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him best； says that he will not come because he prefers ever to
play the game from outside the circle； a looker…on to all
appearance； yet sometimes wielding an unseen force。 It is a
strong position that。〃
Lucille raised her head and regarded the last speaker steadily。
〃And I； Prince！〃 she exclaimed； 〃I say that he will come because
he is a man； and because he does not know fear。〃
The Prince of Saxe Leinitzer bowed low towards the speaker。
〃Dear Lucille；〃 he said； so respectfully that the faint irony of
his tone was lost to most of those present； 〃I； too； am of your
opinion。 The man who has a right； real or fancied； to claim you
must indeed be a coward if he suffered dangers of any sort to stand
in the way。 After all； dangers from us！ Is it not a little absurd？〃
Lucille looked away from the Prince with a little shudder。 He
laughed softly； and drank his liqueur。 Afterwards he leaned back
for a moment in his chair and glanced thoughtfully around at the
assembled company as though anxious to impress upon his memory all
who were present。 It was a little group； every member of which
bore a well…known name。 Their host； the Duke of Dorset； in whose
splendid library they were assembled； was； if not the premier duke
of the United Kingdom； at least one of those whose many hereditary
offices and ancient family entitled him to a foremost place in the
aristocracy of the world。 Raoul de Brouillac； Count of Orleans；
bore a name which was scarcely absent from a single page of the
martial history of France。 The Prince of Saxe Leinitzer kept up
still a semblance of royalty in the State which his ancestors had
ruled with despotic power。 Lady Muriel Carey was a younger
daughter of a ducal house； which had more than once intermarried
with Royalty。 The others； too； had their claims to be considered
amongst the greatest families of Europe。
The Prince glanced at his watch； and then at the bridge tables
ready set out。
〃I think；〃 he said； 〃that a little diversion … what does our
hostess say？〃
〃Two sets can start at least；〃 the Duchess said。 〃Lucille and I
will stay out； and the Count de Brouillac does not play。〃
The Prince rose。
〃It is agreed；〃 he said。 〃Duke； will you honour me？ Felix and
Dolinski are our ancient adversaries。 It should be an interesting
trial of strength。〃
There was a general movement； a re…arrangement of seats； and a
little buzz of conversation。 Then silence。 Lucille sat back in
a great chair； and Lady Carey came over to her side。
〃You are nervous to…night； Lucille；〃 she said。
〃Yes； I am nervous；〃 Lucille admitted。 〃Why not？ At any moment
he may be here。〃
〃And you care … so much？〃 Lady Carey said； with a hard little laugh。
〃I care so much；〃 Lucille echoed。
Lady Carey shook out her amber satin skirt and sat down upon a low
divan。 She held up her hands； small white hands； ablaze with
jewels； and looked at them for a moment thoughtfully。
〃He was very much in earnest when I saw him at Sherry's in New
York；〃 she remarked； 〃and he was altogether too clever for Mr。
Horser and our friends there。 After all their talk and boasting
too。 Why； they are ignorant of the very elements of intrigue。〃
Lucille sighed。
〃Here；〃 she said； 〃it is different。 The Prince and he are ancient
rivals； and Raoul de Brouillac is no longer his friend。 Muriel； I
am afraid of what may happen。〃
Lady Carey shrugged her shoulders。
〃He is no fool；〃 she said in a low tone。 〃He will not come here
with a magistrate's warrant and a policeman to back it up； nor will
he attempt to turn the thing into an Adeiphi drama。 I know him well
enough to be sure that he will attempt nothing crude。 Lucille；
don't you find it exhilarating？〃
〃Exhilarating？ But why？〃
〃It will be a game played through to the end by masters； and you；
my dear woman； are the inspiration。 I think that it is most
fascinating。〃
Lucille looked sadly into the fire。
〃I think；〃 she said； 〃that I am weary of all these things。 I seem
to have lived such a very long time。 At Lenox I was quite happy。
Of my own will I would never have left it。〃
Lady Carey's thin lips curled a little； her blue eyes were full of
scorn。 She was not altogether a pleasant woman to look upon。 Her
cheeks were thin and hollow； her eyes a little too prominent； some
hidden expression which seemed at times to flit from one to the other
of her features suggested a sensuality which was a little incongruous
with her somewhat angular figure and generally cold demeanour。 But
that she was a woman of courage and resource history had proved。
