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broke　the　seal　and　read：

　　〃Monsieur；　…　I　kill　myself　because　it　is　easiest　and　best。　　The
　　poison　was　given　me　for　you；　but　I　have　not　the　courage　to　become
　　a　murderer；　or　afterwards　to　conceal　my　guilt。　　Monsieur　has　been
　　a　good　master　to　me；　and　also　Madame　la　Comtesse　was　always
　　indulgent　and　kind。　　The　mistake　of　my　life　has　been　the　joining
　　the　lower　order　of　the　Society。　　The　money　which　I　have　received
　　has　been　but　a　poor　return　for　the　anxiety　and　trouble　which　have
　　come　upon　me　since　Madame　la　Comtesse　left　America。　　Now　that　I
　　seek　shelter　in　the　grave　I　am　free　to　warn　Monsieur　that　the
　　Prince　of　S。　L。　is　his　determined　and　merciless　enemy；　and　that
　　he　has　already　made　an　unlawful　use　of　his　position　in　the　Society
　　for　the　sake　of　private　vengeance。　　If　monsieur　would　make　a
　　powerful　friend　he　should　seek　the　Lady　Muriel　Carey。

　　〃Monsieur　will　be　so　good　as　to　destroy　this　when　read。　　My　will
　　is　in　my　trunk。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Your　Grace's　faithful　servant；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Jules　Duson。〃

Mr。　Sabin　read　this　letter　carefully　through　to　the　end。　　Then　he
put　it　into　his　pocket…book　and　quickly　rang　the　bell。

〃You　had　better　send　for　a　doctor　at　once；〃　he　said　to　the　waiter
who　appeared。　　〃My　servant　appears　to　have　suffered　from　some　sudden
illness。　　I　am　afraid　that　he　is　quite　dead。〃


CHAPTER　XXIX

You　spoke；　my　dear　Lucille；〃　the　　Duchess　of　Dorset　said；　〃of　your
departure。　　Is　not　that　a　little　premature？〃

Lucille　shrugged　her　beautiful　shoulders；　and　leaned　back　in　her
corner　of　the　couch　with　half…closed　eyes。　　The　Duchess；　who　was
very　Anglo…Saxon；　was　an　easy　person　to　read；　and　Lucille　was
anxious　to　know　her　fate。

〃Why　premature？〃　she　asked。　　〃I　was　sent　for　to　use　my　influence
with　Reginald　Brott。　　Well；　I　did　my　best；　and　I　believe　that　for
days　it　was　just　a　chance　whether　I　did　not　succeed。　　However；　as
it　happened；　I　failed。　　One　of　his　friends　came　and　pulled　him　away
just　as　he　was　wavering。　　He　has　declared　himself　now　once　and　for
all。　　After　his　speech　at　Glasgow　he　cannot　draw　back。　　I　was　brought
all　the　way　from　America；　and　I　want　to　go　back　to　my　husband。〃

The　Duchess　pursed　her　lips。

〃When　one　has　the　honour；　my　dear；〃　she　said；　〃of　belonging　to　so
wonderful　an　organisation　as　this　we　must　not　consider　too　closely
the　selfish　claims　of　family。　　I　am　sure　that　years　ago　I　should
have　laughed　at　any　one　who　had　told　me　that　I；　Georgina　Croxton；
should　ever　belong　to　such　a　thing　as　a　secret　society；　even　though
it　had　some　connection　with　so　harmless　and　excellent　an
organisation　as　the　Primrose　League。〃

