who remains in the wine-shop, and will only be used in case of
necessity. By other means we have dissociated ourselves from Duson and
all connection with him. I think I could go so far as to say that it
would be impossible to implicate us. Our sole anxiety now, therefore, is
to save you."

Lucille rose to her feet.

"I shall go at once to my husband," she said. "I shall tell him
everything. I shall act on his advice."

The Prince stood over by the door, and she heard the key turn.

"You will do nothing of the sort," he said quietly. "You are in my power
at last, Lucille. You will do my bidding, or--"

"Or what?"

"I shall myself send for the police and give you into custody!"

CHAPTER XXXV

The Prince crossed the hall and entered the morning-room. Felix was
there and Raoul de Brouillac. The Duchess sat at her writing-table,
scribbling a note. Lady Carey, in a wonderful white serge costume, and
a huge bunch of Neapolitan violets at her bosom, was lounging in an
easy-chair, swinging her foot backwards and forwards. The Duke, in a
very old tweed coat, but immaculate as to linen and the details of
his toilet, stood a little apart, with a frown upon his forehead, and
exactly that absorbed air which in the House of Lords usually indicated
his intention to make a speech. The entrance of the Prince, who
carefully closed the door behind him, was an event for which evidently
they were all waiting.

"My good people," he said blandly, "I wish you all a very good-morning."

There was a little murmur of greetings, and before they had all subsided
the Duke spoke.

"Saxe Leinitzer," he said, "I have a few questions to ask you."

The Prince looked across the room at him.

"By all means, Duke," he said. "But is the present an opportune time?"

"Opportune or no, it is the time which I have selected," the Duke
answered stiffly. "I do not altogether understand what is going on in
this house. I am beginning to wonder whether I have been misled."

The Prince, as he twirled his fair moustache, glanced carelessly enough
across at the Duchess. She was looking the other way.

"I became a--er--general member of this Society," the Duke continued,
"sympathising heartily with its objects as explained to me by you,
Prince, and believing, although to confess it is somewhat of a
humiliation, that a certain amount of--er--combination amongst the
aristocracy has become necessary to resist the terrible increase of
Socialism which w