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exile so lonely； a wanderer！ Together there may be a great future
before us。 You have ambition； you love intrigue； excitement； danger。
None of these can you find here。 You shall come with me。 You shall
not say no。 Have I not been your devoted slave？ Have … 〃
She stopped him。 Her lips were parted in a smile of good…natured
scorn。
〃Don't be absurd； Saxe Leinitzer。 It is true that I love intrigue；
excitement and danger。 That is what made me join your Order； and
really I have had quite a little excitement out of it； for which
I suppose I ought to thank you。 But as for the rest； why； you are
talking rubbish。 I would go to South America to…morrow with the
right man； but with you； why； it won't bear talking about。 It makes
me angry to think that you should believe me capable of such shocking
taste as to dream of going away with you。〃
He flung himself from the room。 Lady Carey went back to her coffee
and letters。 She sent for Annette。
〃Annette；〃 she directed； 〃we shall go to Melton to…morrow。 Wire
Haggis to have the Lodge in order； and carriages to meet the midday
train。 I daresay I shall take a few people down with me。 Let
George go around to Tattershalls at once and make an appointment
for me there at three o'clock this afternoon。 Look out my habits
and boots； too； Annette。〃
Lady Carey leaned back in her chair for a moment with half…closed
eyes。
〃I think；〃 she murmured； 〃that some of us in our youth must have
drunk from some poisoned cup； something which turned our blood into
quicksilver。 I must live； or I must die。 I must have excitement
every hour； every second； or break down。 There are others too
… many others。 No wonder that that idiot of a man in Harley
Street talked to me gravely about my heart。 No excitement。 A
quiet life！ Bah！ Such wishy…washy coffee and only one cigarette。〃
She lit it and stood up on the hearthrug。 Her eyes were half
closed； every vestige of colour had left her cheeks； her hand was
pressed hard to her side。 For a few minutes she seemed to struggle
for breath。 Then with a little lurch as though still giddy； she
stooped； and picking up her fallen cigarette； thrust it defiantly
between her teeth。
〃Not this way；〃 she muttered。 〃From a horse's back if I can with
the air rushing by； and the hot joy of it in one's heart 。。。 Only
I hope it won't hurt the poor old gee 。。。 Come in； Annette。 What
a time you've been； child。
***'**
The Emperor sent for Mr。 Sabin。 He declined to recognise his
incognito。
〃Monsieur le Duc；〃 he said； 〃if proof of your story were needed
it is here。 The Prince of Saxe Leinitzer has ignored my summons。
He has fled to South America。〃
Mr。 Sabin bowed。
〃A most interesting country；〃 he murmured； 〃for the Prince。〃
〃You yourself are free to go when and where you will。 You need no
longer have any fears。 The Order does not exist。 I have crushed it。〃
Mr。 Sabin bowed。
〃Your Majesty；〃 he said； 〃has shown exemplary wisdom。〃
〃From its inception；〃 the Emperor said； 〃I believe that the idea was
a mistaken one。 I must confess that its originality pleased me； my
calmer reflections； however； show me that I was wrong。 It is not
for the nobles of the earth to copy the methods of socialists and
anarchists。 These men are a pest upon humanity； but they may have
their good uses。 They may help us to govern alertly； vigorously；
always with our eyes and ears strained to catch the signs of the
changing times。 Monsieur le Duc； should you decide to take up your
residence in this country I shall at all times be glad to receive
you。 But your future is entirely your own。〃
Mr。 Sabin accepted his dismissal from audience； and went back to
Lucille。
〃The Prince；〃 he told her； 〃has gone…to South America。 The Order
does not exist any longer。 Will you dine in Vienna； or in
Frankfort？〃
She held out her arms。
〃You wonderful man！〃 she cried。
End