All I can tell
you is this. There are people who have acquired a hold upon
Lucille so great that she is forced to obey their bidding. Lady
Carey is one, the Duchess of Dorset is another. They are no
friends of mine, and apparently Lucille has been taken away from
me by them."
"A--a hold upon her?" Helene repeated vaguely.
"It is all I can tell you. You must suppose an extreme case. You
may take my word for it that under certain circumstances Lucille
would have no power to deny them anything."
"But--without a word of farewell. They could not insist upon her
leaving you like that! It is incredible!"
"It is quite possible," Mr. Sabin said.
Helene caught herself looking at him stealthily. Was it possible
that this wonderful brain had given way at last? There were no
signs of it in his face or expression. But the Duchess of Dorset!
Lady Carey! These were women of her own circle--Londoners, and
the Duchess, at any rate, a woman of the very highest social
position and unimpeached conventionality.
"This sounds--very extraordinary, UNCLE!" she remarked a little
lamely.
"It is extraordinary," he answered drily. "I do not wonder that
you find it hard to believe me. I--"
"Not to believe--to understand!"
He smiled.
"We will not distinguish! After all, what does it matter? Assume,
if you cannot believe, that Lucille's leaving me may have been at
the instigation of these people, and therefore involuntary.
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