Part 20 (2/2)
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 amba.s.sador!” he said.
The young man shook his head.
”You magnify my position,” he declared. ”My errand is done when I remind you that it is many years since you visited Paris, that Vienna is as fascinating a city as ever, and Pesth a few hours journey beyond. But London--no, London is not possible for you. After the seventh day from this 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 personal appeal. 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 of expulsion pa.s.sed five years ago, and of which I presume due notification was given to you.”
Mr. Sabin shook his head very slowly.
”I deny the legality of that decree,” he said. ”There can be no such thing 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 was but 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 excuse himself.
”I beg your pardon,” he said. ”I should have known better than to have used such a word to you. Permit me to take my leave.”
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