Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-16
CHAPTER XII.


leaning back among the railway cushions.
II think not she said. 'Only 1 blame
myself that ever trusted the prince even
so far as to give him that message For L
know very we'll that IL Victor had received
it he would have been here"
Lady Carey took up a great pile Of papers
and looked them carelessly through.
Il am afraid" she said. that l do not
agree with you. l do not think that SAKE
Leinitzer had any desire except to see you
safely away. 1 believe that he will be
quite as disappointed as you are that your
must see you safely on the steamer at
Havre. Perhaps he will come himself"
Il shall wait in Paris Lucille said
quietly. "for my husband"
You may walt, Lady Carey said, for
very long time"
Lucille looked at her steadily. "what do
you meanT'
What fool you are Lucille. II to other
people 1t seems almost certain on the face
of 1t that you were responsible for that drop
Of poison In your husbands liqueur glass,
why should 1t not seem so to HIMSELF"
Lucille laughed. but there was look Of
horror in her dark eyes,
How absurd. l know Victor better than
to believe him capable of such a suspicion.
Just as he knows me better than to believe
me capable of such an act"
Really. But you were In his rooms Sc
cretly just before"
Il went to leave some roses for him." Lu-
ellie answered. And If you would like to
know 1t. will tell you this. | left my card
tied to them with message for him.
Lady, Carey yawned.
"A remarkably foolish thing to do" she
said. THAT may cause you trouble later
on. Great heavens, what Is this?
She held the evening paper open in her
hand. Lucille leaned over with blanched
face
What has happened?" she cried. Tell
Reginald Brott has been shot in Picca-
dilly," Lady Carey said.
rs he hurt?" Lucille asked.
HE Is dead!'
They read the brief announcement togeth-
er. The deed had been committed by a man
whose reputation for sanity had iorG been
questioned one of Brott's own const tuents.
He was in custody and freely adm tied his
guilt. The two women looked at one an
other in horror. Even Lady Carey was af-
fected.
what a hateful thing" she said Il am
glad that We had no hand In 1t.
Are you SO sure that we hadn't?' Lu
ellie asked bitterly. You see what 1t says.
The man killed him because of his political
apostasy. We had something to do with
that at least
Lady Carey was recovering her sang froid.
"Oh. WE'LL. she said. indirect influences
scarcely count, or one might trace the
causes Of everything which happens back
to an absurd extent If this man was mad
he might just as well have shot Brott for
anything
Lucille made no answer. she leaned back
and closed her eyes She did not speak
again till they reached Dover.
They embarked in the drizzling rain.
Lady Carey drew little breath of relief
as they reached their cabin, and felt the
boat move beneath them.
Thank goodness that we are really off. l
have been horribly nervous all the time If
they let you leave England they can have
no suspicion as yet
Lucille putting on an ulster and cap
to go out on deck.
II am not at all sure she said. that 1
shall not return to England. At any rate,
If Victor does not come to me in Paris l
shall go to him.
What beautiful trustr Lady Carey an
swered. My dear Lucille; you more
like a school girl than woman of the
world"
A steward entered with telegram for
Lucille. 1t was handed in at the Haymar
ket, an hour before their departure Lu-
ellie read it, and her face blanched.
II thank you for your invitation, but l
fear that it would not be good for my
health.-S."
Lady Carey looked over her shoulder. She
laughed hardly.
How brutal she murmured. But, then.
Victor can be brutal sometimes. can't hep
Lucille tore it into small pieces without a
word. Lady Carey waited for remark
from her in vain.
II, too" she said at last, have had some
kilograms. l have been hesitating whether
to show them to you or not. Perhaps you
had better see them
She produced them and spread them out.
The first was dated about the same time
the one Lucille had received.
Have seen S. with message from Lucille.
Fear quite useless. as he believes worst"
The second was a little longer.
Have just heard S. has left for Liverpool.
and has engaged berth in Campania, sailing
tomorrow. Break news to Lucille if you
think well. Have wired him begging re-
turn, and promising full explanation
eff these Lucille said calmly. belonged
to me 1 should treat them 1 have my
own.
What do you mean?"
Il should tear them up
Lady Carey shrugged her shoulders with
the air of one who finds further argument
hopeless
II shah have no more to say to you. Luz
cille on this subject" she said. You are
impossible. In a few days you will be
forced to come round to my point of view.
| will wait till then. And in the meantime.
if you think l am going to tramp up and
down those sloppy decks and gaze at the
sea you are very much mistaken. | am go
ing to lie down like civilized being. and
try and get a nap. You had better do the
same"
Lucille laughed
For my part" she said, II find any part
of the steamer except the deck intolerable.
l am going now in search of some fresh
air. Shall 1 send your woman along?"
Lady Carey nodded for just then the
steamer gave violent lurch. and she was
and walked up and down until the lights of
Calais We're In sight All the time she felt
conscious of the observation of a small man
clad in a huge macintosh. whose peaked
cap completely obscured his features AS
they were entering the harbor she purpose
ly stood by his side. He held on to the rail
with one hand and turned toward her.
1T has been quite a rough passage, has
1t not?' he remarked.
She nodded.
81 have crossed" she said. when it has
been much worse. l do not mind so long as
one may come on deck"
: Your friend he remarked, lis perhaps
not good sailor?'
81 believe" Lucille said, that she suf-
fers a great deal. l just looked in at her,
and she was certainly uncomfortab Bile"
The little man gripped the rail and held
on to his cap wi~n the other hand.
you are going to Paris?" he asked.
Lucille nodded.
Yes"
They were in smoother water now. He
was able to relax his grip of the rail. He
turned toward Lucille, and she saw him
for the first time distinctly thin, wizened-
up little man, with shrewd kindly eyes, and
long deeply cut mouth.
IT trust" he said, that you will not
think me impertinent but ii occurred to me
that you have noticed some apparent inter-
est of mine in your movements since You
arrived on the boat.
Lucille nodded.
1T is true" she answered THAT is why