Part 29 (2/2)
”The gentleman is asking for Madame d'Artelle, miss,” he said. ”What answer am I to give him?”
”I will take it myself,” I replied. I switched on the light and made sure that my hair was all right. ”What about the servants, James?” I asked.
”There are two woman servants only, miss; and my father and myself. We did as you said, and sent away a footman who was here.”
”You have done very well. If you are asked any more questions about Madame d'Artelle, say that she left the house the moment after the carriage arrived, and that I have been here some hours.”
”Yes, miss.” He was very perplexed and, I think, troubled. We went downstairs, and he showed me the room where Karl was. It was directly under that in which I had been.
It was to the window of that room, then, I had seen Colonel Katona cross in the moonlight.
CHAPTER XVI
A WISP OF RIBBON
Karl was sitting in an att.i.tude of moody dejection; his elbow on the arm of the chair, and face resting on his hand; and he turned slowly as I opened the door. The look of gloomy indifference vanished, and he rose quickly with a glance of intense surprise.
”Chris--Miss Gilmore!” he exclaimed.
”You asked for Madame d'Artelle. I have come to say she has left the house,” I said in a quite steady tone.
”But you--how do you come to be here? I don't understand.”
”I thought you knew I was Madame d'Artelle's companion.”
”But they told me you had gone away--to Paris.”
”I did start, but I came back.”
”I have been twice to-day to her house to ask for you. I was very nearly rus.h.i.+ng off to Paris after you. I'm glad I didn't.” He said this quite simply, and then his face clouded. ”But if I understand all this, may I--may I take to opium again?” His eyes cleared, and he smiled as he spoke the last words.
”I hope you will never do that,” I replied.
”No, I shan't--now. Do you remember what I said to you in the gardens yesterday? Yesterday--why it seems twenty years ago.”
”You mean that you would hate me if I stopped you taking it?”
”Yes, that's it. I _have_ hated you too, I can tell you. I couldn't help it--but I haven't taken any since. It's cost something to keep from it; but I've done it. And I shall be all right--now. I nearly gave in, though, when I heard you'd left the city.”
”I knew that you had the strength to resist when I spoke to you yesterday,” and I looked at him steadily. He returned the look for a moment.
”It's wonderful,” he murmured. ”Positively wonderful.” Then in a louder tone: ”I think you must have hypnotised me.”
”Oh, no. I only appealed to your stronger nature--your former self.
You have the strength to resist, but you let it rust.”
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