he murmured under her breath. "If I can I will.
And as for the present, well, I am outside his schemes now. Let us be
friends. You would find me a very valuable ally."

"Let it be so," he answered without emotion. "You shall help me, if you
will, to regain Lucille. I promise you then that my gratitude shall not
disappoint you."

She bit her lip.

"And are you sure," she whispered, "that Lucille is anxious to be won
back? She loves intrigue, excitement, the sense of being concerned
in important doings. Besides--you must have heard what they say about
her--and Brott. Look at her now. She wears her grass widowhood lightly
enough."

Mr. Sabin looked across the table. Lucille had indeed all the appearance
of a woman thoroughly at peace with the world and herself. Brott was
talking to her in smothered and eager undertones. The Prince was waiting
for an opportunity to intervene. Mr. Sabin looked into Brott's white
strong face, and was thoughtful.

"It is a great power--the power of my sex," Lady Carey continued, with
a faint, subtle smile. "A word from Lucille, and the history book of the
future must be differently written."

"She will not speak that word," Mr. Sabin said. Lady Carey shrugged
her shoulders. The subtlety of her smile faded away. Her whole face
expressed a contemptuous and self-assured cynicism.

"You know her very well," she murmured. "Yet she and I are no strangers.
She is one who loves to taste--no, to drink--deeply of all the
experiences of life. Why should we blame her, you and I? Have we not the
same desire?"

Mr. Sabin lit a cigarette.

"Once, perhaps," he remarked. "You must not forget that I am no longer a
young man."

She leaned towards him.

"You will die young," she murmured. "You are not of the breed of men who
grow old."

"Do you mean to turn my head?" he asked her, with a humorous smile.

"It would be easier," she answered, "than to touch your heart."

Then Lucille looked across at them--and Mr. Sabin suddenly remembered
that Reginald Brott knew them both only as strangers.

"Muriel," she said, "you are behaving disgracefully."

"I am doing my best," Lady Carey answered, "to keep you in countenance."

The eyes of the two women met for a moment, and though the smiles
lingered still upon their faces Lady Carey at any rate was not able to
wholly conceal her hatred. Lucille shrugged her shoulders.

"I am doing my best," she said, "to convert Mr. Brott."

"To what?" Lady Carey