“THE HONOUR OF HIS HOUSE.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16510, 22 August 1921, Page 5

“THE HONOUR OF HIS HOUSE.”

OUR SERIAL.

By

FRED. M. WHITE.

CHAPTER Xlll.—Continued.

Salt burn made the introduction formally enough. Ho could see quite plainly that de la Croisa was not adverse to being left alone with his fair companion. Salt burn turned his head and moved across to the little tablo where Lady Edna was seated. At the same time do la Croißa indicated the wide stretch of country outside tho long French windows. “ That is a charming prospect,” he said. “ I am glud to think that your introduction to a typical English landscape should have been made here. And don’t you think it rather a pity to stay indoors on a night like this?” “ Do you want to speak to me?” Lady Shariand said. “It would be a great happiness,” the Baron murmured. “It would be a singular favour for an old man like myself.” Lady Shorland tossed her head slightly. She swept along in front of de la Croisa who made way for her to pass. It was mild enough out on the terrace so that there was no occasion for a wrap. It was still and peaceful, too, with a thousand fragrant scents upon the summer air. As they paced side by | side up and down the terrace the subdued yellow gleam of the shaded lamps glistened on Lady Shorland’s hair and gave her skin an opalescent hue like warm ivory. * “ N<yiv then,” she said. “ Please go on.” “But why speak to me like that?” de la Croisa asked. “ I came to-night with an olive branch, not a sword. You will think that perhaps I was surprised when I saw you here this evening, but 1 am not. I have lived too long and seen too many strange things to believe in what you call coincidences. Coincidences are the everyday things in life, it is the commonplace which is so startling. But it is too a night to talk philosophy. Now tell me, why is it that you married Shorland ?” “ Have you any right to ask?” Lady Shorland replied. “ Well, no, but you see, I am an old man, and cohsequently privileged. And, besides, I knew your mother quite well, to say nothing of your father, who was one of my greatest friends. But still, lam bound to say that I did not expect to find my old friend’s daughter in the person of Ninon Garrodos.” 4 ‘ Oh, I remember you,” Lady Shorland said. And you are connected with certain early episodes of my life. It was good of you, of course, to try and heal the differences between my father and my mother. I was only a child at tho time, but I was old enough to think then as I think now—that my mother was never meant to be the wife of a statesman— if you can call my father a statesman. I know you think that he was one of the best of men. But he never understood me, and that is why, when my mother died, E chose to follow a stage career. And now my father is dead it is useless to rake up those scandals.” “You know how he died?” do la Croisa asked. “ Oh, yes, he took his own life. If I were an ordinary daughter, perhaps —but then, wo never were friends. Don’t think mo heartless or unkind, Baron ” She broke off abruptly, and de la Croisa could seo that her lips were trembling. “ Oh, 1 felt it,” she went on. “It was a shock when 1 read the story m the papers. Perhaps, if T had understood my father better ” “ But you value his good name?” the Baron urged. “It was a great one in Spain once. But 1 was rude enough to ask you just now why you married Shorland.” Lady Shorland shrugged her shoulders carelessly. “What can it possibly matter?” she asked. “ Well, a 3 it happens, it matters a great deal. You may be surprised to hear that your father’s fortunes and those of the house of Cranwallis are bound up in the most amazing fashion. Put again I will come to this presently. I want to help you and I want to help my friend Sherringborne at the same time, and you could be of the greatest assistance.” Lady Shorland was interested in spite of herself. 44 Is that really so?” she asked. “ Well, a clever man like yourself ought to know. I remember years ago hearing my father say that you were the most brilliant statesman he had ever met.” “ That will possibly be the verdict of history,” de la Croisa said. “ But I am too old to be touched by tho coni pliments of even a pretty woman like yourself. My great task now is to save tho good name and reputation ol Egbert Cranwallis, whom you jeno-w as the Earl of Sherringborne. And that brings me to the point again. Why did you marry Shorland?” “ I hardly know,” Lady Shorland said indifferently. “ One does these things on tho spur of the moment. And you have it in mind that I might have married a Grand Duke. Well, 1 had my choice even in that exalted sphere. But, you see, I wanted to be the wife of an English nobleman, 'there is something almost unique almut a position like that. And fancy being mistress of a house like Borne Abbey* ! You musn’fc forget, Huron, that l am an artist to my finger tips. J. have only been here a few hours, but I love this place. There are things here which bring the tears to my eyes. Just look at its artistic beauty. "look at the romance and refinement of it all. Ah, it is worth even a greater sacrifice than that of being tied* to a fool like Shorland. And I shall make a man of him yet. At any rate, I shall be mistress of a great historic house, I shall have a great fortune behind me. You see, I am quite candid wth you. Ant) you must admit that it is not an ignoble ambition. These people here mav despise me at present, but it won’t bo for long. And that is why I deliberately chose Shorland instead of a picturesque Grand Duke who could never have given me a home like this.” ‘I am glad vou have spoken plainly,” de la Croisa said. “So vou think that before very long you will be Lady Sherringborne and one of the powers of the land. Well, I have no doubt you will be a brilliant success. But, my dear Ninon there are lions in the path. How would you like presently to find it was necessary to let Borne Abbey and the other two places i of the family and to live in dingy lodg- I ings somewhere for a number of vear.s till all the family d i bts were paid an 1 the estates unencumbered? You bav resided in England ouite lone enoud to know that n score of our great families ars - h y

