The Temptress

by William Le Queux

day. I superintended the waitingat _a dejeuner_ and _table d'hote_."

  "You have no doubt that the lady was the original of that portrait?"

  "Not the slightest," he replied, shrugging his shoulders.

  "Have you seen the respondent, Mrs. Willoughby, since?" the judge asked,in slow deliberate tones.

  "Yes, I saw her here in London a few weeks ago. I was brought toEngland by Monsieur Willoughby to identify madame and give evidence."

  "When you saw her, did you tell her that you recognised her as MadameLapasque?"

  "Of course I told her. She then grew angry, and ordered me from theroom."

  "Is that all the evidence you have, Mr. Grover?" asked the judge, whenhe had concluded taking notes of the witness's cross-examination.

  "No, my lord. I have further corroborative evidence," counsel replied.

  The Italian walked from the box, and his place was taken by NanetteRambert.

  "What are you, Miss Rambert?" asked Mr. Grover, glancing at his brief.

  "Lady's maid."

  "You identify these photographs, I believe?"

  "Yes; the lady is Madame Lapasque, my late mistress, and the gentlemanher husband."

  "How long were you in the respondent's service?"

  "About two years. At the time she engaged me at Cannes, monsieur wasnot with her, but about three months later he joined her, and wetravelled first to San Remo, then to Rome, Homburg, and London."

  "And you always believed Lapasque to be her husband?" asked Mr. Grover.

  "Of course, m'sieur. Madame always told me he was."

  "How long ago did you leave her service?"

  "About six months."

  "Have you seen either since?"

  "I have only seen madame. I was with M'sieur Willoughby, and we saw hercome from a house in Victoria Street, Westminster."

  "Did you identify her?"

  "Yes, without the slightest difficulty. I did not, however, speak toher."

  No other questions were asked the witness, and she left the box.

  His lordship then recalled the petitioner, and questioned him at somelength upon his wife's general conduct, to which the gallant captainreplied with the sorrowful yet indignant air of the injured husband.

  After counsel had delivered a brief and pointed address there was apause. The judge was weighing the evidence. He read and re-read hisnotes, underlining words here and there with a pencil, while the Courtsilently awaited his decision.

  Suddenly he looked up, coughed slightly, and, addressing Mr. Grover, whoat once rose, said--

  "In this case I find that the wife has been guilty of misconduct, and Ishall therefore grant a decree _nisi_ with costs against theco-respondent."

  Counsel, bowing, thanked his lordship, and, tying up his brief, left theCourt, accompanied by the captain, while the onlookers stirred uneasilyin their seats, whispered among each other, and then sat eager to beregaled with another story of domestic woe.

  As the barrister and his client gained the large hall of the Courts,Nanette joined them. Mr. Grover excused himself on the ground that hehad an appointment at his chambers in the Temple, and, bidding themadieu, departed. The captain and the maid followed him down the steps,and, turning in the opposite direction, strolled leisurely past St.Clement's church and along the Strand.

  Willoughby was elated. Not only had he freed himself from a tie thatmight some day prove detrimental, but--what was much more to the point--he was also entitled to claim twenty-five thousand francs, the price hiswife had offered for her liberty. The matter had been rendered quiteeasy, the details, together with Lapasque's address, having beenfurnished by Valerie herself.

  "You're a smart girl, Nanette," he exclaimed flatteringly, afterexpressing approbation at the manner in which she had given herevidence. "Your story had a ring of truth about it that was delightful,and in answering the questions you drew a long, serious face, and neveronce faltered."

  Nodding her head knowingly and laughing, she replied--

  "That's true, m'sieur. But, you see, I know the way to tell fibs aswell as most people. I haven't been maid to mademoiselle withoutcontriving to learn a few tricks. I was taught them when I firstentered her service; now they come quite naturally."

  "So it seems," he said, with an amused smile. "But, tell me, how domatters stand down at the country mansion? Is all serene?"

