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singular clearness of perception he realised that if Lucille were
indeed lost the world was no longer a place for him。 So his feet
fell wearily upon the thickly carpeted floor of the corridor； and
his face was unusually drawn and haggard as he opened the door of
his sitting…room。
And then … a transformation； amazing； stupefying。 It was Lucille
who was smiling a welcome upon him from the depths of his favourite
easy…chair … Lucille sitting over his fire； a novel in her hand；
and wearing a delightful rose…pink dressing…gown。 Some of her
belongings were scattered about his room； giving it a delicate air
of femininity。 The faint odour of her favourite and only perfume
gave to her undoubted presence a wonderful sense of reality。
She held out her hands to him； and the broad sleeves of her
dressing…gown fell away from her white rounded arms。 Her eyes
were wonderfully soft； the pink upon her cheeks was the blush of
a girl。
〃Victor；〃 she murmured； 〃do not look so stupefied。 Did you not
believe that I would risk at least a little for you； who have
risked so much for me？ Only come to me！ Make the most of me。
All sorts of things are sure to happen directly I am found out。〃
He took her into his arms。 It was one of the moments of his
lifetime。
〃Tell me；〃 he murmured； 〃how have you dared to do this？〃
She laughed。
〃You know the Prince and his set。 You know the way they bribe。
Intrigues everywhere； new and old overlapping。 They have really
some reason for keeping you and me apart； but as regards my other
movements； I am free enough。 And they thought； Victor … don't be
angry … but I let them think it was some one else。 And I stole
away from the ball； and they think … never mind what they think。
But you； Victor； are my intrigue； you； my love； my husband！〃
Then all the fatigue and all the weariness； died away from Mr。
Sabin's face。 Once more the fire of youth burned in his heart。
And Lucille laughed softly as her lips met his； and her head sank
upon his shoulder。
CHAPTER XXI
Lady Carey suddenly dropped her partner's arm。 She had seen a
man standing by himself with folded arms and moody face at the
entrance to the ball…room。 She raised her lorgnettes。 His
identity was unquestionable。
〃Will you excuse me for a moment； Captain Horton；〃 she said to her
escort。 〃I want particularly to speak to Mr。 Brott。〃
Captain Horton bowed with the slight disappointment of a hungry
man on his way to the supper…room。
〃Don't be long；〃 he begged。 〃The places are filling up。
Lady Carey nodded and walked swiftly across to where Brott was
standing。 He moved eagerly forward to meet her。
〃Not dancing； Mr。 Brott？〃
He shrugged his shoulders。
〃This sort of thing isn't much in my way；〃 he answered。 〃I was
rather hoping to see the Countess here。 I trust that she is not
indisposed。〃
She looked at him steadily。
〃Do you mean；〃 she said； 〃that you do not know where she is？〃
〃I？〃 he answered in amazement。 〃How should I？ I have not seen her
at all this evening。 I understood that she was to be here。〃
Lady Carey hesitated。 The man was too honest to be able to lie like
this； even in a good cause。 She stood quite still for a moment
thinking。 Several of her dearest friends had already told her that
she was looking tired and ill this evening。 At that moment she was
positively haggard。
〃I have been down at Ranelagh this afternoon；〃 she said slowly；
〃and dining out； so I have not seen Lucille。 She was complaining
of a headache yesterday； but I quite thought that she was coming
here。 Have you seen the Duchess？〃
He shook his head。
〃No。 There is such a crowd。〃
Lady Carey glanced towards her escort and turned away。
〃I will try and find out what has become of her；〃 she said。 〃Don't
go away yet。〃
She rejoined her escort。
〃When we have found a table；〃 she said； 〃I want you to keep my place
for a few moments while I try and find some of my party。〃
They passed into the supper…room； and appropriated a small table。
Lady Carey left her partner； and made her way to the farther end of
the apartment； where the Prince of Saxe Leinitzer was supping with
half a dozen men and women。 She touched him on the shoulder。
〃I want to speak to you for a moment； Ferdinand；〃 she whispered。
He rose at once； and she drew him… a little apart。
〃Brott is here；〃 she said slowly。
〃Brott here！〃 he repeated。 〃And Lucille？〃
〃He is asking for her … expected to find her here。 He is downstairs
now； looking the picture of misery。〃
He looked at her inquiringly。 There was a curious steely light in
