THE NECKLACE OP PARMONA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13583, 12 September 1908, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE NECKLACE OP PARMONA.

PUBLISiiBD BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

BY X. T. MEADE, Author of " Scaap and I," " The Cleverest Woman in England," "The Brotherhood of Seven Kints." " A Princess of the Gutter." ' Love Triumphant," - Prom the Hand of the Uinier." Etc

[OOrfBIGHT.] CHAPTER XIH. TnK count changed his manner when he found himself alojo with the old duchessa. Ho bowed to her in the most perfect and graceful way, then said " 1 have the' pleasure, Duchessa di Parniona, to assuio you of my success. You have already jecerved into your establishment the young, low-bom wife of Kenneth Yule. Kennejh Yule, duchessa, is the. only son and heir pi a rich Englishman of the name of General Yule, who lives at a placo in Cornwall tailed Seven Points. Kenneth Yule baa secretly married this young girt. Ho wishes tot to tell his father of his mesalliance ; just yet; but I know his secret. The girl's aunt in London knows his secrtt, and you know his secret. We hold, therefore, a complete and absolute power ov«r Kenneth Yule. The girl is pretty, ignorant, and harmless." "I have sem her," said tho duchess. " She is, as you say, of exceeding prettiness, and I doubt not is as harmless as a lime fly when it flutters within the spider's grasp." "Ah." said the count, with a laugh; ' we, duchessj., are the spiders, are we lot ?'' ' A sly and yet triumphant expression same into the duchessa's face. " It matters not if we attain our purpose." she said. " Our purpose is attained," said the count. "1 hoped so; I had great expectations with regard to it," said the old duchess. " You rontim them, my amiable friend." "It is a iprtainty; "Rosamunda Jocelyn arrives in Jsaples early in October. She comes to sen you. She brings the necklace, and—" the count made a significant gesture with his hand. "What does that signify?" asked the duchess. | ''Walls have ears, duchessa. We speak not of that which dwells in our minds. 1 have dona my part, and I ask from, you my rightful reward." Anything in reason," said the duchess. She looked expectantly and anxiously at the count. ' 1 have," she said, "views for—for my grand-niece, and —it concerns you not. It is best for us to be plain on tiat point at the outset." ] The duchess said these words with a certain haughtiness and yet reserve as though she" feared their effect on the count. The count looked at her with! a placid smile. _ {

have aspirations," he said. " I am low bora myself, but I never did contemplate rising" so high as to believe it possible that I could make «in alliance with your grand-niece. She is, indeed, most beautiful, and worthy of wealth, and rank and honour. Think not that I make that the reward of my exertions. No, duehessa, what I ask at your hands is this. Give mo in marriage Rosmunda Jocelyn, and I ask nothing further;"^ She is my young relation," said (the duchess. ~ 1' "But not so nearly related as the SigDorina Venetia." i * "That is true," said the duchess. "and jrou—you love her, count?" . '' "Love her!" said the count, with fervour. She is magnificent; she is ''faeau.iful; but it is not for that I loir© i her. She is also rich, as we Italians CiMint riches; but it is not even for that I love' tier. I will whisper it to you, duchsssa. T love Rosmunda because she scoiriied me. I did venture to ask her hand In i»arriage, and she laughed at me, and des-'-:sid me. Therefore my love for faeipaljs k» great that I will have her. I 'claim her; I claim your help. She shall henry wife." X. !' ~ If I can help yon, count, I will, said the duchessa, in a careless tone. t ■:.:,'• " You can help me; I will explain |M>re when the time comes. There is drieijeor* word. Say nothing to the Signorina Yenetia about our projects with regard to Bosmunda." < **_■•. " I keep many secrets from my (rjiomniece," said the duchess. " Haa. ever occurred to yon, count, that she— has made a very special friend of you?'* ; "Ah," said the count; " friendship— what is friendship? A most beautpal, a most sacred possession; but it is not love; it is not love, duchessa." , v ;. "I will talk to you anon with to my projects for the future of my grand-;, niece," said the duchess. "But iK>w, ft enough of her. Speak to me of the necklace. 0 Have you seen it?" \: t '■■■?• ;; . "I have not. I spent a fortnight at Seven Points; but the necklace, 13 kept. lafely locked away by General Yule. The fair Rosmunda will, however, .bring it ho Naples with her; of that rest assured. The duchess gavo a sigh. . ' "It is long to wait until October, she said. " I would that she came;; sooner, j but I suppose it cannot be." f ' ' -•.: j "It cannot, duehessa. We most on no account arouse suspicion. Our object fa to get' Rosmunda to Naples. Ohoe there, our projects are easy. You secure the necklace. I secure the maid." '**> CHAPTER XIV. a fev.- days later the old serving-woman, Margherita, was in the room with the young Signorina Venetia. 