Part 82 (1/2)
”Your mirror ought to rea.s.sure you. However, as an afterthought, who is he?”
”Prince Erlik, of Mongolia,” replied Neeland solemnly.
”I supposed so. We of the infernal aristocracy belong together. I am the Contessa Diabletta d'Enfer.”
He inclined gravely:
”I'm afraid I don't belong here,” he said. ”I'm only a Yankee.”
”h.e.l.l is full of them,” she said, smiling. ”All Yankees belong where Prince Erlik and I are at home.... Do you play?”
”No. Do you?”
”It depends on chance.”
”It would give me much pleasure----”
”Thank you, not tonight.” And in the same, level, pleasant voice: ”Don't look immediately, but from where you sit you can see in the mirror opposite two women seated in the next room.”
After a moment he nodded.
”Are they watching us?”
”Yes.”
”Mr. Neeland?”
He reddened with surprise.
”Get Captain Sengoun and leave,” she said, still smiling. ”Do it carelessly, convincingly. Neither of you needs courage; both of you lack common sense. Get up, take leave of me nicely but regretfully, as though I had denied you a rendezvous. You will be killed if you remain here.”
For a moment Neeland hesitated, but curiosity won:
”Who is likely to try anything of that sort?” he asked. And a tingling sensation, not wholly unpleasant, pa.s.sed over him.
”Almost anyone here, if you are recognised,” she said, as gaily as though she were imparting delightful information.
”But _you_ recognise us. And I'm certainly not dead yet.”
”Which ought to tell you more about me than I am likely to tell anybody. Now, when I smile at you and shake my head, make your adieux to me, find Captain Sengoun, and take your departure. Do you understand?”
”Are you really serious?”
”It is you who should be serious. Now, I give you your signal, Monsieur Neeland----”
But the smile stiffened on her pretty face, and at the same moment he was aware that somebody had entered the room and was standing directly behind him.
He turned on his chair and looked up into the face of Ilse Dumont.
There was a second's hesitation, then he was on his feet, greeting her cordially, apparently entirely at ease and with nothing on his mind except the agreeable surprise of the encounter.