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I dreaded all the ghastly official formalities which the day would bring, since I realized that the brunt of the trouble must fall upon the shoulders of Miss Beverley in the absence of Madame de Staemer. I wandered about restlessly, awaiting the girl's appearance.
"Nothing," I said, "He has left us strangely in the dark. But you say he went abroad on a second and more recent occasion?" "Yes, not much more than a month ago. And after that, somehow or other, matters seemed to come to a head. I confess I became horribly frightened, but to have left would have seemed like desertion, and Madame de Staemer has been so good to me."
The Colonel was unusually silent, eating little but drinking much. There was something unreal, almost ghastly, about the whole affair; and when at last Madame de Staemer retired, bearing Val Beverley with her, I felt certain that the Colonel would make some communication to us.
"No," said I, "that is true enough. I am looking forward to meeting Madame de Staemer " "The Colonel's invalid cousin," added Harley, tonelessly. "And her companion, Miss Beverley." "Quite so. Nor must we forget the Spanish butler, and the Colonel himself, whose acquaintance I am extremely anxious to renew." "The whole thing is wildly bizarre, Harley."
At this point our tete-a-tete was interrupted by the return of Madame de Staemer. "Oh, la la!" she cried, "the Colonel must have allowed himself to become too animated this evening. He is threatened with one of his attacks and I have insisted upon his immediate retirement. He makes his apologies, but knows you will understand."
If she cares to see you I do not forbid the interview." "Oh, that's good of you, doctor." He bowed to Miss Beverley. "Perhaps, Miss, you would ask Madame de Staemer to see me for a few minutes." Val Beverley looked at me appealingly then shrugged her shoulders, turned aside, and walked in the direction of Madame de Staemer's door. "Well," said Dr.
Then, ere I had time to reply: "She told you, I suppose, eh?" "She told me," I replied with a certain embarrassment, "that she had met you some years ago in Cuba." "Ah, yes, although I told the fat Inspector it was not so. How we lie, we women! And of course she told you in what relation I stood to Juan Menendez?" "She did not, Madame de Staemer." "No-no? Well, it was nice of her. No matter.
Do you know? I was trying to escape from him when Madame de Staemer found us. She called me a shameful name, and my father, who heard it, ordered her out of the house. Senor Menendez spoke sharply, and my father struck him." She paused once more, biting her lip agitatedly, but presently proceeded: "Do you know what they are like, the Spanish, when their blood is hot?
The fact of the matter is that he is badly out of his depth, but is not man enough to acknowledge the fact even to himself." She smiled at me pathetically. "Whatever should I have done if I had been alone?" she said. I was tempted to direct the conversation into a purely personal channel, but common sense prevailed, and: "Is Madame de Staemer awake?" I asked. "Yes." The girl nodded. "Dr.
"It is another of those mysteries which seem to be part of Colonel Menendez's normal existence." "And is this dislike mutual?" "That I cannot say, since I have never met Mr. Camber." "And Madame de Staemer, does she share it?" "Fully, I think. But don't ask me what it means, because I don't know." She dismissed the subject with a light gesture and poured me out a second cup of coffee.
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