United States or Vatican City ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Dodo and the Collises, travelling out of their own country for the first time, had not as they acknowledged to each other now "known the difference in foreigners." It was only by the light in other women's eyes women of good birth and breeding that they began to see Lady Dauntrey as she was, common, bold, not a lady, one whom ladies would not care to receive.
Lady Dauntrey was sitting on an iron seat near the top of the gardens. She sprang up when the lamplight showed her the two figures she knew, walking side by side. "Well?" she asked breathlessly. "Two thousand francs thanks to Miss Grant," her husband answered; and Mary was afraid of an angry outburst, but it did not come. "Two thousand francs!" Eve echoed, dully. "Better than nothing.
"Come along, Miss Grant, if you're really willing to see me through this," Dauntrey said, clinging to those bare rocks of conventionality which still rose above the waters of despair. "Unless," Eve broke in quickly, "you'd rather lend us enough to get us out of the whole scrape? Some day " "Oh, cut that, Eve," her husband interposed.
Mary was not comfortable at the Dauntreys', and the house depressed her; but it was a refuge from the Hôtel de Paris, where Prince Giovanni Della Robbia was; and Lady Dauntrey was so kind, so affectionate, that Mary felt it her duty to be grateful. Almost strangers as they were, her hostess poured into her ears a great many intimate confidences, and asked her guest's advice as well as sympathy.
She walked quickly, and at the top of the gardens was about to turn down toward the Casino and more distant railway station when she came upon Lord and Lady Dauntrey. If she could she would have avoided them, but it was too late. They were standing together, talking with great earnestness, and Mary had brushed against Lord Dauntrey's shoulder on the narrow pavement before she recognized the pair.
On a thousand louis, Lord Dauntrey explained, five hundred francs profit nightly represented 900 per cent. a year, which was of course enormous; and regarded thus, her risk was an investment, not a speculation. The Villa Bella Vista remained full, even when Mrs.
Ernstein, though rich, was a coward when it came to risking her money at the tables. Others in the house made themselves as irritating to Lord Dauntrey in their selfish obstinacy as Dodo; and all his hopes centred upon Mary. She was a lamb whom his wife had cleverly caught in the bushes, a lamb with golden fleece.
When the motor launch had landed them upon the slip, and puffed fussily away again, Hannaford steadied Mary's steps with a hand on her arm. It was not until they were on the pavement, and facing up the hill that leads from the Condamine to higher Monte Carlo, that she spoke. "Oh, I ought to have left word for Lady Dauntrey!" she exclaimed. "I thought of that," Hannaford quietly answered.
What use is two thousand francs except to gamble with? Still, I didn't think they'd give me as much, and they wouldn't, by half, if it hadn't been for you." "I hope Lady Dauntrey won't be disappointed," Mary ventured. "I don't know I don't know," he muttered. "Eve is in a strange state of mind. It makes me anxious for the future. But what's the good of worrying? Perhaps there won't be any future."
Through torn clouds a few stars glittered like coins in a gashed purse, and very far away to the west, at the end of all things visible, was a faint, ghostly gleam which meant the dazzling lights of the Casino and its terrace, at Monte Carlo. Lady Dauntrey rested against her husband's shoulder, as if his companionship were dear and essential to her.
Word Of The Day