know that you made her very
happy. I ask you, will you believe in this statement of my attitude
towards you?"

"I do not for a single moment doubt it," Mr. Sabin answered.

"You will regard the advice which I am going to offer as disinterested?"

"Certainly!"

"Then I offer it to you earnestly, and with my whole heart. Take the
next steamer and go back to America."

"And leave Lucille? Go without making any effort to see her?"

"Yes."

Mr. Sabin was for a moment very serious indeed. The advice given in such
a manner was full of forebodings to him. The lines from the corners of
his mouth seemed graven into his face.

"Felix," he said slowly, "I am sometimes conscious of the fact that I am
passing into that period of life which we call old age. My ambitions are
dead, my energies are weakened. For many years I have toiled--the time
has come for rest. Of all the great passions which I have felt there
remains but one--Lucille. Life without her is worth nothing to me. I am
weary of solitude, I am weary of everything except Lucille. How then
can I listen to such advice? For me it must be Lucille, or that little
journey into the mists, from which one does not return."

Felix was silent. The pathos of this thing touched him.

"I will not dispute the right of those who have taken her from me," Mr.
Sabin continued, "but I want her back. She is necessary to me. My purse,
my life, my brains are there to be thrown into the scales. I will buy
her, or fight for her, or rejoin their ranks myself. But I want her
back."

Still Felix was silent. He was looking steadfastly into the fire.

"You have heard me," Mr. Sabin said.

"I have heard you," Felix answered. "My advice stands."

"I know now," Mr. Sabin said, "that I have a hard task before me. They
shall have me for a friend or an enemy. I can still make myself felt as
either. You have nothing more to say?"

"Nothing!"

"Then let us part company," Mr. Sabin said, "or talk of something more
cheerful. You depress me, Felix. Let Duson bring us wine. You look like
a death's head."

Felix roused himself.

"You will go your own way," he said. "Now that you have chosen I will
tell you this. I am glad. Yes, let Duson bring wine. I will drink to
your health and to your success. There have been times when men have
performed miracles. I shall drink to that miracle."

Duson brought also a letter, which Mr. Sabin, with a nod towards Felix,
opened. It was from Helene.