“Try,” Mr. Sabin said smoothly, “and avoid that air of tragedy.  Some of these good people might be curious.”

Felix leaned across the table.  He pointed to the menu card.

“What does that mean?” he muttered.

Mr. Sabin contemplated it himself thoughtfully.  “Well,” he said, “I rather thought that you might be able to explain that to me.  I have an idea that there is a society in Europe—­sort of aristocratic odd-fellows, you know—­who had adopted it for their crest.  Am I not right?”

Felix looked at him steadfastly.

“Tell me two things,” he said.  “First, why you sent for me, and secondly, what do you mean—­by that?”

“Lucille,” Mr. Sabin said, “has been taken away from me.”

“Lucille!  Great God!”

“She has been taken away from me,” Mr. Sabin said, “without a single word of warning.”

Felix pointed to the menu card.

“By them?” he asked.

“By them.  It was a month ago.  Two days before my cable.”

Felix was silent for several moments.  He had not the self-command of his companion, and he feared to trust himself to speech.

“She has been taken to Europe,” Mr. Sabin continued.  “I do not know, I cannot even guess at the reason.  She left no word.  I have been warned not to follow her.”

“You obey?”

“I sail to-morrow.”

“And I?” Felix asked.

Mr. Sabin looked for, a moment at the drawing on the back of the menu card, and up at Felix.  Felix shook his head.

“You must know,” he said, “that I am powerless.”

“You may be able to help me,” Mr. Sabin said, “without compromising yourself.”

“Impossible!” Felix declared.  “But what did they want with Lucille?”

“That,” Mr. Sabin said, “is what I am desirous of knowing.  It is what I trust that you, my dear Felix, may assist me to discover.”

“You are determined, then, to follow her?”

Mr. Sabin helped himself to a liqueur from the bottle by his side.

“My dear Felix,” he said reproachfully, “you should know me better than to ask me such a question.”

Felix moved uneasily in his chair.

“Of course,” he said, “it depends upon how much they want to keep you apart.  But you know that you are running great risks?”

“Why, no,” Mr. Sabin said.  “I scarcely thought that.  I have understood that the society was by no means in its former flourishing condition.”

Felix laughed scornfully.

“They have never been,” he answered, “richer or more powerful.  During the last twelve months they have been active in every part of Europe.”

Mr. Sabin’s face hardened.

“Very well!” he said.  “We will try their strength.”

“We!” Felix laughed shortly.  “You forget that my hands are tied.  I cannot help you or Lucille.  You must know that.”

“You cannot interfere directly,” Mr. Sabin admitted.  “Yet you are Lucille’s brother, and I am forced to appeal to you.  If you will be my companion for a little while I think I can show you how you can help Lucille at any rate, and yet run no risk.”