The Temptress
Page 26
and olive cheeks with light, fleckingthe warm-tinted gravel on the walk. The distant band had paused. Thedeep silence of the avenue was broken only now and then by the lowmurmur of the trees. She revelled in the warm atmosphere, and feltlulled by the faint music of the rustling leaves. He, too, was lost incontemplation. In this green nook, with its gnarled trunks andfragments of blue sky revealed through the foliage, he felt far awayfrom the world, as dreamy as if floating on a lake, as he abandonedhimself to the enjoyment of the splendid afternoon.
"Then it is settled," he said, at last. "We will be married in Londonas soon as you can obtain your trousseau."
Had they not been so oblivious of their surroundings, it is probablethey would have observed a man, half concealed behind a neighbouringtree, who had been keeping a close watch upon them. Creeping cautiouslyfrom his hiding-place, he drew himself up, and walked towards them witha pleasant smile on his face. It was Adolphe Chavoix.
"Ah," he exclaimed, as they looked up and recognised him, "I've beenhunting for you everywhere. The Count wants us to drive to the Cascade.Come along, there's not a moment to lose, or we shan't be back in timefor _table d'hote_. Why, you've hidden yourselves all the afternoon."
"We plead guilty to the indictment, old fellow," Hugh replied, jumpingto his feet enthusiastically. "The fact is, I've spent the afternoonvery profitably, for I've won a wife."
"Oh!" he exclaimed in surprise, raising his eyebrows, and exchanging aquick glance with mademoiselle.
"Yes, Valerie has consented to marry me. We leave this place to-morrow,and shall be married in London within a month."
"Bravo! I congratulate you both," he said, grasping Trethowen's hand,and raising his hat politely to mademoiselle.
"Thanks, Adolphe," replied Hugh. "All I desire is that our future maybe as bright and cloudless as to-day."
"What can mar it? Why, nothing! You and Valerie love one another--Isuspected it from the first," he remarked, laughing. "You will marry,settle down in comfort and happiness, and grow old and grey, like--likethe couple in your English song--Darby and Joan."
They laughed merrily in chorus.
"I don't much admire your prophecy. It's bad form to speak of a womangrowing old," observed Valerie reprovingly. "Nevertheless, I'mconfident we shall be as happy as the pair in the song. And when we'remarried, I'm sure Hugh will welcome you as one of our dearest friends."
"Of course," answered Trethowen. "Adolphe and the Count will always bewelcome at Coombe. By Jove, when I get them down there I'll have myrevenge at baccarat, too."
"Why, look, here's the Count coming after us," exclaimed Valerie,suddenly catching sight of a distant figure in a grey tweed suit andwhite waistcoat. "Come, let's go and meet him."
So the trio started off in that direction.
After meeting him they emerged from the avenue into the Place Royale,and Trethowen left them for a moment to purchase some cigars.
"I've had a visitor to-day," mademoiselle exclaimed, as she strolled onwith Victor and Pierre; "some one you both know."
"Who?" asked the men eagerly.
"Willoughby."
"Willoughby!" gasped Berard, halting in amazement. "Then he has trackedus! He must be silenced."
"Don't act rashly," remarked Valerie coolly. "You forget there's a bondbetween us that renders it extremely undesirable that he should divulgeanything. For the present, at least, we are quite safe. I've effecteda compromise with him which is just as binding on one side as on theother. After all, when everything is considered, our prospects havenever been rosier than they are at this moment."
"But Willoughby. He can ruin us if he chooses. He knows of the affairat Carqueiranne."
"And what if he does? How could he prove who did it? If he knew, don'tyou think he would have had the reward long ago?" she argued.
"Has he seen Trethowen?"
"No; if he had, the circumstances might be different," she repliedcoolly.
"Keep them apart. They must not meet, for reasons you well understand,"he said significantly; for, truth to tell, he feared the captain morethan he did his Satanic Majesty himself.
