He regarded her intently.  His look held hers.  It would seem as though he tried to read the depths of her soul; as though he was asking if what had once proved so false could in the end prove true; for it came to him with sudden force, with sure conviction, that she could help him as no one else could; that at this critical moment, when he was trembling between success and failure, her secret influence might be the one reinforcement necessary to conduct him to victory.  Greater and better men than himself had used women to further their vast purposes; could one despise any human agency, so long as it was not dishonourable, in the carrying out of great schemes?

It was for Britain—­for her ultimate good, for the honour and glory of the Empire, for the betterment of the position of all men of his race in all the world, their prestige, their prosperity, their patriotism; and no agency should be despised.  He knew so well what powers of intrigue had been used against him, by the embassy of Slavonia and those of other countries.  His own methods had been simple and direct; only the scheme itself being intricate, complicated, and reaching further than any diplomatist, except his own Prime Minister, had dreamed.  If carried, it would recast the international position in the Orient, necessitating new adjustments in Europe, with cession of territory and gifts for gifts in the way of commercial treaties and the settlement of outstanding difficulties.

His key, if it could be made to turn in the lock, would open the door to possibilities of prodigious consequence.

He had been three years at work, and the end must come soon.  The crisis was near.  A game can only be played for a given time, then it works itself out, and a new one must take its place.  His top was spinning hard, but already the force of the gyration was failing, and he must presently make his exit with what the Prime Minister called his Patent, or turn the key in the lock and enter upon his kingdom.  In three months—­in two months—­in one month—­it might be too late, for war was coming; and war would destroy his plans, if they were not furfilled now.  Everything must be done before war came, or be forever abandoned.

This beautiful being before him could help him.  She had brains, she was skilful, inventive, supple, ardent, yet intellectually discreet.  She had as much as told him that the ambassador of Moravia had paid her the compliment of admiring her with some ardour.  It would not grieve him to see her make a fool and a tool of the impressionable yet adroit diplomatist, whose vanity was matched by his unreliability, and who had a passion for philandering—­unlike Count Landrassy, who had no inclination to philander, who carried his citadels by direct attack in great force.  Yes, Jasmine could help him, and, as in the dead years when it seemed that she would be the courier star of his existence, they understood each other without words.