第19章
Nevertheless，Mr。Sabinlunchedwithdiscretion，asusual，butwithnolackofappetite。Itchancedthattheywerealone。LordCamperdownwasdownintheMidlandsforaday’shunting，andHelenehadensuredtheirseclusionfromanyonewhomightdropinbyawhisperedwordtothehailporterastheypassedintothehouse。
ItseemedtoherthatshehadneverfoundMr。Sabinmoreentertaining，hadnevermoreappreciatedhisraregiftofeffortlessandanecdotalconversation。Whatamarvelousmemory！Heknewsomethingofeverycountryfromtheinside。Hehadbeenbroughtatvarioustimesduringhislongdiplomaticcareerintocontactwithmostoftheinterestingpeopleintheworld。Heknewwellhowtoseparatethegrainfromthechaffaccordingtothetastesofhislistener。Thepathosofhispresentpositionappealedtoherirresistibly。Thepossibilitiesofhislifehadbeensogreat，fortunehadtreatedhimalwayssostrangely。Thegreatestofhisschemeshadcomesoneartosuccess，theluckhadturnedagainsthimonlyattheverymomentoffruition。HelenefeltverykindlytowardsherUNCLEassheledhim，afterluncheon，toaquietcornerofthewintergarden，whereaservanthadalreadyarrangedatablewithcoffeeandliqueursandcigarettes。Unscrupulousallhislife，therehadbeenanelementofgreatnessinallhisschemes。Evenhisfailureshadbeenmagnificent，forhissuccesseshehimselfhadseldomreapedthereward。Andnowintheautumnofhisdaysshefeltdimlythathewasthreatenedwithsomeevilthingagainstwhichhestoodatbaysingle-handed，likelyperhapstobeoverpowered。
Fortherewassomethinginhisfacejustnowwhichwasstrangetoher。
“Helene，“hesaidquietly，“Isupposethatyou，whoknewnothingofmetillyouleftschool，havelookeduponmealwaysasaselfish，passionlesscreature-aweaverofplots，perhapssometimesadreamerofdreams，butapersonwhollyself-centred，alwaysself-engrossed？“
Sheshookherhead。
“Notselfish！“sheobjected。“No，Ineverthoughtthat。Itisthewrongword。“
“Atleast，“hesaid，“youwillbesurprisedtohearthatIhavelovedonewomanallmylife。“
Shelookedathimhalfdoubtfully。
“Yes，“shesaid，“Iamsurprisedtohearthat。“
“Iwillsurpriseyoustillmore。IwasmarriedtoherinAmericawithinamonthofmyarrivalthere。Wehavelivedtogethereversince。AndIhavebeenveryhappy。Ispeak，ofcourse，ofLucille！“
“Itisamazing，“shemurmured。“Youmusttellmeallaboutit。“
“Notall，“heansweredsadly。“Onlythis。ImetherfirstatViennawhenIwasthirty-five，andshewaseighteen。Itreatedhershamefully。Marriageseemedtome，withallmydreamsofgreatachievements，anactofmadness。Ibelievedinmyselfandmycareer。
Ibelievedthatitwasmydestinytorestorethemonarchytoourbelovedcountry。AndIwantedtobefree。IthinkthatIsawmyselfasecondNapoleon。SoIwonherlove，tookallthatshehadtogive，andreturnednothing。
“InthecourseofyearsshemarriedthesonoftheAmericanConsulatVienna。Iwasobliged，bythebye，tofightherbrother，andhecarriedhisenmitytomethroughlife。Isawhersometimesinthecourseofyears。Shewasalwaysbeautiful，alwayssurroundedbyahostofadmirers，alwayscold。Whentheendofmygreatplansherecame，andImyselfwasafugitive，herbrotherfoundmeout。HegavemealettertodeliverinAmerica。Ideliveredit-tohissister。
“Shewasasbeautifulasever，andaloneintheworld。ItseemedtomethatIrealisedthenhowgreatmyfollyhadbeen。ForalwaysIhadlovedher，alwaystherehadbeenthatjealouslylockedlittlechamberinmylife。Helene，shepointednofingerofscorntomybrokenlife。Sheutterednoreproaches。ShetookmeasIwas，andforthreeyearsourlifetogetherhasbeentomeonelongunbrokenharmony。Ourtasteswereverysimilar。Shewaswellread，receptive，acharmingcompanion。EnnuiwasawordofwhichIhaveforgottenthemeaning。Anditseemedsowithher，too，forshegrewyoungerandmorebeautiful。“
“Andwhyisshenotwithyou？“Helenecried。“Imustgoandseeher。Howdelightfulitsounds！“
“Oneday，aboutthreemonthsago，“Mr。Sabincontinued，“sheleftmetogotoNewYorkfortwodays。HermillinerinParishadsentover，andtwiceayearLucilleusedtobuyclothes。Ihadsometimesaccompaniedher，butsheknewhowIdetestedNewYork，andthistimeshedidnotpressmetogo。Sheleftmeinthehighestspirits，astenderandgracefullyaffectionateasever。
