“Youhaveplans？“sheexclaimed，springingup。
　　“Plans？“Helaughedatheralittlereproachfully。“MydearLucille！Acarriageawaitsusoutside，aspecialtrainwithsteamupattheGarddeL’ouest。ThisispreciselythecontingencyforwhichIhaveplanned。“
　　“Oh，youarewonderful，Victor，“shemurmuredasshedrewonhercoat。“Butwhatcorneroftheearthistherewhereweshouldbesafe？“
　　“Iamgoing，“Mr。Sabinsaid，“totryandmakeeverycorneroftheearthsafe。“
　　Shewasbewildered，butheonlylaughedandheldopenthedoorforher。Mr。Sabinmadenosecretofhisdeparture。Helingeredforamomentinthedoorwaytolightacigarette，heevenstoppedtowhisperafewwordstothelittlemaninplaindinnerclotheswhowaslounginginthedoorway。Butwhentheyhadonceleftthehoteltheydrovefast。
　　InlessthanhalfanhourPariswasbehindthem。Theyweretravelinginaroyalsaloonandatafabuulouscost，forinFrancetheyarenotfondofspecialtrains。ButMr。Sabinwasveryhappy。
　　Atleasthehadescapedanignominiousdefeat。Itwaslefttohimtoplaythegreatcard。
　　“Andnow，“Lucillesaid，comingoutfromherlittlebed-chamberwhichthefemmedechambrewasbusypreparing，“supposeyoutellmewherewearegoing。“
　　Mr。Sabinsmiled。
　　“Donotbealarmed，“hesaid，“eventhoughitwillsoundtoyoutheleastlikelyplaceintheworld。WearegoingtoBerlin。“
　　Thegreatroomwasdimlyenoughlit，forthewindowslookingoutuponthestreetwerehighandheavilycurtained，Themanwhosatatthedeskwasalmostintheshadow。Yeteverynowandthenashaftofsunlightfellacrosshispale，wornface。Astrangecombinationthisoftheworker，theidealist，themanofaffairs。
　　Fromoutsidecamethehumofagreatcity。Attimes，too，therecametohisearsashesatheretheroarofnationsatstrife，thefierceunderneathbattleofthegreatcountriesoftheworldstrugglingforsupremacy。Andhereatthiscabinetthismansatoften，andlistened，strenuous，romantic，withtheheartofalionandtheloftyimaginationofaneagle，hesteeredunswervinglyontoherdestinyagreatpeople。Othersmightrest，hutneverhe。
　　Helookedupfromtheletterspreadoutbeforehim。Lucillewasseatedathiscommand，afewyardsaway。Mr。Sabinstoodrespectfullybeforehim。
　　“MonsieurleDuc，“hesaid，“thisletter，pennedbymyillustriousfathertoyou，issufficienttosecuremygoodoffices。InwhatmannercanIserveyou？“
　　“YourMajesty，“Mr。Sabinanswered，“inthefirstplacebyreceivingmehere。InthesecondbyallowingmetolaybeforeyoucertaingraveandveryseriouschargesagainsttheOrderoftheYellowCrayon，ofwhichyourMajestyisthetitularhead。“
　　“TheOrderoftheYellowCrayon，“theEmperorsaidthoughtfully，“issocietycomposedofaristocratspledgedtoresistthemarchofsocialism。ItistruethatIamthetitularheadofthisorganisation。Whathaveyoutosayaboutit？“
　　“OnlythatyourMajestyhasbeenwhollydeceived，“Mr。Sabinsaidrespectfully，“concerningthemethodsandtheworkingofthissociety。Itsinceptionandinaugurationwereabovereproach。I
　　myselfatoncebecameamember。Mywife，CountessofRadantz，andsolerepresentativeofthatancientfamily，hasbeenoneallherlife。“
　　TheEmperorinclinedhisheadtowardsLucille。
　　“Iseenoreason，“hesaid，“whenourcapitalsareriddledwithsecretsocieties，allbandedtogetheragainstus，whythegreatfamiliesofEuropeshouldnotintheirturncometogetheranddisplayaunitedfrontagainstthiscommonenemy。TheOrderoftheYellowCrayonhashadmorethanmysupport。Ithashadthesanctionofmyname。Tellmewhatyouhaveagainstit。“
　　“Ihavegravethingstosayconcerningit，“Mr。Sahinanswered，“andconcerningthosewhohavewilfullydeceivedyourMajesty。
　　Theinfluencestobewieldedbythesocietyweremainly，Ibelieve，wealth，education，andinfluence。Therewasnomentionmadeofmurder，ofanundergroundalliancewiththe’gamins’ofParis，thedregsofhumanity，prisoners，menskilledintheartofsecretdeath。“
