A Whisper In The Dark Part 37

"Yes, it is pleasant to be here; but I should tell you that it is not my own. My kind friend, Lady Leigh, is in Rome for the winter, and knowing that I was a homeless little creature, she begged me to stay here, and keep both servants and house in order till she came again. I was very grateful, for I dread the loneliness of lodgings, and having arranged matters to suit my taste, I shall nestle here till spring tempts me to the hills again."

She spoke quite simply, and seemed as thankful for kindness as a solitary child. Despite his suspicions, and all the causes for distrust-nay, even hatred, if his belief was true-Douglas could not resist the wish that she might be proved innocent, and somewhere find the safe home her youth and beauty needed. So potent was the fascination of her presence, that when with her his doubts seemed unfounded, and so great was the confusion into which his mind was thrown by these conflicting impressions, that his native composure quite deserted him at times. It did so then, for, leaning nearer, as they sat together on a couch, he asked, almost abruptly: "Why do I find you so changed, in all respects, that I scarcely recognize my friend just now?"

"You mean this?" and she touched her dress. "As you have honored me with the name of friend, I will speak frankly, and explain my seeming caprice. At the desire of Lady Lennox, I laid aside my weeds, and found that I could be a gay, young girl again, but with that discovery came another, which made me regret the change, and resolve to return to my sad garb."

"You mean that you found the change made you too beautiful for George's peace? Poor lad-I knew his secret, and now I understand your sacrifice," Earl said, as she paused, too delicate to betray her young lover, who had asked and been denied.

She colored beautifully, and sat silent; but Douglas was possessed by an irresistible desire to probe her heart as deeply as he dared, and quite unconscious that interest lent his voice and manner an unusual warmth, he asked, thinking only of poor George: "Was it not possible to spare both yourself and him? You see I use a friend's privilege to the utmost."

She still looked down, and the color deepened visibly in her smooth cheek, as she replied: "It was not possible, nor will it ever be, for him."

"You have not vowed yourself to an eternal widowhood, I trust?"

She looked up suddenly, as if to rebuke the persistent questioner, but something in his eager face changed her own expression of displeasure into one of half-concealed confusion.

"No; it is so sweet to be beloved, that I have not the courage to relinquish the hope of retasting the happiness so quickly s.n.a.t.c.hed from me before."

Douglas rose suddenly, and paced down the room, as if attracted by a balmy gust that just then came floating in. But in truth, he fled from the syren by his side, for, despite the bitter past, the late loss, the present distrust, something softer than pity, warmer than regard, seemed creeping into his heart, and the sight of the beautiful, blushing face made his own cheek burn with a glow such as his love for Diana had never kindled.

Indignant at his own weakness, he paused half way down the long room, wheeled about, and came back, saying, with his accustomed tone of command disguised by a touch of pity: "Come and do the honors of your little paradise. I am restless tonight, and the splash of that fountain has a soothing sound that tempts me to draw nearer."

She went with him, and, standing by the fountain's brim, talked tranquilly of many things, till the sound of voices caused them to look toward the drawing-room. Two gentlemen were evidently coming to join them, and Earl said, with a smile: "You have not asked why I came alone; yet your invitation included Arguelles and Dupont."

Again the blush rose to her cheek, and she answered, hastily, as she advanced to meet her guests: "I forgot them; now I must atone for my rudeness."

Down the green vista came the gentlemen-the stout Frenchman tripping on before, the dark Spaniard walking behind, with a dignity of bearing that made his companion's gait more ludicrous by comparison. Compliments were exchanged, and then, as the guests expressed a desire to linger in the charming spot, Mrs. Vane led them on, doing the honors with her accustomed grace. Busied in translating the names of remarkable plants into Spanish for Arguelles, they were somewhat in advance of the other pair, and after a sharp glance or two at Douglas, Dupres paused behind a young orange-tree, saying, in a low whisper: "You are going fast, Earl. Finish this business soon, or it will be too late for anything but flight."

