Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-25
CHAPTER XIX.

II may be, In which you are engaged. On
the contrary. you have tried by many and
various ways to keep me at a distance.
But here 1 am. prince-here to be dealt
with and treated according to my rights.
The prince stroked his fair mustache.
81 am little puzzled" he admitted, ''as
to this-shalI 1 not call it .self-assertive-
ness?-on the part Of my good friend Sous
penner."
Sabin answered Lucille. will you favor
me by ringing for your maid. The carriage
is at the door,
The prince held out his hand.
My dear Souspenner." he said, "you
must not think Of taking Lucille away
"Endeed.'' Mr. sabin answered coolly
why not?"
ut must be obvious to you" the prince
answered. that we did not send to Amer
now engaged in an important work upon
our behalf. 1t is necessary that she should
remain under this roof"
Il demand" Mr.. Sabin said, that the ma
ture of that necessity should be made
clear to me-"
The prince smiled with the Air of one
disposed to humor wilful child.
Come" he said. You must know very
the bare outline, much less the details of
an important movment Tomorrow. at
any hour you choose, one from among us
shall explain the whole matter-and the
part to be borne in it by the countess
And tonight" Mr. Sabin asked
The prince shrugged his shoulders and
glanced at the clock.
Tonight, my dear friend" he said. "all
OF us. L believe go on to a ball at Car
marthen House. 1t would grieve me also.
| am sure. duke, to seem inhospitable, but
l am compelled to mention the fact that
the hour for which the carriages have been
iS q 1rna DIV OF hop
Mr.. Sabin reflected for a few moments
Did understand you to say" he asked
that the help to be given you by my wife,
Lucille, Duchess of Souspennier entaiied
her remaining under this roof?''
The prince smiled seraphically.
at is unfortunate" he murmured. -'since
you have been so gallant as to follow her
perfectly tomorrow"
"And why should 1 walt until tomorrow"
Mr.. Sahin. asked coolly.
Il fear" the prince said, that it Is
matter of necessity
Mr.. sabin glanced for moment in turn
at the faces of all the little company as
though seeking to discover how far the
attitude of his opponent met with their
approval Lady Carey's thin lips were
curved in a smile. and her eyes met his
mockingly. The others remand imperturb-
able. Last of all he looked at Lucille
1T seems" he said. smiling toward her.
that am called upon to pay a heavy en-
trance fee on my return among your
friends. But the Prince of SAKE Leinitzer
forgets that he has shown me no author
should tolerate such fragrant interference
with my personal AFFAIRS
Observation-Disclosures, my good sir,"
the prince interrupted.
mo! Tonight!' Mr.. Sabn answered
sharply. Lucille, in the absence of any
reasonable explanation. 1 challenge the
right of the Prince of SAKE Leinitzer to
rob me even for an hour of my dearest
70
me and remain with me until it has been
proved. if ever 1t can be proved, that great
er interests require our separation If
there be blame 1 will take it. VIII you
trust yourself to me?'
Lucille half rose but Lady Carey's hand
was heavy upon her shoulder. AS though
by careless movement Gen. Dolinski and
Raoul de Brouillac altered their positions
slightly SO as to come between the two
The Duke of Dorset had left the room.
Then Mr.. Sabin knew that they. were all
against him.
Lucille he said, "have courage!
walt for YOU
She looked toward him. and her face
puzzled him. For there flashed across the
shoulders of these people glance which
was wholly out of harmony with his own
state of barely subdued passion-a glance
half tender, half humorous, full of subtle
promise. Yet her words were blow to
him.
"Victor. how is it possible? Believe me,
would come if l could. Tomorrow-very
soon, it may be possible But now. You
hear what the prince says. 1 fear that he
is right
To Mr.. Sabin the shock was an unexpect
ed one. He had never doubted but that
she at least was on his side. Her words
found him unprepared. and for moment
however. was swift and amazing. He
bowed to Lucille, and by the time he raised
his head even the reproach had gone from
his eyes.
Dear lady," he said, 81 will not ven
ture to dispute your decision. Prince will
you appoint a time tomorrow when this
matter shall be more fully explained to
me?'
The princes smile was sweetness itself
and his tone very gentle. But Mr. Sabin,
who seldom yielded to any passionate inn
pulse. kept his teeth set and his hand
cienched, lest the blow he longed to deal
should escape him.
AT midday tomorrow I shall be pleased
to receive YOU" he said. THE countess
with her usual devotion and good sense,
has. trust convinced you that our action
is necessarily
Tomorrow at midday" Mr.. sabin said,
Il VIII be here 1 have the honor to
wish You all goodnight
His farewell was comprehensive He did
not even single out Lucille for parting
glance. But down the broad stairs and
across the hall of Dorset House he passed
his stick. 1t was a heavy blow which
had fallen upon him. AS yet he scarcely
realized it. !
His carriage was delayed for few mo-
ments, and just as he was entering It a |
young woman, plainly dressed in black. |
came hurrying out and slipped a note |
Into his hand. a
Pardon, monsieur" she exclaimed with |
a smile. II feared that I was too late" |
Mr.. Sabin's fingers closed over the note |
and he stepped biithely into the carriage. |
But when he. tore 1t open and saw the |
he permitted himself a little |
groan Of disappointment. 1t was not from |
her. He read the few lines and crushed |
the sheet of paper in his hand. !
Il am having supper at the Carlton with I
some friends on our way to c. H. 1 want |
to speak to you for a moment Be in the |
palm court at 12:15 but do not recognize
me until | come to you. If possible keep
out of sight. If you should have left, my
maid will bring this on to your hotel.
IN c."
Mr.. Sabin leaned back in his carriage, /
and a frown of faint perplexity contracted
MS forehead
"If were younger man." he mllrmured
70 himself, II might believe that this wo-
nan was really in earnest as we'll as be-
ng SAKE Leinitzer's jackal. We were
friendly enough in Paris that year. She
s unscrupulous enough. of course. ALWAYS
With some odd fancy for the grotesuue or
unlikely. / wonder"
He pulled the .checkstring, and was driven
10 CamnerdOWO HOnSo