　　TheEmperor’stonewasstern，almostharsh。
　　“DucdeSouspennier，whatarethesethingswhichyouaresaying？“
　　heasked。
　　“YourMajesty，Ispeakthetruth，“Mr。Sabinansweredfirmly。
　　“ThereareintheOrderoftheYellowCrayonthreedegreesofmembership。Thefirst，whichaloneyourMajestyknowsof，simplycorrespondswithwhatinEnglandisknownasthePrimroseLeague。
　　Thesecondknowsthatbeneathisanotherorganisationpledgedtofrustratetheadvanceofsocialism，ifnecessarybytheuseoftheirownweapons。Thethird，whosemeetingsandsignsandwhosewholeorganisationiscarriedonsecretly，isalliedineverycapitalinEuropewithcriminalsandmurderers。WithitsgreatwealthithasinfluenceinAmericaaswellasineverycityoftheworldwheretherearepolicetobesuborned，ordesperatementobeboughtfortools。AtthedirectionofthisthirdorderLavinskidiedsuddenlyintheHungarianHouseofParliament，HerrKrettingenwasinvolvedinaduel，theresultofwhichwasassuredbeforehand，andReginaldBrott，thegreatEnglishstatesman，wasruinedanddisgraced。Imyselfhavejustnarrowlyescapeddeathathishands，andinmyplacemyservanthasbeendriventodeath。
　　Ofallthesethings，yourMajesty，Ihavebroughtproofs。“
　　TheEmperor’sfacewaslikeacarvenimage，buthistonewascoldandterrible。
　　“Ifthesethingshavebeensanctioned，“hesaid，“bythosewhoareresponsibleformyhavingbecometheheadoftheOrder；theyshallfeelmyvengeance。“
　　“YourMajesty，“Mr。Sabinsaidearnestly，“achancedisclosure，andallmightcometolight。ImyselfcouldblazonthestorythroughEurope。ThosewhoareresponsibleforthethirddegreeoftheOrderoftheYellowCrayon，andforyourMajesty’signoranceconcerningitsexistence，havetrifledwiththedestinyofthegreatestsovereignofmoderntimes。“
　　“ThePrinceofSaxeLeinitzer，“theEmperorsaid，“istheactingheadoftheOrder。“
　　“ThePrinceofSaxeLeinitzer，“Mr。Sabinsaidfirmly，“isresponsiblefortheexistenceofthethirddegree。Itishewhohasconnectedthesocietywithasystemofcorruptpoliceordesperatecriminalsineverygreatcity。ItisthePrinceofSaxeLeinitzer，yourMajesty，andhishordeofmurderersfromwhomI
　　havecometoseekyourMajesty’sprotection。Ihaveyetanotherchargetomakeagainsthim。Hehasmade，andismakingstill，useofthesocietytofurtherhisownprivateintrigues。InthenameoftheOrderhebroughtmywifefromAmerica。ShefaithfullycarriedouttheinstructionsoftheCouncil。ShebroughtabouttheruinofReginaldBrott。Bytherulesofthesocietyshewasfreethentoreturntoherhome。ThePrince，whohadbeenhersuitor，declinedtolethergo。Mylifewasattempted。ThestoryofthePrince’streasonishere，withthenecessaryproofs。I
　　knowthatordershavebeengiventothehiredmurderersofthesocietyformyassassination。Mylifeevenhereisprobablyanuncertainthing。ButIhavetoldyourMajestythetruth，andthepaperswhichIhavebroughtwithmecontainproofofmywords。“
　　TheEmperorstruckabellandgaveafeworderstotheyoungofficerwhoimmediatelyansweredit。ThenheturnedagaintoMr。Sabin。
　　“IhavesummonedSaxeLeinitzertoBerlin，“hesaid。“Thesemattersshallbegoneintomostthoroughly。InthemeantimewhatcanIdoforyou？“
　　“WewillawaitthecomingofthePrince，“Mr。Sabinansweredgrimly。
　　LadyCareypassedfromherbath-roomintoaluxuriouslittledressing-room。Herlettersandcoffeewereonasmalltablenearthefire，aneasy-chairwasdrawnuptothehearthrug。Shefastenedthegirdleofherdressing-gown，anddismissedhermaid。
　　“Iwillringforyouinhalfanhour，Annette，“shesaid。“SeethatIamnotdisturbed。“
　　Onherwaytothefireplaceshepausedforamomentinfrontofatalllooking-glass，andlookedsteadilyatherownreflection。