〃It　does　seem　remarkable；〃　Lucille　murmured。

〃But　look　what　terrible　times　have　come　upon　us；〃　the　Duchess
continued；　without　heeding　the　interruption。　　〃When　I　was　a　girl　a
Radical　was　a　person　absolutely　without　consideration。　　Now　all　our
great　cities　are　hot…beds　of　Socialism　and　…　and　anarchism。　　The
whole　country　seems　banded　together　against　the　aristocracy　and　the
landowners。　　Combination　amongst　us　became　absolutely　necessary　in
some　shape　or　form。　　When　the　Prince　came　and　began　to　drop　hints
about　the　way　the　spread　of　Socialism　had　been　checked　in　Hungary
and　Austria；　and　even　Germany；　I　was　interested　from　the　first。
And　when　he　went　further；　and　spoke　of　the　Society；　it　was　I　who
persuaded　Dorset　to　join。　　Dear　man；　he　is　very　earnest；　but　very
slow；　and　very　averse　to　anything　at　all　secretive。　　I　am　sure　the
reflection　that　he　is　a　member　of　a　secret　society；　even　although
it　is　simply　a　linking　together　of　the　aristocracy　of　Europe　in
their　own　defence；　has　kept　him　awake　for　many　a　night。〃

Lucille　was　a　little　bored。

〃The　Society；〃　she　said；　〃is　an　admirable　one　enough；　but　just　now
I　am　beginning　to　feel　it　a　little　exacting。　　I　think　that　the
Prince　expects　a　good　deal　of　one。　　I　shall　certainly　ask　for　my
release　to…night。〃

The　Duchess　looked　doubtful。

〃Release！〃　she　repeated。　　〃Come；　is　that　not　rather　an　exaggerated
expression？　　I　trust　that　your　stay　at　Dorset　House　has　not　in　any
way　suggested　an　imprisonment。〃

〃On　the　contrary；〃　Lucille　answered；　〃you　and　the　Duke　have　been
most　kind。　　But　you　must　remember　that　I　have　home　of　my　own　…　and
a　husband　of　my　own。〃

〃I　have　no　doubt；〃　the　Duchess　said；　〃that　you　will　be　able　to
return　to　them　some　day。　　But　you　must　not　be　impatient。　　I　do　not
think　that　the　Prince　has　given　up　all　hopes　of　Reginald　Brott　yet。〃

Lucille　was　silent。　　So　her　emancipation　was　to　be　postponed。　　After
all；　it　was　what　she　had　feared。　　She　sat　watching　idly　the　Duchess's
knitting　needles。　　Lady　Carey　came　sweeping　in；　wonderful　in　a　black
velvet　gown　and　a　display　of　jewels　almost　barbaric。

〃On　my　way　to　the　opera；〃　she　announced。　　〃The　Maddersons　sent　me
their　box。　　Will　any　of　you　good　people　come？　　What　do　you　say；
Lucille？〃

Lucille　shook　her　head。

〃My　toilette　is　deficient；〃　she　said；；　〃and　besides；　I　am　staying
at　home　to　see　the　Prince。　　We　expect　him　this　evening。〃

〃You'll　probably　be　disappointed　then；〃　Lady　Carey　remarked；　〃for
he's　going　to　join　us　at　the　opera。　　Run　and　change　your　gown。
I'll　wait。〃

〃Are　you　sure　that　the　Prince　will　be　there？〃　Lucille　asked。

〃Certain。〃

〃Then　I　will　come；〃　she　said；　〃if　the　Duchess　will　excuse　me。〃

The　Duchess　and　Lady　Carey　were　left　alone　for　a　few　minutes。　　The
former　put　down　her　knitting。

〃Why　do　we　keep　that　woman　here；〃　she　asked；　〃now　that　Brott　has
broken　away　from　her　altogether？〃

Lady　Carey　laughed　meaningly。

〃Better　ask　the　Prince；〃　she　remarked。

The　Duchess　frowned。

〃My　dear　Muriel；〃　she　said；　〃I　think　that　you　are　wrong　to　make　such　insinuations。　　I　am　sure　that
the　Prince　is　too　much　devoted　to　our
cause　to　allow　any　personal　considerations　to　intervene。〃

Lady　Carey　yawned。

〃Rats！〃　she　exclaimed。

The　Duchess　took　up　her　knitting；　and　went　on　with　it　without　remark。
Lady　Carey　burst　out　laughing。

〃Don't　look　so　shocked；〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃It's　funny。　　I　can't　help
being　a　bit　slangy。　　You　do　take　everything　so　seriously。　　Of　course
you　can　see　that　the　Prince　is　waiting　to　make　a　fool　of　himself
over　Lucille。　　He　has　been　trying　more　or　less　all　his　life。〃

