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Lucillehadrecoveredherself。Shestoodbeforehim，whitebutcalm。
“Because，“shesaid，“Iamawoman。“
“Thatmeansthatyoucamewithoutreason-onimpulse？“heasked。
“Icame，“shesaid，“becauseIheardthatyouwereabouttotakeastepwhichmustseparateusforever。“
“Andthat，“heasked，“disturbedyou？“
“Yes！“
“Come，wearedrawingnearertogether，“hesaid，akindlinglightinhiseyes。“Nowanswermethis。Howmuchdoyoucareifthiseternalseparationdoescome？HereamIonthethresholdofaction。
UnlessIchangemymindwithintenminutesImustthrowinmylotwiththosewhomyouandyourOrderloatheanddespise。Therecanbenohalfmeasures。Imustbetheirleader，orImustvanishfromthefaceofthepoliticalworld。ThisIwilldoifyoubidme。Butthepricemustbeyourself-wholly，withoutreservation-yourself，bodyandsoul。“
“Youcare-asmuchasthat？“shemurmured。
“Askmenoquestions，answermine！“hecriedfiercely。“Youshallstaywithmehere-orinfiveminutesIleaveonmycampaign。“
Shelaughedmusically。
“Thisispositivelydelicious，“sheexclaimed。“Iambeingmadelovetoinmedievalfashion。Othertimesothermanners，sir！Willyoulistentoreason？“
“Iwilllistentonothing-saveyouranswer，yesorno，“hedeclared，drawingonhisovercoat。
Shelaidherhanduponhisshoulder。
“Reginald，“shesaid，“youarelikethewhirlwind-andhowcanI
answeryouinfiveminutes！“
“Youcananswermeinone，“hedeclaredfiercely。“WillyoupaymypriceifIdoyourbidding？Yesorno！Thepriceisyourself。Now！
Yesorno？“
Shedrewonherowncloakandfastenedtheclaspwithshakingfingers。Thensheturnedtowardsthedoor。
“Iwishyougood-byeandgoodfortune，Reginald，“shesaid。“I
daresaywemaynotmeetagain。Itwillbebetterthatwedonot。“
“Thisthenisyouranswer？“hecried。
Shelookedaroundathim。Wasithisfancy，orwerethosetearsinhereyes？Orwasshereallysowonderfulanactress？“
“Doyouthink，“shesaid，“thatifIhadnotcaredIshouldhavecomehere？“
“Tellmethatinplainwords，“hecried。“ItisallIask。“
Thedoorwassuddenlyopened。Grahamestooduponthethreshold。
HelookedbeyondLucilletoBrott。
“Youmustreallyforgiveme，“hesaid，“butthereisbarelytimetocatchthetrain，Brott。Ihaveahansomwaiting，andyourluggageison。“
Brottanswerednothing。Lucilleheldoutherhandstohim。
“Yesorno？“heaskedherinalowhoarsetone。
“Youmust-givemetime！Idon’twanttoloseyou。I-“
Hecaughtuphiscoat。
“Coming，Grahame，“hesaidfirmly。“Countess，Imustbegyourpardontenthousandtimesforthisabruptdeparture。Myservantswillcallyourcarriage。“
Sheleanedtowardshim，beautiful，anxious，alluring。
“Reginald！“
“Yesorno，“hewhisperedinherear。
“Givemeuntilto-morrow，“shefaltered。
“Notonemoment，“heanswered。“Yes-now，thisinstant-orIgo！“
“Brott！Mydearman，wehavenotasecondtolose。“
“Youhear！“hemuttered。“Yesorno？“
Shetrembled。
“Givemeuntilto-morrow，“shebegged。“Itisforyourownsake。
Foryourownsafety。“
Heturnedonhisheel！Hismutteredspeechwasprofane，butinarticulate。HesprangintothehansombyGrahame’sside。
“Euston！“thelattercriedthroughthetrap-door。“Doublefare，cabby。WemustcatchtheScotchman。“
Lucillecameoutafewmomentslater，andlookedupanddownthestreetasherbroughamdrovesmartlyup。Thehansomwasfastdisappearinginthedistance。Shelookedafteritandsighed。
Lucillegavealittlestartofamazementassherealisedthatshewasnotaloneinthebrougham。Shereachedoutforthecheck-cord，butastronghandheldhers。
“MydearLucille，“afamiliarvoiceexcla
