the prize； and after all； you know； to fight for one's womenkind
is amongst the primeval instincts。〃
Lady Carey； who had been pacing the room restlessly； touching an
ornament here； looking at a picture there； came back to them and
stood before Mr。 Sabin。 She had caught his last words。
〃Primeval instincts！〃 she exclaimed mockingly。 〃What do you know
about them； you of all men； a bundle of nerves and brains； with a
motor for a heart； and an automatic brake upon your passions？ Upon
my word； I believe that I have solved the mystery of your perennial
youth。 You have found a way of substituting machinery for the human
organ； and you are wound up to go for ever。〃
〃You have found me out；〃 he admitted。 〃Professor Penningram of
Chicago will supply you too with an outfit。 Mention my name if you
like。 It is a wonderful country America。〃
The Prince came over to them； fair and bland with no trace upon his
smooth features or in his half…jesting tone of any evil things。
〃Souspennier；〃 he said； holding out his hand； 〃welcome back once
more to your old place。 I am happy to say that there appears to be
no reason why your claim should not be fully admitted。〃
Mr。 Sabin rose to his feet。
〃I presume；〃 he said； 〃that no very active demands are likely to be
made upon my services。 In this country more than any other I fear
that the possibilities of my aid are scanty。〃
The Prince smiled。
〃It is a fact；〃 he said； 〃which we all appreciate。 Upon you at
present we make no claim。〃
There was a moment's intense silence。 A steely light glittered in
Mr。 Sabin's eyes。 He and the Prince alone remained standing。 The
Duchess of Dorset watched them through her lorgnettes； Lady Carey
watched too with an intense eagerness； her eyes alight with mingled
cruelty and excitement。 Lucille's eyes were so bright that one
might readily believe the tears to be glistening beneath。
CHAPTER XIX
I will not pretend；〃 Mr。 Sabin said； 〃to misunderstand you。 My
help is not required by you in this enterprise； whatever it may be；
in which you are engaged。 On the contrary； you have tried by many
and various ways to keep me at a distance。 But I am here； Prince
… here to be dealt with and treated according to my rights。〃
The Prince stroked his fair moustache。
〃I am a little puzzled；〃 he admitted； 〃as to this … shall I not
call it self…assertiveness？ … on the part of my good friend
Souspennier。〃
〃I will make it quite clear then；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered。 〃Lucille；
will you favour me by ringing for your maid。 The carriage is at
the door。〃
The Prince held out his hand。
〃My dear Souspennier；〃 he said； 〃you must not think of taking
Lucille away from us。〃
〃Indeed；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered coolly。 〃Why not？〃
〃It must be obvious to you；〃 the Prince answered； 〃that we did not
send to America for Lucille without an object。 She is now engaged
in an important work upon our behalf。 It is necessary that she
should remain under this roof。〃
〃I demand；〃 Mr。 Sabin said； 〃that the nature of that necessity
should be made clear to me。〃
The Prince smiled with the air of one disposed to humour a wilful
child。
〃Come！〃 he said。 〃You must know very well that I cannot stand here
and tell you the bare outline； much less the details of an important
movement。 To…morrow； at any hour you choose； one from amongst us
shall explain the whole matter … and the part to be borne in it by
the Countess！〃
〃And to…night？〃 Mr。 Sabin asked。
The Prince shrugged his shoulders and glanced at the clock。
〃To…night； my dear friend；〃 he said； 〃all of us； I believe； go on
to a ball at Carmarthen House。 It would grieve me also； I am sure；
Duke； to seem inhospitable； but I am compelled to mention the fact
that the hour for which the carriages have been ordered is already
at hand。〃
Mr。 Sabin reflected for a few moments。
〃Did I understand you to say；〃 he asked； 〃that the help to be given
to you by my wife； Lucille； Duchess of Souspennier； entailed her
remaining under this roof？〃
The Prince smiled seraphically。
〃It is unfortunate；〃 he murmured； 〃since you have been so gallant
as to follow her； but it is true！ You will understand this
perfectly … to…morrow。〃
〃And why should I wait until to…morrow？〃 Mr。 Sabin asked coolly。
〃I fear；〃 the Prince said； 〃that it is a matter of necessity。〃
Mr。 Sabin glanced for a moment in turn at the faces of all the
little company as though seeking to discover how far the attitude
of his opponent met with their approval。 Lady Carey's thin lips
were curved in a smile； and her eyes met his mockingly。 The
others remained imperturbable。 Last of all he looked at Lucille。
〃It seems；〃 he said； smiling towards her； 〃that I am called upon
to pay a heavy entrance fee on my return amongst your friends。 But
the Prince of Saxe Leinitzer forgets that he has shown me no
authority； or given me no valid reason why I should tolerate such
flagrant interference with my personal affairs。〃
〃To…morrow … to…morrow； my good sir！〃 the Prince interrupted。
〃No！ To…night！〃 Mr。 Sabin answered sharply。 〃Lucille； in the
absence of any reasonable explanation； I challenge the right of the
Prince of Saxe Leinitzer to rob me even for an hour of my dearest
possession。 I appeal to you。 Come with me and remain with me
until it has been proved； if ever it can be proved； that greater
interests require our separation。 If there be blame I will take it。
Will you trust yourself to me
Lucille half rose； but Lady Carey's hand was heavy upon her
shoulder。 As though by a careless movement General Dolinski and
Raoul de Brouillac altered their positions slightly so as to come
between the two。 The Duke of Dorset had left the room。 Then Mr。
Sabin knew that they were all against him。
〃Lucille；〃 he said； 〃have courage！ I wait for you。〃
She looked towards him； and her face puzzled him。 For there
flashed across the shoulders of these people a glance which was
wholly out of harmony with his own state of barely subdued passion
… a glance half tender； half humorous； full of subtle promise。
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