behind him。
〃Mr。 Brott；〃 he said； 〃can I speak to you as a friend of Lucille's？〃
Brott； who distrusted the Prince； looked him steadily in the face。
Saxe Leinitzer's agitation was too apparent to be wholly assumed。
He had all the appearance of being a man desperately in earnest。
〃I have always considered myself one；〃 Brott answered。 〃I am
beginning to doubt； however； whether the Countess holds me in the
same estimation。〃
〃You found her hysterical； unreasonable； overwrought！〃 the Prince
exclaimed。 〃That is so； eh？〃
The Prince drew a long breath。
〃Brott；〃 he said； 〃I am forced to confide in you。 Lucille is in
terrible danger。 I am not sure that there is anybody who can
effectually help her but you。 Are you prepared to make a great
sacrifice for her sake … to leave England at once； to take her to
the uttermost part of the world？〃
Brott's eyes were suddenly bright。 The Prince quailed before the
fierceness of his gaze。
〃She would not go！〃 he exclaimed sharply。
〃She will；〃 the Prince answered。 〃She must！ Not only that； but
you will earn her eternal gratitude。 Listen； I must tell you the
predicament in which we find ourselves。 It places Lucille's life
in your hands。〃
〃What？〃
The exclamation came like a pistol shot。 The Prince held up his
hand。
〃Do not interrupt。 Let me speak。 Every moment is very valuable。
You heard without doubt of the sudden death at the Carlton Hotel。
It took place in Mr。 Sabin's sitting…room。 The victim was Mr。
Sabin's servant。 The inquest was this afternoon。 The verdict was
death from the effect of poison。 The police are hot upon the case。
There was no evidence as to the person by whom the poison was
administered； but by a hideous combination of circumstances one
person before many hours have passed will be under the surveillance
of the police。〃
〃And that person？〃 Brott asked。
The Prince looked round and lowered his voice； although the room
was empty。
〃Lucille；〃 he whispered hoarsely。
Brott stepped backwards as though he were shot。
〃What damned folly！〃 he exclaimed。
〃It is possible that you may not think so directly；〃 Saxe Leinitzer
continued。 〃The day it happened Lucille bought this same poison；
and it is a rare one； from a man who has absconded。 An hour before
this man was found dead； she called at the hotel； left no name； but
went upstairs to Mr。 Sabin's room； and was alone there for five
minutes； The man died from a single grain of poison which had been
introduced into Mr。 Sabin's special liqueur glass； out of which he
was accustomed to drink three or four times a day。 All these are
absolute facts； which at any moment may be discovered by the police。
Added to that she is living apart from her husband； and is known to
be on bad terms with him。〃
Brott as gripping the back of a chair。 He was white to the lips。
〃You don't think；〃 he cried hoarsely。 〃You can't believe … 〃
〃No〃 the Prince answered quickly； 〃I don't believe anything of the
sort。 I will tell you as man to than that I believe she wished Mr。
Sabin dead。 You yourself should know why。 But no； I don't believe
she went so far as that。 It was an accident。 But what we have to
do is to save her。 Will you help？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃She must cross to the Continent to…night before the police get on
the scent。 Afterwards she must double back to Havre and take the
Bordlaise for New York on Saturday。 Once there I can guarantee her
protection。〃
〃Well？〃
〃She cannot go alone。〃
〃You mean that I should go with her？〃
〃Yes！ Get her right away； and I will employ special detectives and
have the matter cleared up； if ever it can be。 But if she remains
here I fear that nothing can save her from the horror of an arrest；
even if afterwards We are able to save her。 You yourself risk much；
Brott。 The only question that remains is； will you do it？〃
〃At her bidding … yes！〃 Brott declared。
〃Wait here；〃 the Prince answered。
CHAPTER XXXIX
Saxe Leinitzer returned to the morning…room； and taking the key
from his pocket unlocked the door。 Inside Lucille was pale with
fury。
〃What！ I am a prisoner； then！〃 she exclaimed。 〃How dare you
lock me in？ This is not your house。 Let me pass！ I am tired of
all this stupid espionage。〃
The Prince stood with his back to the door。
〃It is for your own sake； Lucille。 The house is watched。〃
She sank into a low chair； trembling。 The Prince had all the
appearance of a man himself seriously disturbed。
〃Lucille；〃 he said； 〃we will do what we can for you。 The whole
thing is horribly unfortunate。 You must leave England to…night。
Muriel will go with you。 Her presence will help to divert suspicion。
Once you can reach Paris I can assure you of safety。 But in this
country I am almost powerless。〃
〃I must see Victor；〃 she said in a low tone。 〃I will not go
without。〃
The Prince nodded。
〃I have thought of that。 There is no reason； Lucille； why he should
not be the one to lead you into safety。〃
〃You mean that？〃 she cried。
〃I mean it；〃 the Prince answered。 〃After what has happened you are
