"And will answer the question?" said I, returning to the charge.
"You deserve no less," she a.s.sented. "But indeed, I have no recollection of your face, and so can speak with no greater certainty than yourself. Perchance your name might jog my memory."
"I am called Morrice Buckler," said I.
At that she started in her saddle and gathered up the reins as though intending to ride off.
"Then I can a.s.sure you on the point," she said hurriedly. "You and I have never met."
I was greatly astonished by this sudden action which she made. "Twas as though she was frightened; and I knew no reason why any one should fear me, least of all a stranger. But what she did next astonished me far more; for she dropped the reins and looked me over curiously, saying with a little laugh:
"So you are Morrice Buckler. I gave you credit for horn-spectacles at the very least."
Something about her--was it her manner or her voice?--struck me as singularly familiar to me, and I exclaimed:
"Surely, surely, madam, it is true. Somewhere we have met."
"Nowhere," she answered, enjoying my mystification. "Have you ever been presented to Lady Tracy, wife of Sir William Tracy?"
"Not that I remember," said I, still more puzzled, "nor have I ever heard the name."
"Then you should be satisfied, for I am Lady Tracy."
"But you spoke of horn-spectacles. How comes it that you know so much concerning me?"
"Nay," she laughed. "You go too fast, Mr. Buckler. I know nothing concerning you save that some injustice has been done you. I was told of a homespun student, glum and musty as an old book, and I find instead a town-gallant point-de-vice, who will barter me compliments with the best of them."
"You got your knowledge, doubtless, from Hugh Marston," I replied, with a glance at the door; "and I only wonder the description was not more unflattering."
"I did not mean him," she said slowly. "For I did not even know that you were acquainted with"--she paused, and looked me straight in the face--"with my brother."
"Your brother!" I exclaimed. "Hugh Marston is your brother?" And I took a step towards her. Again I saw a pa.s.sing look of apprehension in her face, but I did not stop to wonder at it then. I understood that the indefinable familiarity in her looks was due to the likeness which she bore her brother--a likeness consisting not so much of a distinct stamp of features as of an occasional and fleeting similarity of expression.
"I understand," said I, more to myself than to her.
She flushed very red in a way which was unaccountable, and broke in abruptly.
"So you see we have never seen one another before to-day. For the last year I have been travelling abroad with my husband, and only came to London unexpectedly this morning."
Her words revealed the whole plot to me, or so I thought. Secured from discovery by the pledge of secrecy which he had exacted from Ilga, Marston had shown this miniature of his absent sister, and invented a story which there was no one to disprove. Looking back upon the incident with the cooler reflection which a lapse of years induces, I marvel at the conviction with which I drew the inference. But although now I see clearly how incredible it was that a man of Marston"s breeding and family should so villainously misuse the fair fame of one thus near to hand, at the time I measured his jealousy by the violence of my own, and was ready to believe that he would check at no barriers of pride and honour which stood between him and his intention. Events, moreover, seemed to jump most aptly with my conclusion.
So, full of my discovery of his plot, I said a second time, "I.
understand;" and a second time she flushed unaccountably. I spoke the words with some bitterness and contempt, and she took them to refer to herself.
"You blame me," she began nervously, "for marrying so soon after Julian died. But it is unfair to judge quickly."
The speech was little short of a revelation to me. So busy had my thoughts been with my own affairs, that I had not realised this was in truth the woman who had been betrothed to Julian, and who had betrayed him to his shameful death. I looked at her for a moment, stunned by the knowledge. She was, as her portrait showed her to be, very pretty, with something of the petted child about her; of a trim and supple figure, and with wonderfully small hands. I remarked her hands especially, because her fingers were playing restlessly with the jewelled b.u.t.t of her riding-whip; and I did not wonder at her power over men"s hearts. A small, trembling hand laid in a man"s great palm!
In truth, it coaxes him out of very pity for its size. For my part, however, conscious of the evil which her treachery had done to Julian, ay, and to myself, too, I felt nothing but aversion for her, and, taking off my hat, I bowed to her silently. Just as I was turning away, an idea occurred to me. She knew nothing of her brother"s plot to ruin me in Ilga"s estimation. Why should I not use her to confound his designs?
"Lady Tracy," said I, returning to her side, "it is in your power to do me a service."
"Indeed?" she asked, her face clearing, and her manner changing to its former flippancy. "Is it the new fashion for ladies to render services to gentlemen? It used to be the other way about."
"As you have sure warrant for knowing," I added.
The look of fear which I had previously noticed sprang again into her eyes; now I appreciated the cause. She was afraid that I knew something of her share in Julian"s death.
"It has been my great good fortune," she replied uneasily, "when I needed any small services, to meet with gentlemen who rendered them with readiness and forbearance."
She laid a little stress upon the last word, and I took a step closer to her.
"You cannot be aware, I think, who lodges in this house."
"I am not," she replied. "Why? Who lodges here?"
"Countess Lukstein."
She gave a little faltering cry, and turned white to the lips.
"You need have no fear," I continued. "I said Countess Lukstein, the wife, or rather, the widow. For a widow she has been this many a month."
"A widow!" she repeated. "A widow!" And she drew a long breath of relief, the colour returning to her cheeks. Then she turned defiantly on me. "And what, pray, is this Countess Lukstein to me?"
"G.o.d forbid that I should inquire into that!" said I sternly, and her eyes fell from my face. "Now, madam," I went on, "will you do me the favour I ask of you?"
"You ask it with such humility," she answered bitterly, "that I cannot find it in my heart to refuse you."
"I expected no less," I returned. "Let me a.s.sist you to dismount."
She drew quickly away.
"For what purpose? You would not take me to--to his wife."
"Even so!"
"Ah, not that! Not that! Mr. Buckler, I beseech you," she implored piteously, laying a trembling hand upon my shoulder. "I have not the courage."
"There is nothing to fear," I said, rea.s.suring her. "Nothing whatsoever. Your brother is there. That guarantees no harm can come to you. But, besides, Countess Lukstein knows nothing of the affair. No one knows of it but you and I."
She still sat unconvinced upon her saddle.
"How is it you know, Mr. Buckler?" she asked, in a low tone.
"Julian told me," I answered, perceiving that I must needs go further than I intended if I meant to get my way. "Cannot you guess why? I said the Count was dead. I did not tell you how he died. He was killed in a duel."
She looked at me for a moment with a great wonder in her eyes.
"You!" she whispered. "You killed Count Lukstein?"