n the utmost
horror of my views. I have cared for her all my life, and she knows
it. And I think, Grahame, that lately she has been trying constantly,
persistently, to tone down my opinions. She has let me understand that
they are a bar between us. And it is a horrible confession, Grahame, but
I believe that I was wavering. This invitation from Letheringham seemed
such a wonderful opportunity for compromise."

"This must never go out of the room," Grahame said hoarsely. "It would
ruin your popularity. They would never trust you again."

"I shall tell no one else," Brott said.

"And it is over?" Grahame demanded eagerly.

"It is over."

* * * * *

The Duke of Dorset, who entertained for his party, gave a great dinner
that night at Dorset House, and towards its close the Prince of Saxe
Leinitzer, who was almost the only non-political guest, moved up to his
host in response to an eager summons. The Duke was perturbed.

"You have heard the news, Saxe Leinitzer?"

"I did not know of any news," the Prince answered. "What is it?"

"Brott has refused to join with Letheringham in forming a ministry. It
is rumoured even that a coalition was proposed, and that Brott would
have nothing to do with it."

The Prince looked into his wineglass.

"Ah!" he said.

"This is disturbing news," the Duke continued. "You do not seem to
appreciate its significance."

The Prince looked up again.

"Perhaps not," he said. "You shall explain to me."

"Brott refuses to compromise," the Duke said. "He stands for a ministry
of his own selection. Heaven only knows what mischief this may mean.
His doctrines are thoroughly revolutionary. He is an iconoclast with a
genius for destruction. But he has the ear of the people. He is to-day
their Rienzi."

The Prince nodded.

"And Lucille?" he remarked. "What does she say?"

"I have not spoken to her," the Duke answered. "The news has only just
come."

"We will speak to her," the Prince said, "together."

Afterwards in the library there was a sort of informal meeting, and
their opportunity came.

"So you have failed, Countess," her host said, knitting his grey brows
at her.

She smilingly acknowledged defeat.

"But I can assure you," she said, "that I was very near success. Only
on Monday he had virtually made up his mind to abandon the extreme party
and cast in his lot with Letheringham. What has happened to change him I
do not know."