her eyes； and she was showing her front teeth； which were a little
prominent。
〃Do you think；〃 he asked； 〃that she has deceived us？〃
〃What else？ Where are the Dorsets？〃
〃The Duchess is with the Earl of Condon； and some more people at
the round table under the balcony。〃
〃Give me your arm；〃 she whispered。 〃We must go and ask her；〃
They crossed the room together。 Lady Carey sank into a vacant
chair by the side of the Duchess and talked for a few minutes to
the people whom she knew。 Then she turned and whispered in the
Duchess's ear。
〃Where is Lucille？〃
The Duchess looked at her with a meaning smile。
〃How should I know？ She left when we did。〃
〃Alone？〃
〃Yes。 It was all understood； wasn't it？〃
Lady Carey laughed unpleasantly。
〃She has fooled us；〃 she said。 〃Brott is here alone。 Knows
nothing of her。〃
The Duchess was puzzled。
〃Well； I know nothing more than you do；〃 she answered。 〃Are you
sure the man is telling the truth？〃
〃Of course。 He is the image of despair。〃
〃I am sure she was in earnest；〃 the Duchess said。 〃When I asked
her whether she should come on here she laughed a little nervously；
and said perhaps or something of that sort。〃
〃The fool may have bungled it；〃 Lady Carey said thoughtfully。 〃I
will go back to him。 There's that idiot of a partner of mine。 I
must go and pretend to have some supper。〃
Captain Horton found his vis…a…vis a somewhat unsatisfactory
companion。 She drank several glasses of champagne； ate scarcely
anything； and rushed him away before he had taken the edge off his
appetite。 He brought her to the Duchess and went back in a huff
to finish his supper alone。 Lady Carey went downstairs and
discovered Mr。 Brott； who had scarcely moved。
〃Have you seen anything of her？〃 she asked。
He shook his head gloomily。
〃No！ It is too late for her to come now； isn't it？〃
〃Take me somewhere where we can talk；〃 she said abruptly。 〃One of
those seats in the recess will do。〃
He obeyed her； and they found a retired corner。 Lady Carey wasted
no time in fencing。
〃I am Lucille's greatest friend； Mr。 Brott； and her confidante；〃
she said。
He nodded。
〃So I have understood。〃
〃She tells me everything。〃
He glanced towards her a little uneasily。
〃That is comprehensive！〃 he remarked。
〃It is true；〃 she answered。 〃Lucille has told me a great deal about
your friendship！ Come； there is no use in our mincing words。
Lucille has been badly treated years ago； and she has a perfect
right to seek any consolation she may find。 The old fashioned
ideas； thank goodness； do not hold any longer amongst us。 It is
not necessary to tie yourself for life to a man in order to procure
a little diversion。〃
〃I will not pretend to misunderstand you； Lady Carey；〃 he said
gravely； 〃but I must decline to discuss the Countess of Radantz in
connection with such matters。〃
〃Oh； come！〃 she declared impatiently； 〃remember that I am her
friend。 Yours is quite the proper attitude； but with me it doesn't
matter。 Now I am going to ask you a plain question。 Had You any
engagement with Lucille to…night？〃
She watched him mercilessly。 He was colouring like a boy。 Lady
Carey's thin lips curled。 She had no sympathy with such amateurish
love…making。 Nevertheless； his embarrassment was a great relief to
her。
〃She promised to be here；〃 he answered stiffly。
〃Everything depends upon your being honest with me；〃 she continued。
〃You will see from my question that I know。 Was there not something
said about supper at your rooms before or after the dance？〃
〃I cannot discuss this matter with you or any living person；〃 he
answered。 〃If you know so much why ask me？〃
Lady Carey could have shaken the man； but she restrained herself。
〃It is sufficient！〃 she declared。 〃What I cannot understand is why
you are here … when Lucille is probably awaiting for you at your
rooms。〃
He started from his chair as though he had been shot。
〃What do you mean？〃 he exclaimed。 〃She was to … 〃
He stopped short。 Lady Carey shrugged her shoulders。
〃Oh； written you or something； I suppose！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Trust
an Englishman for bungling a love affair。 All I can tell you is
that she left Dorset House in a hansom without the others； and said
some thing about having supper with some friends。〃
Brott sprang to his feet and took a quick step towards the exit。
〃It is not possible！〃 he exclaimed。
She took his arm。 He almost dragged her along。
〃Well； we are going to see；〃 she said coolly。 〃Tell the man to
call a hansom。〃
They drove almost in silence thr