Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-18
CHAPTER XII.


ing down a racing calendar and lighting a
.,eiga rette "Iondonis the only thoroughly
civilized Anglo Saxon capita, in the world.
Please don't look at me like that. duchess.
L know this Is your holy of HOLES, but the
duke smokes here-Tve seen him. My
cigarettes are very tiny and very harm
less"
The duchess, who gold-rimmed
spectacies, and was person OF weight In
the councils of the Primrose League. went
calmly on with her knitting.
MY dear Muriel" she said. 'if my ap-
proyaI or dsapproval was of the slightest
moment to you it is not your smoking OF
which | should first complain. l KNOW
however. that you consider yourself a PRIV
ileged person. Pray do exactly as you
like. but don't drop the ashes upon the
carpet.
Lady Carey laughed softly.
Il suppose / am rather thorn In your
side as a relative" she remarked. you
must put it down to the rowing blood OF
my ancestors / could no more live the
life of you other women than L could NY l
must have excitement movement, all the
time
A tall heavily built man. who had been
reading some letters at the other end OF
the room came sauntering up to them.
We'll" he said. you assuredly live. up
the world as though /. were one vast play
ground
And sometimes, she remarked, my
journeys are not exactly successful l
know that that is what you are dying to
say"
ION the contrary" he said. 81 do not
blame you at all for this last affair. You
brought Lucille here, which was excellent.
Your failure as regards Mr.. Sabin Is
scarcely to'be fastened upon you 1t fs
Horser whom hold responsible for
that
She laughed.
'."Poor Horser! 1t was rather rough to
pit a creature like that against Souspen-
'rThe man shrugged his shoufders.'q SIS.
"Horser.r he said, may not be brilliant.
but he had great organization at MS
back. Souspennier was without friends or
Influence. The contest should scarcely
have been so one-sided. To tell you the
truth my dear Muriel, l am more sur
prised that you yourself should have found
the task beyond you -
e Lady Carey's face darkened.
1T was too soon after the loss Of Luz
ellie" she said. land besides, there was his
vanity 10 be reckoned with. 1t was like a
challenge to him, and he had taken up the
glove before l returned to New York.
The duchess looked up from her work.
Have you had any conversation Win
my IN p1nc pr sxe entzer twired his
heavy mustache and sank into chair be-
tween the two women.
81 have had long talk with him." he
announced.
And the result2" the duchess asked
The result / fear you would scarcely
consider satisfactory" the prince declared
The moment that 1 limited at the exist
ence of-er-conditions of which you. OUCH
ess. are aware. he showed alarm. and had
all that / could do to reaSsure him. find
it. everywhere among your aristocracy-
this stubborn confidence in the existence of
the reigning order of things. this absolute
detestation of anything approaching in
trigue."
My dear man. I hope you don't include
mi LADY Carey exclaimed
"You, Lady Muriel. he answered. with
slow smile, ARE an exception to all
rules. No, you are rule by Yourself"
ment," the duchess said stiffiy. You have
made no progress with the duke?"
None whatever" SAKE Leinitzer admit
ted. He was sufficiently emphatic to in
spire me with every caution. Even now
have doubts as to whether l have alto
gether treasured him. really believe. dear
duchess. that we should be better off II
upon his estates"
The duchess smiled grimly.
Whilst the house of lords exists" she
remarked. you will never succeed in keep
ing Algernon away from London. He Is al
ways on the point of making speech, al
though he never does II &"
II have heard of that speech" Lady
Carey drawled, from her low seat. ut II
to be thoroughly enlightening affair. All
the great social questions are to be per
manently disposed Of The prime minis.
non to take his place.
The duchess looked up over her knitting
"Algernon is at least in earnest" she re
marked drily. And he has the good con
science of a clean living and honest man.
What an unpleasant possession 1t mus
be-" Lady Carey remarked sweetly. 80
disposed of my conscience finally many
years ago. I am not sure, but l believe
that II was the prince to whom intrustet
the burying of 1t. By the bye. Lucille will
be here directly. suppose: Is she to b
oil % mil r'S arrft Wal iY,
II imagine, the prince said, with knitted
brows. that It will not be wise to keep 4
from her. 1t is impossible to conceal he
shortly Sacquaint her with his
And Lady Carey asked. how does tn
little affair progress?'
Admirably" the prince answered "Al
ready some of the society papers are be
ginning TO chatter about the friendship ex
listing between a cabinet minister and I
beautiful Hungarian lady of title. etc. etc
earnest He gives himself away ever!
time. II Lucille has not lost her old clev
erness she will be able to twist him pres
emily around her little finger"
IF only some would twist him -oI
the rack" the duchess murmured vindic
lively. Il tried to read one of his speeches
the other day. II was nothing more no
less than blasphemy. l do not think tina
l am naturally cruel woman. but woult
hand such men over to the public execu
toner with JOY"
Lucille came IN, as DeautiIu AS ever, ou
with tired lines under her full dark eyes
She sank into low chair with lfsties
grace.
Reginald Brott again. I suppose" sh
remarked CURLY. II wish the man hat
never existed" =
THAT is a very cruel speech. Lucille.
the prince said. with a languishing gianc
toward her. "for IL II had not been TO
Brott we should never have dared to cal
you out from your seclusion.''
Then more heartily than ever" Lucill
declared II wish the man had never beel
born. You canot possibly hatter yourself
prince. that your summons was a welcom
one"
He shrugged his shoulders.
II shall never be able to believe" he said
'that the Countess Radantz was able to d.
more than support existence in a small