The Emperor inclined his head towards Lucille.

“I see no reason,” he said, “when our capitals are riddled with secret societies, all banded together against us, why the great families of Europe should not in their turn come together and display a united front against this common enemy.  The Order of the Yellow Crayon has had more than my support.  It has had the sanction of my name.  Tell me what you have against it.”

“I have grave things to say concerning it,” Mr. Sahin answered, “and concerning those who have wilfully deceived your Majesty.  The influences to be wielded by the society were mainly, I believe, wealth, education, and influence.  There was no mention made of murder, of an underground alliance with the ‘gamins’ of Paris, the dregs of humanity, prisoners, men skilled in the art of secret death.”

The Emperor’s tone was stern, almost harsh.

“Duc de Souspennier, what are these things which you are saying?” he asked.

“Your Majesty, I speak the truth,” Mr. Sabin answered firmly.  “There are in the Order of the Yellow Crayon three degrees of membership.  The first, which alone your Majesty knows of, simply corresponds with what in England is known as the Primrose League.  The second knows that beneath is another organisation pledged to frustrate the advance of socialism, if necessary by the use of their own weapons.  The third, whose meetings and signs and whose whole organisation is carried on secretly, is allied in every capital in Europe with criminals and murderers.  With its great wealth it has influence in America as well as in every city of the world where there are police to be suborned, or desperate men to be bought for tools.  At the direction of this third order Lavinski died suddenly in the Hungarian House of Parliament, Herr Krettingen was involved in a duel, the result of which was assured beforehand, and Reginald Brott, the great English statesman, was ruined and disgraced.  I myself have just narrowly escaped death at his hands, and in my place my servant has been driven to death.  Of all these things, your Majesty, I have brought proofs.”

The Emperor’s face was like a carven image, but his tone was cold and terrible.

“If these things have been sanctioned,” he said, “by those who are responsible for my having become the head of the Order; they shall feel my vengeance.”

“Your Majesty,” Mr. Sabin said earnestly, “a chance disclosure, and all might come to light.  I myself could blazon the story through Europe.  Those who are responsible for the third degree of the Order of the Yellow Crayon, and for your Majesty’s ignorance concerning its existence, have trifled with the destiny of the greatest sovereign of modern times.”

“The Prince of Saxe Leinitzer,” the Emperor said, “is the acting head of the Order.”