"15 Park Lane, London,
"Thursday Morning.

"My DEAR UNCLE,--

"I want you to come to luncheon to-day. The Princess de Catelan is
here, and I am expecting also Mr. Brott, the Home Secretary--our
one great politician, you know. Many people say that he is the
most interesting man in England, and must be our next Prime Minister.
Such people interest you, I know. Do come.

"Yours sincerely,
"HELENE."

Mr. Sabin repeated the name to himself as he stood for a moment with the
letter in his hand.

"Brott! What a name for a statesman! Well, here is your health, Felix. I
do not often drink wine in the morning, but--"

He broke off in the middle of his sentence. The glass which Felix had
been in the act of raising to his lips lay shattered upon the floor, and
a little stream of wine trickled across the carpet. Felix himself seemed
scarcely conscious of the disaster. His cheeks were white, and he leaned
across the table towards Mr. Sabin.

"What name did you say--what name?"

Mr. Sabin referred again to the letter which he held in his hand.

"Brott!" he repeated. "He is Home Secretary, I believe."

"What do you know about him?"

"Nothing," Mr. Sabin answered. "My niece, the Countess of Camperdown,
asks me to meet him to-day at luncheon. Explain yourself, my young
friend. There is a fresh glass by your side."

Felix poured himself out a glass and drank it off. But he remained
silent.

"Well?"

Felix picked up his gloves and stick.

"You are asked to meet Mr. Brott at luncheon to-day?"

"Yes."

"Are you going?"

"Certainly!"

Felix nodded.

"Very good," he said. "I should advise you to cultivate his
acquaintance. He is a very extraordinary man."

"Come, Felix," Mr. Sabin said. "You owe me something more lucid in the
way of explanations. Who is he?"

"A statesman--successful, ambitious. He expects to be Prime Minister."

"And what have I to do with him, or he with me?" Mr. Sabin asked
quietly.

Felix shook his head.

"I cannot tell you," he said. "Yet I fancy that you and he may some time
be drawn together."

Mr. Sabin asked no more questions, but he promptly sat down and accepted
his niece's invitation. When he looked round Felix had gone. He rang the
bell for Duson and handed him the note.

"My town clothes, Duson," he ordered. "I am lunching out."

The