“Youhaveplans？“sheexclaimed，springingup。
“Plans？“Helaughedatheralittlereproachfully。“MydearLucille！Acarriageawaitsusoutside，aspecialtrainwithsteamupattheGarddeL’ouest。ThisispreciselythecontingencyforwhichIhaveplanned。“
“Oh，youarewonderful，Victor，“shemurmuredasshedrewonhercoat。“Butwhatcorneroftheearthistherewhereweshouldbesafe？“
“Iamgoing，“Mr。Sabinsaid，“totryandmakeeverycorneroftheearthsafe。“
Shewasbewildered，butheonlylaughedandheldopenthedoorforher。Mr。Sabinmadenosecretofhisdeparture。Helingeredforamomentinthedoorwaytolightacigarette，heevenstoppedtowhisperafewwordstothelittlemaninplaindinnerclotheswhowaslounginginthedoorway。Butwhentheyhadonceleftthehoteltheydrovefast。
InlessthanhalfanhourPariswasbehindthem。Theyweretravelinginaroyalsaloonandatafabuulouscost，forinFrancetheyarenotfondofspecialtrains。ButMr。Sabinwasveryhappy。
Atleasthehadescapedanignominiousdefeat。Itwaslefttohimtoplaythegreatcard。
“Andnow，“Lucillesaid，comingoutfromherlittlebed-chamberwhichthefemmedechambrewasbusypreparing，“supposeyoutellmewherewearegoing。“
Mr。Sabinsmiled。
“Donotbealarmed，“hesaid，“eventhoughitwillsoundtoyoutheleastlikelyplaceintheworld。WearegoingtoBerlin。“
Thegreatroomwasdimlyenoughlit，forthewindowslookingoutuponthestreetwerehighandheavilycurtained，Themanwhosatatthedeskwasalmostintheshadow。Yeteverynowandthenashaftofsunlightfellacrosshispale，wornface。Astrangecombinationthisoftheworker，theidealist，themanofaffairs。
Fromoutsidecamethehumofagreatcity。Attimes，too，therecametohisearsashesatheretheroarofnationsatstrife，thefierceunderneathbattleofthegreatcountriesoftheworldstrugglingforsupremacy。Andhereatthiscabinetthismansatoften，andlistened，strenuous，romantic，withtheheartofalionandtheloftyimaginationofaneagle，hesteeredunswervinglyontoherdestinyagreatpeople。Othersmightrest，hutneverhe。
Helookedupfromtheletterspreadoutbeforehim。Lucillewasseatedathiscommand，afewyardsaway。Mr。Sabinstoodrespectfullybeforehim。
“MonsieurleDuc，“hesaid，“thisletter，pennedbymyillustriousfathertoyou，issufficienttosecuremygoodoffices。InwhatmannercanIserveyou？“
“YourMajesty，“Mr。Sabinanswered，“inthefirstplacebyreceivingmehere。InthesecondbyallowingmetolaybeforeyoucertaingraveandveryseriouschargesagainsttheOrderoftheYellowCrayon，ofwhichyourMajestyisthetitularhead。“
“TheOrderoftheYellowCrayon，“theEmperorsaidthoughtfully，“issocietycomposedofaristocratspledgedtoresistthemarchofsocialism。ItistruethatIamthetitularheadofthisorganisation。Whathaveyoutosayaboutit？“
“OnlythatyourMajestyhasbeenwhollydeceived，“Mr。Sabinsaidrespectfully，“concerningthemethodsandtheworkingofthissociety。Itsinceptionandinaugurationwereabovereproach。I
myselfatoncebecameamember。Mywife，CountessofRadantz，andsolerepresentativeofthatancientfamily，hasbeenoneallherlife。“
TheEmperorinclinedhisheadtowardsLucille。
“Iseenoreason，“hesaid，“whenourcapitalsareriddledwithsecretsocieties，allbandedtogetheragainstus，whythegreatfamiliesofEuropeshouldnotintheirturncometogetheranddisplayaunitedfrontagainstthiscommonenemy。TheOrderoftheYellowCrayonhashadmorethanmysupport。Ithashadthesanctionofmyname。Tellmewhatyouhaveagainstit。“
“Ihavegravethingstosayconcerningit，“Mr。Sahinanswered，“andconcerningthosewhohavewilfullydeceivedyourMajesty。
Theinfluencestobewieldedbythesocietyweremainly，Ibelieve，wealth，education，andinfluence。Therewasnomentionmadeofmurder，ofanundergroundalliancewiththe’gamins’ofParis，thedregsofhumanity，prisoners，menskilledintheartofsecretdeath。“
