Mr。Sabinleanedbackinhiscarriage，andafrownoffaintperplexitycontractedhisforehead。
　　IfIwereayoungerman，“hemurmuredtohimself，“Imightbelievethatthiswomanwasreallyinearnest，aswellasbeingSaxeLeinitzer’sjackal。WewerefriendlyenoughinParisthatyear。
　　Sheisunscrupulousenough，ofcourse。Alwayswithsomeoddfancyforthegrotesqueorunlikely。Iwonder-“
　　Hepulledthecheck-string，andwasdriventoCamperdownHouse。A
　　greatmanypeoplewerecomingandgoing。Mr。SabinfoundHelene’smaid，andlearntthathermistresswasjustgoingtoherroom，andwouldbealoneforafewminutes。Hescribbledafewwordsonthebackofacard，andwasatoncetakenuptoherboudoir。
　　“MydearUNCLE，“Heleneexclaimed，“youhavearrivedmostopportunely。Wehavejustgotridofafewdinnerpeople，andwearegoingontoCarmarthenHousepresently。Takethateasy-chair，please，and，lightacigarette。Willyouhavealiqueur？Wolfendonhassomeoldbrandywhicheveryoneseemstothinkwonderful。“
　　“Youareverykind，Helene，“Mr。Sabinsaid。“Icannotrefuseanythingwhichyouofferinsocharmingamanner。ButIshallnotkeepyoumorethanafewminutes。“
　　“Weneednotleaveforanhour，“Helenesaid，“andIamdressedexceptformyjewels。Tellme，haveyouseenLucille？Iamsoanxioustoknow。“
　　“IhaveseenLucillethisevening，“Mr。Sabinanswered。
　　“AtDorsetHouse！“
　　“Yes。“
　　Helenesatdown，smiling。
　　“Dotellmeallaboutit。“
　　“Thereisverylittletotell，“Mr。Sabinanswered。
　　“Sheiswithyou-shereturnsatleast！“
　　Mr。Sabinshookhishead。
　　“No，“heanswered。“SheremainsatDorsetHouse。“
　　Helenewassilent。Mr。Sabinsmokedpensivelyamomentortwo，andsippedtheliqueurwhichCamperdown’sownservanthadjustbroughthim。
　　“Itisveryhard，Helene，“hesaid，“tomakeyoualtogetherunderstandthesituation，fortherearecertainphasesofitwhichIcannotdiscusswithyouatall。IhavemademyfirstefforttoregainLucille，andithasfailed。Itisnotherfault。Ineednotsaythatitisnotmine。Butthestrugglehascommenced，andintheendIshallwin。“
　　“Lucilleherself-“Helenebeganhesitatingly。
　　“Lucilleis，Ifirmlybelieve，asanxioustoreturntomeasIamanxioustohaveher，“Mr。Sabinsaid。
　　Helenethrewupherhands。
　　“Itisbewildering，“sheexclaimed。
　　“Itmustseemsotoyou，“Mr。Sabinadmitted。
　　“IwishthatLucillewereanywhereelse，“Helenesaid。“TheDorsetHouseset，youknow，althoughtheyareverysmartandveryexclusive，haveasomewhatpeculiarreputation。LadyCarey，althoughsheissuchabrilliantwoman，saysanddoesthemostinsolent，themostamazingthings，andthePrinceofSaxeLeinitzergoeseverywhereinEuropebythenameoftheRoyallibertine。Theyarepowerfulenoughalmosttodominatesociety，andwepoorpeoplewhoabidebytheconventionsareabsolutelynowherebesidethem。
　　Theythinkthatwearebourgeoisbecausewehavevirtue，andprehistoricbecausewearenotdecadent。“
　　“TheDuke-“Mr。Sabinremarked。
　　“Oh，theDukeisquitedifferent，ofcourse，“Heleneadmitted。
　　“HeisafanaticalTory，verystupid，veryblindtoanythingexcepthisbelovedPrimroseLeague。HowhecametolendhimselftothevagariesofsuchasetIcannotimagine。“
　　Mr。Sabinsmiled。
　　“C’estlafemmetoujours！“heremarked。“HisGraceis，Ifear，henpecked，andtheDuchessherselfisthesportofclevererpeople。
　　Andnow，mydearniece，Iseethatthetimeisgoing。IcametoknowifyoucouldgetmeacardfortheballatCarmarthenHouseto-night。“
　　Helenelaughedsoftly。
　　“Veryeasily，mydearUNCLE。LadyCarmarthenisWolfendon’scousin，youknow，andaverygoodfriendofmine。Ihavehalfadozenblankcardshere。ShallIreallyseeyouthere？“
　　“Ibelieveso，“Mr。Sabinanswered。
　　“AndLucille？“
　　“Itispossible。“
　　“ThereisnothingIsupposewhichIcandointhewayofintervention，oranythingofthatsort？“
　　Mr。Sabinshookhishead。
　　“LucilleandIarethebestoffriends，“heanswered。“Talktoher，ifyouwill。Bythebye，isthattwelveo’clock？Imusthurry。