"No fear; but what can I do? I protest I never was so bewildered in my life. Help me, for Heaven's sake, and do it at once!" replied Douglas, with a troubled and excited air.

"Chut! you English have no idea of finesse; you bungle sadly. See, now, how smoothly I will discover all I wish to know." Then aloud, as he moved on, "I a.s.sure you, mon ami, it is an orange, not a lemon-tree. Madame shall decide the point, and award me yonder fine flower, if I am right."

"Monsieur is correct, and here is the prize."

As she spoke, Mrs. Vane lifted her hand to break the flower which grew just above her. As she stretched her arm upward, her sleeve slipped back, and on her white wrist shone the wide bracelet once attached to the opal ring. As if annoyed by its exposure, she shook down her sleeve with a quick gesture, and before either gentleman could a.s.sist her, she stepped on a low seat, gathered the azalea, and turned to descend. Her motion was sudden, the seat frail; it broke as she turned, and she would have fallen, had not Arguelles sprung forward and caught her hands. She recovered herself instantly, and apologizing for her awkwardness, presented the flower with a playful speech. To Earl's great surprise, Dupres received it without his usual flow of compliments, and bowing, silently settled it in his b.u.t.tonhole, with such a curious expression that his friend fancied he had made some unexpected discovery. He had-but not what Douglas imagined, as he lifted his brows inquiringly when Mrs. Vane and her escort walked on.

"Hush!" breathed Dupres in answer; "ask her where Jitomar is, in some careless way."

"Why?" asked Earl, recollecting the man for the first time.

But his question received no reply, and the entrance of a servant with refreshments offered the desired pretext for the inquiry.

"Where is your handsome Jitomar? His oriental face and costume would give the finishing touch to this Eastern garden of palms and lotus-flowers," said Douglas, as he offered his hostess a gla.s.s of wine, when they paused at a rustic table by the fountain.

"Poor Jitomar-I have lost him!" she replied.

"Dead?" exclaimed Earl.

"O, no; and I should have said, Happy Jitomar, for he is on his way home to his own palms and lotus-flowers. He dreaded another winter here so much, that when a good opportunity offered for his return, I let him go, and have missed him sadly ever since-for he was a faithful servant to me."

"Let us drink the health of this good and faithful servant, and wish him a prosperous voyage to the torrid land where he belongs," cried Dupres, as he touched his gla.s.s to that of Arguelles, who looked somewhat bewildered, both by the odd name and the new ceremony.

By some mishap, as Dupres turned to replace his gla.s.s upon the table, it slipped from his hand, and fell into the fountain, with a splash that caused a little wave to break over the basin's edge, and wet Mrs. Vane's foot with an unexpected bath.

"Great heavens-what carelessness! A thousand pardons! Madame, permit me to repair the damage, although it is too great an honor for me, maladroit that I am," exclaimed the Frenchman, with a gesture of despair.

Mrs. Vane shook her dress, and a.s.sured him that no harm was done; but nothing could prevent the distressed gentleman from going down upon his knees, and with his perfumed handkerchief removing several drops of water from the foot of his hostess-during which process he discovered that, being still an invalid, she wore quilted black silk boots, with down about the tops; also that though her foot was a very pretty one, it was by no means as small as that of Virginie Varens.

When this small stir was over, Mrs. Vane led the way back to the saloon, and here Douglas was more than ever mystified by Dupres's behaviour. Entirely ignoring madame's presence; he devoted himself to Arguelles, besetting him with questions regarding Spain, his own family, pursuits and tastes; on all of which points the Spaniard satisfied him, and accepted his various invitations for the coming days, looking much at their fair hostess the while, who was much engrossed with Douglas, and seemed quite content.

Arguelles was the first to leave, and his departure broke up the party. As Earl and Dupres drove off together, the former exclaimed, in a fever of curiosity: "Are you satisfied?"

"Entirely."

"She is not Virginie, then?"

"On the contrary, she is Virginie, I suspect."