TheEmperor’stonewasstern，almostharsh。
“DucdeSouspennier，whatarethesethingswhichyouaresaying？“
heasked。
“YourMajesty，Ispeakthetruth，“Mr。Sabinansweredfirmly。
“ThereareintheOrderoftheYellowCrayonthreedegreesofmembership。Thefirst，whichaloneyourMajestyknowsof，simplycorrespondswithwhatinEnglandisknownasthePrimroseLeague。
Thesecondknowsthatbeneathisanotherorganisationpledgedtofrustratetheadvanceofsocialism，ifnecessarybytheuseoftheirownweapons。Thethird，whosemeetingsandsignsandwhosewholeorganisationiscarriedonsecretly，isalliedineverycapitalinEuropewithcriminalsandmurderers。WithitsgreatwealthithasinfluenceinAmericaaswellasineverycityoftheworldwheretherearepolicetobesuborned，ordesperatementobeboughtfortools。AtthedirectionofthisthirdorderLavinskidiedsuddenlyintheHungarianHouseofParliament，HerrKrettingenwasinvolvedinaduel，theresultofwhichwasassuredbeforehand，andReginaldBrott，thegreatEnglishstatesman，wasruinedanddisgraced。Imyselfhavejustnarrowlyescapeddeathathishands，andinmyplacemyservanthasbeendriventodeath。
Ofallthesethings，yourMajesty，Ihavebroughtproofs。“
TheEmperor’sfacewaslikeacarvenimage，buthistonewascoldandterrible。
“Ifthesethingshavebeensanctioned，“hesaid，“bythosewhoareresponsibleformyhavingbecometheheadoftheOrder；theyshallfeelmyvengeance。“
“YourMajesty，“Mr。Sabinsaidearnestly，“achancedisclosure，andallmightcometolight。ImyselfcouldblazonthestorythroughEurope。ThosewhoareresponsibleforthethirddegreeoftheOrderoftheYellowCrayon，andforyourMajesty’signoranceconcerningitsexistence，havetrifledwiththedestinyofthegreatestsovereignofmoderntimes。“
“ThePrinceofSaxeLeinitzer，“theEmperorsaid，“istheactingheadoftheOrder。“
“ThePrinceofSaxeLeinitzer，“Mr。Sabinsaidfirmly，“isresponsiblefortheexistenceofthethirddegree。Itishewhohasconnectedthesocietywithasystemofcorruptpoliceordesperatecriminalsineverygreatcity。ItisthePrinceofSaxeLeinitzer，yourMajesty，andhishordeofmurderersfromwhomI
havecometoseekyourMajesty’sprotection。Ihaveyetanotherchargetomakeagainsthim。Hehasmade，andismakingstill，useofthesocietytofurtherhisownprivateintrigues。InthenameoftheOrderhebroughtmywifefromAmerica。ShefaithfullycarriedouttheinstructionsoftheCouncil。ShebroughtabouttheruinofReginaldBrott。Bytherulesofthesocietyshewasfreethentoreturntoherhome。ThePrince，whohadbeenhersuitor，declinedtolethergo。Mylifewasattempted。ThestoryofthePrince’streasonishere，withthenecessaryproofs。I
knowthatordershavebeengiventothehiredmurderersofthesocietyformyassassination。Mylifeevenhereisprobablyanuncertainthing。ButIhavetoldyourMajestythetruth，andthepaperswhichIhavebroughtwithmecontainproofofmywords。“
TheEmperorstruckabellandgaveafeworderstotheyoungofficerwhoimmediatelyansweredit。ThenheturnedagaintoMr。Sabin。
“IhavesummonedSaxeLeinitzertoBerlin，“hesaid。“Thesemattersshallbegoneintomostthoroughly。InthemeantimewhatcanIdoforyou？“
“WewillawaitthecomingofthePrince，“Mr。Sabinansweredgrimly。
LadyCareypassedfromherbath-roomintoaluxuriouslittledressing-room。Herlettersandcoffeewereonasmalltablenearthefire，aneasy-chairwasdrawnuptothehearthrug。Shefastenedthegirdleofherdressing-gown，anddismissedhermaid。
“Iwillringforyouinhalfanhour，Annette，“shesaid。“SeethatIamnotdisturbed。“
Onherwaytothefireplaceshepausedforamomentinfrontofatalllooking-glass，andlookedsteadilyatherownreflection。
