Part 35 (1/2)

”It is as I said!” he exclaimed. ”Mademoiselle expects you.”

Laverick read the few lines which she had written.

I wish to see you after the performance. If you cannot come round or escort me yourself, will you come later to the restaurant of Luigi, where, as always, I shall sup. Do not fail.

Louise Idiale.

Laverick placed the note in his waistcoat pocket without immediate remark. Later on he turned to his companion.

”Will you tell Mademoiselle Idiale,” he said, ”that I will do myself the honor of coming to her at Luigi's restaurant. I have an engagement after the performance which I must keep.”

”You will certainly come?” La.s.sen asked anxiously.

”Without a doubt,” Laverick promised.

Mr. La.s.sen took up his hat...

”I will go and tell Mademoiselle. For some reason or other she seemed particularly desirous of seeing you this evening. She has her whims, and those who have most to do with her, like myself, find it well to keep them gratified. If I do not see you again, sir, permit me to wish you good evening.”

He disappeared with several bows of his pudgy little person, and Laverick was left with another puzzle to solve. He was not in the least conceited, and he did not for a moment misinterpret this woman's interest in him. Her invitation, he knew very well, was one which half London would have coveted. Yet it meant nothing personal, he was sure of that. It simply meant that for some mysterious reason, the same reason which had prompted her to visit him in the city he was of interest to her.

At a few minutes before eleven Laverick left the place and drove to the stage-door of the Universal Theatre. Zoe came out among the first and paused upon the threshold, looking up and down the street eagerly. When she recognized him, her smile was heavenly.

”Oh, how nice of you!” she exclaimed, stepping at once into his taxicab. ”You don't know how different it feels to hope that there is some one waiting for you and then to find your hope come true.

To-night I was not sure. You had said nothing about it, and yet I could not help believing that you would be here.”

”I was hoping,” he said, ”that we might have another supper together.

Unfortunately, I have an engagement.”

”An engagement?” she repeated, her face falling.

Laverick loved the truth and he seldom hesitated to tell it.

”It is rather an odd thing,” he declared. ”You remember that woman at Luigi's last night--Mademoiselle Idiale?”

”Of course.”

”She came to my office to-day and gave me six thousand pounds to invest for her. She made me take her out and show her where the murder was committed, and asked a great many questions about it.

Then she insisted that I should go and hear her sing this evening, and I find that I was expected to take her on to supper afterwards.

I excused myself for a little while, but I have promised to go to Luigi's, where she will be.”

The girl was silent for a moment.

”Where are we going now, then?” she asked.

”Wherever you like. I can take you home first, or I can leave you anywhere.”

She looked at him with a piteous little smile.