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〃Let　me　help　you；　she　begged。　　〃Do！　　This　is　not　a　matter　of
politics　or　anything　compromising。　　I　am　sure　that　I　could　be
useful　to　you。〃

〃So　you　can；〃　he　answered　quietly。　　〃Do　as　I　have　asked　you。　　Watch
Mr。　Brott！〃


CHAPTER　XVI

Mr。　Brott　and　Mr。　Sabin　dined　together　…　not；　as　it　happened；　at
the　House　of　Commons；　but　at　the　former's　club　in　Pall　Mall。　　For
Mr。　Sabin　it　was　not　altogether　an　enjoyable　meal。　　The　club　was
large；　gloomy　and　political；　the　cooking　was　exactly　of　that　order
which　such　surroundings　seemed　to　require。　　Nor　was　Mr。　Brott　a
particularly　brilliant　host。　　Yet　his　guest　derived　a　certain　amount
of　pleasure　from　the　entertainment；　owing　to　Brott's　constant
endeavours　to　bring　the　conversation　round　to　Lucille。

〃I　find；〃　he　said；　as　they　lit　their　cigarettes；　〃that　I　committed
an　indiscretion　the　other　day　at　Camperdown　House！〃

Mr。　Sabin　assumed　the　puzzled　air　of　one　endeavouring　to　pin　down
an　elusive　memory。

〃Let　me　see；〃　he　murmured　doubtfully。　　〃It　was　in　connection　with　…　〃

〃The　Countess　Radantz。　　If　you　remember；　I　told　you　that　it　was　her
desire　just　now　to　remain　incognito。　　I；　however；　unfortunately
forgot　this　during　the　course　of　our　conversation。〃

〃Yes；　I　remember。　　You　told　me　where　she　was　staying。　　But　the
Countess　and　I　are　old　acquaintances。　　I　feel　sure　that　she　did　not
object　to　your　having　given　me　her　address。　　I　could　not　possibly
leave　London　without　calling　upon　her。〃

Mr。　Brott　moved　in　his　chair　uneasily。

〃It　seems　presumption　on　my　part　to　make　such　a　suggestion　perhaps；〃
he　said　slowly；　〃but　I　really　believe　that　the　Countess　is　in
earnest　with　reference　to　her　desire　for　seclusion　just　at　present。
I　believe　that　she　is　really　very　anxious　that　her　presence　in
London；　just　now　should　not　be　generally　known。〃

〃I　am　such　a　very　old　friend；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　〃I　knew　her　when
she　was　a　child。〃

Mr。　Brott　nodded。

〃It　is　very　strange；〃　he　said；　〃that　you　should　have　come　together
again　in　such　a　country　as　America；　and　in　a　small　town　too。〃

〃Lenox；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃is　a　small　place；　but　a　great　center。
By　the　bye；　is　there　not　some　question　of　an　impending　marriage　on
the　part　of　the　Countess？〃

〃I　have　heard　…　of　nothing　of　the　sort；〃　Mr。　Brott　said；　looking　up
startled。　　Then；　after　a　moment's　pause；　during　which　he　studied
closely　his　companion's　imperturbable　face；　he　added　the　question
which　forced　its　way　to　his　lips。

〃Have　you？〃

Mr。　Sabin　looked　along　his　cigarette　and　pinched　it　affectionately。
It　was　one　of　his　own；　which　he　had　dexterously　substituted　for
those　which　his　host　had　placed　at　his　disposal。

〃The　Countess　is　a　very　charming；　a　very　beautiful；　and　a　most
attractive　woman；〃　he　said　slowly。　　〃Her　marriage　has　always　seemed
to　me　a　matter　of　certainty。〃

Mr。　Brott　hesitated；　and　was　lost。

〃You　are　an　old　friend　of　hers；〃　he　said。　　〃You　perhaps　know　more
of　her　recent　history　than　I　do。　　For　a　time　she　seemed　to　drop　out
of　my　life　altogether。　　Now　that　she　has　come　back　I　am　very　anxious
to　persuade　her　to　marry　me。〃

