Emerson"s jaw dropped. "Good G.o.d," he said. "A woman with an inquiring mind? Is it possible?"
I overlooked the insult, having become interested in what he was saying. I was about to pursue the subject further when there was a dramatic interruption.
Evelyn was sitting next to the sofa, with Walter leaning on the back of her chair. She suddenly started to her feet. Turning, I saw that her face had gone white as linen. She was staring with a fixed look of horror toward the entrance to the room.
I glanced about. The room was crowded with people, but I saw nothing that might explain her agitation. Before I could make a more searching perusal, Evelyn had collapsed onto the floor. When Walter, clumsy with agitation, managed to reach her and raise her in his arms, she was in a dead faint, from which she was restored with some difficulty.
She would not answer our questions; she was only capable of reiterating her desire to return to our rooms.
"Let me carry you," Walter begged. "You are no burden; you cannot walk- "
He put out his arms. She shrank back, as if he had offered to strike her.
"No, no," she gasped. "Amelia will help me. I can walk, indeed I can. Pray do not touch me."
Poor Walter was as white as Evelyn. But there was nothing to be done but accede to her wishes. She walked, falteringly, but without any a.s.sistance except mine, to the stairs. As we started up, I had only time to a.s.sure Walter that I would let him know next morning how Evelyn was, if he cared to come by.
My maid was waiting when we reached our rooms. Evelyn rejected her attentions, which were given grudgingly enough; she seemed to shrink from any company but mine, but still refused to tell me what was wrong. At her request, I dismissed Travers, telling her to go to bed.
"I believe I will send Travers home," I said, seeking to strike a casual note, since Evelyn would not talk of the matter uppermost in both our minds. "She hates everything- the country, the Egyptians, the boat- "
"And me," said Evelyn, with a faint smile.
"She doesn"t think highly of me, either," I said, pleased to see Evelyn regaining her spirits. "We can manage without her quite nicely. I shall make arrangements tomorrow. Evelyn, won"t you tell me now- "
"Later," Evelyn said. "I will explain later, Amelia, when I have.... Won"t you return to the saloon? You were having such a nice talk with Mr. Emerson. I am sure he is still there. You might rea.s.sure him and his.... You might rea.s.sure them, and make my apologies. I am well; I only need rest. I will go straight to bed. I really am quite well."
This speech, delivered in a rapid monotone, was quite unlike the girl I had come to know. I looked at her searchingly; she refused to meet my eyes. I started to speak, fully prepared to break down a reticence which now alarmed me; then came a loud knock at the door of the sitting room.
Evelyn started convulsively. A renewed pallor spread over her face. I stared at her, too bewildered to speak. Who could this visitor be, who knocked so peremptorily? And at such an hour! It was not too late for evening social activities, but it was certainly too late for anyone to be coming to our rooms. I could not believe that Walter"s anxiety would drive him to such a step. Moreover, it was clear from Evelyn"s demeanor that she suspected who the visitor might be, and that her suspicion caused her deep dread.
Her eyes met mine. Her shoulders straightened, and she set her lips in a firm line before she opened them to speak. "Open the door, Amelia, if you will be so good. I am being a miserable coward. I must face this."
I suppose her speech conveyed a clue to my mind. I remember I felt no surprise when I opened the door and saw the man who stood there. I had never seen him before, but his swarthy complexion, his sleek black hair, his bold good looks confirmed the suspicion Evelyn"s manner had aroused.
"Ah," I said. "Signor Alberto, I presume."
3.
ALBERTO PLACED one hand on his heart and bowed. His look, as well as his manner, verged on insolence; and as his eyes moved from my face toward the inner doorway where Evelyn stood, pale and still as a statue, it was all I could do not to slap him.
"You invite me in?" he asked, looking at me. "I think you prefer I would not speak of matters close to our hearts except in the privacy."
I stepped back; silently I motioned him in; gently I closed the door behind him. I wanted to slam it. Alberto rushed toward Evelyn.
