Nevertheless，Mr。Sabinlunchedwithdiscretion，asusual，butwithnolackofappetite。Itchancedthattheywerealone。LordCamperdownwasdownintheMidlandsforaday’shunting，andHelenehadensuredtheirseclusionfromanyonewhomightdropinbyawhisperedwordtothehailporterastheypassedintothehouse。
　　ItseemedtoherthatshehadneverfoundMr。Sabinmoreentertaining，hadnevermoreappreciatedhisraregiftofeffortlessandanecdotalconversation。Whatamarvelousmemory！Heknewsomethingofeverycountryfromtheinside。Hehadbeenbroughtatvarioustimesduringhislongdiplomaticcareerintocontactwithmostoftheinterestingpeopleintheworld。Heknewwellhowtoseparatethegrainfromthechaffaccordingtothetastesofhislistener。Thepathosofhispresentpositionappealedtoherirresistibly。Thepossibilitiesofhislifehadbeensogreat，fortunehadtreatedhimalwayssostrangely。Thegreatestofhisschemeshadcomesoneartosuccess，theluckhadturnedagainsthimonlyattheverymomentoffruition。HelenefeltverykindlytowardsherUNCLEassheledhim，afterluncheon，toaquietcornerofthewintergarden，whereaservanthadalreadyarrangedatablewithcoffeeandliqueursandcigarettes。Unscrupulousallhislife，therehadbeenanelementofgreatnessinallhisschemes。Evenhisfailureshadbeenmagnificent，forhissuccesseshehimselfhadseldomreapedthereward。Andnowintheautumnofhisdaysshefeltdimlythathewasthreatenedwithsomeevilthingagainstwhichhestoodatbaysingle-handed，likelyperhapstobeoverpowered。
　　Fortherewassomethinginhisfacejustnowwhichwasstrangetoher。
　　“Helene，“hesaidquietly，“Isupposethatyou，whoknewnothingofmetillyouleftschool，havelookeduponmealwaysasaselfish，passionlesscreature-aweaverofplots，perhapssometimesadreamerofdreams，butapersonwhollyself-centred，alwaysself-engrossed？“
　　Sheshookherhead。
　　“Notselfish！“sheobjected。“No，Ineverthoughtthat。Itisthewrongword。“
　　“Atleast，“hesaid，“youwillbesurprisedtohearthatIhavelovedonewomanallmylife。“
　　Shelookedathimhalfdoubtfully。
　　“Yes，“shesaid，“Iamsurprisedtohearthat。“
　　“Iwillsurpriseyoustillmore。IwasmarriedtoherinAmericawithinamonthofmyarrivalthere。Wehavelivedtogethereversince。AndIhavebeenveryhappy。Ispeak，ofcourse，ofLucille！“
　　“Itisamazing，“shemurmured。“Youmusttellmeallaboutit。“
　　“Notall，“heansweredsadly。“Onlythis。ImetherfirstatViennawhenIwasthirty-five，andshewaseighteen。Itreatedhershamefully。Marriageseemedtome，withallmydreamsofgreatachievements，anactofmadness。Ibelievedinmyselfandmycareer。
　　Ibelievedthatitwasmydestinytorestorethemonarchytoourbelovedcountry。AndIwantedtobefree。IthinkthatIsawmyselfasecondNapoleon。SoIwonherlove，tookallthatshehadtogive，andreturnednothing。
　　“InthecourseofyearsshemarriedthesonoftheAmericanConsulatVienna。Iwasobliged，bythebye，tofightherbrother，andhecarriedhisenmitytomethroughlife。Isawhersometimesinthecourseofyears。Shewasalwaysbeautiful，alwayssurroundedbyahostofadmirers，alwayscold。Whentheendofmygreatplansherecame，andImyselfwasafugitive，herbrotherfoundmeout。HegavemealettertodeliverinAmerica。Ideliveredit-tohissister。
　　“Shewasasbeautifulasever，andaloneintheworld。ItseemedtomethatIrealisedthenhowgreatmyfollyhadbeen。ForalwaysIhadlovedher，alwaystherehadbeenthatjealouslylockedlittlechamberinmylife。Helene，shepointednofingerofscorntomybrokenlife。Sheutterednoreproaches。ShetookmeasIwas，andforthreeyearsourlifetogetherhasbeentomeonelongunbrokenharmony。Ourtasteswereverysimilar。Shewaswellread，receptive，acharmingcompanion。EnnuiwasawordofwhichIhaveforgottenthemeaning。Anditseemedsowithher，too，forshegrewyoungerandmorebeautiful。“
　　“Andwhyisshenotwithyou？“Helenecried。“Imustgoandseeher。Howdelightfulitsounds！“
　　“Oneday，aboutthreemonthsago，“Mr。Sabincontinued，“sheleftmetogotoNewYorkfortwodays。HermillinerinParishadsentover，andtwiceayearLucilleusedtobuyclothes。Ihadsometimesaccompaniedher，butsheknewhowIdetestedNewYork，andthistimeshedidnotpressmetogo。Sheleftmeinthehighestspirits，astenderandgracefullyaffectionateasever。