“Isuppose，“shemurmuredtoherself，“thatIamlookingatmybestnow。Isleptwelllastnight，andabathgivesonecolour，andwhiteissobecoming。Still，Idon’tknowwhyIfailed。Shemaybealittlebetterlooking，butmyfigureisasgood。Icantalkbetter，Ihavelearnthowtokeepamanfromfeelingdull，andthereismyreputation。BecauseIplayedatwarcorrespondence，woreaman’sclothes，anddidn’tshriekwhenIwasunderfire，peoplehavechosentomakeaheroineofme。Thatshouldhavecountedforsomethingwithhim-anditdidn’t。IcouldhavetakenmychoiceofanymaninLondon-andIwantedhim。AndIhavefailed！“
Shethrewherselfbackinhereasy-chairandlaughedsoftly。
“Failed！Whatanuglyword！Heisold，andhelimps，andI-well，Iwasneveraverybashfulperson。Hewasbeautifullypolite，buthewouldn’thaveanythingtosaytome。“
Shebegantotearopenherletterssavagely。
“Well，itisover。IfeveranybodyspeakstomeaboutitIthinkthatIshallkillthem。ThatfoolSaxeLeinitzerwillstrokehisbeastlymoustache，andsmileatmeoutofthecornersofhiseyes。
TheDorsetwoman，too-bah，Ishallgoaway。Whatisit，Annette？“
“HisHighnessthePrinceofSaxeLeinitzerhascalled，milady。“
“Called！Doesheregardthisasacall？“sheexclaimed，glancingtowardstheclock。“Tellhim，Annette，thatyourmistressdoesnotreceiveatsuchanhour。Bequick，child。OfcourseIknowthathegaveyouasovereigntopersuademethatitwasimportant，butI
won’tseehim，sobeoff。“
“Butyes，milady，“Annetteanswered，anddisappeared。
LadyCareysippedhercoffee。
“Ithink，“shesaidreflectively，“thatitmustbeMelton。“
Annettereappeared。
“Milady，“sheexclaimed，“HisHighnessinsisteduponmybringingyouthiscard。Hewassostrangeinhismanner，milady，thatI
thoughtitbesttoobey。“
LadyCareystretchedoutherhand。Afewwordswerescribbledonthebackofhisvisitingcardinyellowcrayon。Sheglancedatit，torethecardup，andthrewthepiecesintothefire。
“Myshoesandstockings，Annette，“shesaid，“andjustamorningwrap-anythingwilldo。“
ThePrincewaswalkingrestlesslyupanddowntheroom，whenLadyCareyentered。Hewelcomedherwithalittlecryofrelief。
“Heavens！“heexclaimed。“Ithoughtthatyouwerenevercoming。“
“Iwasinnohurry，“sheansweredcalmly。“Icouldguessyournews，soIhadnoteventhespurofcuriosity。“
Hestoppedshort。
“Youhaveheardnothing！Itisnotpossible？“
Sheshruggedhershoulders。
“No，butIknowyou，andIknowhim。Iamquitepreparedtohearthatyouareoutwitted。Indeed，tojudgefromyourappearancetherecanbenodoubtaboutit。RememberIwarnedyou。“
ThePrincewaspalewithfury。
“Noonecouldforeseethis，“heexclaimed。“Hehaswalkedintothelion’sden。“
“Then，“LadyCareysaid，“Iamquitepreparedtohearthathetamedthelion。“
“IftherewasonepersonlivingwhomIcouldhaveswornthatthismandarednotvisit，itwasourEmperor，“thePrincesaid。“Itisonlyafewyearssince，throughthisman’sintrigues，Germanywasshamedbeforetheworld。“
“Andyet，“LadyCareysaidsweetly，“theEmperorhasreceivedhim。“
“IhaveprivateintelligencefromBerlin，“SaxeLeinitzeranswered。
“Mr。SabinwasinpossessionofaletterwrittentohimbytheEmperorFrederick，thankinghimforsomeserviceorother；andtheletterwasatalisman。“
“Howlikehim，“LadyCareymurmured，“tohavetheletter。“
“Whatapity，“thePrincesneered，“thatsuchdevotionshouldremainunrewarded。“
LadyCareysighed。
“Hehasbrokenmyheart，“shereplied。
ThePrincethrewouthishands。
“YouandI，“hecried，“whydowebehavelikechildren！Letusstartafresh。Listen！TheEmperorhassummonedmetoBerlin。“
“Dearme，“LadyCareymurmured。“Iamafraidyouwillhaveamostunpleasantvisit。“
“Idarenotgo，“thePrincesaidslowly。“ItwasIwhoinducedtheEmperortobecomethetitularheadofthiscursedOrder。Ofcourseheknewnothingaboutthesecondorthirddegreemembersandourmethods。Withoutdoubtheisfullyinformednow。Idarenotfacehim。“
“Whatshallyoudo？“LadyCareyaskedcuriously。