"Of course, a recognition would be decidedly awkward," she admitted;"but they are not likely to see one another--at least, not yet. Up tothe present my diplomacy has proved effectual. With regard to the uglyincidents which you mentioned, have I not coerced Jack Egerton intosilence, and my husband, he is--"
"Here, by your side, dearest," a voice added, finishing the sentence.
Starting, she turned, to find to her dismay and embarrassment that Hughhad returned unnoticed, and was standing at her elbow.
"Why, you really frightened me," she said nervously, with a forced,harsh laugh. "I was explaining to the Count the reason I prefer livingin England after our marriage. He says we ought to live in Paris."
"Oh," Hugh said indifferently, but made no further remark.
Mademoiselle and her companion were serious and apprehensive lest he hadoverheard their conversation.
Crossing the Place, they continued their walk in silence.
As they entered the hotel a letter from Egerton was handed to Hugh.When alone in his room he opened it, and found it was dated from London,and that it had been forwarded from Brussels.
"I suppose you are enjoying yourself thoroughly in the company of _labelle_ Valerie," he wrote, after the usual greetings, and upbraidingsfor not answering a former note. "Well, you know my sentiments," hecontinued; "I need not repeat them. But, by the way, I have sincethought that is perhaps because I once spoke harshly of her that youhave been annoyed. I only had your welfare at heart, I assure you, and,as we are old friends, if I have said anything to vex you, pray forgiveme."
"Bosh!" ejaculated Hugh savagely. "He tries to set me against herbecause he wants her himself. He gives no reason for his absurdwarnings, but acts the sentimental fool."
He was about to toss the letter into the fire impatiently withoutreading further, when a name caught his eye.
The remainder of the letter was as follows:--
_I am in sore trouble, and want your advice. Dolly has mysteriouslydisappeared. One night, three weeks ago, she left the studio and wenthome. After dressing she again went out, and since then nothing hasbeen seen or heard of her. I have searched everywhere, and madestrenuous efforts through the police and by advertisements to find sometrace of her, but all seems futile. She has disappeared completely.Yet somehow I cannot think her silence is intentional, or that she hasrun away with some male companion, for she was not addicted toflirtation. You are one of her admirers, I know, so I want your adviceas to the best course to pursue. I'm at my wits' ends, old fellow.Write and tell me what to do. I must find her; I shall never rest untilI ascertain definitely what has become of her_.
"Good heavens! What an extraordinary thing," ejaculated Trethowen, whenhe had concluded reading.
"Dolly missing! She might be dead for aught we know; yet such a fatecannot have befallen her. She cared for me a little, I know," hesoliloquised. "Perhaps she had hoped that I should ask her to become mywife. Why," he gasped, as a thought suddenly occurred to him, "supposeshe has committed suicide because I did not reciprocate the love sheoffered. Good God! if such were the case, I should never forgivemyself--never."
Pausing, he gazed blankly at the paper in his hand.
"Yet--yet, after all," he continued thoughtfully, "I love Valerie, andshall marry no woman but her. There can be no reason why I should bemiserable or bother my head over the mystery."
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
PURELY FIN DE SIECLE.
"Why are you so glum this morning, Jack? Hang it, you look as if youwere going to attend my funeral instead of my wedding."
"Do I?" asked Egerton, yawning, and stretching himself out lazily in hischair. "I didn't know my facial expression was not in keeping with thejoyousness of the occasion."
"Look here, old fellow," continued Hugh, walking over to his companion,and looking him earnestly in the
face. "Now, before we start, tell mewhy you are so strangely indifferent. It seems as if you stillentertain some curious antipathy towards Valerie." Egerton knit hisbrows, and, rising, assumed an air of utter unconcern.
"It's a matter I would rather not discuss, old chap," he said. "At yourrequest I've consented to assist at your wedding, otherwise I should nothave been here at all."
"Your very words betray you. Why should you have been absent, pray?"
"For certain reasons," the other replied briefly. Trethowen regardedhis