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ignored。 He was carried away by a storm of passion。 He tore a
sheet of paper from his pocket book； and unlocking a small gold
case at the end of his watch chain； shook from it a pencil with
yellow crayon。 Mr。 Sabin leaned over towards him。
〃You sign it at your peril； Prince；〃 he said。 〃It will mean worse
things than that for you。〃
For a second he hesitated。 Lucille also leaned towards him。
〃Prince；〃 she said； 〃have I not kept my vows faithfully？ Think！
I came from America at a moment's notice； I left my husband without
even a word of farewell； I entered upon a hateful task； and though
to think of it now makes me loathe myself … I succeeded。 I have
kept my vows； I have done my duty。 Be generous now； and let me go。〃
The sound of her voice maddened him。 A passionate； arbitrary man；
to whom nothing in life had been denied； to be baulked in this
great desire of his latter days was intolerable。 He made no answer
to either of them。 He wrote a few lines with the yellow crayon
and passed them silently across to Lucille。
Her face blanched。 She stretched out an unwilling hand。 But Mr。
Sabin intervened。 He took the paper from the Prince's hand； and
calmly tore it into fragments。 There Was a moment's breathless
silence。
〃Victor！〃 Lucille cried。 〃Oh； what have you done！〃
The Prince's face lightened with an evil joy。
〃We now； I think；〃 he said； 〃understand one another。 You will
permit me to wish you a very pleasant evening； and a speedy
leave…taking。〃
Mr。 Sabin smiled。
〃Many thanks； my dear Prince；〃 he said lightly。 〃Make haste and
complete your charming little arrangements。 Let me beg of you to
avoid bungling this time。 Remember that there is not in the whole
of Europe to…day a man more dangerous to you than I。〃
The Prince had departed。 Mr。 Sabin lit a cigarette and stood on
the hearthrug。 His eyes were bright with the joy of fighting。
〃Lucille；〃 he said； 〃I see that you have not touched your liqueur。
Oblige me by drinking it。 You will find it excellent。〃
She came over to him and hung upon his arm。 He threw his cigarette
away and kissed her upon the lips。
〃Victor；〃 she murmured； 〃I am afraid。 You have been rash！〃
〃Dearest；〃 he answered； 〃it is better to die fighting than to stand
aside and watch evil things。 But after all； there is no fear。 Come！
Your cloak and dressing case！〃
〃You have plans？〃 she exclaimed； springing up。
〃Plans？〃 He laughed at her a little reproachfully。 〃My dear
Lucille！ A carriage awaits us outside； a special train with steam
up at the Gard de L'ouest。 This is precisely the contingency for
which I have planned。〃
〃Oh； you are wonderful； Victor；〃 she murmured as she drew on her
coat。 〃But what corner of the earth is there where we should be
safe？〃
〃I am going；〃 Mr。 Sabin said； 〃to try and make every corner of the
earth safe。〃
She was bewildered； but he only laughed and held open the door for
her。 Mr。 Sabin made no secret of his departure。 He lingered for
a moment in the doorway to light a cigarette； he even stopped to
whisper a few words to the little man in plain dinner clothes who
was lounging in the doorway。 But when they had once left the hotel
they drove fast。
In less than half an hour Paris was behind them。 They were
traveling in a royal saloon and at a fabuulous cost； for in France
they are not fond of special trains。 But Mr。 Sabin was very happy。
At least he had escaped an ignominious defeat。 It was left to him
to play the great card。
〃And now；〃 Lucille said； coming out from her little bed…chamber
which the femme de chambre was busy preparing； 〃suppose you tell
me where we are going。〃
Mr。 Sabin smiled。
〃Do not be alarmed；〃 he said； 〃even though it will sound to you the
least likely place in the world。 We are going to Berlin。〃
CHAPTER XLIII
The great room was dimly enough lit； for the windows looking out
upon the street were high and heavily curtained； The man who sat
at the desk was almost in the shadow。 Yet every now and then a
shaft of sunlight fell across his pale； worn face。 A strange
combination this of the worker； the idealist； the man of affairs。
》From outside came the hum of a great city。 At times； too； there
came to his ears as he sat here the roar of nations at strife；
the fierce underneath battle of the great countries of the world
struggling for supremacy。 And here at this cabinet this man sat
often； and listened； strenuous； romantic； with the heart of a lion
and the lofty imagination of an eagle； he steered unswervingly on
to her destiny a great people。 Others might rest； hut never he。
He looked up from the letter spread out before him。 Lucille was
seated at his command； a few yards away。 Mr。 Sabin stood
respectfully before him。
〃Monsieur le Duc；〃 he said； 〃this letter； penned by my illustrious
father to you； is sufficient to secure my good offices。 In what
manner can I serve you？〃
〃Your Majesty；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered； 〃in the first place by
receiving me here。 In the second by allowing me to lay before
you certain grave and very serious charges against the Order of
the Yellow Crayon； of which your Majesty is the titular head。〃
〃The Order of the Yellow Crayon；〃 the Emperor said thoughtfully；
〃is society composed of aristocrats pledged to resist the march of
socialism。 It is true that I am the titular head of this
organisation。 What have you to say about it？〃
〃Only that your Majesty has been wholly deceived；〃 Mr。 Sabin said
respectfully； 〃concerning the methods and the working of this
society。 Its inception and inauguration were above reproach。 I
myself at once became a member。 My wife； Countess of Radantz； and
sole representative of that ancient family； has been one all her
life。〃
The Emperor inclined his head towards Lucille。
〃I see no reason；〃 he said； 〃when our capitals are riddled with
secret societies； all banded together against us； why the great
families of Europe should not in their turn come together and
display a united front against this common enemy。 The Order of
the Yellow Crayon has had more than my support。 It has had the
sanction of my name。 Tell me what you have against it。〃
〃I have grave things to say concerning it；〃 Mr。 Sahin answered；
〃and concerning those who have wilfully deceived your Majesty。
The influences to be wielded by the society were mainly； I believe；
wealth； education； and influence。 There was no mention made of
murder； of an underground alliance with the 'gamins' of Paris； the
dregs of humanity； prisoners； men skilled in the art of secret
death。〃
The Emperor's tone was stern； almost harsh。
〃Duc de Souspennier； what are these things which you are saying？〃
he asked。
〃Your Majesty； I speak the truth；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered firmly。
〃There are in the Order of the Yellow Crayon three degrees of
membership。 The first； which alone your Majesty knows of； simply
corresponds with what in England is known as the Primrose League。
The second knows that beneath is another organisation pledged to
frustrate the advance of socialism； if necessary by the use of
their own weapons。 The third； whose meetings and signs and whose
whole organisation is carried on secretly； is allied in every
capital in Europe with criminals and murderers。 With its great
wealth it has influence in America as well as in every city of
the world where there are police to be suborned； or desperate men
to be bought for tools。 At the direction of this third order
Lavinski died suddenly in the Hungarian House of Parliament； Herr
Krettingen was involved in a duel； the result of which was assured
beforehand； and Reginald Brott； the great English statesman； was
ruined and disgraced。 I myself have just narrowly escaped death
at his hands； and in my place my servant has been driven to death。
Of all these things； your Majesty； I have brought proofs。〃
The Emperor's face was like a carven image； but his tone was cold
and terrible。
〃If these things have been sanctioned；〃 he said； 〃by those who are
responsible for my having become the head of the Order； they shall
feel my vengeance。〃
〃Your Majesty；〃 Mr。 Sabin said earnestly； 〃a chance disclosure； and
all mi