　　Sheneverreturned。“
　　Helenestartedinherchair。
　　“Oh，UNCLE！“shecried。
　　“Ihaveneverseenhersince，“herepeated。
　　“Haveyounoclue？Shecouldnothaveleftyouwillingly。Haveyounoideawheresheis？“
　　Hebowedhisheadslowly。
　　“Yes，“hesaid，“Iknowwheresheis。ShecametoEuropewithLadyCarey。SheisstayingwiththeDuchessofDorset。“
　　“TheCountessRadantz？“Helenecried。
　　“Itwashermaidenname，“heanswered。
　　Therewasamoment’ssilence。Helenewasbewildered。
　　“Thenyouhaveseenher？“
　　Heshookhisheadslowly。
　　“No。Ididnotevenknowwhereshewasuntilyoutoldme。“
　　“Butwhydoyouwaitasinglemoment？“sheasked。“Theremustbesomeexplanation。Letmeorderacarriagenow。IwilldriveroundtoDorsetHousewithyou。“
　　Shehalfrose。Heheldouthishandandcheckedher。
　　“Thereareotherthingstobeexplained，“hesaidquickly。“Sitdown，Helene。“
　　Sheobeyedhim，mystified。
　　“Foryourownsake，“hecontinued，“therearecertainfactsinconnectionwiththismatterwhichImustwithhold。AllIcantellyouisthis。TherearepeoplewhohaveacquiredaholduponLucillesogreatthatsheisforcedtoobeytheirbidding。LadyCareyisone，theDuchessofDorsetisanother。Theyarenofriendsofmine，andapparentlyLucillehasbeentakenawayfrommebythem。“
　　“A-aholduponher？“Helenerepeatedvaguely。
　　“ItisallIcantellyou。Youmustsupposeanextremecase。YoumaytakemywordforitthatundercertaincircumstancesLucillewouldhavenopowertodenythemanything。“
　　“But-withoutawordoffarewell。Theycouldnotinsistuponherleavingyoulikethat！Itisincredible！“
　　“Itisquitepossible，“Mr。Sabinsaid。
　　Helenecaughtherselflookingathimstealthily。Wasitpossiblethatthiswonderfulbrainhadgivenwayatlast？Therewerenosignsofitinhisfaceorexpression。ButtheDuchessofDorset！
　　LadyCarey！Thesewerewomenofherowncircle-Londoners，andtheDuchess，atanyrate，awomanoftheveryhighestsocialpositionandunimpeachedconventionality。
　　“Thissounds-veryextraordinary，UNCLE！“sheremarkedalittlelamely。
　　“Itisextraordinary，“heanswereddrily。“Idonotwonderthatyoufindithardtobelieveme。I-“
　　“Nottobelieve-tounderstand！“
　　Hesmiled。
　　“Wewillnotdistinguish！Afterall，whatdoesitmatter？Assume，ifyoucannotbelieve，thatLucille’sleavingmemayhavebeenattheinstigationofthesepeople，andthereforeinvoluntary。IfthisbesoIhavehardbattletofighttowinherback，butintheendIshalldoit。“
　　Shenoddedsympathetically。
　　“Iamsure，“shesaid，“thatyouwillnotfinditdifficult。Tellme，cannotIhelpyouinanyway？IknowtheDuchessverywellindeed-wellenoughtotakeyoutocallquiteinformallyifyouplease。SheisagreatsupporterofwhattheycallthePrimroseLeaguehere。Idonotunderstandwhatitisallabout，butitseemsthatImaynotjoinbecausemyhusbandisaRadical。“
　　Mr。Sabinlookedforamomentoverhisclaspedhandsthroughthefaintbluecloudofcigarettesmoke，andsundrypossibilitiesflashedthroughhismindtobeatoncerejected。Heshookhishead。
　　“No！“hesaidfirmly。“Idonotwishforyourhelpatpresent，directlyorindirectly。IfyoumeettheCountessIwouldratherthatyoudidnotmentionmyname。Thereisonlyonepersonwhom，ifyoumetatDorsetHouseoranywherewhereLucilleis，Iwouldaskyoutowatch。ThatisMr。Brott！“
　　ItwastobeaconversationfullofsurprisesforHelene。Mr。
　　Brott！Herhandwentuptoherforeheadforamoment，andalittlegestureofbewildermentescapedher。
　　“Willyoutellme，“sheaskedalmostplaintively，“whatonearthMr。Brottcanhavetodowiththisbusiness-with-Lucille-withyou-withanyoneconnectedwithit？“
　　Mr。Sabinshruggedhisshoulders。
　　“Mr。Brott，“heremarked，“aCabinetMinisterofmarkedRadicalproclivities，haslatelybeenafrequentvisitoratDorsetHouse，whichistheveryhomeoftheoldaristocraticToryism。Mr。BrottwasacquaintedwithLucillemanyyearsago-inVienna。Atthattimehewas，Ibelieve，deeplyinterestedinher。ImustconfessthatMr。Brottcausesmesomeuneasiness。
　　“Ithink-thatmenalwaysknow，“Helenesaid，“iftheycareto。