  "Quite. Mademoiselle's new husband is such a mild-mannered young man,and has suspected absolutely nothing from the first. He's madlyinfatuated with her, and she can twist him round her little finger."

  "Now, speaking candidly, Nanette," asked the captain, after a fewmoments' silence, "have you any idea what object she had in marryinghim?"

  "None; I'm as ignorant as yourself. It seems unaccountable, yet you mayrest assured she had some very good reason for such a step."

  "Of course, Trethowen has money, yet somehow I don't believe that hersole object was to become the wife of a rich man. It is a matter thathas puzzled me ever since I heard of the match," observed the captainthoughtfully.

  In truth, he was the reverse of sorry that his wife had entered into thealliance. Providing Hugh really loved Valerie, he saw there was apossibility of obtaining hush-money from him, as it was certain he wouldavoid the scandal which would inevitably result if his wife wereprosecuted for bigamy.

  Nanette, although unacquainted with many of her mistress's schemes,nevertheless knew so much that it would have been highly undesirablethat any disagreement should occur between them. She was saucy andself-confident, yet discreet and--when occasion required--a model maid.

  "You should be happy, m'sieur, now that you have obtained your divorce,and can live _en garcon_ again," she remarked, her eyes sparkling with_diablerie_.

  "So I am, Nanette," he replied with a smile. "Everything has come offjust as I arranged that it should. In the judgment of a fool there areno wise men. To-night you must return to Coombe, and your mistress willpay you the money that was agreed. You might tell her that, thebusiness being so far concluded, she may expect a visit from me in thecourse of a day or two, when I hope we shall be able to close theincident."

  "Very well. I'll give her your message," replied the girl. "But youwill not call upon her at Coombe? Surely that would be unwise," shesuggested in concern.

  "I haven't yet decided whether I shall go there or not. It all dependsupon circumstances," he answered rather abruptly.

  Then they turned into a restaurant for luncheon, and the captaincelebrated the occasion with a bottle of Pommery, which Nanette assistedhim to drink.

  A week had passed.

  Before a large fire in the private parlour of the Ship Hotel, at Bude,Percy Willoughby sat with legs stretched out and feet upon the fender.The ancient hostelry, which, although styled a hotel, was merely an inn,stood in a somewhat sheltered position under the rocks, and faced thesea. Fishermen were its chief customers, but on this particular nightthe smacks were out, and the place was comparatively quiet, with theexception of two loungers, who were holding a noisy argument in the bar.The room was low, with heavy oak beams across a ceiling blackened bythe smoke of years, a sanded floor, a wide old-fashioned hearth, andstraight-backed wooden chairs that had evidently done duty for acentury. A tall, antiquated clock ticked solemnly in a corner, and theefforts at ornamentation were mostly in the form of shell-boxes andfaded wool-flowers.

  The wind moaned dismally in the chimney, and aroused the captain fromhis reverie.

  "I suppose she'll come," he murmured aloud, as he rose, and, going tothe window, drew back the curtain. The night was dark and cloudy.Nothing could be seen except the distant flashing light at sea, whichglimmered for a moment like a star and disappeared. "The weather iscertainly not very propitious, and I'm afraid if I went out alone inthis confoundedly dark hole I should lose myself. But of course she'llcome," he added reassuringly. "She dare not disappoint me." And hedashed the curtains together again and returned to his chair.

  A few minutes
afterwards Valerie entered. She wore a long fur-linedcloak, and a thick dark veil concealed her features.

  "At last I'm here," she said glancing round, as if half fearful lest sheshould be recognised, and walking over to the fire, she warmed herbenumbed hands. "It was by the merest chance that I was able to come.We've been dining with some people about a mile away, and I at lastmanaged to slip out."

  As she loosened her cloak he noticed that underneath she wore a charmingtoilet of pale blue silk.

  "Well," he said, after they had greeted one another and seatedthemselves before the fire. "The affair we planned at Spa has provedsuccessful, Valerie, and we're