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Brott remains the enemy of our cause and Order。 Yet some say that
his influence upon the people is lessened。 In any case； my work is
over。 He began to mistrust me long ago。 To…day I believe that
mistrust is the only feeling he has in connection with me。 I shall
demand my release。〃
〃I am afraid；〃 Mr。 Sabin said； 〃that Saxe Leinitzer has other reasons
for keeping you at Dorset House。〃
She shrugged her shoulders。
〃He has been very persistent even before I left Vienna。 But he must
know that it is hopeless。 I have never encouraged him。〃
〃I am sure of it；〃 Mr。 Sabin said。 〃It is the incorrigible vanity
of the man which will not be denied。 He has been taught to believe
himself irresistible。 I have never doubted you for a single moment；
Lucille。 I could not。 But you have been the slave of these people
long enough。 As you say； your task is over。 Its failure was always
certain。 Brott believes in his destiny； and it will be no slight
thing which will keep him from following it。 They must give you
back to me。〃
〃We will go back to America；〃 she said。 〃I have never been so
happy as at Lenox。〃
〃Nor I；〃 Mr。 Sahin said softly。
〃Besides；〃 she continued； 〃the times have changed since I joined
the Society。 In Hungary you know how things were。 The Socialists
were carrying all before them； a united solid body。 The aristocracy
were forced to enter into some sort of combination against them。
We saved Austria； I am not sure that we did not save Russia。 But
England is different。 The aristocracy here are a strong resident
class。 They have their House of Lords； they own the land； and will
own it for many years to come； their position is unassailable。 It
is the worst country in Europe for us to work in。 The very climate
and the dispositions of the people are inimical to intrigue。 It is
Muriel Carey who brought the Society here。 It was a mistake。 The
country is in no need of it。 There is no scope for it。〃
〃If only one could get beyond Saxe Leinitzer；〃 Mr。 Sabin said。
She shook her head。
〃Behind him；〃 she said； 〃there is only the one to whom all reference
is forbidden。 And there is no man in the world who would be less
likely to listen to an appeal from you … or from me。〃
〃After all；〃 Mr。 Sabin said； 〃though Saxe Leinitzer is our enemy；
I am not sure that he can do us any harm。 If he declines to
release you … well； when the twelve months are up you are free
whether he wishes it or not。 He has put me outside the pale。 But
this is not； or never was； a vindictive Society。 They do not deal
in assassinations。 In this country at least anything of the； sort
is rarely attempted。 If I were a young man with my life to live in
the capitals of Europe I should be more or less a social outcast； I
suppose。 But I am proof against that sort of thing。〃
Lucille looked a little doubtful。
〃The Prince；〃 she said； 〃is an intriguer of the old school。 I know
that in Vienna he has more than once made use of more violent means
than he would dare to do here。 And there is an underneath machinery
very seldom used； I believe； and of which none of us who are ordinary
members know anything at all； which gives him terrible powers。〃
Mr。 Sabin nodded grimly。
〃It was worked against me in America；〃 he said； 〃but I got the best
of it。 Here in England I do not believe that he would dare to use
it。 If so； I think that before now it would have been aimed at
Brott。 I have just read his Glasgow speech。 If he becomes
Premier it will lead to something like a revolution。〃
She sighed。
〃Brott is a clever man； and a strong man；〃 she said。 〃I am sorry
for him； but I do not believe that he will never become Prime
Minister of England。〃
Mr。 Sabin sipped his wine thoughtfully。
〃I believe；〃 he said； 〃that intrigue is the resource of those who
have lived their lives so quickly that they have found weariness。
For these things to…day interest me very little。 I am only anxious
to have you back again； Lucille； to find ourselves on our way to
our old home。〃
She laughed softly。
〃And I used to think；〃 she said； 〃that after all I could only keep
you a little time … that presently the voices from the outside world
would come whispering in your ears； and you would steal back again
to where the wheels of life were turning。〃
〃A man；〃 he answered； 〃is not easily whispered out of Paradise。〃
She laughed at him。
〃Ah； it is so easy；〃 she said； 〃to know that your youth was spent
at a court。〃
〃There is only one court；〃 he answered； 〃where men learn to speak
the truth。〃
She leaned back in her chair。
〃Oh； you are incorrigible；〃 she said softly。 〃The one role in life
in which I fancied you ill at ease you seem to fill to perfection。〃
〃And that？〃
〃You are an adorable husband！〃
〃I should like；〃 he said； 〃a better opportunity to prove it！〃
〃Let us hope；〃 she murmured； 〃that our separation is nearly over。
I shall appeal to the Prince to…night。 My remaining at Dorset
House is no longer necessary。〃
〃I shall come；〃 he said； 〃and demand you in person。〃
She shook her head。
〃No！ They would not let you in； and it would make it more
difficult。 Be patient a little longer。〃
He came and sat by her side。 She leaned over to meet his embrace。
〃You make patience；〃 he murmured； 〃a torture！〃
* * * * *
Mr。 Sabin walked home to his rooms late in the afternoon； well
content on the whole with his day。 He was in no manner prepared
for the shock which greeted him on entering his sitting…room。
Duson was leaning back in his most comfortable easy…chair。
〃Duson！〃 Mr。 Sabin said sharply。 〃What does this mean？〃
There was no answer。 Mr。 Sabin moved quickly forward； and then
stopped short。 He had seen dead men； and he knew the signs。 Duson
was stone dead。
Mr。 Sabin's nerve answered to this demand upon it。 He checked his
first impulse to ring the bell； and looked carefully on the table
for some note or message from the dead man。 He found it almost at
once … a large envelope in Duson's handwriting。 Mr。 Sabin hastily
broke the seal and read：
〃Monsieur； … I kill myself because it is easiest and best。 The
poison was given me for you； but I have not the courage to become
a murderer； or afterwards to conceal my guilt。 Monsieur has been
a good master to me； and also Madame la Comtesse was always
indulgent and kind。 The mistake of my life has been the joining
the lower order of the Society。 The money which I have received
has been but a poor return for the anxiety and trouble which have
come upon me since Madame la Comtesse left America。 Now that I
seek shelter in the grave I am free to warn Monsieur that the
Prince of S。 L。 is his determined and merciless enemy； and that
he has already made an unlawful use of his position in the Society
for the sake of private vengeance。 If monsieur would make a
powerful friend he should seek the Lady Muriel Carey。
〃Monsieur will be so good as to destroy this when read。 My will
is in my trunk。
〃Your Grace's faithful servant；
〃Jules Duson。〃
Mr。 Sabin read this letter carefully through to the end。 Then he
put it into his pocket…book and quickly rang the bell。
〃You had better send for a doctor at once；〃 he said to the waiter
who appeared。 〃My servant appears to have suffered from some sudden
illness。 I am afraid that he is quite dead。〃
CHAPTER XXIX
You spoke； my dear Lucille；〃 the Duchess of Dorset said； 〃of your
departure。 Is not that a little premature？〃
Lucille shrugged her beautiful shoulders； and leaned back in her
corner of the couch with half…closed eyes。 The Duchess； who was
very Anglo…Saxon； was an easy person to read； and Lucille was
anxious to know her fate。
〃Why premature？〃 she asked。 〃I was sent for to use my influence
with Reginald Brott。 Well； I did my best； and I believe that for
days it was just a chance whether I did not succeed。 However； as
it happened； I failed。 One of his friends came and pulled him away
just as he was wavering。 He has declared himself now once and for
all。