CHAPTER XIV
Duson entered the sitting-room, noiseless as ever, with pale,passionless face, the absolute prototype of the perfect French servant,to whom any expression of vigorous life seems to savour of presumption.He carried a small silver salver, on which reposed a card.
"The gentleman is in the ante-room, sir," he announced.
Mr. Sabin took up the card and studied it.
"Lord Robert Foulkes."
"Do I know this gentleman, Duson?" Mr. Sabin asked.
"Not to my knowledge, sir," the man answered.
"You must show him in," Mr. Sabin said, with a sigh. "In this countryone must never be rude to a lord."
Duson obeyed. Lord Robert Foulkes was a small young man, very carefullygroomed, nondescript in appearance. He smiled pleasantly at Mr. Sabinand drew off his gloves.
"How do you do, Mr. Sabin?" he said. "Don't remember me, I daresay. Metyou once or twice last time you were in London. I wish I could say thatI was glad to see you here again."
Mr. Sabin's forehead lost its wrinkle. He knew where he was now.
"Sit down, Lord Robert," he begged. "I do not remember you, it istrue, but I am getting an old man. My memory sometimes plays me strangetricks."
The young man looked at Mr. Sabin and laughed softly. Indeed, Mr. Sabinhad very little the appearance of an old man. He was leaning withboth hands clasped upon his stick, his face alert, his eyes bright andsearching.
"You carry your years well, Mr. Sabin. Yet while we are on the subject,do you know that London is the unhealthiest city in the world?"
"I am always remarkably well here," Mr. Sabin said drily.
"London has changed since your last visit," Lord Robert said, with agentle smile. "Believe me if I say--as your sincere well-wisher--thatthere is something in the air at present positively unwholesome to you.I am not sure that unwholesome is not too weak a word."
"Is this official?" Mr. Sabin asked quietly.
The young man fingered the gold chain which disappeared in his trouserspocket.
"Need I introduce myself?" he asked.
"Quite unnecessary," Mr. Sabin assured him. "Permit me to reflect fora few minutes. Your visit comes upon me as a surprise. Will you smoke?There are cigarettes at your elbow."
"I am entirely at your service," Lord Robert answered. "Thanks, I willtry one of your cigarettes. You were always famous for your tobacco."
There was a short silence. Mr. Sabin had seldom found it more difficultto see the way before him.
"I imagined," he said at last, "from several little incidents whichoccurred previous to my leaving New York that my presence here wasregarded as superfluous. Do you know, I believe that I could convinceyou to the contrary."
Lord Robert raised his eyebrows.
"Mr. dear Mr. Sabin," he said, "pray reflect. I am a messenger. No more!A hired commissionaire!"
Mr. Sabin bowed.
"You are an ambassador!" he said.
The young man shook his head.
"You magnify my position," he declared. "My errand is done when I remindyou that it is many years since you visited Paris, that Vienna is asfascinating a city as ever, and Pesth a few hours journey beyond. ButLondon--no, London is not possible for you. After the seventh day fromthis London would be worse than impossible."
Mr. Sabin smoked thoughtfully for a few moments.
"Lord Robert," he said, "I have, I believe, the right of a personalappeal. I desire to make it."
Lord Robert looked positively distressed.
"My dear sir," he said, "the right of appeal, any right of any sort,belongs only to those within the circle."
"Exactly," Mr. Sabin agreed. "I claim to belong there."
Lord Roberts shrugged his shoulders.
"You force me to remind you," he said, "of a certain decree--a decree ofexpulsion passed five years ago, and of which I presume due notificationwas given to you."
Mr. Sabin shook his head very slowly.
"I deny the legality of that decree," he said. "There can be no suchthing as expulsion."
"There was Lefanu," Lord Robert murmured.
"He died," Mr. Sabin answered. "That was reasonable enough."
"Your services had been great," Lord Robert said, "and your fault wasbut venial."
"Nevertheless," Mr. Sabin said, "the one was logical, the other is not."
"You claim, then," the young man said, "to be still within the circle?"
"Certainly!"
"You are aware that this is a very dangerous claim?"
