天锡小说网

第19部分（第1页）

over　men。

〃That　is　settled；〃　she　said　softly；　and　gave　a　little　laugh。　〃And　now；　Dereek；　will　you　give　me　lunch？〃

〃No。〃

He　drew　in　his　breath　sharply　and　rose　to　his　feet。

〃I　am　sorry；　but　I　told　you　…　I　have　got　an　engagement。〃

〃You　are　lunching　with　someone　else？　Bah！　I　dont　believe　it。〃

〃I　am　lunching　with　that　lady　over　there。〃

He　crossed　abruptly　to　where　a　lady　in　white　had　just　e　up　the　steps。　He　addressed　her　a　little　breathlessly。

〃Miss　Grey；　will　you　…　will　you　have　lunch　with　me？　You　met　me　at　Lady　Tamplins；　if　you　remember。〃

Katherine　looked　at　him　for　a　minute　or　so　with　those　thoughtful　grey　eyes　that　said　so　much。

〃Thank　you；〃　she　said；　after　a　moments　pause；　〃I　should　like　to　very　much。〃

Chapter　19

AN　UNEXPECTED　VISITOR

The　te　de　la　Roche　had　just　finished　déjeuner；　consisting　of　an　omelette　fines　herbes；　an　entrec？te　Bearnaise；　and　a　Savarin　au　Rhum。　Wiping　his　fine　black　moustache　delicately　with　his　table　napkin；　the　te　rose　from　the　table。　He　passed　through　the　salon　of　the　villa；　noting　with　appreciation　the　few　objets　dart　which　were　carelessly　scattered　about。　The　Louis　XV　snuff…box；　the　satin　shoe　worn　by　Marie　Antoite；　and　the　other　historic　trifles　were　part　of　the　tes　mise　en　scene。　They　were；　he　would　explain　to　his　fair　visitors；　heirlooms　in　his　family。　Passing　through　on　to　the　terrace；　the　te　looked　out　on　the　Mediterranean　with　an　unseeing　eye。　He　was　in　no　mood　for　appreciating　the　beauties　of　scenery。　A　fully　matured　scheme　had　been　rudely　brought　to　naught；　and　his　plans　had　to　be　cast　afresh。　Stretching　himself　out　in　a　basket　chair；　a　cigarette　held　between　his　white　fingers；　the　te　pondered　deeply。

Presently　Hippolyte；　his　manservant；　brought　out　coffee　and　a　choice　of　liqueurs。　The　te　selected　some　very　fine　old　brandy。

As　the　man…servant　was　preparing　to　depart；　the　te　arrested　him　with　a　slight　gesture。　Hippolyte　stood　respectfully　to　attention。

His　countenance　was　hardly　a　prepossessing　one；　but　the　correctitude　of　his　demeanour　went　far　to　obliterate　the　fact。

He　was　now　the　picture　of　respectful　attention。

〃It　is　possible；〃　said　the　te；　〃that　in　the　course　of　the　next　few　days　various　strangers　may　e　to　the　house。　They　will　endeavour　to　scrape　acquaintance　with　you　and　with　Marie。　They　will　probably　ask　you　various　questions　concerning　me。〃

〃Yes；　Monsieur　le　te。〃

〃Perhaps　this　has　already　happened？〃

〃No；　Monsieur　le　te。〃

〃There　have　been　no　strangers　about　the　place？　You　are　certain？〃

〃There　has　been　no　one；　Monsieur　le　te。〃

〃That　is　well；〃　said　the　te　drily；　〃nevertheless　they　will　e　…　I　am　sure　of　it。　They　will　ask　questions。〃

Hippolyte　looked　at　his　master　in　intelligent　anticipation。

The　te　spoke　slowly；　without　looking　at　Hippolyte。

〃As　you　know；　I　arrived　here　last　Tuesday　morning。　If　the　police　or　any　other　inquirer　should　question　you；　do　not　forget　that　fact。　I　arrived　on　Tuesday；　the　14th　…　not　Wednesday；　the　15th。　You　understand？〃

〃Perfectly；　Monsieur　le　te。〃

〃In　an　affair　where　a　lady　is　concerned；　it　is　always　necessary　to　be　discreet。　I　feel　certain；　Hippolyte；　that　you　can　be　discreet。〃

〃I　can　be　discreet；　Monsieur。〃

〃And　Marie？〃

〃Marie　also。　I　will　answer　for　her。〃