ost to his temples.

"Why did you not tell me before?" he exclaimed.

"Monsieur was in the restaurant," she answered. "It was impossible for
me to do anything but wait."

"Where is he?"

"Alas! he is with madam," the girl answered.

The Prince was very profane. He started at once for the elevator. In a
moment or two he presented himself at Lucille's sitting-room. They were
still lingering over their dinner. Mr. Sabin welcomed him with grave
courtesy.

"The Prince is in time to take his liqueur with us," he remarked,
rising. "Will you take fin champagne, Prince, or Chartreuse? I recommend
the fin champagne."

The Prince bowed his thanks. He was white to the lips with the effort
for self-mastery.

"I congratulate you, Mr. Sabin," he said, "upon your opportune arrival.
You will be able to help Lucille through the annoyance to which I deeply
regret that she should be subjected."

Mr. Sabin gently raised his eyebrows.

"Annoyance!" he repeated. "I fear that I do not quite understand."

The Prince smiled.

"Surely Lucille has told you," he said, "of the perilous position in
which she finds herself."

"My wife," Mr. Sabin said, "has told me nothing. You alarm me."

The Prince shrugged his shoulders.

"I deeply regret to tell you," he said, "that the law has proved too
powerful for me. I can no longer stand between her and what I fear may
prove a most unpleasant episode. Lucille will be arrested within the
hour."

"Upon what charge?" Mr. Sabin asked.

"The murder of Duson."

Mr. Sabin laughed very softly, very gently, but with obvious
genuineness.

"You are joking, Prince," he exclaimed.

"I regret to say," the Prince answered, "that you will find it very far
from a joking matter."

Mr. Sabin was suddenly stern.

"Prince of Saxe Leinitzer," he said, "you are a coward and a bully."

The Prince started forward with clenched fist. Mr. Sabin had no weapon,
but he did not flinch.

"You can frighten women," he said, "with a bogie such as this, but you
have no longer a woman to deal with. You and I know that such a charge
is absurd--but you little know the danger to which you expose yourself
by trifling with this subject. Duson left a letter addressed to me in
which he announced his reasons for committing suicide."

"Suicide?"

"Yes. He preferred suicide to murder, even at the bidding of the Prince
of Saxe Leinitzer. He wrote and explained these things to me--and the
letter is in safe hands. The ar