Part 31 (2/2)
”Did she take anything with her?”
The girl hesitated. Lady Carey frowned.
”It must be the truth, remember, Marie.”
”Certainly, my lady! She took her small dressing-case.”
Lady Carey set her teeth hard. Then with a movement of her head she dismissed the maid. She walked restlessly up and down the room. Then she stopped short with a hard little laugh.
”If I give way like this,” she murmured, ”I shall be positively hideous, and after all, if she was there it was not possible for him--”
She stopped short, and suddenly tearing the handkerchief which she had been carrying into shreds threw the pieces upon the floor, and stamped upon them. Then she laughed shortly, and turned towards the door.
”Now I must go and get rid of that poor fool outside,” she said. ”What a bungler!”
Brott was beside himself with impatience.
”Lucille is here,” she announced, stepping in beside him. ”She has a shocking headache and has gone to bed. As a matter of fact, I believe that she was expecting to hear from you.”
”Impossible!” he answered shortly. He was beginning to distrust this woman.
”Never mind. You can make it up with her to-morrow. I was foolish to be anxious about her at all. Are you coming in again?”
They were at Carmarthen House. He handed her out.
”No, thanks! If you will allow me I will wish you good-night.”
She made her way into the ball-room, and found the Prince of Saxe Leinitzer, who was just leaving.
”Do you know where Lucille is?” she asked.
He looked up at her sharply. ”Where?”
”At the Carlton Hotel--with him.”
He rose to his feet with slow but evil prompt.i.tude. His face just then was very unlike the face of an angel. Lady Carey laughed aloud.
”Poor man,” she said mockingly. ”It is always the same when you and Souspennier meet.”
He set his teeth.
”This time,” he muttered, ”I hold the trumps.”
She pointed at the clock. It was nearly four. ”She was there at eleven,”
she remarked drily.
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