The young man dropped his eyegla.s.s. I was proud of the fact that I had succeeded in surprising him.
"You mean," he exclaimed softly, "that you won"t--that you don"t want to come?"
"Precisely," I answered. "I have already had the honour of one interview with the Archd.u.c.h.ess, and I imagine that no useful purpose would be served by re-opening the subject of our discussion!"
"The young lady, then?" he remarked, turning again to Isobel.
"The young lady remains under my charge," I answered. "You will be so good as to express my regrets to the Archd.u.c.h.ess."
He hesitated for a moment, and then, with a slight bow to Isobel, left us. She spoke to me, and we had been so long silent that our voices sounded strange.
"Thank you, Arnold," she said quietly. "This is all so wonderful that I could not bear to have it disturbed."
"I pray that it may not be," I answered. "The Archd.u.c.h.ess"s interest is flattering, but mysterious. I for one do not trust her. I wish----"
I broke off in my speech, for I saw that the princ.i.p.al seat in the opposite box was vacant. As for Isobel, I doubt whether she noticed my sudden pause. Her hands were still caressing the soft pink blossoms in her lap, her eyes were fixed upon vacancy. She was in a sort of dream, from which I did not care to rouse her. I knew very well that the awakening would come fast enough.
Another imperative tap upon the door. I opened it, and the Archd.u.c.h.ess swept past me. In the darkness of our box her diamonds glittered like fire, the perfume from her draperies was stronger by far than the delicate fragrance of the roses which Isobel still held. Me she ignored altogether. She went straight up to Isobel, and, stooping down, rested her gloved hand upon the girl"s shoulder.
"I sent for you just now," she said. "Did you not understand?"
Isobel raised her eyebrows. The Archd.u.c.h.ess was angry, and her voice betrayed her.
"I do not know any reason," Isobel answered, "why I should do your bidding."
[Ill.u.s.tration: "I do not know any reason" Isobel answered, "why I should do your bidding."]
The Archd.u.c.h.ess was silent for a moment. I think that she was waiting until she could control her voice.
"Isobel," she said, "I will tell you a very good reason. I cannot keep silence any longer. They will not give you up to me any other way, so I have come to claim you openly. You shall know the truth. I am your mother"s sister!"
Isobel rose slowly to her feet. She was as tall as the Archd.u.c.h.ess, and the likeness which had always haunted me was unmistakable. Only Isobel was of the finer mould, and her eyes were different.
"Why did you not tell me this before--at the Mordaunt Rooms, for instance?" she asked.
"You came upon me like a thunderclap," the Archd.u.c.h.ess answered quickly.
"For years we had lost all trace of you. Besides, there were reasons--you know that there were reasons why I might surely have been forgiven for hesitating. But let that go. We had better have your story blazoned out once more to the world than that you should live your life in this hole-and-corner fashion. I shall take you back to Waldenburg. I presume, sir!" she added, turning suddenly towards me, "that even you will not question my right to a.s.sume the guardianship of my own niece?"
The memory of Feurgeres" look came to my aid, or I scarcely know how I should have answered her.
"Your Highness," I said, "it is for Isobel to decide. She is no longer a child. Only I would remind you that you have on more than one occasion endeavoured to a.s.sume that guardianship without mentioning any such relationship."
"You know Isobel"s history," the Archd.u.c.h.ess answered. "Can you wonder that I was anxious to avoid all publicity?"
"Your Highness," I said, "we do not know Isobel"s history--yet. We shall hear it to-night."
"He has not told you--yet?" she asked incredulously.
"He is coming to my rooms to-night," I answered.
"You shall hear it before then," she exclaimed, with a little laugh.
"Put on your hat, child. We will drive to my house, you and I and Mr.
Greatson, and I will tell you everything. You will know then how greatly that man insulted you by daring to allow you to occupy this box, to approach you at all."
"Madame," Isobel said, "I thank you, but I wish to hear the end of the play. And as for my history, Monsieur Feurgeres has promised to tell it to Mr. Greatson to-night."
I saw the Archd.u.c.h.ess"s teeth meet, and a spot of colour that burned in her cheeks.
"You talk like a fool, child," she said fiercely. "You are being deceived on every side. It is not fit that that man should come into your presence. It is a disgrace that you should mention his name."
"Mr.--Monsieur Feurgeres has proved himself my friend," Isobel answered quietly.
The Archd.u.c.h.ess"s eyes were burning. She was a woman of violent temper, and it was fast becoming beyond her control.
"Child," she said, "I am your aunt, the daughter of the King of Waldenburg. You, too, are of the same race. You know well that I speak the truth. How dare you talk to me of a creature like Feurgeres? You have our blood in your veins. I command you to come with me, and break off at once and for ever these remarkable a.s.sociations. You shall make what return you will later on to those whom you may think"--she darted a contemptuous glance at me--"have been your friends. But from this moment I claim you. Come!"
Isobel looked her aunt in the face. She spoke courteously, but without faltering.
"Madame," she said, "it is not possible for me to do as you ask.
Whatever plans are made for my future, it is to my dear friend here,"
she said, looking across at me with shining eyes, "that I owe everything. And as for Monsieur Feurgeres, I have promised him to occupy this box for this evening, and I shall do so."
The Archd.u.c.h.ess was very white.
"You force me to tell you, child," she said. "This creature Feurgeres was your mother"s----"
"Your Highness!" I cried.
She stopped short and bit her lip. Isobel was very pale, but she pointed to the door. The orchestra had commenced to play.
"Madame," she said, "Monsieur Feurgeres loved my mother. I shall keep my word to him."
There was a soft knock at the door. Captain Milton stood on the threshold.
"Your Highness," he said, bowing low, "the curtain will rise in thirty seconds."
The Archd.u.c.h.ess left us without a word.
CHAPTER XII
It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel"s white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down. So I called a hansom, and she sank back in a corner with a little sigh of relief. I lit a cigarette, and suddenly I felt a cold little hand steal into mine. I set my teeth and held it firmly.
"Arnold," she whispered, and her voice was none too steady, "I hate that woman. I do not care if she is my aunt; and--Arnold----"
"Yes."