"But it explains everything."
There was a loud knock at the door. The secretary appeared upon
the threshold. Behind him was a tall, slim young man in traveling
costume.
"The King's messenger!" Brott exclaimed, rising to his feet.
CHAPTER XXXIV
The Prince presented himself with a low bow. Lucille had a copy
of the morning paper in her hand.
"I congratulate you, Countess," he said. "You progress admirably.
It is a great step gained."
Lucille, who was looking pale and nervous, regarded him with anxiety.
"A step! But it is everything. If these rumours are true, he
refuses the attempt to form a Cabinet. He takes a subordinate
position under Letheringham. Every paper this morning says that if
this is so his political career is over. It is true, is it not?"
"It is a great gain," the Prince said slowly.
"But it is everything," Lucille declared, with a rising note of
passion in her tone. "It was my task. It is accomplished. I
demand my release."
The Prince was silent for a moment.
"You are in a great hurry, Lucille," he said.
"What if I am!" she replied fiercely. "Do you suppose that this
life of lies and deceit is pleasant to me? Do you suppose that it
is a pleasant task to lure a brave man on to his ruin?"
The Prince raised his eyebrows.
"Come," he said, "you can have no sympathy with Reginald Brott, the
sworn enemy of our class, a Socialist, a demagogue who would parcel
out our lands in allotments, a man who has pledged himself to nothing
more nor less than a revolution.
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