"ON THE WINDS OF THE SOUTH"

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 65, 18 March 1930, Page 18

"ON THE WINDS OF THE SOUTH"

By COUNTESS VON HAARSCH

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. LORD FAYNE, a successful business man, has confided to his friend and partner, ALFRED ERROLL, that in his youth he married a Sicilian girl, by whom he had a daughter. His wife died, the daughter went to Rome under the care of ASSUNTA, her nurse, where she had remained. Fayne has married again, and, knowing this and that he will lose hiss fortune under the terms of his uncle's will if it is known that he has married a foreigner, Assunta levies blackmail. Eventually Fayne implores Erroll to send his son MICHAEL, to Rome in order to "buy off" Assunta. CHAPTER 111. —Continued. Jerome St. Clair, a New York millionaire, had long since been asked to Fayne Court. At last lie did give liis promise. Rachel Fayne knew that her husband counted on this visit. She smiled triumphantly. Of course, this must keep him from going. For a moment lie stood like one lost in hesitation. Then his look met Erroll's eyes. Let the St. Clair deal fall to the ground. He could not help it. '"Sorry, my dear," he said slowly. "You'll have to give him my apologies. I might catch him later in London. York, I'll want the big touring car at three sharp, please." "Yes, ni'lord," the butler bowed and disappeared.

Lady Fayne gave her husband one bewildered look and turned to Erroll. "You'll excuse me, Alfred —1 forgot to give my groom orders for to-morrow." Left alone in the spacious? green-pan-elled drawing-room, the two did not know what to do with their coffee. Erroll wandered about listlessly, picking here a book, there a newspaper. Fayne sat in a deep, armchair, and pretended to smoke. Each was waiting for the other to speak. At last Erroll broke the tension. "If you can't persuade Michael to go," he said awkwardly, "do you think I might be of any use? Your own going is quite out of question." Fayne did not answer him. He had listlessly taken up a lesser London daily and \Vas staring at a page in front of him. Erroll's eye caught the beginning of a huge headline. The words suddenly leapt up, vested with sinister meaning. He crossed over to where Fayne was sitting and held out his hand. "Let me have a look, old chap," he said unsteadily.

"You might" — Favne's voice was hoarse —"might read it aloud. I don't— quite believe my eyes. Erroll —it's a libel —she's my daughter —after all " "Steady, steady, old boy." Erroll grasped his hand, let his own bewildered eyes roam over the paragraph and read: "Our Home.correspondent reports that an alleged criminal transaction has just taken place there and is causing a great deal of disturbance amongst all the antique dealers. A few weeks ago the famous black pearl necklace, a centuriesokl heirloom of a noble Sicilian family, the Marchesi Rezzi, was put on the market. It is understood that the late Marchese's only grand-daughter, Donna lolanda Rezzi, now resident in Rome, had personally arranged for the sale. The buyer, whose name is not made known, has accused Donna lolanda's agents of having sold him a faked replica. It is now proved that the necklace was handed over to the buyer about ten minutes after it had left Donna lolanda s possession." "This is vile slander," Fayne broke in. "Do they mean to say that she did it?" "Wait a bit," murmured Erroll. "There's more to come."

And he read on: 'The buyer immediately communicated with the Questura, who were on the point of taking steps, when the affair was dropped for lack of sufficient evidence. It is surmised that the buyer was an Englishman. No information was given to our correspondent when he called at Donna lolanda's house in Via Marche. The whole affair is now shrouded in mystery." "Fayne—it's just gossip of the 'Daily Monitor' type," remonstrated Erroll. "There may not be a vestige of truth in it. And the paragraph, written as it is, has no sense at. all." "I don't know," answered the other, His lips grey. But —why should she be short of money ? The allowances I send there — ,y "You forget the old nurse—about whom you know nothing except that she is an obvious camp," interrupted Erroll dryly and glanced again at the paper. "Anyhow, she seems a person of consequence. A house in Via Marche and an heirloom. Fayne —are you really sure the old Marchese was as poor as you had thought?" _ "What makes you ask this? Fayne looked up quickly. "Just mere curiosity. keep a house on what you send 'her. "I suppose so. I've already told you it costs a pretty penny." Erroll said nothing. _ The "Monitor paragraph, from his point of view, did not seem disturbing enough. He could not understand why it should have put Fayne into an agitated state. His quick eye noticed that Fayne's thin hand trembled as he pulled the bell and ordered York to have the car brought round at once. "I'll be ready in about twenty minutes," he said curtly. Erroll coming?" , The latter nodded, and the door shut behind the butler, he said: "There might come developments which'll make it impossible to keep things from your wife, but I don't see why you should be so worried just now. And why this sudden hurry to leave? She might start suspecting." 5 "I must see Michael to-day. There s a boat' train somewhere about eleven.' Fayne's voice carried so much determination that Erroll shrugged his shoulders. "You'll find it hard to " . "Oh, Michael'll go all right," interrupted Fayne, "but you've gottolielp me there. Need I remind you it is in your interests that he should go? "Erroll bit his lip. Not for the first time that day did Fayne make it plain whose was the. upper hand, and it more than jarred on the older man. "Michael's a good Italian scholar—l don't deny that," he replied a little stiffly, "but I wonder if you're making too much of his persuasive abilities— especially as he's to know nothing of the real affair." "The real affair," Fayne smiled unpleasantly.' "You forget, my dear fellow, that the . real affair doesn't exist oxcept between you and myself."

