Part 3 (1/2)

”Not meet again?” I cried, for the thought of losing a friend so beautiful and so charming was an exceedingly unhappy one. ”Why shall we not meet? You are going to live in London now, you say,” and taking a card from my cigarette-case I handed it to her.

With her clear, brilliant eyes fixed upon mine, she took the card almost mechanically, then glanced at it.

”I'm greatly indebted to you, Mr Cleeve,” she said. ”But I don't see there is any necessity for you to know my name. It is sufficient, surely, for you to reflect that you one night befriended one who was in distress.”

”But I must know your name,” I protested. ”Come, do tell me.”

She hesitated, then lifted her eyes again to mine and answered--

”My name is Aline.”

”Aline,” I repeated. ”A name as charming as its owner.”

”You want to pay me compliments,” she laughed, blus.h.i.+ng deeply.

”And your surname?” I went on.

”Cloud,” she replied. ”Aline Cloud.”

”Then your aunt's name is Popejoy, and you are living at 16, Ellerdale Road, Hampstead,” I said, laughing. ”Well, we have discovered it all at last.”

”Yes, thanks to you,” she replied, with a sigh of relief. Then looking anxiously at the clock, she added, ”It's late, therefore I must be going. I can get there in a cab, I suppose?”

”Certainly,” I answered; ”and if you'll wait a moment while I get a thick coat I'll see you safely there--if I may be allowed.”

”No,” she said, putting up her little hand as if to arrest me, ”I couldn't think of taking you out all that way at this hour.”

I laughed, for I was used to late hours at the club, and had on many a morning crossed Leicester Square on my way home when the sun was s.h.i.+ning.

So disregarding her, I went into my room, exchanged my light overcoat for a heavier one, placed a silk m.u.f.fler around my neck, and having fortified myself with a whiskey and soda, we both went out, and entering a cab started forth on our long drive up to Hampstead.

The cabman was ignorant of Ellerdale Road, but when I directed him to Fitzjohn's Avenue he at once a.s.serted that he would quickly find it.

”I hope we may meet again. We must!” I exclaimed, when at last we grew near our journey's end. ”This is certainly a very strange meeting, but if at any time I can render you another service, command me.”

”You are extremely good,” she answered, turning to me after looking out fixedly upon the dark, deserted street, for rain was falling, and it was muddy and cheerless. ”We had, however, better not meet again.”

”Why?” I inquired. Her beauty had cast a spell about me, and I was capable of any foolishness.

”Because it is unnecessary,” she replied, with a strange vagueness, yet without hesitation.

We were pa.s.sing at that moment the end of a winding thoroughfare, and at a word the cabman turned his horse and proceeded slowly in search of Number 16.

Without much difficulty we found it, a good-sized detached house, built in modern style, with gable ends and long windows; a house of a character far better than I had expected. I had believed the street to be a mean one, of those poor-looking houses which bear the stamp of weekly rents, but was surprised to find a quiet, eminently respectable suburban road at the very edge of London. At the back of the houses were open fields, and one or two of the residences had carriage-drives before them.

There was still a light over the door, which showed that the lost one was expected, and as she descended she allowed her little, well-gloved hand to linger for a moment in mine.

”Good night,” she said, merrily, ”and thank you ever so much. I shall never forget your kindness--never.”

”Then you will repay me by meeting me again?” I urged.