THE GAY ADVENTURERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22579, 18 November 1936, Page 23

THE GAY ADVENTURERS

(COPYRIGHT)

CHAPTEIt Xlll.—(Continued) "But, Lady Aldington!" " There aren't any huts about it. Till going to toll everyone the story. Just listen to this, good people. Lord Wavenden won't own up, so it's up to mo to recount his deed of daring do. There were a lot of people spending Christmas in India. There wore hve suites of tents like they always have out I there. My father was the commissioner, and he. was rather proud of his tents and camp arrangements. Well, one night 1 had a terrible dream. I dreamt that I was being held ilown and strangled by some of the hateful old Thags whom 1 had been reading about, and I struggled in vain to get, free. And then it wasn't a dream. It was dreadful reality, though not quite what ] had dreamt, i was being suffocated by the fumes of smoke that rtresiinod through my tent. Outside 1 oould hear frantic cries of alarm, natives shouting Ag luggi, Ag luggi!' Fire! Fire! and rushing in confusion to and fro. 1 tried to put aside the mosquito curtains that surrounded my bed, but the ayah had tucked them in so tightly that 1 could not undo them, and they got hopelessly entangled with the sheets nnd blankets. J tried to scream, but my throat was dried up, and voice failed me. I sank back exhausted, half unconscious. The next thing I remember is a tongue of fire above me, while a pair of strong arms tore away the curtains, threw a blanket over nie, and dragged me out through the flames. .My heroic preserver was badly scorched in his work of rescue. Conid I ever forget this splendid man? Here he is with us, Mr. Hilton then, afterwards Viscount Petherbridge, and now Lord Wa\ enden. And lie lias quite forgotten mo 1 But I was a thin slip of a girl then, though you mightn't think and so there is some excuse for him." All had listened as spell-bound as I)ido and her courtiers when at her request Aeneas related the story of the lall of Troy and liis subsequent adventures. A hum of applause ran round the table as Lady Aldington Concluded. "By Jove! that's great." "How splendid of him!" " Most awfully thrilling!" were some of the comments. "By George. Lady Aldington, that was indeed a case of a valiant knight rescueing a damsel in distress!" Bingo had been in tight places on various occasions, and he knew what perplexity meant. But he had never felt such embarrassment as that lie underwent as the recital of his bravery proceeded. This chronicle of his doings is nothing if not veracious; and it lias to bo recorded that the blood rushed to his face, and he blushed as red as any school-girl. He tried to stammer out that Lady Aldington had made too much of a trifling incident, but his protest was received with incredulity. Sally's eyes gleamed with pride as sho heard Ladv Aldington's narrative. "And the naughty boy has never told me a word about this," she laughed with a poor pretence of indignation. "Well, Lord Wavenden," said Lady Aldington, "for the sake of all that you did for me I forgive you for forgetting me. But all the same you've cot to mako amends. To-morrow ve are going back to London, and on Thursday wo arc giving a political banquet and reception at our house in Barkstone Square. And tliis is your punishment. You must he there. And I'm sure that Ladv Wavenden will he frightfully kind and come with you. Of course, you'll stay the night with us. It's an awfully serious business. There will be ambassadors from goodness knows what countries, foreign princes, our own Eolitical brass hats, and royalty has alf promised to honour the reception. Everyone will be in full war paint, medals, decorations, fenders and coronets, and all the rest of it. And you

two will be of tremendous help to me in entertaining all these big-wigs. Now do promise that you will both come." By this time Bingo had recovered his j equanimity. "You bet we'll come," he , j said. "But I can't regard it as a | punishment. I have deserved a much j more drastic penalty. This will be a delightful experience for us both. We j have lived so much out, of the world | that I, at all events, hardly know who all those people are. It'll be a great event. We shall both enjoy it no end. I look on your invitation as a token of forgiveness." "That's right, Lord Wavenden. 1 felt sure I could count on you. And do you know there it? someone else here who was at that Christmas camp? Do you remember a long, lanky subaltern named Fletcher, who wasn't much use to anyone? Well, he has developed amazingly, and he's a polished man of the world. Hostesses simplv run after him. Don't you spot liinir 1 The tall, upright man next to Lady Wavenden. He's to be my A.D.C. at the reception. He's as clever as they make 'em at knowing everyone and introducing people to each other." "It comes back to me, now you remind me of him. But do tell me who else is here who was present on that memorable occasion. I may find myself in more scrapes unless you give me the tip." Lady Aldington laughed. A good, hearty, cheery laugh. "No, 1 don't think there's anyone else. But do go and have a talk with Major Fletcher when dinner's over. You'll find that he's all there. And between ourselves," she whispered, "he's as impecunious as ever. And he's always been ver3 - faithful and staunch to us." Bingo had his talk with Fletcher, but, whatever Fletcher may have thought, Bingo was far from being favourably impressed. "An obsequious jackanapes," he said to himself. "Good at his job right enough, and that's sucking up and playing the tame cat. No use to me. I'm not taking any. Faithful to the Aldingtons! Yes, 210 knows which side his bread's buttered. Wonder how Sally and lie got on." He bad an opportunity of asking her a little later. She gave a pout when his name was mentioned. "Telepathctio antipathy about meets the case," sho said. "T hated him and felt he loathed me. He'd never have rescued a damsel in distress like you did. laddie. I felt so proud of you when I heard the story. Tt was awfully naughty of you not to have told 111 c all about it long ago." "Bashfulness has always been my banc," laughed Bingo, and he kissed her. It was glorious weather as the express train steamed along London-wards "How lovely it all looks!" said Sally as fields, trees, flocks and herds, old-