And again Erroll knew that the man, who was still his friend, had more than one aspect in him. The other hitherto unguessed Fayne came out into the broadest of daylights when Errol saw him pick up the "Dail Monitor," fold it carefully and throw it into the fire. There wasn't much chance of Lady jFayne coming across the paper, but he was taking 110 risks. Erroll wondered liow long things could go on in this atmosphere of hiddenne6S and incompleteness. With a brief excuse his host left the drawing room. He had some papers to collect in his study, he said.

CHAPTER IV. Erroll walked to the window and saw Lady Fayne coming leisurely across the lawn to the house. ,She had changed since lunch and had thrown a light mauve wrap over her pale grey afternoon dress. The wind did what it pleased with her fluffy, golden hair and brought colour to her cheeks. Erroll realised as never before how lovely and stately she was. "He isn't fair to her," lie muttered. "He ought to have told her long ago— before he married her. She would never have let him do what he did about the will. She'd have rebelled against the mere idea of it. Gracious I wondei if she would believe that he, her husband, has been walking along such devious paths." She disappeared under the porch Erroll gloomily turned to the fire. This business about Michael's going to Italy lay on him like a dead weight. It looked as though he'd no other choice but to let his own son dip his fingers into the mire. "It's mire," he thought doggedly, and it'll always be mire for all the efforts Fa.vlie's making to whitewash it. He jerked himself back to reality when Lady Fayne, her arms laden with crimson and bronze leaves, entered the

room. "Where's Harry?" she asked quickly

He told her. "I heard the car leaving the garage, she went on, looking round for an empty bowl to put her leaves in. _ "Does it mean that you arc going at once? Why this hurry'/" She almost added, "And he might have told me," but an impulse of loyalty kept the words back. Instead, she looked Erroll straight in the face, and lie found it hard not to shift his own eyes.

"Harry's got some urgent business in London," he answered non-committally. "Oh," and he knew she was waiting for more. He shifted his position. "It's really too complicated, Rachel. You know how marvellous his brain is. Personally I can't follow all the ins and out of it. Too technical and—" lie paused, aware.that his words carried little conviction. "You needn't go on " she said quietly. "I understand. I never worry 'Harry except when I see that he is worried and I wonder if I might be of any use. Except that lately —" "I don't know/'—she picked out her bowl and started arranging the brilliantly coloured leaves —"but of late it has seemed to me that it wasn't only business."

