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was surprised at the change in the man's appearance。 His cheeks
seemed blanched and his skin drawn。 He had lost flesh； his eyes
were hollow； and he frequently betrayed in small mannerisms a
nervousness wholly new and unfamiliar to him。
〃You speak as a man of sense； Prince；〃 he said after a while。 〃You
are absolutely correct。 This matter has caused me a great deal of
anxious thought。 To falter at this moment is to lose； politically；
all that I have worked for all my life。 It is to lose the confidence
of the people who have trusted me。 It is a betrayal； the thought of
which is a constant shame to me。 But； on the other hand； Lucille
is the dearest thing to me in life。〃
The Prince's expression was wholly sympathetic。 The derision which
lurked behind he kept wholly concealed。 A strong man so abjectly
in the toils； and he to be chosen for his confidant！ It was
melodrama with a dash of humour。
〃If I am to help you；〃 the Prince said； 〃I must know everything。
Have you made any proposals to Lucille？ In plain words； how much
of your political future are you disposed to sacrifice？〃
〃All！〃 Brott said hoarsely。 〃All for a certainty of her。 Not
one jot without。〃
〃And she？〃
Brott sprang to his feet； white and nervous。
〃It is where I am at fault；〃 he exclaimed。 〃It is why I have asked
for your advice； your help perhaps。 I do not find it easy to
understand Lucille。 Perhaps it is because I am not well versed in
the ways of her sex。 I find her elusive。 She will give me no
promise。 Before I went to Glasgow I talked with her。 If she
would have married me then my political career was over … thrown on
one side like an old garment。 But she would give me no promise。
In everything save the spoken words I crave she has promised me her
love。 Again there comes a climax。 In a few hours I must make my
final choice。 I must decline to join Letheringham； in which case
the King must send for me； or accept office with him； and throw away
the one great chance of this generation。 Letheringham's Cabinet；
of course； would be a moderate Liberal one； a paragon of milk and
water in effectiveness。 If I go in alone we make history。 The
moment of issue has come。 And； Prince； although I have pleaded
with all the force and all the earnestness I know； Lucille remains
elusive。 If I choose for her side … she promises me … reward。 But
it is vague to me。 I don't； I can't understand！ I want her for my
wife； I want her for the rest of my life … nothing else。 Tell me；
is there any barrier to this？ There are no complications in her
life which I do not know of？ I want your assurance。 I want her
promise。 You understand me？〃
〃Yes； I understand you；〃 the Prince said gravely。 〃I understand
more than you do。 I understand Lucille's position。〃
Brott leaned forward with bright eyes。
〃Ah！〃
〃Lucille； the Countess of Radantz； is at the present moment a
married woman。〃
Brott was speechless。 His face was like a carved stone image；
from which the life had wholly gone。
〃Her husband … in name only； let me tell you； is the Mr。 Sabin
with whom we had supper this evening。〃
〃Great God！〃
〃Their marriage had strange features in it which are not my concern；
or even yours；〃 the Prince said deliberately。 〃The truth is； that
they have not lived together for years； they never will again； for
their divorce proceedings would long ago have been concluded but
for the complications arising from the difference between the
Hungarian and the American laws。 Here； without doubt； is the reason
why the Countess has hesitated to pledge her word directly。〃
〃It is wonderful；〃 Brott said slowly。 〃But it explains everything。〃
There was a loud knock at the door。 The secretary appeared upon
the threshold。 Behind him was a tall； slim young man in traveling
costume。
〃The King's messenger！〃 Brott exclaimed； rising to his feet。
CHAPTER XXXIV
The Prince presented himself with a low bow。 Lucille had a copy
of the morning paper in her hand。
〃I congratulate you； Countess；〃 he said。 〃You progress admirably。
It is a great step gained。〃
Lucille； who was looking pale and nervous； regarded him with anxiety。
〃A step！ But it is everything。 If these rumours are true； he
refuses the attempt to form a Cabinet。 He takes a subordinate
position under Letheringham。 Every paper this morning says that if
this is so his political career is over。 It is true； is it not？〃
〃It is a great gain；〃 the Prince said slowly。
〃But it is everything；〃 Lucille declared； with a rising note of
passion in her tone。 〃It was my task。 It is accomplished。 I
demand my release。〃
The Prince was silent for a moment。
〃You are in a great hurry； Lucille；〃 he said。
〃What if I am！〃 she replied fiercely。 〃Do you suppose that this
life of lies and deceit is pleasant to me？ Do you suppose that it
is a pleasant task to lure a brave man on to his ruin？〃
The Prince raised his eyebrows。
〃Come；〃 he said； 〃you can have no sympathy with Reginald Brott； the
sworn enemy of our class； a Socialist； a demagogue who would parcel
out our lands in allotments； a man who has pledged himself to nothing
more nor less than a revolution。〃
〃The man's views are hateful enough；〃 she answered； 〃but he is in
earnest； and however misguided he may be there is something noble in
his unselfishness； in his； steady fixedness of purpose。〃
The Prince's face indicated his contempt。
〃Such men；〃 he declared； 〃are only fit to be crushed like vermin
under foot。 In any other country save England we should have dealt
with him differently。〃
〃This is all beside the question；〃 she declared； 〃My task was to
prevent his becoming Prime Minister； and I have succeeded。〃
The Prince gave vent to a little gesture of dissent。 〃Your task；〃
he said； 〃went a little farther than that。 We require his political
ruin。〃
She pointed to the pile of newspapers upon the table。
〃Read what they say！〃 she exclaimed。 〃There is not one who does
not use that precise term。 He has missed his opportunity。 The
people will never trust him again。〃
〃That； at any rate； is not certain；〃 the Prince said。 〃You must
remember that before long he will realise that he has been your
tool。 What then？ He will become more rabid than ever； more also
to be feared。 No； Lucille； your task is not yet over。 He must be
involved in an open and public scandal； and with you。〃
She was white almost to the lips with passion。
〃You expect a great deal！〃 she exclaimed。 〃You expect me to ruin
my life； then； to give my honour as well as these weary months；
this constant humiliation。〃
〃You are pleased to be melodramatic；〃 he said coldly。 〃It is quite
possible to involve him without actually going to extremes。〃
〃And what of my husband？〃 she asked。
'The Prince laughed unpleasantly。
〃If you have not taught him complaisance；〃 he said； 〃it is possible；
of course； that Mr。 Sabin might be unkind。 But what of it？ You
are your own mistress。 You are a woman of the world。 Without him
there is an infinitely greater future before you than as his wife
you could ever enjoy。〃
〃You are pleased；〃 she said； 〃to be enigmatic。〃
The Prince looked hard at her。 Her face was white and set。 He
sighed。
〃Lucille；〃 he said； 〃I have been very patient for many years。 Yet
you know very well my secret； and in your heart you know very well
that I am one of those who generally win the thing upon which they
have set their hearts。 I have always loved you； Lucille； but
nevermore than now。 Fidelity is admirable； but surely you have done
your duty。 He is an old man； and a man who has failed in the great
things of life。 I； on the other hand； can offer you a great future。
Saxe Leinitzer； as you know； is a kingdom of its own； and； Lucille；
I stand well with the Emperor。 The Socialist party in Berlin are
strong and increasing。 He needs us。 Who can say what honours may
not be in store for us？ For I； too； am of the Royal House； Lucille。
I am his kinsman。 He never forgets that。 Come； throw aside this
restlessness。 I will tell you how to deal with Brott； and the
publicity； after all； will be nothing。 We will go abroad directly