“IamofftoSouthAmerica，“hesaid。“Itisagreatundevelopedcountry，andthereisroomforustomovethere。Muriel，youknowwhatIwantofyou。“
“Mygoodman，“sheanswered，“Ihaven’tthefaintestidea。“
“Youwillcomewithme，“hebegged。“Youwillnotsendmeintoexilesolonely，awanderer！Togethertheremaybeagreatfuturebeforeus。Youhaveambition，youloveintrigue，excitement，danger。
Noneofthesecanyoufindhere。Youshallcomewithme。Youshallnotsayno。HaveInotbeenyourdevotedslave？Have-“
Shestoppedhim。Herlipswerepartedinasmileofgood-naturedscorn。
“Don’tbeabsurd，SaxeLeinitzer。ItistruethatIloveintrigue，excitementanddanger。ThatiswhatmademejoinyourOrder，andreallyIhavehadquitealittleexcitementoutofit，forwhichIsupposeIoughttothankyou。Butasfortherest，why，youaretalkingrubbish。IwouldgotoSouthAmericato-morrowwiththerightman，butwithyou，why，itwon’tbeartalkingabout。Itmakesmeangrytothinkthatyoushouldbelievemecapableofsuchshockingtasteastodreamofgoingawaywithyou。“
Heflunghimselffromtheroom。LadyCareywentbacktohercoffeeandletters。ShesentforAnnette。
“Annette，“shedirected，“weshallgotoMeltonto-morrow。WireHaggistohavetheLodgeinorder，andcarriagestomeetthemiddaytrain。IdaresayIshalltakeafewpeopledownwithme。LetGeorgegoaroundtoTattershallsatonceandmakeanappointmentformethereatthreeo’clockthisafternoon。Lookoutmyhabitsandboots，too，Annette。“
LadyCareyleanedbackinherchairforamomentwithhalf-closedeyes。
“Ithink，“shemurmured，“thatsomeofusinouryouthmusthavedrunkfromsomepoisonedcup，somethingwhichturnedourbloodintoquicksilver。Imustlive，orImustdie。Imusthaveexcitementeveryhour，everysecond，orbreakdown。Thereareotherstoo-manyothers。NowonderthatthatidiotofamaninHarleyStreettalkedtomegravelyaboutmyheart。Noexcitement。A
quietlife！Bah！Suchwishy-washycoffeeandonlyonecigarette。“
Shelititandstooduponthehearthrug。Hereyeswerehalfclosed，everyvestigeofcolourhadlefthercheeks，herhandwaspressedhardtoherside。Forafewminutessheseemedtostruggleforbreath。Thenwithalittlelurchasthoughstillgiddy，shestooped，andpickingupherfallencigarette，thrustitdefiantlybetweenherteeth。
“Notthisway，“shemuttered。“Fromahorse’sbackifIcanwiththeairrushingby，andthehotjoyofitinone’sheart……OnlyIhopeitwon’thurtthepooroldgee……Comein，Annette。Whatatimeyou’vebeen，child。
TheEmperorsentforMr。Sabin。Hedeclinedtorecognisehisincognito。
“MonsieurleDuc，“hesaid，“ifproofofyourstorywereneededitishere。ThePrinceofSaxeLeinitzerhasignoredmysummons。
HehasfledtoSouthAmerica。“
Mr。Sabinbowed。
“Amostinterestingcountry，“hemurmured，“forthePrince。“
“Youyourselfarefreetogowhenandwhereyouwill。Youneednolongerhaveanyfears。TheOrderdoesnotexist。Ihavecrushedit。“
Mr。Sabinbowed。
“YourMajesty，“hesaid，“hasshownexemplarywisdom。“
“Fromitsinception，“theEmperorsaid，“Ibelievethattheideawasamistakenone。Imustconfessthatitsoriginalitypleasedme；mycalmerreflections，however，showmethatIwaswrong。Itisnotforthenoblesoftheearthtocopythemethodsofsocialistsandanarchists。Thesemenareapestuponhumanity，buttheymayhavetheirgooduses。Theymayhelpustogovernalertly，vigorously，alwayswithoureyesandearsstrainedtocatchthesignsofthechangingtimes。MonsieurleDuc，shouldyoudecidetotakeupyourresidenceinthiscountryIshallatalltimesbegladtoreceiveyou。Butyourfutureisentirelyyourown。“
Mr。Sabinacceptedhisdismissalfromaudience，andwentbacktoLucille。
“ThePrince，“hetoldher，“hasgone-toSouthAmerica。TheOrderdoesnotexistanylonger。WillyoudineinVienna，orinFrankfort？“
Sheheldoutherarms。
“Youwonderfulman！“shecried。
End