　　“Isuppose，“shemurmuredtoherself，“thatIamlookingatmybestnow。Isleptwelllastnight，andabathgivesonecolour，andwhiteissobecoming。Still，Idon’tknowwhyIfailed。Shemaybealittlebetterlooking，butmyfigureisasgood。Icantalkbetter，Ihavelearnthowtokeepamanfromfeelingdull，andthereismyreputation。BecauseIplayedatwarcorrespondence，woreaman’sclothes，anddidn’tshriekwhenIwasunderfire，peoplehavechosentomakeaheroineofme。Thatshouldhavecountedforsomethingwithhim-anditdidn’t。IcouldhavetakenmychoiceofanymaninLondon-andIwantedhim。AndIhavefailed！“
　　Shethrewherselfbackinhereasy-chairandlaughedsoftly。
　　“Failed！Whatanuglyword！Heisold，andhelimps，andI-well，Iwasneveraverybashfulperson。Hewasbeautifullypolite，buthewouldn’thaveanythingtosaytome。“
　　Shebegantotearopenherletterssavagely。
　　“Well，itisover。IfeveranybodyspeakstomeaboutitIthinkthatIshallkillthem。ThatfoolSaxeLeinitzerwillstrokehisbeastlymoustache，andsmileatmeoutofthecornersofhiseyes。
　　TheDorsetwoman，too-bah，Ishallgoaway。Whatisit，Annette？“
　　“HisHighnessthePrinceofSaxeLeinitzerhascalled，milady。“
　　“Called！Doesheregardthisasacall？“sheexclaimed，glancingtowardstheclock。“Tellhim，Annette，thatyourmistressdoesnotreceiveatsuchanhour。Bequick，child。OfcourseIknowthathegaveyouasovereigntopersuademethatitwasimportant，butI
　　won’tseehim，sobeoff。“
　　“Butyes，milady，“Annetteanswered，anddisappeared。
　　LadyCareysippedhercoffee。
　　“Ithink，“shesaidreflectively，“thatitmustbeMelton。“
　　Annettereappeared。
　　“Milady，“sheexclaimed，“HisHighnessinsisteduponmybringingyouthiscard。Hewassostrangeinhismanner，milady，thatI
　　thoughtitbesttoobey。“
　　LadyCareystretchedoutherhand。Afewwordswerescribbledonthebackofhisvisitingcardinyellowcrayon。Sheglancedatit，torethecardup，andthrewthepiecesintothefire。
　　“Myshoesandstockings，Annette，“shesaid，“andjustamorningwrap-anythingwilldo。“
　　ThePrincewaswalkingrestlesslyupanddowntheroom，whenLadyCareyentered。Hewelcomedherwithalittlecryofrelief。
　　“Heavens！“heexclaimed。“Ithoughtthatyouwerenevercoming。“
　　“Iwasinnohurry，“sheansweredcalmly。“Icouldguessyournews，soIhadnoteventhespurofcuriosity。“
　　Hestoppedshort。
　　“Youhaveheardnothing！Itisnotpossible？“
　　Sheshruggedhershoulders。
　　“No，butIknowyou，andIknowhim。Iamquitepreparedtohearthatyouareoutwitted。Indeed，tojudgefromyourappearancetherecanbenodoubtaboutit。RememberIwarnedyou。“
　　ThePrincewaspalewithfury。
　　“Noonecouldforeseethis，“heexclaimed。“Hehaswalkedintothelion’sden。“
　　“Then，“LadyCareysaid，“Iamquitepreparedtohearthathetamedthelion。“
　　“IftherewasonepersonlivingwhomIcouldhaveswornthatthismandarednotvisit，itwasourEmperor，“thePrincesaid。“Itisonlyafewyearssince，throughthisman’sintrigues，Germanywasshamedbeforetheworld。“
　　“Andyet，“LadyCareysaidsweetly，“theEmperorhasreceivedhim。“
　　“IhaveprivateintelligencefromBerlin，“SaxeLeinitzeranswered。
　　“Mr。SabinwasinpossessionofaletterwrittentohimbytheEmperorFrederick，thankinghimforsomeserviceorother；andtheletterwasatalisman。“
　　“Howlikehim，“LadyCareymurmured，“tohavetheletter。“
　　“Whatapity，“thePrincesneered，“thatsuchdevotionshouldremainunrewarded。“
　　LadyCareysighed。
　　“Hehasbrokenmyheart，“shereplied。
　　ThePrincethrewouthishands。
　　“YouandI，“hecried，“whydowebehavelikechildren！Letusstartafresh。Listen！TheEmperorhassummonedmetoBerlin。“
　　“Dearme，“LadyCareymurmured。“Iamafraidyouwillhaveamostunpleasantvisit。“
　　“Idarenotgo，“thePrincesaidslowly。“ItwasIwhoinducedtheEmperortobecomethetitularheadofthiscursedOrder。Ofcourseheknewnothingaboutthesecondorthirddegreemembersandourmethods。Withoutdoubtheisfullyinformednow。Idarenotfacehim。“
　　“Whatshallyoudo？“LadyCareyaskedcuriously。