Mr. Sabin smiled, but he said nothing. Lord Robert hastened to excusehimself.
"I beg your pardon," he said. "I should have known better than to haveused such a word to you. Permit me to take my leave."
Mr. Sabin rose.
"I thank you, sir," he said, "for the courteous manner in which you havedischarged your mission."
Lord Robert bowed.
"My good wishes," he said, "are yours."
Mr. Sabin when alone called Duson to him.
"Have you any report to make, Duson?" he asked.
"None, sir!"
Mr. Sabin dismissed him impatiently.
"After all, I am getting old. He is young and he is strong--a worthyantagonist. Come, let us see what this little volume has to say abouthim."
He turned over the pages rapidly and read aloud.
"Reginald Cyril Brott, born 18--, son of John Reginald Brott, Esq.,of Manchester. Educated at Harrow and Merton College, Cambridge, M.A.,LL.D., and winner of the Rudlock History Prize. Also tenth wrangler.Entered the diplomatic service on leaving college, and served as juniorattache at Vienna."
Mr. Sabin laid down the volume, and made a little calculation. At theend of it he had made a discovery. His face was very white and set.
"I was at Petersburg," he muttered. "Now I think of it, I heardsomething of a young English attache. But--"
He touched the bell.
"Duson, a carriage!"
At Camperdown House he learned that Helene was out--shopping, thehall porter believed. Mr. Sabin drove slowly down Bond Street, and wasrewarded by seeing her brougham outside a famous milliner's. He waitedfor her upon the pavement. Presently she came out and smiled hergreetings upon him.
"You were waiting for me?" she asked.
"I saw your carriage."
"How delightful of you. Let me take you back to luncheon."
He shook his head.
"I am afraid," he said, "that I should be poor company. May I drive homewith you, at any rate, when you have finished?"
"Of course you may, and for luncheon we shall be quite alone, unlesssomebody drops in."
He took his seat beside her in the carriage. "Helene," he said, "I aminterested in Mr. Brott. No, don't look at me like that. You need haveno fear. My interest is in him as a man, and not as a politician. Theother days are over and done with now. I am on the defensive and hardpressed."
Her face was bright with sympathy. She forgot everything except herold admiration for him. In the clashing of their wills the victory hadremained with her. And as for those things which he had done, the causeat least had been a great one. Her happiness had come to her throughhim. She bore him no grudge for that fierce opposition which, after all,had been fruitless.
"I believe you, UNCLE," she said affectionately. "If I can help you inany way I will."
"This Mr. Brott! He goes very little into society, I believe."
"Scarcely ever," she answered. "He came to us because my husband is oneof the few Radical peers."
"You have not heard of any recent change in him--in this respect?"
"Well, I did hear Wolfendon chaffing him the other day about somebody,"she said. "Oh, I know. He has been going often to the Duchess ofDorset's. He is such an ultra Radical, you know, and the Dorsets arefierce Tories. Wolfendon says it is a most unwise thing for a goodRadical who wants to retain the confidence of the people to be seenabout with a Duchess."
"The Duchess of Dorset," Mr. Sabin remarked, "
must be, well--amiddle-aged woman."
Helene laughed.
"She is sixty if she is a day. But I daresay she herself is not theattraction. There is a very beautiful woman staying with her--theCountess Radantz. A Hungarian, I believe."
Mr. Sabin sat quite still. His face was turned away from Helene. Sheherself was smiling out of the window at some acquaintances.
"I wonder if there is anything more that I can tell you?" she askedpresently.
He turned towards her with a faint smile.
"You have told me," he said, "all that I want to know."
She was struck by the change in his face, the quietness of his tone wasominous.
"Am I meant to understand?" she said dubiously "because I don't in theleast. It seems to me that have told you nothing. I cannot imagine whatMr. Brott and you have in common."
"If your invitation to lunch still holds good," he said, "may I acceptit? Afterwards, if you can spare me a few minutes I will make thingsquite clear to you."
She laughed.
"You will find," she declared, "that I shall leave you little peace forluncheon. I am consumed with curiosity."