THE NOVELIST. THE DAY OF TEMPTATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2319, 11 August 1898, Page 49

THE NOVELIST.

THE DAY OF TEMPTATION.

[Published by Special Arrangement.]

fy WILLIAM Hi QVEUX,

Author of "Whoso Fimlelli a Wife," "Ihe Great War in England in 1837," " The Eye of lstir," "If Sinners Entice Thee," "Zoraida, 1 . " GuiUy Bond?," " Devil's Dice," " A Secret Service," &c, <S<\

Chapter XXVIIL The 'I rick of a Trickster. NX afternoon a week later Gemma was idling in her cosy private sitting room at the Hotel Victoria. She had returned there in an involuntary manner, because it v/as the only hotel she knew in London. It hal been a wet, dismal day, and by 3 o'clock it had become so dark that she had been com-

put the bust back into the dressing-bag beside him. "'No,, no," Malvano said, smiling grimly, some minutes later. "Don't hide it .away, Lionollo. It's well worth our admiration, ■ and docs you credit. This is the last time we shall have an opportunity of seeing it, so let it remain on the table." All joined in a chorus of laughter and approbation, and Nenci fumbling in the bag at his side, reproduced it, and placed it ,- upon the table in full vieAv of their gaze. 'At that moment Gemma, deep in conversation with her ladyship, did not notice that the bust was exposed before them, and not until Nenci and Malvano had left, the room together, in order to consult with the fop-pishly-dressed young man outside in the drawing-room, did she detect its presence. Then, with a sudden scream of wild alarm, fthc dashed forward, her bare arms raised in despair, crying: "Look! look! This is not tho bust he showed us first, but another! This one is charged! Fly! quickly— all of you. In another instant this house will be a jnass of ruins, and we shall all be blown to atoms ! This is Nenci' s diabolical vengeance ! " With one accord they sprang from their chairs and rushed towards the door. Tristram was the first to gain it, and turned the handle. V God ! It's locked ! " lie shrieked. jNe'nci, the minister-faced man who. with liis two infamous companions had secured them in that room with the frightful engine of destruction in their midst, had ingeniously escaped. Speechless, with faces blanched, they exchanged quick" apprehensive glances of terror. These moments were full of terrible suspense.. All knew that they were doomed and appalled, and rooted to the spot by unspeakable terror, none dared to move a muscle or touch that exquisite little bust upon the table. Each second licked out clearly by the Sevres clock upon the mantelshelf brought them nearer to sn untimely and frightful end : nearer to that fatal moment when the tiny glass tube must be shattered by the internal mechanism and thus cause an explosion which would in au instant launch them into eternity.