Part 80 (1/2)

”I heard the news early this morning by telegram,” she went on. ”For a long time I was prostrated. Then early this afternoon I began to think--one must always think. Bernadine was a dear friend, but things between us lately have been different, a little strained. Was it his fault or mine--who can say? Does one tire with the years, I wonder? I wonder!”

Her eyes were lifted to his and Peter was conscious of the fact that she wished him to know that they were beautiful. She looked slowly away again.

”This afternoon, as I sat alone,” she proceeded, ”I remembered that in my keeping were many boxes of papers and many letters which have recently arrived, all belonging to Bernadine. I reflected that there were certainly some who were in his confidence, and that very soon they would come from his country and take them all away. And then I remembered what I owed to England, and how opposed I always was to Bernadine's schemes, and I thought that the best thing I could do to show my grat.i.tude would be to place his papers all in the hands of some Englishman, so that they might do no more harm to the country which has been kind to me. So I came to you.”

Again her eyes were lifted to his and Peter was very sure indeed that they were wonderfully beautiful. He began to realize the fascination of this woman, of whom he had heard so much. Her very absence of coloring was a charm.

”You mean that you have brought me these papers?” he asked.

She shook her head slowly.

”No,” she said, ”I could not do that. There were too many of them--they are too heavy, and there are piles of pamphlets--revolutionary pamphlets, I am afraid--all in French, which I do not understand. No, I could not bring them to you. But I ordered my motor car and I drove up here to tell you that if you like to come down to the house in the country where I have been living, to which Bernadine was to have come to-night--yes, and bring your friend, too, if you will--you shall look through them before any one else can arrive.”

”You are very kind,” Peter murmured. ”Tell me where it is that you live.”

”It is beyond Hitchin,” she told him, ”up the Great North Road. I tell you at once, it is a horrible house in a horrible lonely spot. Within a day or two I shall leave it myself forever. I hate it--it gets on my nerves. I dream of all the terrible things which perhaps have taken place there. Who can tell? It was Bernadine's long before I came to England.”

”When are we to come?” Peter asked.

”You must come back with me now, at once,” the Baroness insisted. ”I cannot tell how soon some one in his confidence may arrive.”

”I will order my car,” Peter declared.

She laid her hand upon his arm.

”Do you mind coming in mine?” she begged. ”It is of no consequence, if you object, but every servant in Bernadine's house is a German and a spy. There are no women except my own maid. Your car is likely enough known to them and there might be trouble. If you will come with me now, you and your friend, if you like, I will send you to the station to-night in time to catch the train home. I feel that I must have this thing off my mind. You will come? Yes?”

Peter rang the bell and ordered his coat.

”Without a doubt,” he answered. ”May we not offer you some tea first?”

She shook her head.

”To-day I cannot think of eating or drinking,” she replied. ”Bernadine and I were no longer what we had been, but the shock of his death seems none the less terrible. I feel like a traitor to him for coming here, yet I believe that I am doing what is right,” she added, softly.

”If you will excuse me for one moment,” Peter said, ”while I take leave of my wife, I will rejoin you presently.”

Peter was absent for only a few minutes. Sogrange and the Baroness exchanged the merest commonplaces. As they all pa.s.sed down the hall, Sogrange lingered behind.

”If you will take the Baroness out to the car,” he suggested, ”I will telephone to the Emba.s.sy and tell them not to expect me.”

Peter offered his arm to his companion. She seemed, indeed, to need support. Her fingers clutched at his coat-sleeve as they pa.s.sed on to the pavement.

”I am so glad to be no longer quite alone,” she whispered. ”Almost I wish that your friend were not coming. I know that Bernadine and you were enemies, but then you were enemies not personally, but politically.

After all, it is you who stand for the things which have become so dear to me.”

”It is true that Bernadine and I were bitter antagonists,” Peter admitted, gravely. ”Death, however, ends all that. I wish him no further harm.”

She sighed.

”As for me,” she said, ”I am growing used to being friendless. I was friendless before Bernadine came, and latterly we have been nothing to one another. Now, I suppose, I shall know what it is to be an outcast once more. Did you ever hear my history, I wonder?”

Peter shook his head.