Part 4 (1/2)

Something flickered for a moment in her face, something which seemed to make a different woman of her. Bellamy saw it, and hardened though he was he felt the slow stirring of his own pulses. He kissed her hand pa.s.sionately and she s.h.i.+vered.

”We must not talk of these things,” she said. ”We must not think of them. At least our friends.h.i.+p has been wonderful. Now I must go in. I must tell my maid and arrange to steal away to-night.”

They stood up, and he held her in his arms for a moment. Though her lips met his freely enough, he was very conscious of the reserve with which she yielded herself to him, conscious of it and thankful, too. They walked up the path together, and as they went she plucked a red rose and thrust it through his b.u.t.tonhole.

”If we had no dreams,” she said softly, ”life would not be possible.

Perhaps some day even we may pluck roses together.”

He raised her fingers to his lips. It was not often that they lapsed into sentiment. When she spoke again it was finished.

”You had better leave,” she told him, ”by the garden gate. There are the usual crowd in my anteroom, and it is well that you and I are not seen too much together.”

”Till this evening,” he whispered, as he turned away. ”I shall be at the station early. If Dorward is taken, I shall still leave Vienna.

If he goes, it may be an eventful journey.”

CHAPTER IV

THE NIGHT TRAIN FROM VIENNA

Dorwood, whistling softly to himself, sat in a corner of his coupe rolling innumerable cigarettes. He was a man of unbounded courage and wonderful resource, but with a slightly exaggerated idea as to the sanct.i.ty of an American citizen. He had served his apprentices.h.i.+p in his own country, and his name had become a household word owing to his brilliant success as war correspondent in the Russo-j.a.panese War. His experience of European countries, however, was limited. After the more obvious dangers with which he had grappled and which he had overcome during his adventurous career, he was disposed to be a little contemptuous of the subtler perils at which his friend Bellamy had plainly hinted. He had made his escape from the hotel without any very serious difficulty, and since that time, although he had taken no particular precautions, he had remained unmolested. From his own point of view, therefore, it was perhaps only reasonable that he should no longer have any misgiving as to his personal safety. ARREST as a thief was the worst which he had feared. Even that he seemed now to have evaded.

The coupe was exceedingly comfortable and, after all, he had had a somewhat exciting day. He lit a cigarette and stretched himself out with a murmur of immense satisfaction. He was close upon the great triumph of his life. He was perfectly content to lie there and look out upon the flying landscape, upon which the shadows were now fast descending. He was safe, absolutely safe, he a.s.sured himself. Nevertheless, when the door of his coupe was opened, he started almost like a guilty man. The relief in his face as he recognized his visitor was obvious. It was Bellamy who entered and dropped into a seat by his side.

”Wasting your time, aren't you?” the latter remarked, pointing to the growing heap of cigarettes.

”Well, I guess not,” Dorward answered. ”I can smoke this lot before we reach London.”

Bellamy smiled enigmatically.

”I don't think that you will,” he said.

”Why not?”

”You are such a sanguine person,” Bellamy sighed. ”Personally, I do not think that there is the slightest chance of your reaching London at all.”

Dorward laughed scornfully.

”And why not?” he asked.

Bellamy merely shrugged his shoulders. Dorward seemed to find the gesture irritating.

”You've got espionage on the brain, my dear friend,” he declared dryly. ”I suppose it's the result of your profession. I may not know so much about Europe as you do, but I am inclined to think that an American citizen traveling with his pa.s.sport on a train like this is moderately safe, especially when he's not above a sc.r.a.p by way of taking care of himself.”

”You're a plucky fellow,” remarked Bellamy.

”I don't see any pluck about it. In Vienna, I must admit, I shouldn't have been surprised if they'd tried to fake up some sort of charge against me, but anyhow they didn't. Guess they'd find it a pretty tall order trying to interfere with an American citizen.”

Bellamy looked at his friend curiously.