　　Doubtlessweshallmeetagainattheball。“
　　ButCarmarthenHousesawnothingofMr。Sabinthatnight。
　　Mr。Sabinfromhisseatbehindagiganticpalmwatchedheregressfromthesupper-roomwithalittlegroupoffriends。
　　Theycametoahaltinthebroadcarpetedwayonlyafewfeetfromhim。LadyCarey，inawonderfulgreengown，herneckandbosomablazewithjewels，seemedtobemakingherfarewells。
　　“ImustgoinandseetheDeLausanacs，“sheexclaimed。“TheyareintheblueroomsuppingwiththePortugueseAmbassador。IshallbeatCarmarthenHousewithinhalfanhour-unlessmyheadachebecomesunbearable。Aurevoir，allofyou。Good-bye，Laura！“
　　Herfriendspassedontowardsthegreatswingdoors。LadyCareyretracedherstepsslowlytowardsthesupper-room，andmadesomelanguidinquiriesoftheheadwaiterastoamissinghandkerchief。
　　ThenshecameagainslowlydownthebroadwayandreachedMr。Sabin。
　　Herosetohisfeet。
　　“Ithankyouverymuchforyournote，“hesaid。“Youhavesomething，Ibelieve，tosaytome。“
　　Shestoodbeforehimforamomentinsilence，asthoughnotunwillingthatheshouldappreciatethesoftsplendourofhertoilette。Thejewelswhichencircledherneckwerepricelessanddazzling；thesoftmaterialofhergown，themostdelicateshadeofseagreen，seemedtofoamaboutherfeet，awonderfultriumphofallegoricdressmaking。
　　Shesawthathewasstudyingher，andshelaughedalittleuneasily，lookingallthetimeintohiseyes。
　　“Shockinglyoverdressed，ain’tI？“shesaid。“WeweregoingstraighttoCarmarthenHouse，youknow。Comeandsitinthiscornerforamoment，andordermesomecoffee。Isupposethereisn’tanylesspublicplace！“
　　“Ifearnot，“heanswered。“Youwillperhapsbeunobservedbehindthispalm。“
　　Shesankintoalowchair，andheseatedhimselfbesideher。Shesighedcontentedly。
　　“Dearme！“shesaid。“Domenlikebeingrunafterlikethis？“
　　Mr。Sabinraisedhiseyebrows。
　　“Iunderstood，“hesaid，“thatyouhadsomethingtosaytomeofimportance。“
　　Sheshotaquicklookupathim。
　　“Don’tbehorrid，“shesaidinalowtone。“OfcourseIwantedtoseeyou。Iwantedtoexplain。Givemeoneofyourcigarettes。“
　　Helaidhiscasesilentlybeforeher。Shetookoneandlitit，watchinghimfurtivelyallthetime。Themanbroughttheircoffee。
　　Theplacewasalmostemptynow，andsomeofthelightswereturneddown。
　　“Itisverykindofyou，“hesaidslowly，“tohonourmebysomuchconsideration，butifyouhavemuchtosayperhapsitwouldbebetterifyoupermittedmetocalluponyouto-morrow。Iamafraidofdeprivingyouofyourball-andyourfriendswillbegettingimpatient。“
　　“Bothertheball-andmyfriends，“sheexclaimed，acertainstrainednoteinhertonewhichpuzzledhim。“I’mnotobligedtogotothething，andIdon’twantto。I’veinventedaheadache，andtheywon’tevenexpectme。Theyknowmyheadaches。“
　　“Inthatcase，“Mr。Sabinsaid，“Iamentirelyatyourservice。“
　　Shesighed，andlookedupathimthroughalittlecloudoftobaccosmoke。
　　“Whatawonderfulmanyouare，“shesaidsoftly。“Youacceptdefeatwiththegraceofavictor。Ibelievethatyouwouldtriumphaseasilywithashrugoftheshoulders。Haven’tyouanyfeelingatall？Don’tyouknowwhatitisliketofeel？“
　　Hesmiled。
　　“Webothcome，“hesaid，“ofahistoricrace。Ifancestryisworthanythingitshouldatleastteachustogoaboutwithoutpinningourheartsuponoursleeves。“
　　“Butyou，“shemurmured，“youhavenoheart。“
　　Helookeddownuponherthenwithstillcoldfaceandsteadyeyes。
　　“Indeed，“hesaid，“youaremistaken。“
　　Shemoveduneasilyinherchair。Shewasverypale，exceptforafaintspotofpinkcolourinhercheeks。
　　“Itisveryhardtofind，then，“shesaid，speakingquickly，herbosomrisingandfalling，hereyesalwaysseekingtoholdhis。
　　“To-nightyouseewhatIhavedone-Ihave，sentawaymyfriends-andmycarriage。Theymayknowmehere-youseewhatIhaverisked。AndIdon’tcare。Youthoughtto-nightthatIwasyourenemy-andIamnot。Iamnotyourenemyatall。“
