Olivetta picked it up, put it into place, and with nervous hands tried to press into order loose-flying locks of her rather scanty hair.
Mrs. De Peyster arose; her worry about her missing son prompted her to seek the relief of movement. "I think I shall take a turn about the house to see that everything is being properly closed. Would you like to come with me?"
Olivetta would; and, talking, they went together down the stairs.
As they neared the ground floor, Matilda"s voice arose to them, expostulating, protesting.
"What can that be about?" wondered Mrs. De Peyster, and following the voice toward its source she stepped into her reception-room. Instantly there sprang up and stood before her a young man with the bland, smiling, excessively polite manner of a gentleman-brigand. And around her crowded five or six other figures.
Matilda, pressing through them, glared at these invaders in helpless wrath, then at her mistress in guilty terror.
"I--I did my best, ma"am. But they wouldn"t go." And before punishment could fall she discreetly fled.
"Pardon this seeming intrusion, Mrs. De Peyster," the foremost young man said rapidly, smoothly, appeasingly. "But we could not go, as you requested. The sailing of Mrs. De Peyster, under the attendant circ.u.mstances, is a piece of news of first importance; in fact, almost a national event. We simply had to see you. I trust you perceive and appreciate our professional predicament."
Mrs. De Peyster was glaring at him with devastating majesty.
"This--this is an outrage!"
"Perhaps it may seem an outrage to you," said the young man swiftly, politely, and thoroughly undevastated. "But, really, it is only our duty. Our duty to our papers, and to the great reading public. And when newspaper men are doing their duty they must necessarily fail, to their great personal regret, in the observance of some of the nicer courtesies."
Mrs. De Peyster was almost inarticulate.
"Who--who are you?"
"Mayfair is my name. Of the "Record.""
"The "Record"! That yellow, radical paper!"
Mr. Mayfair stepped nearer. His voice sank to an easy, confidential tone.
"You are misled by appearances, Mrs. De Peyster. Every paper has got to have a policy; we"re the common people"s paper--big circulation, you know; and we so denounce the rich on our editorial page. But as a matter of fact we give our readers more live, entertaining, and respectful matter about society people than any other paper in New York. It"s just what the common people love. And now"--easily shifting his base--"about this reported engagement of your son and Miss Quintard. As you know, it"s the best "romance in high life" story of the season. Will you either confirm or deny the report?"
"I have nothing whatever to say," flamed out Mrs. De Peyster. "And will you leave this house instantly!"
"Ah, Miss Quintard"s mother would not deny it either," commented Mr.
Mayfair with his polite imperturbability. His sharp eyes glinted with satisfaction. Young Mr. Mayfair admired himself as being something of the human dynamo. Also it was his private opinion that he was of the order of the super-reporter; nothing ever "got by him." "And so,"
he went on without a pause, "since the engagement is not denied, I suppose we may take it as a fact. And now"--again with his swift change of base--"may I ask, as a parting word before you sail, whether it is your intention next season to contest with Mrs. Allistair--"
"I have nothing whatever to say!"
"Quite naturally you"d prefer not to say anything," appeasingly continued the high-geared Mr. Mayfair, "but of course you are going to fight her." Again his sharp, unfoilable eyes glinted. ""Duel for social leadership"--pardon me for speaking of it as such, but that"s what it is; and most interesting, I a.s.sure you; and I, for one, trust that you will retain your supremacy, for I know--_I know_," he repeated with emphasis--"that Mrs. Allistair has used some methods not altogether--sportsmanlike, may I say? And now"--rapidly shifting once more--"I trust I will not seem indelicate if I inquire whether it is in the scope of your present plans, perhaps at house-parties at the estates of t.i.tled friends, to meet the Duke de--"
"I have nothing whatever to say!" gasped Mrs. De Peyster, glaring with consuming fury.
"Naturally. We could hardly expect a categorical "yes" or "no." We understand that your position requires you to be non-committal; and you, of course, understand that we newspaper men interpret a refusal to speak as an answer in the affirmative. Thank you very much for the interview you have given us. And I can a.s.sure you that we shall all handle the story with the utmost good taste. Good afternoon."
He bowed. And the next moment the place where he had stood was vacant.
"Of--of all the effrontery!" exploded Mrs. De Peyster.