　　WasLucillehappywithyou？“
　　“Absolutely。Iamsureofit。“
　　“Thenyourfirstassumptionmustbecorrect，“shedeclared。“Youcannotexplainthingstome，soIcannothelpyouevenwithmyadvice。Iamsorry。“
　　Heturnedhisheadtowardsherandregardedhercritically，asthoughmakingsometestofhersincerity。
　　“Helene，“hesaidgravely，“itisforyourownsakethatIdonotexplainfurther，thatIdonotmakethingsclearertoyou。OnlyIwantedyoutounderstandwhyIoncemoresetfootinEurope。I
　　wantedyoutounderstandwhyIamhere。ItistowinbackLucille。
　　Itislikethatwithme，Helene。I，whoonceschemedandplottedforanempire，amoncemoreaschemerandaworker，butfornootherpurposethantorecoverpossessionofthewomanwhomIlove。
　　Youdonotrecogniseme，Helene。Idonotrecognisemyself。
　　Nevertheless，Iwouldhaveyouknowthetruth。Iamhereforthat，andfornootherpurpose。“
　　Heroseslowlytohisfeet。Sheheldoutbothherhandsandgraspedhis。
　　“Letmehelpyou，shebegged。“Do！Thisisnotamatterofpoliticsoranythingcompromising。IamsurethatIcouldbeusefultoyou。“
　　“Soyoucan，“heansweredquietly。“DoasIhaveaskedyou。WatchMr。Brott！“
　　Mr。BrottandMr。Sabindinedtogether-not，asithappened，attheHouseofCommons，butattheformer’sclubinPallMall。ForMr。Sabinitwasnotaltogetheranenjoyablemeal。Theclubwaslarge，gloomyandpolitical；thecookingwasexactlyofthatorderwhichsuchsurroundingsseemedtorequire。NorwasMr。Brottaparticularlybrillianthost。Yethisguestderivedacertainamountofpleasurefromtheentertainment，owingtoBrott’sconstantendeavourstobringtheconversationroundtoLucille。
　　“Ifind，“hesaid，astheylittheircigarettes，“thatIcommittedanindiscretiontheotherdayatCamperdownHouse！“
　　Mr。Sabinassumedthepuzzledairofoneendeavouringtopindownanelusivememory。
　　“Letmesee，“hemurmureddoubtfully。“Itwasinconnectionwith-“
　　“TheCountessRadantz。Ifyouremember，Itoldyouthatitwasherdesirejustnowtoremainincognito。I，however，unfortunatelyforgotthisduringthecourseofourconversation。“
　　“Yes，Iremember。Youtoldmewhereshewasstaying。ButtheCountessandIareoldacquaintances。Ifeelsurethatshedidnotobjecttoyourhavinggivenmeheraddress。IcouldnotpossiblyleaveLondonwithoutcallinguponher。“
　　Mr。Brottmovedinhischairuneasily。
　　“Itseemspresumptiononmyparttomakesuchasuggestionperhaps，“
　　hesaidslowly，“butIreallybelievethattheCountessisinearnestwithreferencetoherdesireforseclusionjustatpresent。
　　IbelievethatsheisreallyveryanxiousthatherpresenceinLondon，justnowshouldnotbegenerallyknown。“
　　“Iamsuchaveryoldfriend，“Mr。Sabinsaid。“Iknewherwhenshewasachild。“
　　Mr。Brottnodded。
　　“Itisverystrange，“hesaid，“thatyoushouldhavecometogetheragaininsuchacountryasAmerica，andinasmalltowntoo。“
　　“Lenox，“Mr。Sabinsaid，“isasmallplace，butagreatcenter。
　　Bythebye，istherenotsomequestionofanimpendingmarriageonthepartoftheCountess？“
　　“Ihaveheard-ofnothingofthesort，“Mr。Brottsaid，lookingupstartled。Then，afteramoment’spause，duringwhichhestudiedcloselyhiscompanion’simperturbableface，headdedthequestionwhichforceditswaytohislips。
　　“Haveyou？“
　　Mr。Sabinlookedalonghiscigaretteandpincheditaffectionately。
　　Itwasoneofhisown，whichhehaddexterouslysubstitutedforthosewhichhishosthadplacedathisdisposal。
　　“TheCountessisaverycharming，averybeautiful，andamostattractivewoman，“hesaidslowly。“Hermarriagehasalwaysseemedtomeamatterofcertainty。“
　　Mr。Brotthesitated，andwaslost。
　　“Youareanoldfriendofhers，“hesaid。“YouperhapsknowmoreofherrecenthistorythanIdo。Foratimesheseemedtodropoutofmylifealtogether。NowthatshehascomebackIamveryanxioustopersuadehertomarryme。“
　　Asinglelightning-likeflashinMr。Sabine’seyesforamomentdisconcertedhishost。But，afterall，itwasgonewithsuchamazingsuddennessthatitleftbehinditasenseofunreality。
　　Mr。Brottdecidedthatafterallitmusthavebeenfancy。
　　“MayIask，“Mr。Sabinsaidquietly，“whethertheCountessappearstoreceiveyoursuitwithfavour？“
　　Mr。Brotthesitated。