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"You know very well that I have but to lift my finger and the gendarmes will be here. Yes, we will call it a challenge. All my life I have wanted you. Now I think that my time has come. Even Souspennier has deserted you. You are alone, and let me tell you that danger is closer at your heels than you know of. I can save you, and I will. But I have a price, and it must be paid."
"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?"
"Poor man," she said mockingly. "It is always the same when you and Souspennier meet." He set his teeth. "This time," he muttered, "I hold the trumps." She pointed at the clock. It was nearly four. "She was there at eleven," she remarked drily. "His Highness, the Prince of Saxe Leinitzer!" Duson stood away from the door with a low bow.
"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. There was for the moment a dead silence. The soft patter of cards no longer fell upon the table.
Then I have the very great advantage of never caring for any one more than a few days together. Men find that annoying." "You have violent fancies," he remarked, "and strange ones." "Perhaps," she admitted. "They concern no one except myself." "This Souspennier craze, for instance!" She nodded. "Well, you can't say that I'm not honest. It is positively my only virtue. I adore the truth.
"After what has happened you are of course of no further use to us. I am inclined to think, too, that we have been somewhat exacting. I will send a messenger to Souspennier to meet you at Charing Cross to-night." She sprang up. "Let me write it myself." "Very well," he agreed, with a shrug of the shoulders. "But do not address or sign it. There is danger in any communication between you."
Souspennier is confounded altogether by a little revelation which I ventured to make. He spoke of an appeal. I let him know with whom he would have to deal. I left him nerveless and crushed. He can do nothing save by open revolt. And if he tries that well, there will be no more of this wonderful Mr. Sabin." "Altogether a triumph to you," she remarked scornfully. "Oh, I know the sort of thing.
Bring but the shadow of evil upon her, misuse your power but ever so slightly against her, and I warn you that I shall count the few years of life left to me a trifle of less than no account until you and I cry quits." The Prince smiled, a fat, good-natured smile, behind which the malice was indeed well hidden. "Come, come, my dear Souspennier," he declared. "This is unworthy of you.
"The Duc de Souspennier remains here or at the bottom of the lake what matters! It is Mr. Sabin who travels to New York, and for whom you engage rooms at the Holland House. Mr. Sabin is a cosmopolitan of English proclivities." "Very good, sir!" "Lock this door. Bring my coat and hat five minutes before the carriage starts. Let the servants be well paid. Let none of them attempt to see me."
It is necessary that she returns to Dorset House this morning." "You will oblige me," Mr. Sabin remarked, "by remembering that my wife is the Duchesse de Souspennier, and by so addressing her." The Prince spread out his hands a deprecating gesture. "Alas!" he said, "for the present it is not possible.
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