　　“IamofftoSouthAmerica，“hesaid。“Itisagreatundevelopedcountry，andthereisroomforustomovethere。Muriel，youknowwhatIwantofyou。“
　　“Mygoodman，“sheanswered，“Ihaven’tthefaintestidea。“
　　“Youwillcomewithme，“hebegged。“Youwillnotsendmeintoexilesolonely，awanderer！Togethertheremaybeagreatfuturebeforeus。Youhaveambition，youloveintrigue，excitement，danger。
　　Noneofthesecanyoufindhere。Youshallcomewithme。Youshallnotsayno。HaveInotbeenyourdevotedslave？Have-“
　　Shestoppedhim。Herlipswerepartedinasmileofgood-naturedscorn。
　　“Don’tbeabsurd，SaxeLeinitzer。ItistruethatIloveintrigue，excitementanddanger。ThatiswhatmademejoinyourOrder，andreallyIhavehadquitealittleexcitementoutofit，forwhichIsupposeIoughttothankyou。Butasfortherest，why，youaretalkingrubbish。IwouldgotoSouthAmericato-morrowwiththerightman，butwithyou，why，itwon’tbeartalkingabout。Itmakesmeangrytothinkthatyoushouldbelievemecapableofsuchshockingtasteastodreamofgoingawaywithyou。“
　　Heflunghimselffromtheroom。LadyCareywentbacktohercoffeeandletters。ShesentforAnnette。
　　“Annette，“shedirected，“weshallgotoMeltonto-morrow。WireHaggistohavetheLodgeinorder，andcarriagestomeetthemiddaytrain。IdaresayIshalltakeafewpeopledownwithme。LetGeorgegoaroundtoTattershallsatonceandmakeanappointmentformethereatthreeo’clockthisafternoon。Lookoutmyhabitsandboots，too，Annette。“
　　LadyCareyleanedbackinherchairforamomentwithhalf-closedeyes。
　　“Ithink，“shemurmured，“thatsomeofusinouryouthmusthavedrunkfromsomepoisonedcup，somethingwhichturnedourbloodintoquicksilver。Imustlive，orImustdie。Imusthaveexcitementeveryhour，everysecond，orbreakdown。Thereareotherstoo-manyothers。NowonderthatthatidiotofamaninHarleyStreettalkedtomegravelyaboutmyheart。Noexcitement。A
　　quietlife！Bah！Suchwishy-washycoffeeandonlyonecigarette。“
　　Shelititandstooduponthehearthrug。Hereyeswerehalfclosed，everyvestigeofcolourhadlefthercheeks，herhandwaspressedhardtoherside。Forafewminutessheseemedtostruggleforbreath。Thenwithalittlelurchasthoughstillgiddy，shestooped，andpickingupherfallencigarette，thrustitdefiantlybetweenherteeth。
　　“Notthisway，“shemuttered。“Fromahorse’sbackifIcanwiththeairrushingby，andthehotjoyofitinone’sheart……OnlyIhopeitwon’thurtthepooroldgee……Comein，Annette。Whatatimeyou’vebeen，child。
　　TheEmperorsentforMr。Sabin。Hedeclinedtorecognisehisincognito。
　　“MonsieurleDuc，“hesaid，“ifproofofyourstorywereneededitishere。ThePrinceofSaxeLeinitzerhasignoredmysummons。
　　HehasfledtoSouthAmerica。“
　　Mr。Sabinbowed。
　　“Amostinterestingcountry，“hemurmured，“forthePrince。“
　　“Youyourselfarefreetogowhenandwhereyouwill。Youneednolongerhaveanyfears。TheOrderdoesnotexist。Ihavecrushedit。“
　　Mr。Sabinbowed。
　　“YourMajesty，“hesaid，“hasshownexemplarywisdom。“
　　“Fromitsinception，“theEmperorsaid，“Ibelievethattheideawasamistakenone。Imustconfessthatitsoriginalitypleasedme；mycalmerreflections，however，showmethatIwaswrong。Itisnotforthenoblesoftheearthtocopythemethodsofsocialistsandanarchists。Thesemenareapestuponhumanity，buttheymayhavetheirgooduses。Theymayhelpustogovernalertly，vigorously，alwayswithoureyesandearsstrainedtocatchthesignsofthechangingtimes。MonsieurleDuc，shouldyoudecidetotakeupyourresidenceinthiscountryIshallatalltimesbegladtoreceiveyou。Butyourfutureisentirelyyourown。“
　　Mr。Sabinacceptedhisdismissalfromaudience，andwentbacktoLucille。
　　“ThePrince，“hetoldher，“hasgone-toSouthAmerica。TheOrderdoesnotexistanylonger。WillyoudineinVienna，orinFrankfort？“
　　Sheheldoutherarms。
　　“Youwonderfulman！“shecried。
　　End