"You suspect? I thought you were entirely satisfied."

"On another point, I am. She baffles me somewhat, I confess, with her woman's art in dress. But I shall discover her yet, if you let me conduct the affair in my own way. I adore mystery; to fathom a secret, trace a lie, discover a disguise, is my delight. I should make a superb detective. Apropos to that, promise me that you will not call in the help of your blundering constabulary, police, or whatever you name them, until I give the word. They will destroy the eclat of the denouement, and annoy me by their stupidity."

"I leave all to you, and regret that the absence of this Jitomar should complicate the affair. What deviltry is he engaged in now, do you think? Not travelling to India, of course, though she told it very charmingly."

His companion whispered three words in his ear. Earl fell back, and stared at him, exclaiming, presently: "It is impossible!"

"Nothing is impossible to me," returned the other, with an air of conviction. "That point is clear to my mind; one other remains, and being more difficult, I must consider it. But have no fear; this brain of mine is fertile in inventions, and by morning will have been inspired with a design which will enchant you by its daring, its acuteness, its romance."

Chapter IX.

Midnight

For a week the three gentlemen haunted the house of the widow, and were much together elsewhere. Dupres was still enthusiastic in praise of his new-made friend, but Douglas was far less cordial, and merely courteous when they met. To outside observers, this seemed but natural, for the world knew nothing of his relations to Diana, nor the sad secret that existed between himself and Mrs. Vane. And when it was apparent that the Spaniard was desperately in love with that lady, Douglas could not but look coldly upon him as a rival, for, according to rumor, the latter gentleman was also paying court to the bewitching widow. It was soon evident which was the favored lover, for despite the dark glances and jealous surveillance of Arguelles, Mrs. Vane betrayed, by unmistakable signs, that Douglas possessed a power over her which no other man had ever attained. It was impossible to conceal it, for when the great pa.s.sion for the first time possessed her heart, all her art was powerless against this touch of nature, and no timid girl could have been more hara.s.sed by the alternations of hope and fear, and the effort to hide her pa.s.sion.

Going to their usual rendezvous somewhat earlier than usual one evening, Dupres stopped a moment in an anteroom to exchange a word with Gabrielle, the coquettish maid, who was apt to be in the way when the Frenchman appeared. Douglas went on to the drawing-room, expecting to find Mrs. Vane alone. The apartment was empty, but the murmur of voices was audible in the conservatory, and going to the curtained arch, he was about to lift the drapery that had fallen from its fastening, when through a little crevice in the middle, he saw two figures that arrested him, and, in spite of certain honorable scruples, held him motionless where he stood.

Mrs. Vane and the Spaniard were beside the fountain; both looked excited. Arguelles talked vehemently; she listened with a hard, scornful expression, and made brief answers that seemed to chafe and goad him bitterly. Both spoke Spanish, and even if they had not, so low and rapid were their tones, that nothing was audible but the varied murmur rising or falling as the voices alternated. From his gestures, the gentleman seemed by turns to reproach, entreat, command; the lady to recriminate, refuse and defy. Once she evidently announced some determination that filled her companion with despair; then she laughed, and in a paroxysm of speechless wrath he broke from her, hurrying to the farthest limits of the room, as if unconscious whither he went, and marking with scattered leaves and flowers the pa.s.sage of his reckless steps.

As he turned from her, Mrs. Vane dipped her hands in the basin and laid them on her forehead, as if to cool some fever of the brain, while such a weight of utter weariness came over her, that in an instant ten years seemed to be added to her age. Her eyes roved restlessly to and fro, as if longing to discover some method of escape from the danger or the doubt that oppressed her.