A　single　lightning…like　flash　in　Mr。　Sabine's　eyes　for　a　moment
disconcerted　his　host。　　But；　after　all；　it　was　gone　with　such
amazing　suddenness　that　it　left　behind　it　a　sense　of　unreality。
Mr。　Brott　decided　that　after　all　it　must　have　been　fancy。

〃May　I　ask；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said　quietly；　〃whether　the　Countess　appears
to　receive　your　suit　with　favour？〃

Mr。　Brott　hesitated。

〃I　am　afraid　I　cannot　go　so　far　as　to　say　that　she　does；〃　he　said
regretfully。　　〃I　do　not　know　why　I　find　myself　talking　on　this
matter　to　you。　　I　feel　that　I　should　apologise　for　giving　such　a
personal　turn　to　the　conversation。〃

〃I　beg　that　you　will　do　nothing　of　the　sort；〃　Mr。　Sabin　protested。
〃I　am；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　most　deeply　interested。〃

〃You　encourage　me；〃　Mr。　Brott　declared；　〃to　ask　you　a　question　…　to
me　a　very　important　question。〃

〃It　will　give　me　great　pleasure；〃　Mr。　Sabin　assured　him；　〃if　I　am
able　to　answer　it。〃

〃You　know；〃　Mr。　Brott　said；　〃of　that　portion　of　her　life　concerning
which　I　have　asked　no　questions；　but　which　somehow；　whenever　I　think
of　it；　fills　me　with　a　certain　amount　of　uneasiness。　　I　refer　to　the
last　three　years　which　the　Countess　has　spent　in　America。〃

Mr。　Sabin　looked　up；　and　his　lips　seemed　to　move；　but　he　said
nothing。　　Mr。　Brott　felt　perhaps　that　he　was　on　difficult　ground。

〃I　recognise　the　fact；〃　he　continued　slowly；　〃that　you　are　the
friend　of　the　Countess；　and　that　you　and　I　are　nothing　more　than
the　merest　acquaintances。　　I　ask　my　question　therefore　with　some
diffidence。　　Can　you　tell　me　from　your　recent；　more　intimate
knowledge　of　the　Countess　and　her　affairs；　whether　there　exists
any　reason　outside　her　own　inclinations　why　she　should　not　accept
my　proposals　of　marriage？〃

Mr。　Sabin　had　the　air　of　a　man　gravely　surprised。　　He　shook　his
head　very　slightly。

〃You　must　not　ask　me　such　a　question　as　that；　Mr。　Brott；〃　he　said。
〃It　is　not　a　subject　which　I　could　possibly　discuss　with　you。　　But
I　have　no　objection　to　going　so　far　as　this。　　My　experience　of　the
Countess　is　that　she　is　a　woman　of　magnificent　and　effective　will
power。　　I　think　if　she　has　any　desire　to　marry　you　there　are　or
could　be　no　obstacles　existing　which　she　would　not　easily　dispose
of。〃

〃There　are　obstacles；　then？〃

〃You　must　not　ask　me　that；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　with　a　certain　amount
of　stiffness。　　〃The　Countess　is　a　very　dear　friend　of　mine；　and
you　must　forgive　me　now　if　I　say　that　I　prefer　not　to　discuss　her
any　longer。〃

A　hall　servant　entered　the　room；　bearing　a　note　for　Mr。　Brott。　　He
received　it　at　first　carelessly；　but　his　expression　changed　the
moment　he　saw　the　superscription。　　He　turned　a　little　away；　and
Mr。　Sabin　noticed　that　the　fingers　which　tore　open　the　envelope　were
trembling。　　The　note　seemed　short　enough；　but　he　must　have　read　it
half　a　dozen　times　before　at　last　he　turned　round　to　the　messenger。

〃There　is　no　answer；〃　he　said　in　a　low　tone。

He　folded　the　note　and　put　it　carefully　into　his　breast　pocket。　　Mr。
Sabin　subdued　an　insane　desire　to　struggle　with　him　and　discover；
by　force；　if　necessary；　who　was　the　sender　of　those　few　brief　lines。
For　Mr。　Brott　was　a　changed　man。

