"
"You are pleased to be melodramatic," he said coldly. "It is quite
possible to involve him without actually going to extremes."
"And what of my husband?" she asked.
The Prince laughed unpleasantly.
"If you have not taught him complaisance," he said, "it is possible,
of course, that Mr. Sabin might be unkind. But what of it? You
are your own mistress. You are a woman of the world. Without him
there is an infinitely greater future before you than as his wife
you could ever enjoy."
"You are pleased," she said, "to be enigmatic."
The Prince looked hard at her. Her face was white and set. He
sighed.
"Lucille," he said, "I have been very patient for many years. Yet
you know very well my secret, and in your heart you know very well
that I am one of those who generally win the thing upon which they
have set their hearts. I have always loved you, Lucille, but
never more than now. Fidelity is admirable, but surely you have done
your duty. He is an old man, and a man who has failed in the great
things of life. I, on the other hand, can offer you a great future.
Saxe Leinitzer, as you know, is a kingdom of its own, and, Lucille,
I stand well with the Emperor. The Socialist party in Berlin are
strong and increasing. He needs us. Who can say what honours may
not be in store for us? For I, too, am of the Royal House, Lucille.
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