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Updated: June 19, 2025
Hugh's father, a country landowner, had known Sir Richard for many years, while Walter Brock had made the acquaintance of Lady Ranscomb a couple of years ago in connexion with some charity in which she had been interested. Both were also good friends of Dorise. Both were excellent dancers, and Lady Ranscomb often allowed them to take her daughter to the Grafton, Ciro's, or the Embassy.
"What do the gossips really say about her, Dorise? All this is interesting. But there are so many interesting people here." "Well, the man who told me about her was sitting with me outside the Cafe de Paris when she passed across the Place to the Casino. That caused him to make the remarks. He said that her past was obscure.
She's constantly singing his praises until I'm utterly sick of hearing of all his good qualities." Hugh sighed, and replied: "All men who are rich are possessed of good qualities in the estimation of the world. The poor and hard-up are the despised. But, after all, Dorise," he added, in a changed voice, "you have not forgotten what you told me at Monte Carlo that you love me?"
"How very remarkable!" exclaimed Dorise, when he had finished, and she, in turn, had told him of the encounter at the White Ball at Nice, and the coming and going of the messenger from Malines. "I wonder if he really is the notorious Sparrow?" "I feel convinced he is," declared Hugh.
"They are dancing in the theatre. Will you come, Mademoiselle Dorise?" "Delighted," she said, with an inward sigh, for the dressed-up Parisian always bored her. She rose quickly, and promising her mother to be back soon, she linked her arm to that of the notorious gambler and passed through the great palm-court into the theatre.
"Well, sir, I thank you sincerely for what you have done for Miss Ranscomb during my absence," said the young man, much mystified at finding Dorise strolling at that hour with a man of whose name even she was ignorant. "I know I have enemies, and I shall certainly heed your warning." "Your enemies must not know you are in England. If they do, they will most certainly inform the police."
Then, re-entering the park by the small iron gate, Dorise led him to a fallen tree where, as they sat together, he related all he had been told concerning the notorious head of a criminal gang known to his confederates, and the underworld of Europe generally, as Il Passero, or The Sparrow.
Both she and Benton instantly foresaw that his intention was to visit Dorise in secret. For what other reason could he wish to run the risk of returning to London? "When do you wish to start?" asked his hostess. "Oh! about nine if I may," was the young man's reply. "Will you be back to-night?" asked the girl who, in a pretty pink dinner frock, sat opposite him. "Yes.
Behind them was the silent watcher, the tall man who had followed Dorise when she had made her secret exit from the house wherein the gay dance was till in progress. An empty seat was near, and with one accord the lovers sank upon it, Hugh still holding the girl's soft hand. "I must really go," she said. "Mother will miss me, no doubt." "And George Sherrard, too?" asked her companion bitterly.
She once had her dressing-case stolen from the train between Milan and Genoa, so she's always horribly bitter against all Italians." "There are thieves also on English railways, Dorise," Hugh remarked. "People are far too prone to exaggerate the shortcomings of foreigners, and close their eyes to the faults of the British."
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