cial blight. My dear, I am not painting a fancy picture.” “It isn’t truo?” Lady Shorland exclaimed. “ Oh, but it is. I never spoke a truer word in my life. Now, mind, I am trusting you. . I am betraying the confidence of the best friend I ever had. And I am doing all this because some day vou will be Lady Sherringborne, and I feel sure you will help me in every way that lies in your power. There is not a financial disaster, but absolute disgrace. Yet, bad as tho outlook is, it can be saved, and you, by a strange trick of fate, are the only woman who can do it. I know you will help me because you have ambition and courage, and because you will not sit .ouietly down and allow these great advantages to slip through your fingers.” Lady Shorland was interested enough now . She stood beside her companion with dilated eyes and parted lips. “ You are a man of honour.” she said. “ And I know you would not deceive me. You must tell me mot please.” “ Not much more,” de la Croisa said. “ I have given you an outline of the position. You know that Sherringborne is a politician as well as a great nobleman, and politicians occasionally do very foolish things. Besides, people are beginning to talk already. Sherringborne has certain enemies who do not hesitate to say that he has been using official information for Stock Exchange purposes.” “Ah,” Lady Shorland said breathlessly. “Ah! Goon.” “ Now, you are woman of the world enough to know what that means. It isn’t true, of course : Sherringborne has been rash, and, well, I needn’t go anv further. He has an ' unscrupulous enemy who is one of our greatest financiers, and when the comes this financier will not hesitate to use any weapon that comes to hand.” “I know. William Saltburn. Yes?” “ And now I am going to surprise you,” de la Croisa went on. “ There were two people in this mad venture of Sherringborne’s—himself and vour father. Unfortunately, your father is dead. It is well, perhaps, for mv scheme, that nobody knows that you are the daughter of the man who was called El Murid.” “Go on,” Lady Shorland said. “ That secret has been well kent. a* any rate, and now, what do you want me to do? I see that you have some proposition to make.” * ? Do la Croisa lowered his voice impressively. “ I want you to go to Tortina,” he whispered. 44 I want vou to go there with proofs of your identity and put in a cla m for all your father’s belongings. I will see that the path is made smooth for you. You must lay your hands on all his papers without delay. If vou fail to do so, certain documents will be made public, and Lord Sherringborne will be ruined. And then ,you will have to face the dingv lodo*incrs for many a long dav to come. Nov/ take your time • don’t answer hurr’edlv. Are you going to be Lady Sherringborne in effect as well as name, or are you going to let the matter drift entirely? Only I rr know to-night.” (To be continued.)