of course of no further use to us。 I am inclined to think； too；
that we have been somewhat exacting。 I will send a messenger to
Souspennier to meet you at Charing Cross to…night。〃
She sprang up。
〃Let me write it myself。〃
〃Very well；〃 he agreed； with a shrug of the shoulders。 〃But do not
address or sign it。 There is danger in any communication between
you。〃
She took a sheet of note…paper and hastily wrote a few words。
〃I have need of your help。 Will you be at Charing Cross at twelve
o'clock prepared for a journey。 … Lucille。〃
The Prince took the letter from her and hastily folded it up。
〃I will deliver it myself；〃 he announced。 〃It will perhaps be
safest。 Until I return； Lucille； do not stir from the house or see
any one。 Muriel has given the servants orders to admit no one。
All your life；〃 he added； after a moment's pause； 〃you have been a
little cruel to me； and this time also。 I shall pray that you will
relent before our next meeting。〃
She rose to her feet and looked him full in the face。 She seemed
to be following out her own train of thought rather than taking
note of his words。
〃Even now；〃 she said thoughtfully； 〃I am not sure that I can trust
you。 I have a good mind to fight or scream my way out of this
house； and go myself to see Victor。〃
He shrugged his shoulders。
〃The fighting or the screaming will not be necessary； dear
Countess；〃 he said。 〃The doors are open to you。 But it is as clear
as day that if you go to the hotel or near it you will at once be
recognised； and recognition means arrest。 There is a limit beyond
which one cannot help a wilful woman。 Take your life in your hands
and go your own way； or trust in us who are doing our best to save
you。〃
〃And what of Reginald Brott？〃 she asked。
〃Brott？〃 the Prince repeated impatiently。 〃Who cares what becomes
of him？ You have made him seem a fool； but； Lucille； to tell you
the truth； I am sorry that we did not leave this country altogether
alone。 There is not the soil for intrigue here； or the possibility。
Then； too； the police service is too stolid； too inaccessible。 And
even our friends； for whose aid we are here … well； you heard the
Duke。 The cast…iron Saxon idiocy of the man。 The aristocracy here
are what they call bucolic。 It is their own fault。 They have
intermarried with parvenus and Americans for generations。 They are
a race by themselves。 We others may shake ourselves free from them。
I would work in any country of the globe for the good of our cause；
but never again in England。〃
Lucille shivered a little。
〃I am not in the humour for argument；〃 she declared。 〃If you would
earn my gratitude take that note to my husband。 He is the only man
I feel sure of … whom I know can protect me。〃
The Prince bowed low。
〃It is our farewell； Countess；〃 he said。
〃I cannot pretend；〃 she answered； 〃to regret it。〃
Saxe Leinitzer left the room。 There was a peculiar smile upon his
lips as he crossed the hall。 Brott was still awaiting for him。
〃Mr。 Brott；〃 he said； 〃the Countess is； as I feared； too agitated
to see you again for the present； or any one else。 She sends you；
however； this message。〃
He took the folded paper from his waistcoat pocket and handed it
to the other man。 Brott read it through eagerly。 His eyes shone。
〃She accepts the situation； then？〃 he exclaimed。
〃Precisely！ Will you pardon me； my friend； if I venture upon one
other word。 Lucille is not an ordinary woman。 She is not in the
least like the majority of her sex； especially； I might add； amongst
us。 The fact that her husband was living would seriously influence
her consideration of any other man … as her lover。 The present
crisis； however； has changed everything。 I do not think that you
will have cause to complain of her lack of gratitude。〃
Brott walked out into the streets with the half sheet of note…paper
twisted up between his fingers。 For the first time for months he
was conscious of a distinct and vivid sense of happiness。 The
terrible period of indecision was past。 He knew now where he stood。
Nor was his immediate departure from England altogether unpleasant
to him。 His political career was shattered … friends and enemies
were alike cold to him。 Such an act of cowardice as his； such
pitiful shrinking back at the last fateful moment； was inexplicable
and revolting。 Even Letheringham was barely civil。 It was certain
that his place in the Cabinet would be intolerable。 He yearned for
escape from it all； and the means of escape were now at hand。 In
after years he knew very well that the shadow of his broken trust；
the torture of his misused opportunities； would stand for ever
between him and the light。 But at that moment he was able to clear
his mind of all such disquieting thoughts。 He had won Lucille
… never mind at what cost； at what peril！ He had won Lucille！
He was deeply engrossed； and his name was spoken twice in his ear
before he turned round。 A small； somewhat shabby…looking man； with
tired eyes and more than a day's growth of beard upon his chin； had
accosted him。
〃Mr。 Brot