〃I　am　afraid；〃　he　said；　turning　to　his　guest；　〃that　this　has　been　a
very　dull　evening　for　you。　　To　tell　you　the　truth；　this　club　is　not
exactly　the　haunt　of　pleasure…seekers。　　It　generally　oppresses　me
for　the　first　hour　or　so。　　Would　you　like　a　hand　at　bridge；　or　a
game　of　billiards？　　I　am　wholly　at　your　service　…　until　twelve
o'clock。〃

Mr。　Sabin　glanced　at　the　clock。

〃You　are　very　good；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　was　never　much　good　at　indoor
games。　　Golf　has　been　my　only　relaxation　for　many　years。　　Besides；
I　too　have　an　engagement　for　which　I　must　leave　in　a　very　few
minutes。〃

〃It　is　very　good　of　you；〃　Mr。　Brott　said；　〃to　have　given　me　the
pleasure　of　your　company。　　I　have　the　greatest　possible　admiration
for　your　niece；　Mr。　Sabin；　and　Camperdown　is　a　thundering　good
fellow。　　He　will　be　our　leader　in　the　House　of　Lords　before　many
years　have　passed。〃

〃He　is；　I　believe；〃　Mr。　Sabin　remarked；　〃of　the　same　politics　as
yourself。〃

〃We　are　both；〃　Mr。　Brott　answered；　with　a　smile；　〃I　am　afraid
outside　the　pale　of　your　consideration　in　this　respect。　　We　are
both　Radicals。〃

Mr。　Sabin　lit　another　cigarette　and　glanced　once　more　at　the　clock。

〃A　Radical　peer！〃　he　remarked。　　〃Isn't　that　rather　an　anomaly？　　The
principles　of　Radicalism　and　aristocracy　seem　so　divergent。〃

〃Yet；〃　Mr。　Brott　said；　〃they　are　not　wholly　irreconcilable。　　I　have
often　wished　that　this　could　be　more　generally　understood。　　I　find
myself　at　times　very　unpopular　with　people；　whose　good　opinion　I　am
anxious　to　retain；　simply　owing　to　this　too　general　misapprehension。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled　gently。

〃You　were　referring　without　doubt　…　〃　he　began。

〃To　the　Countess；〃　Brott　admitted。　　〃Yes；　it　is　true。　　But　after
all；〃　he　added　cheerfully；　〃I　believe　that　our　disagreements　are
mainly　upon　the　surface。　　The　Countess　is　a　woman　of　wide　culture
and　understanding。　　Her　mind；　too；　is　plastic。　　She　has　few
prejudices。〃

Mr。　Sabin　glanced　at　the　clock　for　the　third　time；　and　rose　to　his
feet。　　He　was　quite　sure　now　that　the　note　was　from　her。　　He　leaned
on　his　stick　and　took　his　leave　quietly。　　All　the　time　he　was
studying　his　host；　wondering　at　his　air　of　only　partially　suppressed
excitement。

〃I　must　thank　you　very　much；　Mr。　Brott；〃　he　said；　〃for　your
entertainment。　　I　trust　that　you　will　give　me　an　opportunity　shortly
of　reciprocating　your　hospitality。〃

The　two　men　parted　finally　in　the　hall。　　Mr。　Sabin　stepped　into　his
hired　carriage。

〃Dorset　House！〃　he　directed。


CHAPTER　XVII

This　little　difference　of　opinion；〃　the　Prince　remarked；　looking
thoughtfully　through　the　emerald　green　of　his　liqueur；〃　interests
me。　　Our　friend　Dolinski　here　thinks　that　he　will　not　come　because
he　will　be　afraid。　　De　Brouillac；　on　the　contrary；　says　that　he
will　not　come　because　he　is　too　sagacious。　　Felix　here；　who　knows
him　best；　says　that　he　will　not　come　because　he　prefers　ever　to
play　the　game　from　outside　the　circle；　a