A book from which Douglas had read to her, lay on the rustic table at her side, and as her eye fell on it, all her face changed beautifully; hope, bloom and youth returned, as she touched the volume with a lingering touch, and smiled a smile in which love and exultation blended. A rapid-step announced the Spaniard's return; she caught her hand away, mused a moment, and when he came back to her, she spoke in a softer tone, while her eyes betrayed that now she pleaded for some boon, and did not plead in vain. Seizing both her hands in a grasp more firm than tender, Arguelles seemed to extort some promise from her with sternest aspect. She gave it reluctantly; he looked but half satisfied, even though she drew his tall head down and sealed her promise with a kiss; and when she bade him go, he left her with a gloomy air, and some dark purpose stamped upon his face.

So rapidly had this scene pa.s.sed, so suddenly was it ended, that Douglas had barely time to draw a few paces back, before the curtain was pushed aside, and Arguelles stood in the arch. Unused to the dishonorable practices to which he had lent himself for the completion of a just work, Earl's face betrayed him. The Spaniard saw that the late interview had not been without a witness, and forgetting that they had spoken in an unknown tongue, for a moment he looked perfectly livid with fear and fury. Some recollection suddenly seemed to rea.s.sure him, but the covert purpose just formed appeared to culminate in action, for, with ungovernable hatred flaming up in his eyes, he said, in a suppressed voice that scarcely parted his white lips: "Eavesdropper and spy! I spit upon you!" And advancing one step struck Douglas full in the face.

It had nearly been his last act, for burning with scorn and detestation, Earl took him by the throat, and was about to execute swift retribution for both the old wrong and the new, when Dupres came between them, whispering, as he wrenched Earl's arm away: "Hold! remember where you are. Come away, seor, I am your friend in this affair. It shall be arranged. Douglas, remain here, I entreat you."

As he spoke, Dupres gave Earl a warning glance, and drew Arguelles swiftly from the house. Controlling a desperate desire to follow, Douglas remembered his promise to let his friend conduct the affair in his own way, and by a strong effort composed himself, though his cheek still tingled with the blow, and his blood burned within him. The whole encounter had pa.s.sed noiselessly, and when, after a brief pause, Douglas entered the conservatory, Mrs. Vane still lingered by the fountain, unconscious of the scene which had just transpired. She turned to greet the new-comer with extended hand, and it was with difficulty that he restrained the rash impulse to strike it from him. The very effort to control this desire made the pressure of his own hand almost painful, as he took that other, and the strong grasp sent a thrill of joy to Mrs. Vane's heart, as she smiled and glowed under his glance like a flower at the coming of the sun. The inward excitement, which it was impossible to wholly subdue, manifested itself in Earl's countenance and manner more plainly than he knew, and would have excited some of ill in his companion's mind, had not love blinded her, and left room for none but prophecies of good. A little tremble of delight agitated her, and the eyes that once were so coldly bright and penetrating, now were seldom lifted to the face that she had studied so carefully, not long ago. After the first greetings, she waited for him to speak, for words would not come at her will when with him; but he stood thoughtfully, dipping his hand into the fountain as she had done, and laying the wet palm against his cheek, lest its indignant color should betray the insult he had just received.

"Did you meet Seor Arguelles as you came in?" she asked presently, as the pause was unbroken.

"He pa.s.sed me, and went out."

"You do not fancy him, I suspect."

"I confess it, Mrs. Vane."

"And why?"

"Need I tell you?"

The words escaped him involuntarily, and had she seen his face just then, her own would have blanched with fear. But she was looking down, and as he spoke the traitorous color rose to her forehead, though she ignored the betrayal by saying, with an accent of indifference: "He will not annoy you long. To-morrow he fulfils some engagement with a friend in the country, and in the evening will take leave of me."

"He is about to return to Spain, then?"

"I believe so, I did not question him."

"You will not bid him adieu without regret?"

"With the greatest satisfaction, I a.s.sure you, for underneath that Spanish dignity of manner lurks fire, and I have no desire to be consumed." And the sigh of relief that accompanied her words was the most sincere expression of feeling that had escaped her for weeks.

