The
matter will be put plainly before your husband, as I am now putting
it before you. He will be warned not to attempt to see or
communicate with you as your husband. If he or you disobey the
consequences will be serious."
Lucille shrugged her shoulders.
"It is easy to talk," she said, "but you will not find it easy to
keep Victor away when he has found out where I am."
The Prince intervened.
"We have no objection to your meeting," he said, "but it must be
as acquaintances. There must be no intermission or slackening in
your task, and that can only be properly carried out by the Countess
Radantz and from Dorset House."
Lucille smothered her disappointment.
"Dear me," she said. "You will find Victor a little hard to
persuade."
There was a moment's silence. Then the Prince spoke slowly, and
watching carefully the effect of his words upon Lucille.
"Countess," he said, "it has been our pleasure to make of your
task so far as possible a holiday. Yet perhaps it is wiser to
remind you that underneath the glove is an iron hand. We do not
often threaten, but we brook no interference. We have the means
to thwart it. I bear no ill-will to your husband, but to you I
say this. If he should be so mad as to defy us, to incite you to
disobedience, he must pay the penalty."
A servant entered.
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