Part 36 (2/2)
”What were their reasons?”
”Reasons there were, but of such an impalpable nature that even those who most rigorously shunned her, ventured not to speak openly against her. For reasons, it might have been said that she smoked cigarettes--but other good women did likewise; she entertained often, and served wine intemperately--others did the same; she permitted card-playing in her rooms, even for money stakes,--but the same thing occurred in other houses, though perhaps not so openly. Thus none of these reasons, you see, was sufficiently potent. But there were others, less easily discussed and more difficult to prove. It was whispered, very low and only in the ears of most trustworthy intimates, that Madame Damien permitted, nay, encouraged, young men to pay court to her.
If true, she managed her courtiers most admirably, for openly she was most impartial in distributing her favors, while secretly--well, none penetrated the secrets of Madame Damien. One thing was certainly in her favor; there were no duels about her, and duelling was not uncommon in those days.”
”I should say she was a clever woman.”
”Just the word. Some, who could say nothing more, said she was altogether too clever. It was this woman who sold me the ruby.”
”The first acquisition to your collection?”
”Yes. I may as well briefly give you the facts, for thus you may see the connection between the two affairs. Land is not so valuable in our southern country as it is here in New York, and the houses of the wealthy are often in the midst of extensive gardens. Some of these not only have beautiful flower-beds, but likewise palms, cacti, oleanders, azaleas, and other tropical plants. Madame Damien's residence was in a garden which might almost be called a miniature park. The paths were of snow-white oyster sh.e.l.ls, rolled and beaten until they resembled smooth white marble. The hedges were of arbor vitae cut with square top, except here and there where the trees were trained to form arched gateways through which the flower-beds could be reached. In places, often nearly concealed by flowering plants, were little houses,--lovers' nooks they are called,--made also of trained arbor vitae. Of larger trees there were the palmetto, the orange, and the magnolia. On fete nights these beautiful grounds would be illuminated with Chinese lanterns, sufficiently numerous to make the scene a veritable fairy picture, but not shedding enough light to interfere with the walks of lovers who sought the garden paths between the dances.”
”Your description reminds one of Eden.”
”The similarity is greater than you imagine, for the serpent lurked in the rose bowers. At one of Madame Damien's masquerade fetes I had left the warm rooms for a breath of the perfume-laden air without, and was walking along a path which led to the farthest end of the garden, when I was attracted by a stifled cry. I stopped and listened, and as it was not repeated I was just thinking that I had heard the mournful cry of a dove, when a tug at my sleeve caused me to turn quickly. At my side was a little creature in a green domino scarcely distinguishable from the shrubbery that lined the walk. The girl stood on her toes, drew my head down to hers, and in a frightened tone whispered:
”'The men. They mean mischief--to them--in there.'
”She pointed to one of the little arbor-vitae houses near us, and turning fled back along the path before I could restrain her.
”Much mystified, I stepped softly toward the little house, intending to discover if possible who might be within, when I seemed to hear voices behind me. Listening intently, I traced the sounds to the opposite side of the hedge, and therefore I crept cautiously in that direction, satisfied that here were the men to whom the girl had made allusion.
Here is what I heard:
”'As they come out, we must follow them. When I whistle, you jump on madame; I will take care of him. I will undertake to hurt him enough to make him squeal. That will alarm Madame, who will be so fearful lest her precious lover be hurt that you will have no difficulty in getting the ruby.'”
”Quite a neat little plot; only needs the detail of garroting to afford us a perfect picture of the Spanish brigand,” said Mr. Barnes.
”The men were undoubtedly professional thieves who considered the masquerade a good opportunity. As soon as they mentioned the ruby, I knew that the woman was none other than Madame Damien, who possessed a stone of rare beauty which she frequently wore. The point of greatest interest was that Madame seemed about to lose her usual good luck by having one of her love affairs discovered. How could I warn her without myself learning who was with her? Strange though it may seem, I had no wish to know the name of her companion, so I hit upon an expedient.
Going to the door of the little house I called aloud:
”'Madame Damien! Will you allow me to speak to you a moment?' Of course she did not reply. From the deathlike stillness of the place one might have thought it empty. I was too sure, however, that she was there, so I spoke again.
”'Madame, your very life is in danger, if you do not come out and speak to me.' In an instant she was at my side, talking in a quick whisper.
”'Who are you? What do you mean?'
”'Pardon my intruding, but I was obliged to adopt this course, I a.s.sure you.'
”I was speaking loudly enough to be heard by the men on the other side of the hedge. 'I was pa.s.sing here just now, with no suspicion that you were here, alone,'--I purposely used the word, so that she might feel easy about her companion,--'when I chanced to overhear the plotting of two ruffians who are even now hidden in the hedge. They are lying in wait for you, intending to rob you of your ruby.'
”'Steal my ruby? I don't understand.'
”'Had I not heard their plan, they would undoubtedly have partly strangled you while they stole the jewel. It was to save you from the danger of this encounter and the loss that I felt it my duty to call you out to speak with me.'
”'What shall I do?'
”'I advise you to sell the stone to me.'
”'Sell it to you? How would that help matters?'
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