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Updated: June 20, 2025
It was on the tip of Hugh's tongue to remark with sarcasm that such ideals might well be expected of the wife of a jerry-builder in Golder's green. But he hesitated. Lady Ranscomb was always well disposed towards him, and he had had many good times at her house and on the grouse moor she rented in Scotland each year for the benefit of her intimate friends.
At last she had heard of Hugh's infatuation for Dorise Ranscomb, the daughter of the great engineer who had recently died, and indeed she had met her once and been introduced to her. Of the conditions of old Mr. Henfrey's will she was, of course, in ignorance. The girl had no idea of the great plot which had been formed by her foster father and his clever female friend.
"I really don't care in the least, mother. I'm quite happy here alone. It is a rest. We shall have to be back in town in a fortnight, I suppose." "George could quite well have waited for a day or two," Lady Ranscomb declared.
Had she at the last moment been prevented from coming? He knew how difficult it was for her to slip away at night, for Lady Ranscomb was always so full of engagements, and Dorise was compelled to go everywhere with her. At last he saw a female figure in the distance, as she turned into the park from the Marble Arch, and springing to his feet, he went forward to meet her.
But the tall, good-looking man only laughed, and then he said: "My name really doesn't matter at present. Later, Miss Ranscomb, you will no doubt know it. I am only acting in the interests of Henfrey." Again she looked at him. His face was smiling, and yet was sphinx-like in the moonlight.
When I go fishing I prefer to go alone," the girl said. "But what am I to say to Lady Ranscomb?" "Tell her that I love Hugh," laughed the girl defiantly. "Tell her that I intend to defeat all her clever intrigues and sly devices!" His countenance now showed that he was angry. He and Lady Ranscomb thoroughly understood each other.
So Hugh rang off and crossed the hall, little dreaming that the well-dressed Frenchman had been highly interested in his questions. Half an hour later he went along to the Metropole, where he had an engagement to lunch with Dorise and her mother. When they met, however, Lady Ranscomb exclaimed: "Why, Hugh, you look very pale. What's the matter?" "Oh, nothing," he laughed forcedly.
She had been alone with her mother after the last guest of a gay house-party had departed, when, unknown to Dorise, Lady Ranscomb had telegraphed to her friend George to "run up for a few days' fishing." Lady Ranscomb's scheme was to throw the pair into each other's society as much as possible.
"Why did Hugh go there at all? That is what I fail to understand," she declared. "Don't wonder any longer. He had, I know, an urgent and distinct motive to call that night." "But the woman! I hear she is a notorious adventuress." "And the adventuress, Miss Ranscomb, often has, deep in her soul, the heart of a pure woman," he said. "One must never judge by appearance or gossip.
In the big hall they were greeted by a well-preserved, grey-haired Englishwoman, Lady Ranscomb, the widow of old Sir Richard Ranscomb, who had been one of the greatest engineers and contractors of modern times. He had begun life as a small jerry-builder at Golder's Green, and had ended it a millionaire and a knight.
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