"
Mr. Sabin reflected for a few moments.
"Did I understand you to say," he asked, "that the help to be given
to you by my wife, Lucille, Duchess of Souspennier, entailed her
remaining under this roof?"
The Prince smiled seraphically.
"It is unfortunate," he murmured, "since you have been so gallant
as to follow her, but it is true! You will understand this
perfectly--to-morrow."
"And why should I wait until to-morrow?" Mr. Sabin asked coolly.
"I fear," the Prince said, "that it is a matter of necessity."
Mr. Sabin glanced for a moment in turn at the faces of all the
little company as though seeking to discover how far the attitude
of his opponent met with their approval. Lady Carey's thin lips
were curved in a smile, and her eyes met his mockingly. The
others remained imperturbable. Last of all he looked at Lucille.
"It seems," he said, smiling towards her, "that I am called upon
to pay a heavy entrance fee on my return amongst your friends. But
the Prince of Saxe Leinitzer forgets that he has shown me no
authority, or given me no valid reason why I should tolerate such
flagrant interference with my personal affairs."
"To-morrow--to-morrow, my good sir!" the Prince interrupted.
"No! To-night!" Mr. Sabin answered sharply. "Lucille, in the
absence of any reasonable explanation, I challenge the right of the
Prince of Saxe Leinitzer to rob me even for an hour of my dearest
possession.
Pages:
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150