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〃The Duke of Souspennier！ He takes himself so seriously that he
even travels incognito。 At the hotel he calls himself Mr。 Sabin。〃
〃Indeed！〃
〃I wondered whether you might not know him？〃
〃Yes； I know him。〃
〃And in connection with this man；〃 Brott continued； 〃I have
something in the nature of a confession to make。 I forgot for
a moment your request。 I even mentioned your name。〃
The pallor had spread to her cheeks； even to her lips。 Yet her
eyes were soft and brilliant； so brilliant that they fascinated him。
〃What did he say？ What did he ask？〃
〃He asked for your address。 Don't be afraid。 I made some excuse。
I did not give it。〃
For the life of him he could not tell whether she was pleased or
disappointed。 She had turned her shoulder to him。 She was looking
steadily out of the window； and he could not see her face。
〃Why are you curious about him？〃 she asked。
〃I wish I knew。 I think only because he came from Lenox。〃
She turned her face slowly round towards him。 He was astonished to
see the dark rings under her eyes； the weariness of her smile。
〃The Duke of Souspennier；〃 she said slowly； 〃is an old and a dear
friend of mine。 When you tell me that he is in London I am anxious
because there are many here who are not his friends … who have no
cause to love him。〃
〃I was wrong then；〃 he said； 〃not to give him your address。〃
〃You were right；〃 she answered。 〃I am anxious that he should not
know it。 You will remember this？〃 He rose and bowed over her hand。
〃This has been a selfish interlude；〃 he said。 〃I have destroyed
your rest； and I almost fear that I have also disturbed your peace
of mind。 Let me take my leave and pray that you may recover both。〃
She shook her head。
〃Do not leave me；〃 she said。 〃I am low…spirited。 You shall stay
and cheer me
There was a light in his eyes which few people would have recognised。
She rose with a little laugh and stood leaning towards the fire； her
elbow upon the broad mantel； tall； graceful； alluring。 Her soft
crimson gown； with its wealth of old lace； fell around her in lines
and curves full of grace。 The pallor of her face was gone now … the
warmth of the fire burned her cheeks。 Her voice became softer。
〃Sit down and talk to me；〃 she murmured。 〃Do you remember the old
days； when you were a very timid young secretary of Sir George
Nomsom； and I was a maid…of…honour at the Viennese Court？ Dear
me； how you have changed！〃
〃Time；〃 he said； 〃will not stand still for all of us。 Yet my memory
tells me how possible it would be … for indeed those days seem but
as yesterday。〃
He looked up at her with a sudden jealousy。 His tone shook with
passion。 No one would have recognised Brott now。 In his fiercest
hour of debate； his hour of greatest trial； he had worn his mask；
always master of himself and his speech。 And now he had cast it
off。 His eyes were hungry； his lips twitched。
〃As yesterday！ Lucille； I could kill you when I think of those
days。 For twenty years your kiss has lain upon my lips … and you
… with you … it has been different。〃
She laughed softly upon him； laughed more with her eyes than with
her lips。 She watched him curiously。
〃Dear me！〃 she murmured； 〃what would you have？ I am a woman … I
have been a woman all my days； and the memory of one kiss grows cold。
So I will admit that with me … it has been different。 Come！ What
then？〃
He groaned。
〃I wonder；〃 he said； 〃what miserable fate； what cursed stroke of
fortune brought you once more into my life？〃
She threw her head back and laughed at him； this time heartily；
unaffectedly。
〃What adorable candour！〃 she exclaimed。 〃My dear friend； how
amiable you are。〃
He looked at her steadfastly； and somehow the laugh died away from
her lips。
〃Lucille； will you marry me？〃
〃Marry you？ I？ Certainly not。〃
〃And why not？〃
〃For a score of reasons； if you want them；〃 she answered。 〃First；
because I think it is delightful to have you for a friend。 I can
never quite tell what you are going to do or say。 As a husband I
am almost sure that you would be monotonous。 But then； how could
you avoid it？ It is madness to think of destroying a pleasant
friendship in such a manner。〃
〃You are mocking me；〃 he said sadly。
〃Well；〃 she said； 〃why not？ Your own proposal is a mockery。
〃A mockery！ My proposal！〃
〃Yes；〃 she answered steadily。 〃You know quite well that the very
thought of such a thing between you and me is an absurdity。 I
abhor your politics； I detest your party。 You are ambitious； I
know。 You intend to be Prime Minister； a people's Prime Minister。