〃How idyllic！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Positively medieval！ Fancy living
with one man three years。〃
Lucille smiled。
〃Why； not？ I never knew a woman yet however cold however fond of
change； who had not at some time or other during her life met a man
for whose sake she would have done … what I did。 I have had as many
admirers … as many lovers； I suppose； as most women。 But I can
truthfully say that during the last three years no thought of one
of them has crossed my mind。〃
Lady Carey laughed scornfully。
〃Upon my word；〃 she said。 〃If the Prince had not a temper； and if
they were not playing for such ruinous points； I would entertain
them all with these delightful confidences。 By the bye； the Prince
himself was once one of those who fell before your chariot wheels；
was he not？ Look at him now … sideways。 What does he remind you
of？〃
Lucille raised her eyes。
〃A fat angel；〃 she answered； 〃or something equally distasteful。 How
I hate those mild eyes and that sweet； slow smile。 I saw him thrash
a poor beater once in the Saxe Leinitzer forests。 Ugh！〃
〃I should not blame him for that；〃 Lady Carey said coldly。 〃I like
masterful men； even to the point of cruelty。 General Dolinski there
fascinates me。 I believe that he keeps a little private knout at
home for his wife and children。 A wicked little contrivance with
an ivory handle。 I should like to see him use it。〃
Lucille shuddered。 This tete…a…tete did not amuse her。 She rose
and looked over one of the bridge tables for a minute。 The Prince；
who was dealing； looked up with a smile。
〃Be my good angel； Countess；〃 he begged。 〃Fortune has deserted me
to…night。 You shall be the goddess of chance； and smile your
favours upon me。〃
A hard little laugh came from the chair where Lady Carey sat。 She
turned her head towards them； and there was a malicious gleam in
her eves。
〃Too late； Prince；〃 she exclaimed。 〃The favours of the Countess
are all given away。 Lucille has become even as one of those
flaxen…haired dolls of your mountain villages。 She has given her
heart away； and she is sworn to perpetual constancy。〃
The Prince smiled。
〃The absence；〃 he said； glancing up at the clock； 〃of that most
fortunate person should surely count in our favour。〃
Lucille followed his eyes。 The clock was striking ten。 She
shrugged her shoulders。
〃If the converse also is true； Prince；〃 she said； 〃you can
scarcely have anything to hope for from me。 For by half…past ten
he will be here。〃
The Prince picked up his cards and sorted them mechanically。
〃We shall see；〃 he remarked。 〃It is true； Countess； that you are
here； but in this instance you are set with thorns。〃
〃To continue the allegory； Prince；〃 she answered； passing on to
the next table； 〃also with poisonous berries。 But to the hand
which has no fear； neither are harmful。〃
The Prince laid down his hand。
〃Now I really believe；〃 he said gently； 〃that she meant to be rude。
Partner； I declare hearts！〃
Felix was standing out from the next table whilst has hand was
being played by General Dolinski； his partner。 He drew her a
little on one side。
〃Do not irritate Saxe Leinitzer；〃 he whispered。 〃Remember；
everything must rest with him。 Twice to…night you have brought
that smile to his lips； and I never see it without thinking of
unpleasant things。〃
〃You are right；〃 she answered； 〃but I hate him so。 He and Muriel
Carey seem to have entered into some conspiracy to lead me on to
say things which I might regret。〃
〃Saxe Leinitzer；〃 he said； 〃has never forgotten that he once
aspired to be your lover。〃
〃He has not failed to let me know it；〃 she answered。 〃He has even
dared … ah！〃
There was a sudden stir in the room。 The library door was thrown
open。 The solemn…visaged butler stood upon the threshold。
〃His Grace the Duke of Souspennier！〃 he announced。
CHAPTER XVIII
There was for the moment a dead silence。 The soft patter of cards
no longer fell upon the table。 The eyes of every one were turned
upon the newcomers。 And he； leaning upon his stick； looked only
for one person； and having found her； took no heed of any one else。
〃Lucille！〃
She rose from her seat and stood with hands outstretched towards
him； her lips parted in a delightful smile； her eyes soft with
happiness。
〃Victor； welcome！ It is like you to have found me； and I knew
that you would come。〃
He raised her fingers to his lips … tenderly … with the grace of a
prince； but all the affection of a lover。 What he said to her none
could hear； for his voice was lowered almost to a whisper。