〃He　may　admire　her；〃　the　Duchess　said。　　〃I　am　sure　that　he　would
not　allow　that　to　influence　him　in　his　present　position。　　By　the
bye；　she　is　anxious　to　leave　us　now　that　the　Brott　affair　is　over。
Do　you　think　that　the　Prince　will　agree？〃

Lady　Carey's　face　hardened。

〃I　am　sure　that　he　will　not；〃　she　said　coolly。　　〃There　are　reasons
why　she　may　not　at　present　be　allowed　to　rejoin　her　husband。〃

The　Duchess　used　her　needles　briskly。

〃For　my　part；〃　she　said；　〃I　can　see　no　object　in　keeping　her　here
any　longer。　　Mr。　Brott　has　shown　himself　quite　capable　of　keeping
her　at　arm's　length。　　I　cannot　see　what　further　use　she　is。〃

Lady　Carey　heard　the　flutter　of　skirts　outside　and　rose。

〃There　are　wheels　within　wheels；〃　she　remarked。　　〃My　dear　Lucille；
what　a　charming　toilette。　　We　shall　have　the　lady　journalists
besieging　us　in　our　box。　　Paquin；　of　course。　　Good…night；　Duchess。
Glad　to　see　you're　getting　on　with　the　socks；　or　stockings；　do　you
call　them？〃

Insolent　aristocratic；　now　and　then　attractive　in　some　strange
suggestive　way；　Lady　Carey　sat　in　front　of　the　box　and　exchanged
greetings　with　her　friends。　　Presently　the　Prince　came　in　and　took
the　chair　between　the　two　women。　　Lady　Carey　greeted　him　with　a　nod。

〃Here's　Lucille　dying　to　return　to　her　lawful　husband；〃　she　remarked。
〃Odd　thing；　isn't　it？　　Most　of　the　married　women　I　ever　knew　are
dying　to　get　away　from　theirs。　　You　can　make　her　happy　or　miserable
in　a　few　moments。〃

The　Prince　leaned　over　between　them；　but　he　looked　only　at　Lucille。

〃I　wish　that　I　could；〃　he　murmured。　　〃I　wish　that　that　were　within
my　power。〃

〃It　is；〃　she　answered　coolly。　　〃Muriel　is　quite　right。　　I　am　most
anxious　to　return　to　my　husband。〃

The　Prince　said　nothing。　　Lady　Carey；　glancing　towards　him　at　that
moment；　was　surprised　at　certain　signs　of　disquietude　in　his　face
which　startled　her。

〃What　is　the　matter　with　you？〃　she　asked　almost　roughly。

〃Matter　with　me？　　Nothing；〃　he　answered。　　〃Why　this　unaccustomed
solicitude？〃

Lady　Carey　looked　into　his　face　fiercely。　　He　was　pale；　and　there
was　a　strained　look　about　his　eyes。　　He　seemed；　too；　to　be　listening。
》From　outside　in　the　street　came　faintly　to　their　ears　the　cry　of　a
newsboy。

〃Get　me　an　evening　paper；〃　she　whispered　in　his　ear。

He　got　up　and　left　the　box。　　Lucille　was　watching　the　people　below
and　had　not　appreciated　the　significance　of　what　had　been　passing
between　the　two。　　Lady　Carey　leaned　back　in　the　box　with　half…closed
eyes。　　Her　fingers　were　clenched　nervously　together；　her　bosom　was
rising　and　falling　quickly。　　If　he　had　dared　to　defy　her！　　What　was
it　the　newsboys　were　calling？　　What　a　jargon！　　Why　did　not　Saxe
Leinitzer　return？　　Perhaps…he　was　afraid！　　Her　heart　stood　still
for　a　moment；　and　a　little　half…stifled　cry　broke　from　her　lips。
Lucille　looked　around　quickly。

〃What　is　the　matter；　Muriel？〃　she　asked。　　〃Are　you　faint？〃

〃F