The gentleman with
a helmet there, who regards us so benignly, will presently earn a
shilling by calling me a hansom. Yet in effect he does me a far
greater service. He stands for a multitude of cold Anglo-Saxon
laws, adamant, incorruptible, inflexible--as certain as the laws
of Nature herself. I am quite aware that by this time I ought to
be lying in a dark cellar with a gag in my mouth, or perhaps in
the river with a dagger in my chest. But here in England, no!"
The Prince smiled--to all appearance a very genial smile.
"You are right, my dear friend," he said, "yet what you say
possesses, shall we call it, a somewhat antediluvian flavour.
Intrigue is no longer a clumsy game of knife and string and bowl.
It becomes to-day a game of finesse. I can assure you that I have
no desire to give a stage whistle and have you throttled at my feet.
On the contrary, I beg you to use my carriage, which you will find
in the street. You will lunch at the Milan with Lucille, and I
shall retire discomfited to eat alone at my club. But the game is
a long one, my dear friend. The new methods take time."
"This conversation," Mr. Sabin said to Lucille, "is interesting,
but it is a little ungallant. I think that we will resume it at
some future occasion. Shall we accept the Prince's offer, or shall
we be truly democratic and take a hansom.
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