossible！〃 he answered shortly。 He was beginning to distrust
this woman。
〃Never mind。 You can make it up with her to…morrow。 I was foolish
to be anxious about her at all。 Are you coming in again？〃
They were at Carmarthen House。 He handed her out。
〃No； thanks！ If you will allow me I will wish you good…night。〃
She made her way into the ball…room； and found the Prince of Saxe
Leinitzer； who was just leaving。
〃Do you know where Lucille is she asked。
He looked up at her sharply。 〃Where？〃
〃At the Carlton Hotel…with him。〃
He rose to his feet with slow but evil promptitude。 His face just
then was very unlike the face of an angel。 Lady Carey laughed
aloud。
〃Poor man；〃 she said mockingly。 〃It is always the same when you
and Souspennier meet。〃
He set his teeth。
〃This time；〃 he muttered； 〃I hold the trumps。〃
She pointed at the clock。 It was nearly four。 〃She was there at
eleven；〃 she remarked drily。
CHAPTER XXII
His Highness； the Prince of Saxe Leinitzer！〃
Duson stood away from the door with a low bow。 The Prince … in
the buttonhole of whose frock…coat was a large bunch of Russian
violets； passed across the threshold。 Mr。 Sabin rose slowly
from his chair。
〃I fear；〃 the Prince said suavely； 〃that I am an early visitor。
I can only throw myself upon your indulgence and plead the urgency
of my mission。〃
His arrival appeared to have interrupted a late breakfast of the
Continental order。 The small table at which Lucille and Mr。 Sabin
were seated was covered with roses and several dishes of wonderful
fruit。 A coffee equipage was before Lucille。 Mr。 Sabin； dressed
with his usual peculiar care and looking ten years younger； had
just lit a cigarette。
〃We have been anticipating your visit； Prince；〃 Mr。 Sabin remarked；
with grim courtesy。 〃Can we offer you coffee or a liqueur？〃
〃I thank you； no；〃 the Prince answered。 〃I seldom take anything
before lunch。 Let me beg that you do not disturb yourselves。 With
your permission I will take this easy…chair。 So！ That is excellent。
We can now talk undisturbed。〃
Mr。 Sabin bowed。
〃You will find me；〃 he said； 〃an excellent listener。〃
The Prince smiled in an amiable manner。 His eyes were fixed upon
Lucille； who had drawn her chair a little away from the table。
What other woman in the world who had passed her first youth could
sit thus in the slanting sunlight and remain beautiful？
〃I will ask you to believe；〃 the Prince said slowly； 〃how sincerely
I regret this unavoidable interference in a domestic happiness so
touching。 Nevertheless； I have come for the Countess。 It is
necessary that she returns to Dorset House this morning。〃
〃You will oblige me；〃 Mr。 Sabin remarked； 〃by remembering that my
wife is the Duchesse de Souspennier； and by so addressing her。〃
The Prince spread out his hands … a deprecating gesture。
〃Alas！〃 he said； 〃for the present it is not possible。 Until the
little affair upon which we are now engaged is finally disposed of
it is necessary that Lucille should be known by the title which she
bears in her own right； or by the name of her late husband； Mr。
James B。 Peterson。〃
〃That little affair；〃 Mr。 Sabin remarked； 〃is； I presume； the matter
which you have come to explain to me。〃
The Prince smiled and shook his head。
〃Explain！ My dear Duke； that is not possible。 It is not within
your rights to ask questions or to require any explanation as to
anything which Lucille is required to do by us。 You must remember
that our claim upon her comes before yours。 It is a claim which
she cannot evade or deny。 And in pursuance of it； Countess； I
deeply regret having to tell you that your presence at Dorset House
within the next hour is demanded。〃
Lucille made no answer； but looked across the table at Mr。 Sabin
with a little grimace。
〃It is a comedy；〃 she murmured。 〃After all； it is a comedy！〃
Mr。 Sabin fingered his cigarette thoughtfully。
〃I believe；〃 he said； 〃that the Duchess realises her
responsibilities in this matter。 I myself have no wish to deny
them。 As ordinary members we are both pledged to absolute obedience。
I therefore place no embargo upon the return of my wife to Dorset
House。 But there are certain conditions； Prince； that considering
the special circumstances of the case I feel impelled to propose。〃
〃I can recognise；〃 the Prince said； 〃no conditions。〃
〃They are very harmless；〃 Mr。 Sabin continued calmly。 〃The first is
that in a friendly way； and of course under the inviolable law of
secrecy； you explain to me for what part Lucille is cast in this
little comedy； the next that I be allowed to see her at reasonable
intervals； and finally that she is known by her rightful name as
Duchesse de Souspennier。〃
The forced urbanity which the Prince had assumed fell away from him
without warning。 The tone of his reply was almost a sneer。
〃I repeat；〃 he said； 〃that I can recognise no conditions。〃
〃It is perhaps；〃 Mr。 Sabin continued； 〃the wrong word to use。 We
submit to your authority； but you and I are well aware that your
discretionary powers are large。 I ask you to use them。〃
〃And I；〃 the Prince said； 〃refuse。 Let me add that I intend to
prevent any recurrence of your little adventure of last night。
Lucille shall not see you again until her task is over。 And as for
you； my dear Duke； I desire only your absence。 I do not wish to
hurt your feelings； but your name has been associated in the past
with too many failures to inspire us with any confidence in engaging
you as an ally。 Countess； a carriage from Dorset House awaits you。〃
But Lucille sat still； and Mr。 Sabin rose slowly to his feet。
〃I thank you； Prince；〃 he said； 〃for throwing away the mask。
Fighting is always better without the buttons。 It is true that I
have failed more than once； but it is also true that my failures
have been more magnificent than your waddle across the plain of life。
As for your present authority； I challenge you to your face that you
are using it to gain your private ends。 What I have said to you I
shall repeat to those whose place is above yours。 Lucille shall go
to Dorset House； but I warn you that I hold my life a slight thing
where her welfare is concerned。 Your hand is upon the lever of a
great organization； I am only a unit in the world。 Yet I would have
you remember that more than once； Prince； when you and I have met
with the odds in your favour the victory has been mine。 Play the
game fairly； and you have nothing to fear from me but the open
opposition I have promised you。 Bring but the shadow of evil upon
her； misuse your power but ever so slightly against her； and I warn
you that I shall count the few years of life left to me a trifle
… of less than no account … until you and I cry quits。〃
The Prince smiled； a fat； good…natured smile； behind which the
malice was indeed well hidden。
〃Come； come； my dear Souspennier；〃 he declared。 〃This is unworthy
of you。 It is positively melodramatic。 It reminds me of the plays
of my Fatherland； and of your own Adelphi Theatre。 We should be men
of the world； you and I。 You must take your defeats with your
victories。 I can assure you that the welfare of the Countess Lucille
shall be my special care。〃
Lucille for the first time spoke。 She rose from her chair and rested
her hands affectionately upon her husband's shoulder。
〃Dear Victor；〃 she said； 〃remember that we are in London； and； need
I add； have confidence in me。 The Prince of Saxe Leinitzer and I
understand one another； I believe。 If we do not it is not my fault。
My presence here at this moment should prove to you how eagerly I
shall look forward to the time when our separation is no longer
necessary。〃
She passed away into the inner room with a little farewell gesture
tender and regretful。 Mr。 Sabin resumed his seat。
〃I believe； Prince；〃 he said； 〃that no good can come of any further
conference between you and me。 We understand one another too well。
Might I suggest therefore that you permit me to ring？〃
The Prince rose to his feet。
〃You are right；〃 he said。 〃The bandying of words between you and
me is a waste of time。 We are both of us to