Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-02
CHAPTER XVI.

OAA1 i EN- AAt4s
Lucille gave little start of amazement
as she realized that she was not alone in
the brougham. She reached out for the
check-cord. but strong hand held hers.
my dear Lucille" familiar voice ex-
claimed. why this alarm? Is It your nerves
Or your eyesight which is failing your
Her hand dropped. She turned toward
him.
ut Is you. then, princey' she said. "But
why are you here? 1 do not understand"
The prince shrugged his shoulders.
att is so simple" he said. I'VE are all
very anxious indeed to hear the result of
your interview with Brott-and apart from
that. personally have too few opportuni-
ties to act as your escort to let a chance go
by. I trust that my presence is not dis
pleasing to your"
She laughed little uneasily.
ut Is at any rate unnecessary" she an
swered. But since you are here / may as
well make my confession. I have failed"
1T Is incredible" the prince murmured.
GAS you will-but 1t is true" she an
swered. II have done my very best, or
rather my worst, and the result has been
failure. Mr.. Brott has a great friend-a
man named Grahame, whose influence pre-
vailed against mine. He has gone to Scot
land"
'That Is serious news" the prince said
quietly
Lucille leaned back among the cushions. =
Of place in this country. There is no scope
whatever for such schemes and intrigues as
you and all the rest of them delight in. in
France and Russia, even In Austria, 1t Is
ization there is underground-it is easy
enough to meet plot by counterpart, to
suborn. to deceive, to undermine. But here
all all. the great games OF life seem to be played
hopelessly out of place. cannot think.
prince, what i'll chance led you to ever con-
template making your headquarters in Lon
don"
The prince stroked his long mustache.
THAT is all very well, Lucille" he said.
but you must remember that in England
we have very large subscriptions to the or
der. These people will not go on paying
London branch a few months ago, and it
was decided that unless some practical work
was done in this country all English sub
scriptions should cease. We had no alter
native but to come over and attempt some
thing Brott is of course the bette nore of
our friends here. He Is distinctly the man
to be struck at"
"And what evil stroke of fortune Lu-
ellie asked, induced you to send for me?'
THAT is very cruel speech, dear lady"
the prince murmured.
Il hope" Lucille said, 'that you have
never for a moment imagined that 1 find
any pleasure in what L am called upon to
do
"Why not? 1t must be Interesting. You
can nave Hdu no sympathy Will blcAt-d
hopeless plebeian, a very paragon of An
glo-Saxon stupidity?"
Lucille laughed scornfuly.
Reginald Brott is man, at any rate.
and an honest one" she answered. But
am too selfish to think much of him. 1t is
myself whom pity. 1 have a home. prince,
and husband. 1 want them both
"You amaze me-" the prince said slowly.
Lucille, indeed, you amaze me. You have
been buried alive for three years Positive
ly we believed that our summons would
sound to you like message from heaven
Lucille was silent for moment. She
rubbed the mist from the carriage window
and looked out into the streets.
Well" she said, II hope that you realize
now how completely you have msunder-
stood me. 1 was perfectly happy in Amer
lea. l have been perfectly miserable here.
1 suppose that have grown too old for in
trigues and adventures.
''Too old, Lucille" the prince murmured,
leaning a little toward her. Lucille. you
are the most beautiful woman in London.
Many others may have told you so, but
there is no one. Lucille, who is so devot-
edly so hopelessly your slave as L.
She drew her hand away. and sat back in
her corner. The mans hot breath fell upon
her check, his eyes seemed almost phos-
phorescent in the darkness. Lucille could
scarcely keep the biting words from her
tongue.
"You do not answer me, Lucille. You do
do not speak even a single kind word to
me. Come! Surely we are old friends. We
should understand one another. 1t is not a
great deal that l ask from your kindness
not a great deal to you, but it is all the
difference between happiness and misery for
me-
This is very WORKOUT game prince"
Lucille said coldly. You have been max
ing love to women in very much the same
manner for twenty years, and I-well, to
be frank I am utterly weary of being made
love to like a doll Laugh at me as you
will, my husband is the only man who in
terests me in the slightest. My failure to-
day is almost welcome to me- 1t has at
least brought my work here to close
Come, prince, if you want to earn my eter-
nal gratitude, tell me now that 1 am free
woman"
"You give me credit the prince said
slowly, for great generosity. If let you
go 1t seems to me that shall lose you al
together. You will go to your husband. He
will take you away"
go. am tired of London. You cannot lose
what you never possessed-what you never
had the slightest chance of possessing"
The prince laughed softly-not pleasant
laugh, not even a mirthful one.
Dear lady," he said. you speak not
wisely. For I am very much in earnest
when I say that I love you, and until you
are kinder to me 1 shall not let you co.
"That is rather dangerous threat, is 1t
not?" Lucille asked. You dare to tell me
openly that you will abuse your position,
that you will keep me bound a servant to
the cause, because Of this foolish fancy Of
yours?"
The prince smiled at her through the
gloom-a white. set smile.
"It is no foolish fancy, Lucille. You will
find that out before long. You have been
cold to me all your life. Yet you would find
me better friend than enemy"
eff am to choose" she said steadily, 81
shall choose the latter"
"As you will, he answered. "In time
you will change your mind"
The carriage had stopped. The prince
alighted and held out his hand Lucille half
ND fIay, rrritI how fnnf fha sic
she paused and looked around.
''Where are WEI" she exclaimed. '"Ths is
not Dorset House"
mo, we are in Grosvenor Square" the
prince answered. 81 forgot to tell you that
we have a meeting arranged for here this
evening". Permit me-" But Lucille re-
sumed her seat in the carriage.
at is your house, is 1t not?" she asked
eyes. My house assuredy.'
Every WE'LL Lucille said. II will come
In when the Duchess of Dorset shows her.
self at the window or the front door-or
Felix. or even De Brouillac."
The prince still held open the carriage
door.
"They will all be here" he assured her
eve are a few minutes early
'Then will drive round to Dorset House
and fetch the duchess. 1t is only a few
yards"
The prince hesitated. His cheeks were
very white, and something like Scowl was