"What wasn't only business, Rachel?" he repeated dully. Her next words startled him. "Oh, what's the use of fencing? Do you think I am deaf and dumb and blind? Do you imagine I don't notice things about my husband? Business," she repeated contemptuously. "One of his biggest deals was centred round this St. Clair man, and yet he decides to be away on. the very day! Business! I may be a woman, Alfred, but I can see a few things." "If you imagine—" he began, but she stopped him short. "I imagine nothing. I see things and put two and two together. And—I —— she blushed hotly—"l love my husband —" ."But Rachel —" he began again, when she laughed bitterly. "You needn't tell me anything. You mayn't—for all I know, and I don't want you to tell Harry about this talk of ours. I'd hate to have him worrying in another direction. Just as though he hadn't enough." She bent her lovely golden head over the leaves. Her white hands shook. A twig broke off and fell on to the carpet. As Erroll stooped to pick it up the door opened and York came in. "His lordship would be pleased to sec you in the study, sir." Lady Fayne seemed utterly disconcerted at the message. She spoke to Erroll as though she had not heard what the butler said: "About that week-end of ours. I'd be so glad if you could come down; and Michael, too." She bent her head and whispered under her breath. "Do go, and mind you forget what I said." He left her, his mind more puzzled than ever, his instincts revolting against the unpleasantly thick mesh of hidden things in the house, things, which, as he knew, Fayne would never dare tell hk wife. And she went on arranging the leaves with fingers which would not keep steady, her face a mask, well screening the turmoil of anxiety which filled her 'heart almost to a bitter overflowing. Erroll found his friend in the study. Coated, he stood, his back to the door, a small leather case on the desk before him, and, as Erroll entered, he swung round with a look of utter horror. "I want you," he said hoarsely. "What a confounded mystery. Just have a look and then we'll have to race for it. Is the car there?" "Yes," answered Erroll, and came up to the desk. * A long velvet oase lay there, a thick rope of pearls coiled on the black satin. A grimy bit of paper was pinned to the lid. He read the hideously mis-spelt words: "To a felo thif." "Where's that come from?" Fayne shrugged his shoulders. "From Italy! By the afternoon's post! Luckily, Rachel was out of the house. It's Assunta's 'hand all right. But what do you make of it ?" "Are these —" Erroll was on the point of asking a question and his friend nodded. . "Yes—faked all right. I've just tested one of them. And see here—it's the Rezzi. crest on the lid! But—it's bewildering." Fayne snapped the lid, when Erroll held out his hand. "Let me have a better look at it. Ah—yes—just what I thought. There's something lying under the satin. Give me scissors, please! There!" he ripped

open the thin, faded lining and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. "I think you ought to read it first, Payne," he said dryly. "It might explain things a little." His friend ran his eyes over the closely written lines. "Italian," he murmured. "Assunta all right. But it's all such a mystery. Listen! No, I'd better translate. I'm sending you the faked pearls! Keep them in memory of your daughter's dishonesty. She did it. I saved her from gaol in time, but I had to pay twenty thousand lire to hush things up. I want the money back immediately. Unless I have it by the end of next week, all the world shall know that your daughter is a common criminal." "Erroll, said Fayne huskily.' "It tallies with the newspaper." "Do stop talking about that rag," Tetorted the other impatiently. "Are you going to send the money? Twenty thousand lire —two hundred pounds, isn't it?" "Yes—about t'hat. Of course, I must send the money. But—Erroll, it can't be true." "What can't be true?" "That she could have done it! What a dirty trick. She can't have done it!" Fayne repeated with such genuine animation in his voice that Erroll looked at him in surprise. "Seems to me I've misjudged, you," he said slowly. "I'd thought you'd no feelings for the girl." "She's my daughter and Isabel's replied Fayne, when a knock at the ddor made him turn hie head. York was there with a formal announcement about the car. York's face showed utter impassivity, but his master glanced at him suspiciously. "It's all right, York. I'm coming down directly," he said abruptly. "Yes, m'lord," —and the man was on the point of leaving,.when Fayne stopped him.

. "Did that parcel arrive 'by the 2.30 ■post?" lie aeked suddenly. "Yes, m'lord." "Did you have to sign for it ?" "Yes, m'lord. There were iewels in it, m'lord." Fayne would have made a sudden step forward, but Erroll laid one hand on his sleeve. "How did you know there were jewels in it, York?" he asked. ''Please, sir—there was the word written on a blank form and —" "Go on," urged Erroll. "And I have read to-day'a 'Daily Monitor', sir, if I may make so bold, sir," —a tinge of insolence rang in the 'butler's voice. "You may go, York." Erroll knew that his friend's anger had overleapt all 'bounds. "And you may consider yourself dismissed from to-day on. Wages instead of notice." ° "Very well,, m'lord," York never moved a muscle, bowed and withdrew. ./"You shouldn't have done it, Fayne," Erroll broke out, "He'll be dangerous." "His insolence 1" said Fayne, through his set teeftih. "Erroll, he knows—something." "He may know all," replied the other quietly. "And one blackmail leads to another. Be careful," Fayne was on the point of answering when the door burst open and Lady Fayne appeared on the threshold. "I shall have to manage things very much alone to-morrow," she cried. "York's just told me you've given him notice, Harry. Whatever fort" "He's been too insolent for words, iny dear," answered Fayne hurriedly. "I'll send Walters down from town. Don't , worry. Now we must be going." "Well—so long, Alfred," said Rachel evenly. Erroll noticed she did not kiss her husband the usual goodbye. (To be continued daily.)

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