Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-18


lounge. Celeste, who was waiting for him.
glided at once to his side.
Monsieur she whispered. II have been
here for one hour
He nodded
"Well?"
Monsieur lie Due has arrived"
The prince turned sharply round.
"Who?"
Monsieur lie Due de Souspennier. He
calls himself no longer Mr.. Sabin.''
A dull husn of angry color rose almost
to his temples. -.
"Why did you not tell me before?" he ex-
claimed.
Monsieur was In the restaurant" she
answered. 1T was impossible for me to do
anything but wait"
Where is hep
ALAS! he Is with madam" the girl an
swered.
The prince was very profane. He started
at once for the elevator. In moment or
two he presented himself at Lucflles sitting
ROOM They were still lingering over their
dinner. Mr.. Sabin welcomed him with
grave courtesy.
1.-The prince is in time to take his liqueur
with u.s." he remarked, rising. "Will you
take fin champagne, prince, or Chartreuse?
I recommend the fin champagne"
The prince bowed his thanks. He was
white to the lips with the effort for self
mastery.
'I congratulate you, Mr.. Sabin." he said,
upon your opportune arrival. You will be
able to help Lucille through the annoyance
to which deeply regret that she should be
subjected"
Mr.. Sabin gently raised his eyebrows.
"Annoyance!' he repeated. Il fear that
I do not quite understand"
The prince smiled.
Surely Lucille has told you,'' he said. "of
the perilous position in which she finds her
self"
my wife, Mr.. sabin said, has told me
nothing. You alarm me-
The prince shrugged his shoulders.
Il deeply regret to tell you," he said,
that the law has proved too powerful for
me. 1 can no longer stand between her and
episode. Lucille will be arrested within the
hour
Upon what charger" Mr.. Sabin asked.
1.-The murder of Duson.''
Mr.. Sabin laughed very softly, very gent
ly, but with obvious genuineness.
You are joking, prince" he exclaimed.
II regret to say the prince answered,
that you will find it very far from a jok-
ing matter"
Mr. sabin was suddenly stern.
prince of SAKE Lenitzer," he said, 'you
are coward and bully
The prince started forward with clenched
fist. Mr. Sabin had no weapon. but he did
not finch.
You can brighten women" he said. with
a bogie such as this, but you have no longer
a woman to deal with. You and I know
know the danger to which you expose your
self by trif1ing with this subject. Duson
left a letter addressed to me in which he
announced his reasons for committing sui
eide"
"Suicide""
Eyes. He preferred suicide to murder,
even at the bidding of the Prince of SAKE
Leinitzer. He wrote and explained these
things to me-and the letter Is in safe
hands. The arrest Of Lucille, my dear
prince. would mean the ruin of your amiable
society,""
This letter." the prince said slowly,
why was it not produced at the inquest?
Where is 1t now?'
TT is deposited in a sealed packet with
the Earl of Deringham.'' Mr.. Sabin an
swered. LAS to producing it at the inquest
L thought it more discreet not to. leave
you to judge of my reasons. But can as
sure you that your fears for my wife's
safety have been wholly misplaced. There
Is not the slightest reason for her to hurry
off to America. We may take little trip
there presently, but not just yet"
The prince made a mistake. He lost his
temper.
Your he cried, "you can go to America
when you like. and stay there. Europe has
had enough of you with your hare-brained
schemes and foolish failures. But Lucille
of her. 1 forbid her to leave. Do you hear?
In the name of the order I command her
to remain here"
Mr.. Sabin was quite calm, but his face
Prince" he said, eff 1 by any chance
numbered myself among your friends I
would warn you that you yourself are a
traitor to your order. You prostitute a
chinery to assist your own private ven-
geance. 1 ask you for your own sake to
consider your words. Lucille is mine-mine
she will remain. even though you should
descend to something more despicable, more
cowardly than ordinary treason, to wrest
her from me- You reproach me with the
failures of my life. Great they may have
been, but If you attempt this you will find
that am not yet an impotent person."
The prince was white with rage. The
sight of Lucille standing by Mr.. Sabin's
side. her hand lightly resting upon his, her
dark eyes full of inscrutable tenderness,
maddened him. He was fiouted and ignor-
ed He was carried away by storm of
passion He tore a sheet of paper from his
pocketbook, and unlocking a small gold
case at the end of his watch chain, shook
from it pencil with yellow crayon. Mr..
Sabin leaned over toward him.
You sign it at your peril, prince" he
said. 1T will mean worse things than
that for you"
For a second he hesitated Lucille also
leaned toward him. "- F.
Prince" she said, 'have not kept my
vows faithfully? Think! I came from
America at moments notice; l left my
husband without even word of farewell;
entered upon hateful task, and though
to think of 1t now makes me loathe myself
done my duty. Be generous now, and let
me CO."
The sound of her voice maddened him. A
passionate, arbitrary man, to whom nothing
in life had been denied, to be baked in
this great desire of his latter days was in
tolerable. He made no answer to either of
them. He wrote few lines with the yell
low crayon and passed them silently across
to Lucille
Her face blanched. She stretched out an
unwilling hand. But Mr.. Sabin interviewed.
He took the paper from the princes hand,
and calmly tore it into fragments. There
was moments breathless silence
"Victor!' Lucille cried. ooh, what have
you done!'
The princes face lightened with an evil
joy.
1--WE now, Think he said. understand
one another. You will permit me to wish
yod a very pleasant evening, and a speedy
leave-taking."
Mr.. Sabin smiled.
Many thanks. my dear prince he said
lightly. Make haste and complete your
charming little arrangements Let me beg
of you to avoid bungling this time Re-
member that there is not in the whole Of
Europe today man more dangerous to
you than l."
The prince had departed. Mr.. Sabin lit a
cigarette and stood on the hearthrug. His
eyes were bright with the joy of fighting.
Lucille" he said, II see that you have
not touched your liqueur. Oblige me by
drinking 1t. You will lind 1t excellent"