man bowed and withdrew. Mr. Sabin remained for a few moments in deep
thought.

"Brott!" he repeated. "Brott! It is a singular name."

CHAPTER XI

So this was the man! Mr. Sabin did not neglect his luncheon, nor was he
ever for a moment unmindful of the grey-headed princess who chatted away
by his side with all the vivacity of her race and sex. But he watched
Mr. Brott.

A man this! Mr. Sabin was a judge, and he appraised him rightly. He saw
through that courteous geniality of tone and gesture; the ready-made
smile, although it seemed natural enough, did not deceive him.
Underneath was a man of iron, square-jawed, nervous, forceful. Mr. Brott
was probably at that time the ablest politician of either party in the
country. Mr. Sabin knew it. He found himself wondering exactly at what
point of their lives this man and he would come into contact.

After luncheon Helene brought them together.

"I believe," she said to Mr. Brott, "that you have never met my UNCLE.
May I make you formally acquainted? UNCLE, this is Mr. Brott, whom
you must know a great deal about even though you have been away for so
long--the Duc de Souspennier."

The two men bowed and Helene passed on. Mr. Sabin leaned upon his stick
and watched keenly for any sign in the other's face. If he expected to
find it he was disappointed. Either this man had no knowledge of who he
was, or those things which were to come between them were as yet unborn.

They strolled together after the other guests into the winter gardens,
which were the envy of every hostess in London. Mr. Sabin lit a
cigarette, Mr. Brott regretfully declined. He neither smoked nor drank
wine. Yet he was disposed to be friendly, and selected a seat where they
were a little apart from the other guests.

"You at least," he remarked, in answer to an observation of Mr. Sabin's,
"are free from the tyranny of politics. I am assuming, of course, that
your country under its present form of government has lost its hold upon
you."

Mr. Sabin smiled.

"It is a doubtful boon," he said. "It is true that I am practically an
exile. Republican France has no need of me. Had I been a soldier I could
still have remained a patriot. But for one whose leanings were towards
politics, neither my father before me nor I could be of service to our
country. You should be thankful," he continued with a slight smile,
"that you are an Englishman. No constitution in the world can offer so
much to the politician