time villages and ivy-clad church towers flashed by. "Nothing can beat old England. It isn't by chance that its anagram comes to Golden Land. If there's bad weather hero at times, so thero is everywhere else. But for twelve months in the year give me England." "That's my opinion, old dear. Of course the weather's uncertain and capricious, but I've sampled certainty in India. You know for certain there that it'll be hot for three months and then damned hot for four months." And they both laughed. "Look here, boy," exclaimed Sails as the train halted at the long ciirvimi platform at York, "there's an old friend over there. Wo seem to lie in the wa.v of running up against old acquaintances. There's Inspector Dickenson!" "By Jove! so there is. He doesn't look too well pleased with life. Poor old thing, we let him down rather badly, didn't we? I must try to work the oracle and get him back to Scotland Yard." "Do, old boy," said Sally. "I hope you'll manage it." Aldington House in Barkstone Square dated from the days when great nobles built for themselves princely mansions. Times had changed since then. Few of the old historic houses survive in their ancient grandeur. One of the finest is now n museum; another has been pulled down to make room for bar-

By CAPTAIN E. C. COX Author of " Achievements of Carrutheri,** etc.

A ROLLICKING STORY OF A PAIR OF LOVABLE SCAPEGRACES

barons flats; another has been occupied by a successful tradesman. But Aldington house vas as it might have appeared a century and a-bnlf ago. Lord and Lady Aldington were among the diminishing number of Fortune's favourites. They were able to keep up tlie house in the style that it deserved. An imposing doorway opened into a vast lofty entrance-hall from which rose a beautifully designed staircase with a richly ornamental balustrade. On the ground floor there were five spacious reception rooms. On the walls hung priceless pictures by Van Dyck, Gainsborough and Reynolds; and exquisite statuary from the glory that was Greece, with a few busts of patricians from the grandeur that was Home, gave joy to the heart of a connoisseur. To Bingo and Sally were assigned luxurious rooms on the (irst floor, facing the back of the mansion, that being the sunnv side. Next to them, on one side, was Ladv Aldington's boudoir; the room on the other was unoccupied. A light balcony ran the whole length of the house. The banqueting hall, where in years long gone by kings had graced the board, was a regal and majestic chamber. The elegantly moulded ceiling was supported by pillars of the purest marble. A gallery for musicians stood out from the wall. The dinner was one of the most famous functions of tho London season. Seats were placed for forty guests. There were cabinet ministers, one wearing the blue riband of the garter; great soldiers, their breasts covered with medals; two foreign princes; the President of a South American republic; a duke and his duchess, the latter wearing a magnificent diamond tiara; several ambassadors, and other distinguished guests. Most of them wore the decorations of their various nationalities. The music from the gallery was so skilfully modulated that it seemed rather to suggest than actually constitute a concord of sweet sounds, and was no bar on conversation. Lord and Lady Aldington were an ideal host and hostess. She wore round her neck the far-famed

Aldington pearls, without any other jewellery. On the conclusion of the banquet Lord and Lady Aldington stood on a low dais in the great entrance hall to receive the guests for the reception. He looked an ordinary English gentleman with nothing particular to distinguish him, but she might have been .1 queen. She possessed the rare gift common to royalty of never forgetting a face or personality, and she had n few appropriate words for each individual guest. There was a hundred and fifty in all present. Brilliant uniforms, military, naval and diplomatic, with the more delicate hues of the women'!! dresses and their dazzling jewellery, made a kaleidoscopic blaze of colour. Fletcher was übiquitous, courteous and debonair, introducing guests to one another, finding out and bringing to gether old friends and acquaintances, and inviting all in turn to a room where refreshments were provided, and cigarettes might he smoked. "By Jove, that chap knows his job, Sally," said Bingo as ho watched the indefatigable Fletcher flitting around like a butterfly from flower to flower. "It wouldn't suit me. A bit too much like a bead flunkey. But I admit lie's all there."

Sali.v laughed. "I can't see you trotting round like that. But this is some show. I'm enjoying this. Really Kandiara couldn't provide anything more gorgeous, I don't know that 1 could live up to it as a permanency, but it's something to have experienced once in a way. But d'you see that tall man in purple and fine linen who might be a Roman emperor, standing over there by Fletcher? Oh, Bingo, this is a shock, and he evidently wants Fletcher to bring him to us." "Great Scott, Sally, it's Rudolf Kareno, and he's making for us. He must spot us. Wonder what his little game is. We'll weather it out, whatever it is. We may have something spicy." "Lord Wavenden," said Fletcher as he manoeuvred Rudolf through tho crowd, and with a smile brought him up to them, "His Highness, Rudolf Kareno, Chancellor of Berengaria, desires to be introduced to you and the Countess of Wavenden. He thinks that he has met you before, and he would enjov a talk with vou."

"Only too delighted," said Bingo, and Sally smiled. They all shook hands. "1 am enchanted by this wonderful house and this distinguished assembly," commenced Rudolf, "but, alas! I am a stranger and hardly know who anyone is. I never saw your beautiful country till a few days ago. I live in a little out-of-the-way country called Berengaria. You have probably never heard of it." Bingo remembered those remarkable eyes that signified one thing one moment, and something totally different the next. They were not unfriendly now. There was more than a touch of humour in them. "Oh, yes, I have heard of it," he said. "Wo all know about the discovery of the rich coal seams and the prosperity they brought. And isn't Berengaria very picturesque?" "So, so; but we have nothing to compare with your Windsor Castle, and your noble Houses of Parliament. And the people are all primitive and backward. There is no one you can really talk to. How different from here! I find you English so warm-hearted and charming in every way. I admit it is not quite what 1 expected. D'you know the only time in my life that I was bested by anyone, was by an Englishman." Rudolf laughted as though ho quite enjoyed this recollection. (To ho Coni-lnrled)