Anxious to test his power to the utmost, Douglas pursued the subject, though it was evidently distasteful to her. a.s.suming an air of loverlike anxiety, he half timidly, half eagerly inquired: "Then when he comes again to say farewell, you will not consent to go with him to occupy the "castle in Spain' which he has built up for himself during this short week?"

He thought to see some demonstration of pleasure at the jealous fear his words implied, but her color faded suddenly, and she shivered as if a chilly gust had blown over her, while she answered briefly, with a little gesture of the hand as she set the topic decidedly aside: "No, he will go alone."

There was a momentary pause, and in it something like pity knocked at the door of Earl's heart, for with all his faults he was a generous man, and as he saw this woman sitting there, so unconscious of impending danger, so changed and beautiful by one true sentiment, his purpose wavered, a warning word rose to his lips, and with an impetuous gesture he took her hand, and turned away with an abrupt: "Pardon me-it is too soon-I will explain hereafter."

The entrance of a servant with coffee seemed to rouse him into sudden spirits and activity, for begging Mrs. Vane to sit and rest, he served her with a.s.siduous care.

"Here is your own cup of violet and gold; you see I know your fancy even in trifles. Is it right? I took such pains to have it as you like it," he said, as he presented the cup with an air of tender solicitude.

"It does not matter, but one thing you have forgotten, I take no sugar," she answered, smiling as she tasted.

"I knew it, yet the line "Sweets to the sweet' was running in my head, and so I unconsciously spoiled your draught. Let me retrieve the error?"

"By no means. I drink to you," and lifting the tiny cup to her lips, she emptied it with a look which proved that his words had already retrieved the error.

He received the cup with a peculiar smile, looked at his watch, and exclaimed, regretfully: "It is late, and I should go, yet-"

"No, not yet; stay and finish the lines you began yesterday. I find less beauty in them when I read them to myself," she answered, detaining him.

Glad of an excuse to prolong his stay, Earl brought the book, and sitting near her, lent to the poem the sonorous music of his voice.

The last words came all too soon, and when Douglas rose, Mrs. Vane bade him good-night with a dreamy softness in her eyes which caused a gleam of satisfaction to kindle in his own. As he pa.s.sed through the anteroom, Gabrielle met him with a look of anxious though mute inquiry in her face. He answered it with a significant nod, a warning gesture, and she let him out, wearing an aspect of the deepest mystery.

Douglas hurried to his rooms, and there found Dupres with Major Mansfield, who had been put in possession of the secret, and the part he was expected to play in its unravelling.

"What in heaven's name did you mean by taking the wrong side of the quarrel, and forcing me to submit quietly to such an indignity?" demanded Earl, giving vent to the impatience which had only been curbed till now, that he might perform the portion of the plot allotted to him.

"Tell me first have you succeeded?" said Dupres.

"I have."

"You are sure?"

"Beyond a doubt."

"It is well, I applaud your dexterity. Behold the major, he knows all, he is perfect in his role, now hear yours. You will immediately write a challenge."

"It is impossible! Antoine, you are daft to ask me to meet that man."

"Bah! I ask you to meet, but not to honor him by blowing his brains out. He is a dead shot, and thirsts for your blood, but look you, he will be disappointed. We might arrest him this instant, but he will confess nothing, and that clever creature will escape us. No, my little arrangement suits me better."

"Time flies, Dupres, and so perhaps may this crafty hind that you are about to snare," said the major, whose slow, British wits were somewhat confused by the Frenchman's finesse.

"It is true; see then, my Earl. In order that our other little affair may come smoothly off without interference from our friend, I propose to return to the seor, whom I have lately left writing letters, and amuse myself by keeping him at home to receive your challenge, which the major will bring about twelve. Then we shall arrange the affair to take place at sun rise, in some secluded spot out of town. You will be back here by that time, you will agree to our plans, and present yourself at the appointed time, when the grand denouement will take place with much eclat."

"Am I not to know more?" asked Douglas.