Sheneverreturned。“
Helenestartedinherchair。
“Oh，UNCLE！“shecried。
“Ihaveneverseenhersince，“herepeated。
“Haveyounoclue？Shecouldnothaveleftyouwillingly。Haveyounoideawheresheis？“
Hebowedhisheadslowly。
“Yes，“hesaid，“Iknowwheresheis。ShecametoEuropewithLadyCarey。SheisstayingwiththeDuchessofDorset。“
“TheCountessRadantz？“Helenecried。
“Itwashermaidenname，“heanswered。
Therewasamoment’ssilence。Helenewasbewildered。
“Thenyouhaveseenher？“
Heshookhisheadslowly。
“No。Ididnotevenknowwhereshewasuntilyoutoldme。“
“Butwhydoyouwaitasinglemoment？“sheasked。“Theremustbesomeexplanation。Letmeorderacarriagenow。IwilldriveroundtoDorsetHousewithyou。“
Shehalfrose。Heheldouthishandandcheckedher。
“Thereareotherthingstobeexplained，“hesaidquickly。“Sitdown，Helene。“
Sheobeyedhim，mystified。
“Foryourownsake，“hecontinued，“therearecertainfactsinconnectionwiththismatterwhichImustwithhold。AllIcantellyouisthis。TherearepeoplewhohaveacquiredaholduponLucillesogreatthatsheisforcedtoobeytheirbidding。LadyCareyisone，theDuchessofDorsetisanother。Theyarenofriendsofmine，andapparentlyLucillehasbeentakenawayfrommebythem。“
“A-aholduponher？“Helenerepeatedvaguely。
“ItisallIcantellyou。Youmustsupposeanextremecase。YoumaytakemywordforitthatundercertaincircumstancesLucillewouldhavenopowertodenythemanything。“
“But-withoutawordoffarewell。Theycouldnotinsistuponherleavingyoulikethat！Itisincredible！“
“Itisquitepossible，“Mr。Sabinsaid。
Helenecaughtherselflookingathimstealthily。Wasitpossiblethatthiswonderfulbrainhadgivenwayatlast？Therewerenosignsofitinhisfaceorexpression。ButtheDuchessofDorset！
LadyCarey！Thesewerewomenofherowncircle-Londoners，andtheDuchess，atanyrate，awomanoftheveryhighestsocialpositionandunimpeachedconventionality。
“Thissounds-veryextraordinary，UNCLE！“sheremarkedalittlelamely。
“Itisextraordinary，“heanswereddrily。“Idonotwonderthatyoufindithardtobelieveme。I-“
“Nottobelieve-tounderstand！“
Hesmiled。
“Wewillnotdistinguish！Afterall，whatdoesitmatter？Assume，ifyoucannotbelieve，thatLucille’sleavingmemayhavebeenattheinstigationofthesepeople，andthereforeinvoluntary。IfthisbesoIhavehardbattletofighttowinherback，butintheendIshalldoit。“
Shenoddedsympathetically。
“Iamsure，“shesaid，“thatyouwillnotfinditdifficult。Tellme，cannotIhelpyouinanyway？IknowtheDuchessverywellindeed-wellenoughtotakeyoutocallquiteinformallyifyouplease。SheisagreatsupporterofwhattheycallthePrimroseLeaguehere。Idonotunderstandwhatitisallabout，butitseemsthatImaynotjoinbecausemyhusbandisaRadical。“
Mr。Sabinlookedforamomentoverhisclaspedhandsthroughthefaintbluecloudofcigarettesmoke，andsundrypossibilitiesflashedthroughhismindtobeatoncerejected。Heshookhishead。
“No！“hesaidfirmly。“Idonotwishforyourhelpatpresent，directlyorindirectly。IfyoumeettheCountessIwouldratherthatyoudidnotmentionmyname。Thereisonlyonepersonwhom，ifyoumetatDorsetHouseoranywherewhereLucilleis，Iwouldaskyoutowatch。ThatisMr。Brott！“
ItwastobeaconversationfullofsurprisesforHelene。Mr。
Brott！Herhandwentuptoherforeheadforamoment，andalittlegestureofbewildermentescapedher。
“Willyoutellme，“sheaskedalmostplaintively，“whatonearthMr。Brottcanhavetodowiththisbusiness-with-Lucille-withyou-withanyoneconnectedwithit？“
Mr。Sabinshruggedhisshoulders。
“Mr。Brott，“heremarked，“aCabinetMinisterofmarkedRadicalproclivities，haslatelybeenafrequentvisitoratDorsetHouse，whichistheveryhomeoftheoldaristocraticToryism。Mr。BrottwasacquaintedwithLucillemanyyearsago-inVienna。Atthattimehewas，Ibelieve，deeplyinterestedinher。ImustconfessthatMr。Brottcausesmesomeuneasiness。
“Ithink-thatmenalwaysknow，“Helenesaid，“iftheycareto。