'Venetia was standing by the open window. It Was the cool of the pveuing, and the jalousies had Won put back. The wire blinds kept out the constant -stream of mosquitoes;, Venetia made an impatient exclamation. "They bite me not," she said. . lam proof against them. Remove the blinds, Margherita.'" ... The woman touched a" spring in the wall, and the wire blinds moved smoothly up, letting in a free and pure current of air across the bay. "The young English tedy; suffers much from our innocent mosquitoes*" she said. "Ah," replied Venetia; "let her suffer ; I care nothing at ill.'' . •She will become what we call immuned in course of time," said Margherita "You ask not /of her, signorina; you do not inquire for her welfare. That is unlike so gracious, n BO MMj a lady as yourself." ' '!■ "••:"f ; ,'• „ " She is to me of the utmost, indifference, said the voung Italian. "Margherita"—she turned and faefcd the old woman '■when you sat a iojr cay* ago behind the Dortiere" curtain, what did von hear? Tell ,ne—l repeat'it noti: but ted me, I beseech you." »/.'!' Margherita's very deep-set eyes seemed to shut quickly. A spasm 'of emotion crossed her wrinkled face. <■ i "1 heard," she. said, "of the great, of the wonderful necklace; ' 'It is found; it will be brought here. It will bring propperity to the house offftomona." Venetia's splendid eye* were fixed on the pld woman's face. "> i'" ■' , " Go on," she said rnpmouflly. "There is nothing /bow, signorina mia." •' There ie a great deal more," said Venetia "and I will know. How did the courit speak Did vou bufihear the voices, or did you manage with year usual witchery also to sec the faces?" , / . - . "There is, as yon know, signorina, a hole the size of a cro*fflt piece in the portiere curtain. To that'hole I ; .applied my right eye. I could tin* see : M well as hear. . „ '"You are a witch—a veritable witch, said the girl. '.'I knew that you were listening, and it was because I knew that fact that I did not listen myself. "Oh, fiignorfna, » lady of your exalted rank would not:8toop (> to listen to what was not intended for>her. .. ', .tit.- i " ~.it I telly*, Margherita, that I think nothing of rank. What is rank compared fen love* I «eH you once again, Margherita, that I would listen, and listen, and listen— I would creep on »* hands and knees. I ipould benfl my m until it touched the loor so that through, the crack between the Joor and the floor 1 should hew the spoken urords. That would I do, and think no a few paces away XrlST&l Her face looked small and iroerifid- *' • .'■'

"The duchessa talks of driving this morning," she said; " and you will doubtless accompany her. There is the young duke, Giuseppe di Cavoura, who is to accompany the duchessa. You will go too, will you i not, signorina?" | The signorina stamped her small foot. "Tell me the rest, she said. " I care nothing for the Duca di Cavoura. I caro nothing for driving abroad; but I want to knowto know, and yet again to know: what said the count?" " He talked of the necklace." , " Margherita, you are keeping something bark. Margherita, you are unfair and unjust to me. "No, my child," said the old servingwoman ; " I endeavour to do my duty both to you and to the duchessa. I listen; for I say to myself, knowledge is power; but I repeat no words." " Except to me," said the girl. " You repeat them to mo." "And why?" said the old-woman. " Because if you do not, I go to the duchessa, and get her to placo a door behind the portiere curtain, and to have that rent, the sire of a crown piece, carefully mended. Then what will become of your future plans!" Margherita shrugged her shoulders. " It. matters not," she said. "If I know nothing, you know nothing, signorina." "I keep my knowledge to myself as I have ever done," said the young Italian. " Now, speak out, and tell mc. I have learned from the good duchessa that Count Carrara has found the necklace —that the lady to whom it belongs visits Italy in October ; that my beloved zia will behold it with her own eyes; but what follows, I know not. Do .you know, Margherita?" " I most'truly do not," said Margherita. "Nevertheless, you are keeping something back." "It would hurt you to know," said the old woman. "Why should I hurt one I lovo, one who lay in my arms as a babe? I kissed you and loved you when my heart was broken for my good Englishman, my beloved husband. " To hurt you now is to 'hurt myself. Dwell in peace, signorina, and ask* not of those dark things which will injure vou." " I know," said Venetia— I will tell you, and you shall tell me if I am right or wrong. You heard the interview which took place between my zia and the Count Carrara. You saw their faces. No word escaped you ; no gesture escaped you: no look in their eves escaped you. I also know the count, well ah, very well. The count asked for a reward. "He would not do what he has done without being rewarded for his pains. The i count is poor: ho wants money. His reward was partly money, was it not, Margherita?" . "Oh, ves. ves." said Margherita, " The count expects money ; but the duchessa cannot pay. She is of the poorest. How is the count to be paid m gold lor what he has done?" _ • .. T " Go on surmising, Signorina Venetia i will not tell, but I can at least bow my head." ... , . rr,, Venetia again stamped her foot. iter