"It would be well to leave all to me, for you will act your part better if you do not know the exact programme, because you do not perform so well with monsieur as with madame. But if you must know, the major will tell you, while you wait for Hyde and the hour. I have seen him, he has no scruples; I have insured his safety, and he will not fail us. Now the charming billet to the seor, and I go to my post."

Douglas wrote the challenge; Dupres departed in buoyant spirits, and while Earl waited for the stranger Hyde, the major enlightened him upon the grand finale.

The city clocks were striking twelve, as two men masked and cloaked, pa.s.sed up the steps of Mrs. Vane's house, and entered noiselessly. No light beamed in the hall, but scarcely had they closed the door behind them, when a glimmer shone from above, and at the stairhead appeared a woman beckoning. Up they stole, as if shod with velvet, and the woman flitted like a shadow before them, till they reached a door in the second story. Opening this, she motioned them to enter, and as they pa.s.sed in, she glided up another flight, as if to stand guard over her sleeping fellow-servants.

One of the men was tall and evidently young, the other, a bent and withered little man, whose hands trembled slightly as he adjusted his mask, and peered about him. A large, still room, lighted by a night-lamp burning behind its shade, richly furnished, and decorated with warm hues, that produced the effect of mingled snow and fire. A luxurious nest it seemed, and a fit inmate of it looked the beautiful woman asleep in the shadow of the crimson-curtained bed. One white arm pillowed her head; from the little cap that should have confined it, flowed a ma.s.s of golden hair over neck and shoulders; the long lashes lay dark against her cheek; the breath slept upon her lips, and perfect unconsciousness lent its reposeful charm to both face and figure.

Noiselessly advancing, the taller man looked and listened, for a moment, as if to a.s.sure himself that this deep slumber was not feigned; then he beckoned the other to bring the lamp. It flickered as the old man took it up, but he trimmed the wick, removed the shade, and a clear light shone across the room. Joining his companion, he too looked at the sleeping beauty, shook his gray head, and seemed to deplore some fact that marred the pretty picture in his sight.

"Is there no danger of her waking, sir?" he whispered, as the light fell on her face.

"It is impossible for an hour yet. The bracelet is on that wrist; we must move her, or you cannot reach it," returned the other, and with a gentle touch drew the left arm from underneath her head.

She sighed in her sleep, knit her brows, as if a dream disturbed her, and turning on her pillow, all the bright hair fell about her face, but could not hide the glitter of the chain about her neck. Drawing it forth, the taller man started, uttered an exclamation, dragged from his own bosom a duplicate of the miniature hanging from that chain, and compared the two with trembling intentness. Very like they were, those two young faces, handsome, frank, and full of boyish health, courage and blithesomeness. One might have been taken a year after the other, for the brow was bolder, the mouth graver, the eye more steadfast, but the same charm of expression appeared in both, making the ivory oval more attractive even to a stranger's eye than the costly setting, or the initial letters "A. D." done in pearls upon the back. A small silver key hung on the chain the woman wore, and as if glad to tear his thoughts from some bitter reminiscence, the man detached this key, and glanced about the room, as if to discover what lock it would fit.

His action seemed to remind the other of his own task, for setting down the lamp on the little table where lay a prayer-book, a bell and a rosary, he produced a case of delicate instruments and bunch of tiny keys, and bending over the bracelet, examined the golden padlock that fastened it. While he carefully tried key after key upon that miniature lock, the chief of this mysterious inspection went to and fro with the silver key, attempting larger locks. Nowhere did it fit, till in pa.s.sing the toilet table, his foot brushed its draperies aside, dis closing a quaint, foreign-looking casket of ebony and silver. Quick as thought it was drawn out and opened, for here the key did its work. In the upper tray lay the opal ring in its curiously thick setting, beside it a seal, rudely made from an impression in wax of his own iron ring, and a paper bearing its stamp. The marriage record was in his hand, and he longed to keep or destroy it, but restrained the impulse; and lifting the tray, found below two or three relics of his friend Vane, and some childish toys, soiled and broken, but precious still.