"
"The man's views are hateful enough," she answered, "but he is in
earnest, and however misguided he may be there is something noble in
his unselfishness, in his, steady fixedness of purpose."
The Prince's face indicated his contempt.
"Such men," he declared, "are only fit to be crushed like vermin
under foot. In any other country save England we should have dealt
with him differently."
"This is all beside the question," she declared. "My task was to
prevent his becoming Prime Minister, and I have succeeded."
The Prince gave vent to a little gesture of dissent. "Your task,"
he said, "went a little farther than that. We require his political
ruin."
She pointed to the pile of newspapers upon the table.
"Read what they say!" she exclaimed. "There is not one who does
not use that precise term. He has missed his opportunity. The
people will never trust him again."
"That, at any rate, is not certain," the Prince said. "You must
remember that before long he will realise that he has been your
tool. What then? He will become more rabid than ever, more also
to be feared. No, Lucille, your task is not yet over. He must be
involved in an open and public scandal, and with you."
She was white almost to the lips with passion.
"You expect a great deal!" she exclaimed. "You expect me to ruin
my life, then, to give my honour as well as these weary months,
this constant humiliation.
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