ucille is already
in the cloak-room."

Lady Carey rose at once, but the glance she threw at the Prince was a
singularly malicious one. They walked down the carpeted way together,
and Lady Carey left them without a word. In the vestibule Mr. Sabin and
Reginald Brott came face to face.

CHAPTER XXXIII

The greeting between the two men was cold, and the Prince almost
immediately stepped between them. Nevertheless, Brott seemed to have a
fancy to talk with Mr. Sabin.

"I was at Camperdown House yesterday," he remarked. "Her Ladyship was
regretting that she saw you so seldom."

"I have been a little remiss," Mr. Sabin answered. "I hope to lunch
there to-morrow."

"You have seen the evening paper, Brott?" the Prince asked.

"I saw the early editions," Brott answered. "Is there anything fresh?"

The Prince dropped his voice a little. He drew Brott on one side.

"The Westminster declared that you had left for Windsor by an early
train this afternoon, and gives a list of your Cabinet. The Pall Mall,
on the other hand, declares that Letheringham will assuredly be sent for
to-morrow."

Brott shrugged his shoulders.

"There are bound to be a crop of such reports at a time like this," he
remarked.

The Prince dropped his voice almost to a whisper.

"Brott," he said, "there is something which I have had it in my mind to
say to you for the last few days. I am not perhaps a great politician,
but, like many outsiders, I see perhaps a good deal of the game. I know
fairly well what the feeling is in Vienna and Berlin. I can give you a
word of advice."

"You are very kind, Prince," Brott remarked, looking uneasily over his
shoulder. "But--"

"It is concerning Brand. There is no man more despised and disliked
abroad, not only because he is a Jew and ill-bred, but because of his
known sympathy with some of these anarchists who are perfect firebrands
in Europe."

"I am exceedingly obliged to you," Brott answered hurriedly. "I am
afraid, however, that you anticipate matters a good deal. I have not yet
been asked to form a Cabinet. It is doubtful whether I ever shall. And,
beyond that, it is also doubtful whether even if I am asked I shall
accept."

"I must confess," the Prince said, "that you puzzle me. Every one says
that the Premiership of the country is within your reach. It is surely
the Mecca of all politicians."

"There are complications," Brott muttered. "You--"

He stopped short and moved towards the door