Part 8 (2/2)
Then the point of Monty's strategy appeared He caught hiainst the wall, and, before the Greek could recover sufficiently to use heels and teeth or whisk out the knife he kept groping for, hurled hie farther on his journey--face forward this ti We kicked hi but wander hohed Monty ”This isn't the States, you know; by gad, they'll jail you here if you do your own police work! Instead of Brussels I'd have had to stay and hire lawyers to defend you!”
”Aw--quit preaching!” Yerkes answered ”If I hadn't seen you there on the stairs with your mouth open I'd have been satisfied to put him down and spank him!”
It was then that the much more unexpected struck us speechless--even Monty for the iven to social indecision We had not known there was a wouest in that hotel One does not look in Zanzibar for ladies with a Mayfair accent unaccompanied by lishwoman, expensively if carelessly dressed, ca down at the rest of us with a sort of well bred, rather tolerant scorn
”A this is Lord Montdidier?” she asked, pronouncing the word as it should be--Mundidger
She had been very beautiful She still was handsome in a hard-lipped, bold ith abundant raven hair and a coe She seeh Her lacy white dress, open at the neck, was creased and not too clean, but she wore in her bosoave the lie to poverty provided the geh which she s and had dia ring that I could see; and she took no more notice of Will Yerkes beside her than if he had been a part of the furniture
”Why do you ask?” asked Monty, starting upstairs She had to round
”A fair question!” she laughed Her voice had a hard ring, but was very well trained and under absolute control I received the ier at some time ”I am Lady Saffren Waldon--Isobel Saffren Waldon”
Fred and I had followed Monty up and were close behind him I heard him mutter, ”Oh, lord!” under his breath
”I knew your brother,” she added
”I know you did”
”You think that gives me no claim on your acquaintance? Perhaps it doesn't But as an unprotected woman--”
”There is the Residency,” objected Monty, ”and the law”
She laughed bitterly ”Thank you, I ae home! I overheard that ruffian say, and I think I heard you say too that you are going to England I want you to take a e for me”
”There is a post-office here,” said Monty without turning a hair He looked straight into her iron eyes ”There is a cable station I will lend you money to cable with”
”Thank you,snubbed that my skin would not feel a whip! I want you to take a verbal e!”
It was perfectly evident that Monty would rather have met the devil in person than this untidy da her too much claim on his attention (If she had asked favors of anwhy Monty should treat her so cavalierly; and I fancy Yerkes did the sae, and I'll tell you whether I'll take it,” said Monty
She laughed again, even more bitterly
”If I could tell it on these stairs,” she answered, ”I could cable it
They censor cablegrams, and open letters in this place”
”I suspect that isn't true,” said Monty ”But if you object to witnesses, how do you propose to deliver your e to me?” he asked pointedly