Well； for my part； I hate the people。 I am an aristocrat。 As
your wife I should be in a perfectly ridiculous position。 How
foolish！ You have led me into talking of this thing seriously。
Let us forget all this rubbish。〃
He stood before her … waiting patiently； his mouth close set； his
manner dogged with purpose。
〃It is not rubbish；〃 he said。 〃It is true that I shall be Prime
Minister。 It is true also that you will be my wife。〃
She shrank back from him … uneasily。 The fire in his eyes； the
ring in his tone distressed her。
〃As for my politics； you do not understand them。 But you shall！ I
will convert you to my way of thinking。 Yes； I will do that。 The
cause of the people； of freedom； is the one great impulse which
beats through all the world。 You too shall hear it。〃
〃Thank you；〃 she said。 〃I have no wish to hear it。 I do not believe
in what you call freedom for the people。 I have discovered in
America how uncomfortable a people's country can he。〃
〃Yet you married an American。 You call yourself still the Countess
Radantz 。。。 but you married Mr。 James B。 Peterson！〃
〃It is true； my friend；〃 she answered。 〃But the American in
question was a person of culture and intelligence； and at heart he
was no more a democrat than I am。 Further； I am an extravagant
woman； and he was a millionaire。〃
〃And you； after his death； without necessity … went to bury yourself
in his country。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃I am jealous of every year of your life which lies hidden from me；〃
he said slowly。
〃Dear me … how uncomfortable！〃
〃Before you … reappeared；〃 he said； 〃I had learnt； yes I had learnt
to do without you。 I had sealed up the one chapter of my life
which had in it anything to do with sentiment。 Your coming has
altered all that。 You have disturbed the focus of my ambitions。
Lucille！ I have loved you for more than half a lifetime。 Isn't it
time I had my reward？〃
He took a quick step towards her。 In his tone was the ring of
mastery； the light in his eyes was compelling。 She shrank back；
but he seized one of her hands。 It lay between his； a cold dead
thing。
〃What have my politics to do with it？〃 he asked fiercely。 〃You are
not an Englishwoman。 Be content that I shall set you far above
these gods of my later life。 There is my work to be done； and I
shall do it。 Let me be judge of these things。 Believe me that it
is a great work。 If you are ambitious … give your ambitions into
my keeping； and I will gratify them。 Only I cannot bear this
suspense…these changing moods。 Marry me…now at once； or send me
back to the old life。〃
She drew her fingers away； and sank down into her easy…chair。 Her
head was buried in her hands。 Was she thinking or weeping？ He
could not decide。 While he hesitated she looked up； and he saw
that there was no trace of tears upon her face。
〃You are too masterful；〃 she said gently。 〃I will not marry you。
I will not give myself body and soul to any man。 Yet that is what
you ask。 I am not a girl。 My opinions are as dear to me in their
way as yours are to you。 You want me to close my eyes while you
drop sugar plums into my mouth。 That is not my idea of life。 I
think that you had better go away。 Let us forget these things。〃
〃Very well；〃 he answered。 〃It shall be as you say。〃 He did not
wait for her to ring； nor did he attempt any sort of farewell。 He
simply took up his hat； and before she could realise his intention
he had left the room。 Lucille sat quite still； looking into the
fire。
〃If only；〃 she murmured； 〃if only this were the end。〃
CHAPTER XIV
Duson entered the sitting…room； noiseless as ever； with pale；
passionless face； the absolute prototype of the perfect French
servant； to whom any expression of vigorous life seems to savour of presumption。 He carried a
small silver salver； on which reposed a
card。
〃The gentleman is in the ante…room； sir；〃 he announced。
Mr。 Sabin took up the card and studied it。
〃Lord Robert Foulkes。〃
〃Do I know this gentleman； Duson？〃 Mr。 Sabin asked。
〃Not to my knowledge； sir；〃 the man answered。
〃You must show him in；〃 Mr。 Sabin said； with a sigh。 〃In this
country one must never be rude to a lord。〃
Duson obeyed。 Lord Robert Foulkes was a small young man； very
carefully groomed； nondescript in appearance。 He smiled
pleasantly at Mr。 Sabin and drew off his gloves。
〃How do you do； Mr。 Sabin？〃 he said。 〃Don't remember me； I daresay。
Met you once or twice last time you were in London。 I wish I could
say that I was glad to see you here again。〃
Mr。 Sabi