reflect Have I ever told you anything that was not true？ Have I
ever tried to deceive you？ I don't pretend to be a paragon of the
virtues。 I live my life to please myself。 I admit it。 Why not？
It is simply applying the same sort of philosophy to my life as
you have applied to yours。 My enemies can find plenty to say about
me … but never that I have been false to a friend。 Why do you keep
me always at arm's length； as though I were one of those who wished
you evil？〃
〃Lady Carey；〃 Mr。 Sabin said； 〃I will not affect to misunderstand
you； and I am flattered that you should consider my good will of
any importance。 But you are the friend of the Prince of Saxe
Leinitzer。 You are one of those even now who are working actively
against me。 I am not blaming you； but we are on opposite sides。〃
Lady Carey looked for a moment across at the Prince； and her eyes
were full of venom。
〃If you knew；〃 she murmured； 〃how I loathe that man。 Friends！ That
is all long since past。 Nothing would give me so much pleasure as
never to see his face again。〃
〃Nevertheless；〃 Mr。 Sabin reminded her； 〃whatever your private
feelings may be； he has claims upon you which you cannot resist。〃
〃There is one thing in the world；〃 she said in a low tone； 〃for
which I would risk even the abnegation of those claims。〃
〃You would perjure your honour？〃
〃Yes … if it came to that。〃
Mr。 Sabin moved uneasily in his chair。 The woman was in earnest。
She offered him an invaluable alliance； she could show him the way
to hold his own against even the inimical combination by which he
was surrounded。 If only he could compromise。 But her eyes were
seeking his eagerly； even fiercely。
〃You doubt me still；〃 she whispered。 〃And I thought that you had
genius。 Listen； I will prove myself。 The Prince has one of his
foolish passions for Lucille。 You know that。 So far she has shown
herself able to resist his fascinations。 He is trying other means。
Lucille is in danger！ Duson ！ … but after all； I was never really
in danger； except the time when I carried the despatches for the
colonel and rode straight into a Boer ambush。〃
Mr。 Sabin saw nothing； hut he did not move a muscle of his face。 A
moment later they heard the Prince's voice from behind them。
〃I am very sorry；〃 he said； 〃to interrupt these interesting
reminiscences； but you see that every one is going。 Lucille is
already in the cloak…room。〃
Lady Carey rose at once； but the glance she threw at the Prince was
a singularly malicious one。 They walked down the carpeted way
together； and Lady Carey left them without a word。 In the vestibule
Mr。 Sabin and Reginald Brott came face to face。
CHAPTER XXXIII
The greeting between the two men was cold； and the Prince almost
immediately stepped between them。 Nevertheless； Brott seemed
to have a fancy to talk with Mr。 Sabin。
〃I was at Camperdown House yesterday；〃 he remarked。 〃Her Ladyship
was regretting that she saw you so seldom。〃
〃I have been a little remiss；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered。 〃I hope to lunch
there to…morrow。〃
〃You have seen the evening paper； Brott？〃 the Prince asked。
〃I saw the early editions；〃 Brott answered。 〃Is there anything
fresh？〃
The Prince dropped his voice a little。 He drew Brott on one side。
〃The Westminster declared that you had left for Windsor by an early
train this afternoon； and gives a list of your Cabinet。 The Pall
Mall； on the other hand； declares that Letheringham will assuredly
be sent for to…morrow。〃
Brott shrugged his shoulders。
〃There are bound to be a crop of such reports at a time like this；〃
he remarked。
The Prince dropped his voice almost to a whisper。
〃Brott；〃 he said； 〃there is something which I have had it in my
mind to say to you for the last few days。 I am not perhaps a great
politician； but； like many outsiders； I see perhaps a good deal of
the game。 I know fairly well what the feeling is in Vienna and
Berlin。 I can give you a word of advice。〃
〃You are very kind； Prince；〃 Brott remarked； looking uneasily over
his shoulder。 〃But … 〃
〃It is concerning Brand。 There is no man more despised and disliked
abroad； not only because he is a Jew and ill…bred； but because of
his known sympathy with some of these anarchists who are perfect
firebrands in Europe。〃
〃I am exceedingly obliged to you；〃 Brott answered hurriedly。 〃I am
afraid； however； that you anticipate matters a good deal。 I have
not yet been asked to form a Cabinet。 It is doubtful whether I ever
shall。 And； beyond that； it is also doubtful whether even if I am
asked I shall accept。〃
〃I must confess；〃 the Prince said； 〃that you puzzle me。 Every one
says that the Premiership of the country is within your reach。 It
is surely the Mecca of all politicians。〃
〃There are complications；〃 Brott muttered。 〃You … 〃
He stopped short and moved towards the door。 Lucille； unusually
pale and grave； had just issued from the ladies' ante…room； and
joined Lady Carey； who was talking to Mr。 Sabin。 She touched the
latter lightly on the arm。
〃Help us to escape；〃 she said quickly。 〃I am weary of my task。