"Isn"t it terrible!" shudderingly gasped the sympathetic Olivetta. "I hope they won"t really drag in that horrible Duke de Crecy!"
Mrs. De Peyster shuddered, too. The episode of the Duke de Crecy was still salt in an unhealed social wound. The Duke had been New York"s most distinguished t.i.tled visitor the previous winter; Mrs. De Peyster, to the general envy, had led in his entertainment; there had been whispers of another international marriage. And then, after respectful adieus, the Duke had sailed away--and within a month the papers were giving columns to his scandalous escapades with a sensational Spanish dancer of parsimonious drapery. Whereupon the rumors of Mrs. De Peyster"s previously gossiped-of marriage with the now notorious Duke were revived--by the subtle instigation, and as an act of social warfare, so Mrs. De Peyster believed, of her aspiring rival, Mrs. Allistair. And there was one faint rumor, still daringly breathed around, that the Duke had proposed--had been accepted--had run away: in blunt terms, had jilted Mrs. De Peyster.
"We will not speak of this again, Olivetta," Mrs. De Peyster remarked with returning dignity, "but while the matter is up, I will mention that the Duke did propose to me, and that I refused him."
With a gesture she silenced any comment from Olivetta. In a breath or two she was entirely her usual poiseful self. Too many generations had her blood been trained to ways of dignity, and too long had she herself been drilled in composure and self-esteem and in a perfect confidence in the thing that she was, for an invasion of newspaper creatures to disturb her for longer than a few moments.
She was moving with stately tread toward the dining-room when Matilda came hurrying up from the nether regions of the house. "Did you know, ma"am," Matilda fluttered eagerly, "that Mr. Jack is home?"
"My son back!" There was vast relief in Mrs. De Peyster"s voice. "When did he come?"
"A few minutes ago."
"Did--did he say anything?"
"I haven"t seen him, ma"am. He came in the back way, through the stable. William told me about it."
Mrs. De Peyster"s voice became composed, severe. "I shall see what he has to say for himself." Majestically, somewhat ominously, she turned and began to mount the stairs, followed by Olivetta and Matilda. But as she pa.s.sed the library"s closed door, she heard Miss Gardner"s voice and a second voice--and the second voice was the voice of a man.
Startled, she paused. She caught a few fragments of phrases.
Indignation surged up within her. Resolutely she stepped to the door; but by instinct she was no eavesdropper, and she would not come upon people in compromising att.i.tudes without giving them fair warning. So she knocked, waited a moment--then opened the door and entered.
CHAPTER II
ENTER AN AMIABLE YOUNG GENTLEMAN
Half an hour earlier, across in Washington Square, a young gentleman was sauntering about taking the crisp May air. He was fashionably but quietly dressed, and in his chamois-gloved hand he swung a jaunty wand of a cane; a slender, lithe young gentleman, with a keen face that had an oddly wide but yet attractive mouth: a young man emanating an essence of lightness both of body and of spirit. He might have been the very person of agreeable, irresponsible Spring, if Spring is ever of the male gender, out for a promenade.
It seemed most casual, the saunter of this pleasant idler; the keenest observer would never have guessed purpose in his stroll. But never for longer than an instant were the frank gray eyes of this young gentleman away from the splendid stone steps, with their carved bal.u.s.trade, and the fine old doorway of Mrs. De Peyster"s house at No.
13 Washington Square.
Presently he noted three men turn up Mrs. De Peyster"s steps. Swiftly, but without noticeable haste, he was across the street. The trio had no more than touched the bell when he was beside them.
"What papers are you boys with?" he inquired easily, merging himself at once with the party.
One man told him--and looked him up and down. "Thought I knew all the fellows," added the speaker, a middle-aged man, "but never ran into you before. What"s your rag?"
""Town Gossip,"" replied the agreeable young gentleman.
""Town Gossip"!" The old reporter gave a grunt of contempt. "And you"ve come to interview Mrs. De Peyster?"
"Yes."
"First time I ever knew that leprous scandal-scavenger and black-hander to send a man out in the open to get a story." Evidently the old reporter, whom the others addressed as "colonel," had by his long service acquired the privilege of surly out-spokenness. "Thought "Town Gossip" specialized in butlers and ladies" maids and such--or faked up its dope in the office."