dark Italian "face turned crimson. After a minute's pause she said, in a resolute voice— " I love Count Carrara, and you know it. The old woman nodded. " He loves me not, and you know it. There came a flashing light in the deeply sot eyes, and the wizened face turned/sligntIv "Ho l "io-TOS me not," repeated Venotia; ' " Ho loves me not," repented Venetia, "and yet I am very beautiful. Once M told me of his love—twice, thrice ho spoke of it Oh, Margherita, once—yes, once. on the dav of his return, he kissed mo 0.1 my lips. Oh, Margherita—he did that, even that, and yet he loves mo not." ~ ~ "Patience, child: have patience, said the old woman. "The count is not worthy of you, signorina." ' . „ "I care not," answered the girl. v> hat is mere worth, when one loves? I know him to be bad, and yet I love him. There is something in him which has roused tno fiercest, strongest, wildest devotion in my heart. I would marry him I would bo his wife. I would give him myself—my proud self. There, Margherita, you know everything."' , , T "I know everything," answered -Margherita, " Is it time for you to prepare for your drive with the duchessa?" i "I tell you, I go not. She shall take the "English signora-- pretty signora with the fair face. Let me go on with my story. The count asked for gold. . Did the duchessa promise it?" . | Margherita nodded. Venetia looked on the floor. ~ , "He can get gold?" she said. How? He can get it by robbery? No, it would ! not b© worthy of my zia to rob another m order to pay "him back for the service he has rendered her. He can get it by marriage. - Did he propose to the duchessa marriage?" __ Margherita gave a very quick nod. The girl sprang forward and took the old woman's withered hands within her own. "Now, speak out," she said. "Did he ask for my hand—for mine? Did he think of my little patrimony in Sardinia? It could be sold. It could fetch—oh, not much, but, something. Did he think of me and my patrimony? Speak, Margherita. Speak at once." ... , "You must know the worst, signorina mia. He spoke of the English lady as his future bride—the lady who is half Italian, half English; the lady whose name is Rosmunda Jocelyn, and comes here in October with the necklace." As the old woman said the words the girl straightened herself until she looked perfectly stiff. Then, with a fierce movement, she pushed the old nurse from her and, turning her back, walked to the window. A moment later she had left the room swiftly and eilentlv a* was her wont. She wont straight into the presence of the duchessa. " Zia mia," she said ; " you will go for a drive on this fair evening." > " I have ordered a, hired carnage, but the time will soon corse when I shall have my own servants in the livery of our house, and mv own horses and carriages," said the old i ladv. "Ihe Duca di Cavoura has promised ' to accompany us, You will e-.>mo 100, Vene- : tia?" , . 1 Venetia sank on the neatest chair. " You want me to marry him," she said. "And why not?" answered the old woman. "We elders arrange these things in Italy- He is in all ways suitable for one so proud and so lovely as yourself. He is of a family equal in plena* ur to your own, and he is rich. I will ngree to his proposals, and you shall be his wife in the late autumn." " But lie is younger than I," said the signorina. "Bab! What matters that? You are twenty-two, ho is twenty." N " I hare no affection for boys," said the girl. "I am tall; he is smaller than I." " Bah !" said the old woman again. " Who looks at the height of a husband?" " And I love not this beardless boy," continued the girl. " Does not that count for something?" "It is indelicate to love before marriage," said the old lady. Venetia smiled. "That is the old world idea," she said slowly. " It is the right idea, my child. You will marry the duke, and bo happy." "When, zia, when do you propose that my nuptials shall take place?" "In October," said the duchess; "after I have seen the fair Rosmunda Jocelyn, and when the necklace is once more in my possession." "You would steal the necklace?" said tho girl. " I would return it to its rightful owner. Then I shall be rich. Then I can give you ■a marriage worthy of your rank. Put on your garments, and come out with me. Tho duke will arrive at any moment." "Have you asked the English signora to accompany us?" " J have not. She is better, but not yet well enough to appear in the presence of my friends. T expect to meet some friends to-day; amongst others, the Count Carrara." "Ah!" said Venetia. "Does ho accompany us on our drive?" "He does." " Then I will go." " One moment first, Venetia. You speak ' of not loving your future husband. Surely you are not so wanting in decorum as to give your affections to another?" "I am never wanting in decorum," raid the young girl, standing up as she spoke. " You can trust me. As to my feelings towards the count, you can indeed most absolutely trust me." Her eyes flashed fire. 1 he old duchessa thought for a time over this circumstance after Venetia had left the room, but the serving-woman hurried in to prepare her mistress for her drive. " It will cost many a lira, said the old lady ■ " but it is worth it. You understand.

