Part 91 (2/2)
”Naa! Where is Mr. Neeland?” continued the voice, fearfully.
”He is here, Rue! He is all right. Go back to your room, dear. I have a reason for asking you.”
Listening, she heard a door close above; then she touched Ilse on the shoulder and motioned her to follow up the stairs. Halfway up the Princess halted, bent swiftly over the banisters:
”James!” she called softly.
”Yes?”
”Go into the pantry and find a fruit basket and fill it with whatever food you can find. Hurry, please.”
He discovered the pantry presently, and a basket of fruit there.
Poking about he contrived to disinter from various tins and ice-boxes some cold chicken and biscuits and a bottle of claret. These he wrapped hastily in a napkin which he found there, placed them in the basket of fruit, and came out into the hall just as Ilse Dumont, in the collar and cuffs and travelling coat of a servant, descended, carrying a satchel and a suitcase.
”Good business!” he whispered, delighted. ”You're all right now, Scheherazade! And for heaven's sake, keep out of France hereafter. Do you promise?”
He had taken the satchel and bag from her and handed both, and the fruit basket, to Caron, who stood outside the door.
In the shadowy hall those two confronted each other now, probably for the last time. He took both her hands in his.
”Good-bye, Scheherazade dear,” he said, with a new seriousness in his voice which made the tone of it almost tender.
”G-good-bye----” The girl's voice choked; she bent her head and rested her face on the hands he held clasped in his.
He felt her hot tears falling, felt the slender fingers within his own tighten convulsively; felt her lips against his hand--an instant only; then she turned and slipped through the open door.
A moment later the Princess Naa appeared on the stairs, descending lightly and swiftly, her motor coat over her arm.
”Jim,” she said in a low voice, ”it's the wretched girl's only chance.
They know about her; they're looking for her now. But I am trusted by my Amba.s.sador; I shall have what papers I ask for; I shall get her through to an American steamer.”
”Princess Naa, you are splendid!”
”You don't think so, Jim; you never did.... Be nice to Rue. The child has been dreadfully frightened about you.... And,” added the Princess Mistchenka with a gaily forced smile, resting her hand on Neeland's shoulder for an instant, ”don't ever kiss Rue Carew unless you mean it with every atom of your heart and soul.... I know the child.... And I know you. Be generous to her, James. All women need it, I think, from such men as you--such men as you,” she added laughingly, ”who know not what they do.”
If there was a subtle constraint in her pretty laughter, if her gay gesture lacked spontaneity, he did not perceive it. His face had flushed a trifle under her sudden badinage.
”Good-bye,” he said. ”You _are_ splendid, and I _do_ think so. I know you'll win through.”
”I shall. I always do--except with you,” she added audaciously. And ”Look for me tomorrow!” she called back to him through the open door; and slammed it behind her, leaving him standing there alone in the dark and curtained house.
CHAPTER x.x.xV
THE FIRST DAY
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