Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-10
CHAPTER XXXIV.

CHAPTER AAA1V.
The prince presented himself with low
bow. Lucille had a copy of the morning
paper In her hand.
Il congratulate you. countess he said
you progress admirably. 1t Is a great step
gained"
Lucille who was looking pale and ner-
vous, regarded him with anxiety.
"A step! But it is everything. If these
rumors 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 po-
litcal career is over. 1t Is true. is 1t not?
ut is a great gain" the prince said
slowly.
But it is everything" Lucille declared,
with rising note of passion in her tone
1T was my task. 1t is accomplished. l de-
mand my release"
The prince was silent for a moment.
you are in great hurry, Lucille" he
said.
..What If ann she replied fiercely. do
you suppose that this life of lies and deceit
is pleasant to me? Do you suppose that 1t
is a pleasant task to lure brave man on
to his RUM"
The prince raised his eyebrows.
Come" he said, you can have no SYM
pathy with Reginald Brott the sworn en-
envy of our class. a socialist. demagogue
who would parcel out our landS III allol-
ments, man who has pledged himself to
nothing more nor less than a revolution.
The mans views are hateful enough. ;"
she answered. but he Is In earnest and
however misguided he may be there Is some
thing noble in his unselfishness in his
steady fXedness of purpose
The princes face Indicated his contempt.
such men, he declared. ARE only mt 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 de-
clared. MY task was to prevent his be-
coming prime minister. and I have sue
The prince gave vent to little gesture OF
dissent.
Your task" he said. went little far
ruin"
She pointed to the pile of newspapers
upon the table.
Read what they say!" she exclaimed.
precise term. He has missed his oppor-
tunity. The people will never trust him
again.
THAT. at any rate. is not certain" the
prince said. You must remember that ne
fore long he will realize 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 he involved in an open and
public scandal. and with you"
She was white almost to the lips with pas
sion.
you expect a great dealv she exclaimed.
you expect me to ruin my life. then. to
give my honor as well SO these weary
months, this constant humiliation
You are pleased to be melodramatic." he
said colby. 1T is quite possible to involve
him without actually going to extremes
And what of my husband?" she asked.
The prince laughed unpieasantly.
"If you have not taught him complais-
that Mr.. Sabin might be unkind. But what
of 1t? You are your own mistress. You
are a woman of the world. Without him
you than as his wife you could ever enjoy"
You are pleased?" she said. ito be eng
matfc.'
The prince looked hard at her. Her face
was white and set. He sighed.
Lucille" he said. II have been very pa
tient for many years. Yet you know very
well my secret and in your heart you know
very well that l am one of those who gen.
orally win the thing upon which they have
set their hearts. I have always loved you,
Lucille. but never more 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 great fu-
ture. SAKE Leinitzer. you know. Is
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 honors 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
with Brott, and the publicity. after all will
be nothing. We will go abroad directly af-
terward.
Have you fnished?' she asked
You will be reasonabler he begged.
Reasonable" She turned upon him with
flashing eyes. Il wonder how you ever
dared to imagine that I could tolerate you
for one moment as a lover or a husband
mir Nd for
You repellent to me. Positively the
only wish have in connection with you is
never to see your face again. AS for my
duty, / have done 1t. My conscience Is
clear. shall leave this house today"
II hope" the prince said softly that you
will do nothing rash!'
I'm an hour" she said. II shall be at the
Carlton with my husband. 1 will trust to
him to protect me from YOU"
The prince shook his head
You talk rashy," he said. you do not
think. You are forbidden to leave this
house. You are forbidden TO join your hus-
ban nd"
She laughed scornfully. but underneath
was tremor of uneasiness
You summoned me from America" she
said. and l came. ! was forced to
leave my husband without even a word of
farewell. l did it. You set me a task-I
nave accomplished it. l claim that l have
Kept my bond. that l have worked out my
own freedom. II you require more of me,
l say that you are overstepping your au-
thority and I refuse. Set the black cross
against my name if you will. l will take
the risk
The prince came a little nearer to her. She
held her own bravely enough but there was
look in his face which terrified her
Lucille" he said you force me to dis
close something which l have kept so far
to myself l wished TO spare you anxiety.
but you must understand that your safety
depends upon your remaining In this house,
and in keeping apart from all assoca ton
yyith-VoIIl Va nd
You will find it difficult" she said "to
convince RE of that"
ION the contrary he said, II shall find
Il easy-too easy believe me. You will re-
member my finding you at the wine shop of
Emil Sachs?"
Yes
You refused to tell me the object of your
visit. 1t was foolish, for of course | was
Informed. You procured from Emil small
quantity of the powder prepared according
to the recipe of Herr Estentrauzen, and for
which we paid him ten thousand marks It
is the most silent. the most secret, the most
swift poison vet discovered
Il got ii for myself" she said coldly
There have been times when l have felt
that the possession of something of that
sort was an absolute necessity"
Il do not question you to the reason for
your getting it," he answered VERY
shortly afterward you left your carriage in
Pan Mall. and without even asking for your
husband you called at his hoteI-yo,, stole