A VELVET KNAVE

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143586, 26 August 1911, Page 5

A VELVET KNAVE

[Published by Special Arrangement.]

By RALPH ROOD, Author of "The Hand on the Strings,” “Splendid Paupers,” “The Crime Club.” “The Queen of the “Thames,” “A Millionaire’s Love Affair,” etc., etc. [Copyright.] “Those who seek to read the character of their fellows by the laws of physiognomy are prone to forget that most men conceal their personality behind the masks they wear—masks of makebelieve wisdom, masks of austerity, masks of cunning, of simplicity, and benevolence.”

CHAPTER IX,—Continued,

Cynara sat down, and she folded her hanlls in her lap, Dick had tried his best to speak naturally, yet he saw that his sudden introduction of a disagreeable topic had. chilled the girl, had perhaps disappointed her. He was ready tp curse himself for having done so; yet, nevertheless, he went on, since clearly the present was not the time for delay. “Of course I know you thought you were speaking to Tony, but what I want to know is, what was it sent you to the telephone at all?” Cymini’s face was very grave now. “Sir Vernon was angry with me because I would not do what he wished —so angry! He was effrayant!” "Yes. I should think he was pretty bad when he’s riled. But what was it he wanted you to do?” Cynara got up, and her eyes were big with horror at the revelation she was to make. “Imagine, he would have had me go to the house of one who had been good to me, one who would have trusted mo; and there spy on all she did, find out her secrets.” “And it was your refusal that made him so angry?” , “So angry!” Cynara repeated. “He swore he would turn me into the streets. 1 had no friend in all England to go to; there were the nuns in Brittany, but I had no money, not one franc. Ho locked mo in a little room, and he said that 1 should stay there until I promised to do his bidding. Then I saw the telephone; I knew how to use it; I had often assisted Sister Angelique to order the necessaries from Boulogne, and I thought of Tony,” “I am jolly glad I happened to .ho here.” with fervour. “But I don’t quite see why you didn’t tell me your trouble when I came in place of Tony.” ,

Attain she dropped her voice, speaking in the awed tone she had used a moment ago. ' “Sir Vernon said that in calling you I had brought you into danger, and that if I breathed one word you should not leave tho houso alive. Ah, you are a man, and you laugh and shrug your shoulders, you do not know what feir Y’ernon is when he, is very angry.”

It was true a mere threat would not have frightened Dick very much, even had he believed in it, but in the present case he made no doubt that Monckton had merely used the readiest method he could find of terrifying the girl into silence. After, all, it was not surprising that one brought up as she had been should readily believe the man who had been “effrayant.” -‘But who was the lady?” Dick asked.

Cynara puckered her brows adorably. “I do not know her name, I never beard it. It was Tony who brought her to the convent the day they took me out, and were so kind to me.” ‘‘But surely you heard her name?’-' “Tony called her just ‘Fleda.’ ” “But Sir Vernon, who did he tell you you were to go and spy on?” “He never mentioned her name at all. only he showed me a photograph, a little"miniature he carried in a case in his pocket. At first I thought it was the lady he loved, ho held it so tenderly, but afterwards I knew I must bo wrong. One would not spy on a loved one, is it not so?” Dick took a turn across the room. Up to that moment ho had never doubted that Cynara was the central figure of the imbroglio, that she was the one Tony had written of in his unfinished letter; but then, who was this other woman? The woman who had gone about with Tony Merillon, yet whose miniature Vernon Moncfcton carried tenderly. CHAPTER X. Up to a moment ago there had seemed nothing improbable in Vernon Jlonckton’s explanation as to his behaviour with regard to Cynara; now, however, it would seem that the explanation was a false onee. So far from having brought his old friend's child to England in order 1o prevent her falling into the hands of her dissolute mother, he had done so for a definite purpose of his own. Sir Vernon had intended Cynara to act as his spy, and that upon the one Tony had called “Fleda.” The door opened, and Jehbs came in with the daintily furnished tea table, which he placed by Cynara’s chair, Jehbs, as unruffled as ever, and quite oblivious of the fact that his new master was staring at him in a bewildered fashion. Dick followed the old man from the room; he was relieved to see that Jehbs was safe; he was irritated to remember how needlessly he had been alarmed at his absence. “Well, Jehbs, well?” “I beg your pardon, sir.” Jardine restrained his impatience ■with difficulty. “What's this tale about your being

called away by a telegram purporting to come from me?” he asked.