Margherita, that the Duca di Cavoura will make a suitable husband for my niece." " Ah, but he is beautiful. It is a mamage arranged in tho Celestial Country," said tho old woman. "I think so indeed, Margherita; and Venetia must marry, and soon. She is already past the first splendour of her beauty. She is two and twenty. Most maidens of our house marry at eighteen." "There is no one in Naples who can match tho signorina," replied Margherita. " I know what you think of her," said the duchessa, "She has been your nursling. You are doubtless proud of her on that account." . n "There are many who agree with me,' said the old woman. " But you are right, signora, duchessa-. Many the lady soon to one whom she can love." " Tho duke is a distinguished youth," said tho old duchessa. "Ah, signora, yes.' " Get ire my pelerine, and my bonnet with the ostrich plumes," said the old lady. "I am pleased, Margherita, I see tho end of a long, long journey. lam happy, and at rest." At that moment Venetia swept into the room She wove the dress of an Italian girl of hor rank. It was simplicity itself, but suited her style of beauty as no other dress could. By and bv, assisted by her servingand'tho old* butler of the establishment, the duchess was conveved downstairs, and soon was almost lifted into tho barouche which was waiting for her at tho front door of tho palazzo. A slender youth with a beardless face, practically no' chin, and a sloping forehead, suddenly'appeared in view. Tho duchess held out her hand to him. He bent, and kissed it with his lips. Then ho tinned, intending to make the same salutation to Venetia, but Venetia bent her stately head and took her placo beside her aunt. The duke sat opposite the old lady. Some directions were given to the Italian coachman, and they drove rapidly through tho well-known streets. At a certain corner they stopped. A tall, handsome man with a bearing of great distinction came up and bowed to both ladies. The duchess introduced Count Carrara to the duke. The count took his seat opposite to Venetia, who received his salutation with a gentle and ingratiating smile. What lay behind that smile eye.l tho clever count could not divine, but ho felt somehow during that lovely drive on that perfect summer evening, that the Italian girl was his match. He had a sense of discomfort in her presence, and yet, since he first knew her, he had never respected her so much.

CHAPTER XV. Yule returned home to find his family eager to receive him, and his sisters, at least, curious with regard to his long absence. He gave them a casual explanation, and, as he did so, his eyes sought the proud, handsome face of his cousin. Rosamond had asked no questions. By and bv the two found themselves alone. "Well, Kenneth," she said, as soon as this took place " you may as well tell me everything." " Mv dear child, I have been engaged over a little matter which concerns myself alone." Rosamond looked at him with great mtentness. " Do vou know." she said, "that there are times when I believe myself to be endowed with second sight. Such time*) come to me when I don't wish for them. But since you left, and since that dreadful Count Carrara went away. I have thought of you both in conjunction and in the queerest, possible way. I have had dreams, too, in which I seemed to see you both, you and the count, together in Italy." The colour rose into Yule's faco. "I have been in Italy," he said, suddenly. * "Ah!" she answered. She gave a start of astonishment. "You have been in Italy, and you have kept it a secret from us all!' "Not from you all, for I am now telling you." "But you didn't sav a word to my dear uncle, or to the girls?" "There was no use. I went principally on your account, Rosamond. I wished to see for myself what sort of person your old relation, the Duchessa di Parmona, was." "All, Ken.!" The girl's beautiful face softened. " Why did you do this?" "Because I could not allow you to come to any harm," he answered, speaking with a certain uneasiness, for her beauty and graciousness had always a strange power over him. "And vou found my relative? continued the girl/ "And she is all right?" " She is quite magnificent," was the reply ; "and she does live in a palace in Naples. She does, Kosamond." " Did she express a wish to see me herself?" "An earnest wish. She looks upon you as a verv near kinswoman." " Then the count did not lie to me when he told mo that story?" "He certainly did not he." "Did you tell the duchessa, Kenneth, that I would visit her?" " I did, Rosamond. I said I would myself have the pleasure of taking you to see her in October." " You are kind," said the girl. She was standing on one of the many points of the beautiful old place, and as sho spoke she looked straight out to sea. Her beautiful eyes were full of retrospect. After a minutes pause she turned and faced her cousin. "Have you seen Uncle Alton yet?" "No, dear; not yet; but I must go to him in a few minutes." '" Do. Ken." " How has he been, Rosamond? Has that attack gone off completely?" >! " He