CHAPTER XXVI
LOYAL SILENCE
It was getting late by this time. Gradually the guests were thinning andthe splendid rooms were taking on a deserted appearance. Jessie sat inone of the corridors hidden away behind a bank of palms and azaleas, andlonged for the time when she could rest. From head to foot she wasaching with fatigue. She had not been used to excitement lately; theclose atmosphere of the Bond Street establishment and the want ofregular exercise in the pure air had told upon her. Now that theexcitement had passed away she realized how tired she was.
She laid her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. So utterlyexhausted was she that she did not seem to care what happened. And therewould be much to be done in the morning. If only Vera Galloway could berestored to her proper place, Jessie vowed that nothing should prevailupon her to carry on the adventure. She slept just for a moment. Shemight have stayed there till daylight, only Ronald Hope came along andfound her.
At the sound of a human voice Jessie became quite alert and vigorousagain.
"How you startled me," she said. "I was asleep. Is there anything fresh,any new complication?"
Ronald dropped into the seat by Jessie's side. He was looking just alittle grave and stern. It was possible to detain Jessie there for somelittle time.
"There is nothing fresh," he said. "I have a few words to say to you,Jessie. Everybody is going, and only a few of Lady Merehaven's intimatefriends remain."
"If you are one of them you will not be expected to leave just yet,"Jessie smiled. "But why look so serious, Ronald? Have I done anything?"
"Upon my word, I don't know," Ronald said in some perplexity. "I don'tlike it, Jess. If you look at it from a proper point of view you have nobusiness to be here at all. Lady Merehaven is a dear friend of mine.What would she say if she knew everything? As a matter of fact, she isbound to know everything sooner or later."
"But you can't blame me," Jessie protested. "Look at my position. I wasquite desperate. I had been dismissed from Bond Street for no fault ofmy own; I had a sister practically depending upon me; it was useless inthe circumstances to try and find employment elsewhere. I was face toface with something very like starvation, my dear Ronald."
Ronald's face softened, but the perplexed frown on his face was stillthere.
"Oh, I know it," he said eagerly. "I see your position entirely. At thesame time, it is quite wrong. I am looking at the social side of thequestion. And the worst of the affair is that you _must_ go on now tillVera Galloway comes back. I have been trying to find some way to achievethat without delay. If it can be managed, you must promise never tochange your identity again."
Something like tears rose into Jessie's eyes. The dull, tired feelingwas coming over her again.
"Don't blame me, dear," she whispered. "Think of my position. I had notmet you this afternoon; I did not dream that you still cared for me. Andyet I fancy that I would have done the same in any case. A good andnoble girl comes to me in great trouble; she asks me to help her out ofa grave difficulty to save one she loves. To help her I do this. And shehas more or less succeeded. Between the two of us we have gone far tosave a nation. Tell Lady Merehaven if you like, but do not spoileverything in the moment of victory."
"I don't want to," Ronald said. "It would be ridiculous to speak justyet. But any moment some unexpected accident may find you out. It maycome before bedtime. And what would happen to you then? I am veryjealous for the good name of my future wife. Dr. Varney----"
"Dr. Varney is standing by me nobly, and he will see that I am safe,"Jessie said. "Dear old boy, don't be afraid. Trust me a little longer,and I am quite sure----"
"My darling, I trust you implicitly," Ronald exclaimed. He bent forwardand kissed Jessie's trembling lips. "Only I am so miserably anxious, sofearful lest---- But somebody is coming."
Somebody came down the corridor, pushing the azaleas carelessly asidefrom time to time. The newcomer was evidently looking for somebody. Thenthe grey face of Lechmere appeared, white and excited as Ronald hadnever seen him before. He paused before the others.
"_Then the grey face of Lechmere appeared white andexcited._"]
"Miss--er--Galloway, I have been looking for you everywhere," he said."It is of the utmost importance that----"
"Oh, dear!" said Jessie with a little broken laugh. "Please don't tellme that I have to do anything else to-night. I am utterly worn out.If I could go straight to bed----"
"So you may as far as I am concerned," Lechmere said curtly. "I beg yourpardon, but I fancy I have made a discovery of importance. That man whomyou took to be the King of Asturia--I mean the man you saw in theCountess Saens's dining-room. What became of him?"
"Really, I cannot tell you," Jessie said. "Let me think. I fancy Mr.Maxwell said something about him. Yes, that was it. He said that the manyou mention drove to the office of the _Mercury_. Mr. Maxwell would havefollowed him, only he could not spare the time."
Lechmere nodded as if pleased about something, but the stern look wasstill on his face.
"I fancy that is all that I need bother you about at present," he said."And I don't think that we shall need your services any more to-night,my dear young lady. If you can contrive to see Dr. Varney on your ridebefore breakfast in the morning, you will be doing everybody a service."
Lechmere darted away as hurriedly as he had come. Evidently he had workof importance before him.
"He has given me one useful piece of information," Jessie said as soonas Lechmere had gone. "If what he remarks is correct, Miss Galloway isin the habit of riding before breakfast. Well, I shall be able to fulfilthat part of the programme, Ronald. It will be delightful to be on theback of a horse again, even in a borrowed habit, which I sincerely hopewill fit me."
Ronald looked at the mass of chiffon and the quivering fall of draperybefore him and smiled. The dress might have been made for the wearer,so perfectly did it seem to fit her.
"This is quite another matter," Jessie said. "One can do wonders with alittle lace and a bow or two of chiffon. But a close-fitting ridinghabit is quite another thing. I dare say I shall manage. There is onlyone thing that really fills me with terror."
"I should like to know what that is," said Ronald.
"Why, Countess Saens. I am quite sure that she knows what has takenplace--at least, she suspects, and will find out dual identity, or shewould never have tried to gain admission to the hospital to-night. I amperfectly sure that she will make another attempt in the morning. She isclever and unscrupulous, and she is certain to get her own way. In theaccident ward of a hospital there is always a case or two that needsidentity, and there will be the chance of the countess. She professes tohave missed somebody, and she will be able to walk through the accidentward. That is all she requires. And I am quite certain that she will dothis thing in the course of the morning. Don't you agree with me?"
Ronald was fain to agree with what Jessie said. Perhaps some scheme forbaffling the countess was already in the air, as Lechmere would not havesuggested that early morning visit to Varney.
"I have been thinking the matter out," Jessie went on. "Why could notMiss Galloway be removed to a private ward? If Dr. Varney called at thehospital he could see the patient and drop a hint to that effect. Yousee what is uppermost in my mind, Ronald. A private ward affords chanceof escape, also chance for me to take Miss Galloway's place and let hercome home."
"You are a friend in need," Ronald said as he kissed the red lips again."It was a lucky thing for Vera Galloway when she thought of you. Butthere are risks even in this scheme. Suppose the maid who was presentwhen the robbery at the Countess Saens's took place comes forward andidentifies you, what then? You will be charged with burglary, andperhaps convicted. The police will find out all about you--your namewill figure largely in the newspapers."
Jessie hesitated a little before she replied. Her head fell forward, andshe fell almost asleep on Ronald's arm. Nothing seemed to matter to hernow; if only she could have a good night's rest.
"I don't seem to care," she murmured. "I don't fancy that the countesswould go that far. It isn't as if she stood any chance of recovering thestolen papers. And she would have to give a description of the missingdocuments, which would not suit her book at all. On the whole, I amprepared to take any risk so that I can spare Vera Galloway furthermisery."
And Ronald had nothing further to say. It was good to know that he hadthe love of a girl like this. She should carry out her resolution, andhe would maintain a loyal silence for the present.
The Weight of the Crown Page 26