"Ah, my lost darling, my heart"s beloved! How can you desert me? How can you leave me with agony for your fate?"
Evelyn raised her hand. Alberto stopped, a few feet away from her. I really believe the rascal would have taken her into his arms if she had not moved. Now he c.o.c.ked his head on one side and said, in tones of deep reproach, "You push me! You crush me! Ah, I understand. You have found a rich protectress. She gave you gifts and you abandon the poor lover who give only love."
My parasol was standing in the comer. I went and got it. Evelyn was silent throughout; I think she was too thunderstruck at the man"s insolence to speak. I approached Alberto and jabbed him in the waistcoat with my parasol. He jumped back.
"That will do," I said briskly. "You abandoned this lady; she did not abandon you, although she would have been wise to do so. How dare you come here after writing that abominable message to her, after taking all her possessions- "
"Message?" Alberto rolled his eyes. "I leave no message. Going out, to seek employment, so I buy food for my beloved, I was strike by a horse while I cross the street. Weeks I lie in the terrible hospital, in delirious, crying out for my Evelyn. When I recover, I stagger to the room which was my paradise. But she is gone! My angel has flown away. I leave no message! If there is message my enemy must leave it.
I have many enemy. Many who hate me, who try to steal my happiness, who envy me my angel."
He looked meaningfully at me.
I have rarely seen such an unconvincing dramatic performance. Yet I was not sure it might not convince Evelyn; love has a most unfortunate effect on the brain, and I feared some lingering fondness for the rascal might still move her.
I need not have feared. Evelyn"s color had returned; indeed, her cheeks were flushed becomingly with an emotion that I recognized to be anger.
"How dare you?" she said in a low voice. "Have you not done me enough harm? Oh, you are right to reproach me; I deserve your contempt. Not for having left you, but for ever coming away with you in the first place. But how dare you come here and insinuate such things about this lady? You are not worthy to occupy the same room with her. Begone, and never trouble my sight again!"
Alberto staggered back a few paces. He was counterfeiting shock and anguish, but the ferrule of the umbrella, which I had against his stomach, might have a.s.sisted his retreat.
"You cannot speak with true meaning. You are sick. No - you do not understand. I come to marry you.
I offer you my hand and name. There is no other way for you. No other man marry you now, not when he know--"
He was an agile fellow; he jumped nimbly back as I tried to bring the parasol down on his head, and when I raised it for a second attempt, Evelyn caught at my arm.
"Pray don"t break a good parasol," she said, with a curling lip. "He is not worth it."
"But he is trying to blackmail you," I said, panting with rage. "He is threatening you with exposure unless you agree- "
"He may publish my infamy to the world," Evelyn said coldly. "Believe me, Amelia, he has no more power over me. If any lingering trace of fondness had remained, this would have ended it."
Smoothing down his hair, which had been disarranged by his rapid movement, Alberto stared at us in affected horror.
"Blackmail? Threat? Dio mio Dio mio, how you do not understand me? I would not- "
"You had better not," I interrupted. "The first sign of trouble from you, you rascal, and I"ll have you put in prison. Egyptian prisons are vastly uncomfortable, I am told, and I have a good deal more influence with the present government than you do."
Alberto drew himself up.
"Now you threaten me," he said with satisfaction. "No need for threat. If the lady do not want me, I go.
I come only for honor. I see now. I understand. There is another! It is true, no? Who is he, this villain who steal my darling"s heart?"
Evelyn, who had born up magnificently, now showed signs of breaking- which was no wonder.
"I can"t stand any more of this," she whispered. "Amelia, can we not make him go away? Can we call for help?"
"Certainly," I said.
I pa.s.sed Alberto- who drew back nervously- and threw open the door. There is usually a floor attendant on duty, and I meant to summon him. But there was no need. Sitting on the floor, across the hall from our door, was our dragoman, Michael. I did not stop to ask why he was there. He leaped to his feet when he saw me, and I beckoned him in.
"Take this man by the collar and throw him out," I said, gesturing at Alberto.