“YVomen do ask such questions, sir. If one were always to speak the truth to a woman, sir, one would not got along very far.” The master was frowning; of course, the servant had the right to go out if he chose, while there was nothing especially suspicious in his making excuses to the women servants he despised; on the other hand, with the memory of the dastardly attack which had been made on the old man, the knowledge that he had in his possession papers to gain which there had been cause enough for disquietude. “I think not, sir.” Dick turned away abruptly. “And you’ve nothing to tell me?” “Then von can inform the other servants that the lady you have just seen is my wife, their mistress, and you can finish taking tea in.” The old man moved away silently, and Dick Jardine paused at the diningroom door to shake off an uncomfortable sense of being worsted ; there must be no signs of trouble ' or annoyance for Cynara to see. Already the thought of going hack to her, of having the cosy tete-a-tete tea, was driving every other away, and it seemed to the man that fate was malignant indeed when, as lie began making his way across the lobby. Jehhs opened the hall door and ho heard a voice inquiring for him. “Hullo!” Barry Lyndhurst s voice was cheery and charming as over. “No use saying you’re out, I spy you I” The bov had simply walked past Jehhs- it clearlv never entered his head that he,might not be welcome. The only possible thing to do was to get him straight into the dining-room; Jardine felt he could not explain Cvnara’s presence, just then. ‘“Here we arc again!” remarked Barry, cheerily. “You needn’t lookstartled, it’s poor old Tony’s fault letting mo get into this way of poppin in and out. You’ll get accustomed to it.” He had seated himself on the edge of the table; obviously he. was in a communicative mood. “You see, I live with old Dorchester; he’s supposed to be training mu for the diplomatic service; I’m his third secretary and answer secretary number two’s dunning letters for him.” He chuckled gleefully, then went on abruptly. “Como to take you out a bit; expect, you’re having a dull time just atfirst. “Not exactly dull,” said the other quietly, and too future diplomat, not having reached the stage at which a companion’s expression is studied closely, never realised how much lay behind the answer. ■ "YVoll, any way, it’s tune you began to get about a bit.” “Do you know, just present I happen to be rather busy.-'” Jardine was begining. But the other interrupted. •‘My dear chap, that s the thinnest excuse! Now von just put yourself in ray hands, anil I’ll show you round. We’ll lead off this very night at Lady Fleda’s. everyone goes to her shows. “Fleda?” Dick repeated. He was interested enough now; it was the second time he had heard tho name in half an hour. . “Bit out of the common, isn t it, though it suits Fluffy all right. Y'ou see, slid was Lady Fleda Yarcdalo before she married .Sir Rupert Monckton, so, of course, she keeps her title.” “A relation of Sir Y r emon Monckton’s, I suppose?” with assumed carelessness. “Late cousin’s widow. Pretty remote, eh? Sir Rupert met with a gun accident finite soon after his marriage, and the cousin—that's Sir Vernon—succeeded to the title.” “YVasn’t she a friend of Tony’s?” the other asked. “Feel as if Id heard the name.” Barry lighted a cigarette. “Yes”, great chum, though Fluffy has lots of pals, knows everyone. Rotten nickname, isn’t it? All our lot have ’em though, deuced silly habit 1 call it. YVhy, some of them call me ‘Cupid,’ ” with much disgust. “There's a tom-fool nrmc for you. ’ (To be continued.)