In a few minutes he returned.
"Madam's friend was the Lady Carey?" he asked.
Lucille nodded.
The man was gently troubled.
"But, Miladi Carey," he said, "has left more than an hour ago."
Lucille looked up, astonished.
"Left the hotel?" she exclaimed.
"But yes, madam," he exclaimed. "Miladi Carey left to catch the
boat train at Calais for England."
"It is impossible," Lucille answered. "We only arrived at midday."
"I will inquire again," the man declared. "But it was in the office
that they told me so."
"They told you quite correctly," said a familiar voice. "I have
come to take her place. Countess, I trust that in me you will
recognise an efficient substitute."
It was the Prince of Saxe Leinitzer who was calmly seating himself
opposite to her. The waiter, with the discretion of his class,
withdrew for a few paces and stood awaiting orders. Lucille looked
across at him in amazement.
"You here?" she exclaimed, "and Muriel gone? What does this mean?"
The Prince leaned forward.
"It means," he said, "that after you left I was in torment. I felt
that you had no one with you who could be of assistance supposing
the worst happened. Muriel is all very well, but she is a woman,
and she has no diplomacy, no resource. I felt, Lucille, that I
should not be happy unless I myself saw you into safety.
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