　　Herhandfellasthoughbyaccidentuponhis，andremainedthere。
　　Mr。Sabinwasverynearlyembarrassed。Heknewquitewellthatifshewerenothisenemyatthatmomentshewouldbeveryshortly。
　　“Lucille，“shecontinued，“willblamemetoo。Icannothelpit。
　　Iwanttotellyouthatforthepresentyourseparationfromherisacertainthing。Sheacquiesces。Youheardher。Sheisquitehappy。Sheisattheballto-night，andshehasfriendstherewhowillmakeitpleasantforher。Won’tyouunderstand？“
　　“No，“Mr。Sabinanswered。
　　Shebeatthegroundwithherfoot。
　　“Youmustunderstand，“shemurmured。“YouarenotlikethesefoolsofEnglishmenwhogotosleepwhentheyaremarried，andwakeinthedivorcecourt。ForthepresentatleastyouhavelostLucille。
　　Youheardherchoose。She’sattheballto-night-andIhavecomeheretobewithyou。Won’tyou，please，“sheadded，withalittlenervouslaugh，“showsomegratitude？“
　　TheinterruptionwhichMr。Sabinhadprayedforcameatlast。Themusicianshadleft，andmanyofthelightshadbeenturneddown。
　　Anofficialcameacrosstothem。
　　“Ibegyourpardon，sir，“hesaid，addressingMr。Sabin，“butweareclosingnow，unlessyouareaguestinthehotel。“
　　“Iamstayinghere，“Mr。Sabinanswered，rising，“butthelady-“
　　LadyCareyinterruptedhim。
　　“Iamstayingherealso，“shesaidtotheman。
　　Hebowedatonceandwithdrew。Sheroseslowlytoherfeetandlaidherfingersuponhisarm。Helookedsteadilyawayfromher。
　　“Fortunately，“hesaid，“Ihavenotyetdismissedmyowncarriage。
　　Permitme。“
　　Mr。Sabinleanedheavilyuponhisstickasheslowlymadehiswayalongthecorridortohisrooms。Thingsweregoingillwithhimindeed。Hewasnotusedtothefearofanenemy，butthememoryofLadyCarey’swhitecheeksandindrawnlipsasshehadenteredhiscarriagechilledhim。Heronelook，too，wasathreatworsethananywhichherlipscouldhaveuttered。Hewasgettingoldindeed，hethought，wearily，whendisappointmentweighedsoheavilyuponhim。AndLucille？Hadheanyrealfearsofher？Hefeltalittlecatchinhisthroatatthebarethought-inamoment’ssingularclearnessofperceptionherealisedthatifLucillewereindeedlosttheworldwasnolongeraplaceforhim。Sohisfeetfellwearilyuponthethicklycarpetedfloorofthecorridor，andhisfacewasunusuallydrawnandhaggardasheopenedthedoorofhissitting-room。
　　Andthen-atransformation，amazing，stupefying。ItwasLucillewhowassmilingawelcomeuponhimfromthedepthsofhisfavouriteeasy-chair-Lucillesittingoverhisfire，anovelinherhand，andwearingadelightfulrose-pinkdressing-gown。Someofherbelongingswerescatteredabouthisroom，givingitadelicateairoffemininity。Thefaintodourofherfavouriteandonlyperfumegavetoherundoubtedpresenceawonderfulsenseofreality。
　　Sheheldoutherhandstohim，andthebroadsleevesofherdressing-gownfellawayfromherwhiteroundedarms。Hereyeswerewonderfullysoft，thepinkuponhercheekswastheblushofagirl。
　　“Victor，“shemurmured，“donotlooksostupefied。DidyounotbelievethatIwouldriskatleastalittleforyou，whohaveriskedsomuchforme？Onlycometome！Makethemostofme。
　　AllsortsofthingsaresuretohappendirectlyIamfoundout。“
　　Hetookherintohisarms。Itwasoneofthemomentsofhislifetime。
　　“Tellme，“hemurmured，“howhaveyoudaredtodothis？“
　　Shelaughed。
　　“YouknowthePrinceandhisset。Youknowthewaytheybribe。
　　Intrigueseverywhere，newandoldoverlapping。Theyhavereallysomereasonforkeepingyouandmeapart，butasregardsmyothermovements，Iamfreeenough。Andtheythought，Victor-don’tbeangry-butIletthemthinkitwassomeoneelse。AndIstoleawayfromtheball，andtheythink-nevermindwhattheythink。
　　Butyou，Victor，aremyintrigue，you，mylove，myhusband！“
　　Thenallthefatigueandalltheweariness，diedawayfromMr。
　　Sabin’sface。Oncemorethefireofyouthburnedinhisheart。
　　AndLucillelaughedsoftlyasherlipsmethis，andherheadsankuponhisshoulder。