seems to be quite himself. It was a very alarming attack while it lasted, but I earnestly hope there is no danger of a repetition." " You arc wrong there, Rosamond. There is every possible danger of a repetition of tin* attack, and if it comes, it may end fatally." • ■• ' Oh, Kenneth — could not bear it," said Rosamond. " I love— is, 1 think I love Uncle Alton better than anyone elso in all the world." , Kenneth felt his heart beating faster than it ought. Rosamond clasped her hands together. " We must keep him from all anxiety at any cost," she said. " And yet," said Yule, " we have a task before us, Rosamond. We must get him to consent to come to Italy with us. I could take you and the girls alone, but they would not like to leave my father. I am going up to town to-morrow to consult Dr. Welch. I hop© Dr. Welch will permit my father to travel. If so, we will go the last week in August and make our journey by slow stages. We can then avoid such a hot place as Naples until October, and do the Italian lakes, and even spend a week at Lucerne." " I think he would like it," said Rosamond eagerly. " I mean to break our wishes to him tonight." " Do you dare, Kenneth?" " Yes, dear. I will tell him that you wish to go to Naples." " You won't put it in any way before him as an idea of Count Carrara's?" "Certainly not; that would never do." "I think he has forgotten the count," said the girl. "He never speaks of him. Dear Uncle Alton is just his old delightful self. It is the joy of my life to be with him." " He will greatly benefit by travelling with you, Rosamond." "Yes." " Shall we go back now?" said Yule. "My father will wonder why I have not seen him." On their way to tho house Rosamond said suddenly: " I shall be of age to-morrow." "I have not forgotten," replied Kenneth. Rosamond gave a faint sigh. "Why do you sigh?" he asked. " Because, "dear," she replied very gently, " I shall no longer be a child; I shall be a woman in every sense of th» word. I am glad, and sorry. I think Uncle Alton is really sorry that my minority is over. Ho said to me this morning: 'In a few hours now, Rosamond, you will bo able to do what you like with yourself and your property. Ken, that is one thing that gives me 'pleasure. I can spend ever so much money on him, and on the girls, and on you, too, if you will let me." " Oh, Rosamond —I could not touch your money; and it is not so very much, dear not as the world counts riches." "But I have a whole thousand a year," said the girl, speaking in an important

tone. "Surely no one can think little of that." "There are a great many, Rosamond, who would think nothing of it. Nevertheless, it is sufficient for all your wants, and you need never throw yourself away on a man who is unworthy of you." Tho colour swept"into the girl's cheeks. She slackened her pace. An awkward pause fell between the pair. "There's another thing will happen tomorrow," she said suddenly. " Uncle Alton will show me the necklace, and I can take it and my mother's letter away with me. 1 have' had a little safe built into the wall of my room where I shall put necklace and letter. Do vou know, Ken, it is- extraordinary, but I* think "Uncle Alton is very unwilling that I should have tho care of the necklace." " I am sure he is not," replied the young man. "It is your right, and you must always, prize it and keep it most carefully." " It has a story attached to it, and 1 am deeply anxious to know what the story is,'' said Rosamond. "I have begged Uncle Alton over and over to tell me, but he has invariably said: 'You will find full particulars with regard to the old necklace in your mother s letter; and it isn't too long' to wait until you are twentyone.' I shall fee twenty-one to-morrow, Ken. By this time to-morrow I shall know." "By this time to-morrow," said Kenneth. "I wonder if I shall tell you or not." "You must act as you think best, dear." Her eyes softened as sho looked at him. "I have always brought you my troubles, have I not?" she said. "And I have always sympathised, have I not, Rosamond?" Indeed you have, most truly. Why is it that you seem so much nearer to me than either Jane or Anne? Of course I love them both, but you seem somehow nearer." "I am glad," ho answered. q " Now, let us hurry. It is bad to keep my father in suspense." They quickened their steps. As they were reaching the houso Rosamond said suddenly, "Oh, Kenneth, what do you think? Penwern has married again. lie has married that nice Mrs. Trevelyan who brings up her children so well, they were married this morning. I hope Susie, that pretty little Susie, will behave nicely about it._ I am told she is staying with an aunt in London at tho present time." Kenneth murmured something which made Rosamond think that Susie Penwern, as she called her, was a person beneath his interest. Sho went away to join her cousins, singing quietly as she did so. She was full of pleasure. Her spirits Avere high. Kenneth had returned, and there was no one like him in all the world to her. (To be continued on Saturday next).