WasLucillehappywithyou？“
“Absolutely。Iamsureofit。“
“Thenyourfirstassumptionmustbecorrect，“shedeclared。“Youcannotexplainthingstome，soIcannothelpyouevenwithmyadvice。Iamsorry。“
Heturnedhisheadtowardsherandregardedhercritically，asthoughmakingsometestofhersincerity。
“Helene，“hesaidgravely，“itisforyourownsakethatIdonotexplainfurther，thatIdonotmakethingsclearertoyou。OnlyIwantedyoutounderstandwhyIoncemoresetfootinEurope。I
wantedyoutounderstandwhyIamhere。ItistowinbackLucille。
Itislikethatwithme，Helene。I，whoonceschemedandplottedforanempire，amoncemoreaschemerandaworker，butfornootherpurposethantorecoverpossessionofthewomanwhomIlove。
Youdonotrecogniseme，Helene。Idonotrecognisemyself。
Nevertheless，Iwouldhaveyouknowthetruth。Iamhereforthat，andfornootherpurpose。“
Heroseslowlytohisfeet。Sheheldoutbothherhandsandgraspedhis。
“Letmehelpyou，shebegged。“Do！Thisisnotamatterofpoliticsoranythingcompromising。IamsurethatIcouldbeusefultoyou。“
“Soyoucan，“heansweredquietly。“DoasIhaveaskedyou。WatchMr。Brott！“
Mr。BrottandMr。Sabindinedtogether-not，asithappened，attheHouseofCommons，butattheformer’sclubinPallMall。ForMr。Sabinitwasnotaltogetheranenjoyablemeal。Theclubwaslarge，gloomyandpolitical；thecookingwasexactlyofthatorderwhichsuchsurroundingsseemedtorequire。NorwasMr。Brottaparticularlybrillianthost。Yethisguestderivedacertainamountofpleasurefromtheentertainment，owingtoBrott’sconstantendeavourstobringtheconversationroundtoLucille。
“Ifind，“hesaid，astheylittheircigarettes，“thatIcommittedanindiscretiontheotherdayatCamperdownHouse！“
Mr。Sabinassumedthepuzzledairofoneendeavouringtopindownanelusivememory。
“Letmesee，“hemurmureddoubtfully。“Itwasinconnectionwith-“
“TheCountessRadantz。Ifyouremember，Itoldyouthatitwasherdesirejustnowtoremainincognito。I，however，unfortunatelyforgotthisduringthecourseofourconversation。“
“Yes，Iremember。Youtoldmewhereshewasstaying。ButtheCountessandIareoldacquaintances。Ifeelsurethatshedidnotobjecttoyourhavinggivenmeheraddress。IcouldnotpossiblyleaveLondonwithoutcallinguponher。“
Mr。Brottmovedinhischairuneasily。
“Itseemspresumptiononmyparttomakesuchasuggestionperhaps，“
hesaidslowly，“butIreallybelievethattheCountessisinearnestwithreferencetoherdesireforseclusionjustatpresent。
IbelievethatsheisreallyveryanxiousthatherpresenceinLondon，justnowshouldnotbegenerallyknown。“
“Iamsuchaveryoldfriend，“Mr。Sabinsaid。“Iknewherwhenshewasachild。“
Mr。Brottnodded。
“Itisverystrange，“hesaid，“thatyoushouldhavecometogetheragaininsuchacountryasAmerica，andinasmalltowntoo。“
“Lenox，“Mr。Sabinsaid，“isasmallplace，butagreatcenter。
Bythebye，istherenotsomequestionofanimpendingmarriageonthepartoftheCountess？“
“Ihaveheard-ofnothingofthesort，“Mr。Brottsaid，lookingupstartled。Then，afteramoment’spause，duringwhichhestudiedcloselyhiscompanion’simperturbableface，headdedthequestionwhichforceditswaytohislips。
“Haveyou？“
Mr。Sabinlookedalonghiscigaretteandpincheditaffectionately。
Itwasoneofhisown，whichhehaddexterouslysubstitutedforthosewhichhishosthadplacedathisdisposal。
“TheCountessisaverycharming，averybeautiful，andamostattractivewoman，“hesaidslowly。“Hermarriagehasalwaysseemedtomeamatterofcertainty。“
Mr。Brotthesitated，andwaslost。
“Youareanoldfriendofhers，“hesaid。“YouperhapsknowmoreofherrecenthistorythanIdo。Foratimesheseemedtodropoutofmylifealtogether。NowthatshehascomebackIamveryanxioustopersuadehertomarryme。“
Asinglelightning-likeflashinMr。Sabine’seyesforamomentdisconcertedhishost。But，afterall，itwasgonewithsuchamazingsuddennessthatitleftbehinditasenseofunreality。
Mr。Brottdecidedthatafterallitmusthavebeenfancy。
“MayIask，“Mr。Sabinsaidquietly，“whethertheCountessappearstoreceiveyoursuitwithfavour？“
Mr。Brotthesitated。