Part 25 (2/2)
”Can't you sell your jewels?” suggested Pierre.
”They went long ago. All that I have now are only paste,” she replied disconsolately.
”Wouldn't Trethowen lend you some if you told him some pitiful tale?”
”How could I ask him? You forget that he believes me to be rich, with the fabulously wealthy Comte Chaulin-Serviniere as my cousin.”
”Rather a new character for Victor,” laughed the smart young man at her side.
”Oh, but he has a.s.sumed the part well, I a.s.sure you,” she declared. ”He looks after my welfare to just the right extent in the circ.u.mstances, and his bearing and appearance give him the stamp of the aristocrat, which is, of course, only due in some degree to the new suit he had for the occasion.”
Pierre laughed heartily. He had never seen Hugh Trethowen, yet with the instinct of the adventurer who wages war against those possessed of money, it was a source of satisfaction to him to know that the victim was falling an easy prey.
By this time they had ascended the Chemin des Morts, and were pausing at the summit gazing upon the charming landscape outspread like a panorama at their feet. The spot itself was interesting, inasmuch as a quaint legend is connected with it. As they rested there he related it to her.
It is alleged that once on a time a Seigneur of Harze, who had died leaving behind him an unenviable reputation, was being carried to his last resting-place in the parish churchyard, when one of the bearers slipped, and the body fell over the cliff, and then from rock to rock, till it reached the river. The affrighted mourners saw in this terrible accident an unmistakable judgment of heaven, and did not dare to interfere.
When he had narrated the circ.u.mstance they continued their walk, pa.s.sing through a small fir plantation until they came to a time-worn rustic cross. Near it, and overshadowed by some large bushes, was an old seat, upon which they sat continuing the discussion of Berard's merits.
The shade was welcome after toiling up the hill, and Valerie, taking off her hat, allowed the soft breeze to fan her temples, while he lit a cigarette, handing her one also.
”I'm puzzled to know how we are to bring matters to a crisis without more money than we have at present,” she said reflectively, after they had been talking some time.
”That's really a difficult problem,” her companion replied quickly.
”Don't you know anybody who would advance you a little?”
”No. Besides, it would be unsafe. We must now be exceedingly careful how to act.”
”There is only one thing that I can suggest,” said Pierre thoughtfully watching the smoke curling upward.
”How?” she inquired expectantly.
”Rook him at cards.”
”_Ma foi_! An excellent suggestion!” she e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed enthusiastically.
”You could work it easily enough. Victor and he will be here to-morrow, therefore I should suggest that I start to-night for Spa. You three can follow after a day or two. There you can meet me, introduce me as a friend, and then I can proceed to pluck him of a few hundreds. I'm quicker with the paste-boards than Victor.”
”He's a good player, I believe.”
”That doesn't matter. If you can persuade him to play, I'll soon have some money.”
”My dear Pierre,” Valerie said, laughing, ”he will do anything for me.
I'm sure he would lose ten thousand francs without a murmur, if he thought he was pleasing me by tempting fortune. He does think such a lot of me that--that I sometimes feel inclined to love him genuinely.
I'm almost sick of the base part I am playing.”
Her face a.s.sumed a serious look, and she sighed. Pierre regarded her in astonishment.
<script>