Can we get away without their seeing us？〃
Mr。 Sabin offered his arm。 They passed along the broad way； and
as they were almost the last to leave the place； their carriage
was easily found。 The Prince and Mr。 Brott appeared only in time
to see Mr。 Sabin turning away； hat in hand； from the curb…stone。
Brott's face darkened。
〃Prince；〃 he said； 〃who is that man？〃
The Prince shrugged his shoulders。
〃A man；〃 he said； 〃who has more than once nearly ruined your
country。 His life has been a splendid failure。 He would have
given India to the Russians； but they mistrusted him and trifled
away their chance。 Once since then he nearly sold this country
to Germany； it was a trifle only which intervened。 He has been
all his life devoted to one cause。〃
〃And that？〃 Brott asked。
〃The restoration of the monarchy to France。 He； as you of course
know； is the Duc de Souspennier； the sole living member in the
direct line of one of the most ancient and historical houses in
England。 My friend；〃 he added； turning to Mr。 Sabin； 〃you have
stolen a march upon us。 We had not even an opportunity of making
our adieux to the ladies。〃
〃I imagine；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered； 〃that the cause of quarrel may
rest with them。 You were nowhere in sight when they came out。〃
〃These fascinating politics；〃 the Prince remarked。 〃We all want
to talk politics to Mr。 Brott just now。〃
〃I will wish you good…night； gentlemen；〃 Mr。 Sabin said； and passed
into the hotel。
The Prince touched Brott on the arm。
〃Will you come round to the club； and take a hand at bridge？〃 he said。
Brott laughed shortly。
〃I imagine；〃 he said； 〃that I should be an embarrassing guest to
you just now at； say the Mallborough； or even at the St。 James。
I believe the aristocracy are looking forward to the possibility of
my coming into power with something like terror。〃
〃I am not thoroughly versed； in the politics of this country；〃 the
Prince said； 〃but I have always understood that your views were
very much advanced。 Dorset solemnly believes that you are pledged
to exterminate the large landed proprietors； and I do not think he
would be surprised to hear that you had a guillotine up your sleeve。〃
The two men were strolling along Pall Mall。 The Prince had lit a
large cigar； and was apparently on the best of terms with himself
and the world in general。 Brott； on the contrary； was most unlike
himself； preoccupied； and apparently ill at ease。
〃The Duke and his class are； of course； my natural opponents；〃 Brott
said shortly。 〃By the bye； Prince；〃 he added； suddenly turning
towards him； and with a complete change of tone； 〃it is within your
power to do me a favour。〃
〃You have only to command；〃 the Prince assured him good…naturedly。
〃My rooms are close here；〃 Brott continued。 〃Will you accompany
me there； and grant me the favour of a few minutes' conversation？〃
〃Assuredly！〃 the Prince answered； flicking the end off his cigar。
〃It will be a pleasure。〃
They walked on towards their destination in silence。 Brott's
secretary was in the library with a huge pile of letters and
telegrams before him。 He welcomed Brott with relief。
〃We have been sending all over London for you； sir；〃 he said。
Brott nodded。
〃I am better out of the way for the present；〃 he answered。 〃Deny
me to everybody for an hour； especially Letheringham。 There is
nothing here； I suppose； which cannot wait so long as that？〃
The secretary looked a little doubtful。
〃I think not； sir；〃 he decided。
〃Very good。 Go and get something to eat。 You look fagged。 And
tell Hyson to bring up some liqueurs； will you！ I shall be engaged
for a short time。〃
The secretary withdrew。 A servant appeared with a little tray of
liqueurs； and in obedience to an impatient gesture from his master；
left them upon the table。 Brott closed the door firmly。
〃Prince；〃 he said； resuming his seat； 〃I wished to speak with you
concerning the Countess。〃
Saxe Leinitzer nodded。
〃All right；〃 he said。 〃I am listening！〃
〃I understand；〃 Brott continued； 〃that you are one of her oldest
friends； and also one of the trustees of her estates。 I presume
that you stand to her therefore to some extent in the position of
an adviser？〃
〃It is perfectly true；〃 the Prince admitted。
〃I； too； am an old friend； as she has doubtless told you；〃 Brott
said。 〃All my life she has been the one woman whom I have desired
to call my wife。 That desire has never been so strong as at the
present moment。〃
The Prince removed his cigar from his mouth and looked grave。
〃But； my dear Brott；〃 he said； 〃have you considered the enormous
gulf between your … views？ The Countess owns great hereditary
estates； she comes from a family which is almost Royal； she herself
is an aristocrat to the backbone。 It is a class against which you
have declared war。 How can you possibly come together on common
ground？〃
Brott was silent for a moment。 Looking at him steadily the Prince
was surprised at the change in the man's appearance。 His cheeks
seemed blanched and his skin drawn。 He had lost fles