Anna the Adventuress Part 12

"I'm delighted," she exclaimed. "Do tell me all about it."

"He only heard this afternoon," Sydney continued. "An uncle in New York is dead, and has left him loads of money. A lawyer has come all the way from America about it. We want to celebrate, and we want you to help us. Brendon suggests supper at the Carlton. We meant to make it dinner and a theatre, but you were not home. We thought of starting in half an hour's time, and trying for a theatre somewhere on the way."

"How delightful!" exclaimed Anna. "I should love to come. It is very sweet of you to have waited for me. Run away now, please. I must see if I have a gown fit to wear."

"This," Anna declared, as she sipped her wine and looked around her, "reminds me more of Paris than any place I have yet seen. I suppose it is the mirrors and decorations."

"And the people?" Brendon asked. "What do you think of them?"

Anna extended her critical survey and shrugged her shoulders.

"What can one say?" she exclaimed. "Did you ever see women so weary-looking and so dowdy? They do not talk. They seem to spend their time yawning and inspecting their neighbour's dresses through those hateful gla.s.ses. It never seems to enter their heads to try and amuse their menkind."

Two young men on their way down the room came suddenly to a standstill before Anna. The foremost, tall, clean-shaven, perfectly groomed, half extended his hand with a smile of recognition.

"Miss Pellissier, isn't it?" he said. "Glad to see you in London. No idea that you were here, though."

Anna looked up with a doubtful smile of non-recognition.

"My name is certainly Pellissier," she said, "but I am very sorry--I do not recognize you in the least."

The tall young man dropped his eye-gla.s.s and smiled.

"Had the pleasure of dining with you at the 'Amba.s.sador's' one night, before the show, you know--last September I think it was. Charley Pevenill was our host. My name is Armytage--Lord Ernest Armytage."

Anna had suddenly stiffened. She regarded the young man coldly. Her tone was icy.

"I am afraid that you are making a mistake," she said. "I was never at any such dinner, and I am quite sure that I do not know you."

"Perhaps you remember me, Miss Pellissier," the second young man interposed. "I had the pleasure of--er--meeting you more than once, I believe."

A spot of colour flared in Anna's cheek as she glanced towards the speaker. Something in his smile, in the cynical suggestiveness of his deferential tone, maddened her.

"To the best of my belief," she said, with quiet dignity, "I have never seen either of you before in my life."

For a fraction of a second the two young men hesitated. Then the foremost bowed and pa.s.sed on.

"I am exceedingly sorry," he said. "Pray accept my apologies."

"And mine," murmured his companion, with the smile still lingering upon his lips.

They took their places at a distant table. Anna sat quite still for a moment, and then the colour suddenly returned to her cheeks. She laughed softly, and leaned across the table.

"Do not look so uncomfortable, both of you," she begged. "Those young men startled me at first, because they knew my name. I am quite sure though that they did not mean to be rude."

"Impudent beggars," Sydney growled. "I never wanted to kick any one so much in my life as that second fellow."

"I think," Anna said, "that it was only his manner. Do look at this tragedy in mauve, who has just come in. What can she be? The wife of a country tradesman, or a d.u.c.h.ess? And such a meek little husband too.

What can she have done to deserve such a fate? Oh!"

They both turned round at Anna's exclamation. A familiar figure was making his way towards them. Sydney sprang up.

"Why, it's David!" he exclaimed. "Hullo!"

Courtlaw, haggard, his deep-set eyes more brilliant than ever, took Anna's hand into his, and breathed a little close drawn sigh of content. He was introduced to Brendon, and a chair was brought by an attentive waiter. He declined supper, but took wine.

"Have you dropped from the skies?" Sydney asked wonderingly. "It was only yesterday I had your letter, and you never mentioned coming over."

"I had some unexpected business," Courtlaw answered shortly.

"And how did you find us here?"

"I called at Montague Street a few minutes after you had left. Mrs.

White told me where to find you."

He leaned back in his chair as though wearied. Yet either the rest or the wine seemed already to have done him good. The lines about his mouth gradually softened. He talked very little and rather absently.

In no way could he be said to contribute to the gaiety of the little party. But when they were on their way out he whispered in Anna's ear.

"Please let me drive you home. I want to talk to you, and I must return to-morrow."

Anna hesitated.

"We are Mr. Brendon's guests," she said, "and I scarcely think it would be nice of me to leave him alone with Sydney."

Courtlaw turned abruptly to Brendon.

"Mr. Brendon," he said, "may I rob you of your guest just for the drive home? I have only a few hours in England, and Miss Pellissier is an old friend."

"By all means," Brendon answered. "We will follow you in another cab."

They pa.s.sed out on to the pavement, and the commissionaire called a hansom. The man looked closely at Anna as she crossed the footway, and as he held her skirt from the wheel he pressed something into her hand. Her fingers closed upon it instinctively. It was a letter. She slipped it calmly into her pocket. The commissionaire smiled. It was a sovereign easily earned.

The hansom drove off. Suddenly Anna felt her hand seized and imprisoned in Courtlaw's burning fingers. She glanced into his face.

It was enough.

"I have stood it for a month, Anna," he exclaimed. "You will not even answer my letters. I could not keep away any longer."

"Do you think that it was wise of you, or kind to come?" she asked quietly.

"Wise! Kind! What mockery words are! I came because I had to. I cannot live without you, Anna. Come back--you must come back. We can be married to-morrow in Paris. There! You are trying to take your hand away."

"You disappoint me," she said wearily. "You are talking like a boy.

What is the use of it? I do not wish to marry you. I do not wish to return to Paris. You are doing your best to break our friendship."

"It is you," he cried, "you, who are talking folly, when you speak of friendship between you and me. It is not the woman who speaks there.

It is the vapouring school girl. I tell you that I love you, Anna, and I believe that you love me. You are necessary to me. I shall give you my life, every moment and thought of my life. You must come back. See what you have made of me. I cannot work, I cannot teach. You have grown into my life, and I cannot tear you out."