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Updated: June 6, 2025
When they gathered from him, and, alas! from my sweet but frail little friend Nita, that the chances were against my signing a certain covenant, they came to what, even now, seems to me a strange decision. They decided that I must die. There I fail wholly to follow the workings of your mind, Immelan. How was my death likely to serve your purpose?" Immelan was absolutely speechless.
"Oh, my dear friend," she went on, "that wooden expression is wonderful. You do not quite know where I stand, except may I flatter myself? as regards your personal feelings for me. Am I for Immelan and his schemes, or for your own foolish country? You do not know, so you make for yourself a face of wood." "Where do you stand?" he asked bluntly.
"One concerned France. That one he has discarded. Through me he learned of the military strength of France, her secret resources, of her tireless watch upon the Rhine. So he listens to Immelan, and Immelan and he together, oh, English lady, they have made a wonderful plan!" "Are you going to tell me what it is?" Maggie asked, her eyes bright with excitement.
Immelan was leaning back in his chair, gazing steadfastly across the crowded theatre. "Your principles," he said, "are suited to your own womenkind. La Belle Nita has become westernised. Are you sure that she accepts the situation as she would if she dwelt with you in Pekin?" "I am her master," Prince Shan declared calmly. "I have made no promises that I have not fulfilled."
She has a great, open mind. To a certain extent, of course, she has seen things from the point of view of Paul Matinsky, Immelan, and that little coterie of Russo-Germans who see a future for both countries only in an alliance of the old-fashioned order. Matinsky, however, has always had his doubts. That is why he sent over here the one person whom he trusted.
In these darker shadows the sensuous disturbance of which he had been conscious since his entrance swept over him once more with overmastering power. "You are very beautiful," he said, a little abruptly. "I am glad you think so," she murmured, with a very sweet answering light in her eyes, "but I am hoping that you have other things to tell me." "You are the friend of Immelan," he reminded her.
"In any case, the game was scarcely worth the candle," Nigel observed. "We have already all the evidence we require that some scheme inimical to this country is being proposed and fostered by Immelan. Our next move must be to find out the nature of this scheme whether it be naval, military, or political.
"How horribly sure you must have felt of me," she complained, "to have spoken here, with all these people around! Supposing I had told you that my life's work lay amongst my own people, or that I had made up my mind to marry Oscar Immelan, to console him for his great disappointment." "I shouldn't have believed you," he answered, smiling. "Conceit!" she exclaimed. He shook his head.
Nigel came over and sat on the arm of her chair. "Tell me what happened to-night, Maggie." "The little Chinese girl sent for me to go to her box," she explained. "She told me where in Prince Shan's house were hidden the papers which revealed the understanding between Immelan and himself. She gave me a key of the house and a key of the cabinet.
Prince Shan moved towards the door. His backward glance was coldly contemptuous. "What I said, I meant," he replied. "Extract such comfort from it as you may." He left the room, closing the door softly behind him. Immelan stared after him, hollow-eyed and anxious. Already the cold fears were seizing upon him once more. Prince Shan rejoined Nigel, and the two men drove off to Downing Street.
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