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Updated: June 25, 2025
"You will tell our friends there," he said slowly, "that you have seen me? That I am you see I admit that living practically in hiding, apart from my niece? You will also, perhaps, inform them of various other little episodes with which, owing to your unfortunate habit of looking into other people's business, you have become acquainted?" "Naturally," I answered. "I think not!" Delora said.
Louis hesitated. "If there were some plot against this man Delora," he said, "to prevent his carrying out some undertaking, monsieur would help to frustrate it?" "With all my heart," I answered. "There is only one thing I would ask. What is Mr. Delora's undertaking? To sell his coffee?" Louis' inimitable smile spread over his face. "Ah!" he said, "monsieur is pleased to be facetious!"
The chef has prepared for him a wonderful dinner. They say that he is never satisfied. We shall see to-night." I looked away with a little gesture of disgust. Louis was summoned elsewhere, a fact for which I was duly grateful. "Tell me, Miss Delora," I said, "how long have you known Louis?" "Oh! for a very long time," she answered, a little evasively. "He is wonderful, they all say.
"I have no idea, sir," the manager answered. "They have just ordered a carriage to make a call in the town." I thanked him, and left the hotel at once on foot. When I arrived near the County Hotel a four-wheel cab was drawn up at the entrance. From a safe distance I stood watching it, and in a few minutes I saw the ambassador and Delora come swiftly out of the hotel and step inside.
"Monsieur does not know the elderly gentleman and the very beautiful girl who sat opposite him last night?" she asked, "Monsieur Delora and his niece?" Somehow I felt convinced, the moment that the question had left her lips, that her whole interest in me was centred upon my reply.
He dismounted to speak to the other chauffeur, and I looked curiously at the two men who were leaning back in the luxurious seats inside the car. For a moment I could not believe my eyes! Then I opened the door of my own car and stepped quickly into the road. The two men who were sitting there, and by whom I was as yet unobserved, were Delora and the Chinese ambassador!
He looked at me with a genuine expression of profound surprise. "You are under the impression," he said slowly, "that Mr. Delora has been to Newcastle!" "That is scarcely the way I look at it, Louis," I answered. "You see I was in Newcastle myself and saw him."
Once more the ambassador shook his head, slowly and thoughtfully. "Delora!" he repeated. "The name is unknown to me. There are many others of my race in London now," he continued. "The costume, perhaps, makes one seem like another to those who look and pass by." I bowed very low. It was the most magnificently told lie to which I had ever listened in my life!
I turned deliberately round to watch them vulgar curiosity, perhaps, but a curiosity which I never regretted. The first man tall and powerful wore the splendid dress and black silk cap of a Chinese of high rank. The man who followed him was Delora.
From whom do you receive them?" "From my government," he answered a little shortly. "Mr. Delora has some private business of importance here in England, in which they are interested." "Do you know anything of his niece?" I asked. "Nothing whatever," the young man answered, "except that she seems a very charming young lady, and will, I believe, inherit a great fortune."
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