Anna the Adventuress

Anna extended her critical survey and shrugged her shoulders.

"What can one say?" she exclaimed. "Did you ever see women so

weary-looking and so dowdy? They do not talk. They seem to spend their

time yawning and inspecting their neighbour's dresses through those

hateful glasses. It never seems to enter their heads to try and amuse

their menkind."

Two young men on their way down the room came suddenly to a standstill

before Anna. The foremost, tall, clean-shaven, perfectly groomed, half

extended his hand with a smile of recognition.

"Miss Pellissier, isn't it?" he said. "Glad to see you in London. No

idea that you were here, though."

Anna looked up with a doubtful smile of non-recognition.

"My name is certainly Pellissier," she said, "but I am very sorry--I

do not recognize you in the least."

The tall young man dropped his eye-glass and smiled.

"Had the pleasure of dining with you at the 'Ambassador's' one night,

before the show, you know--last September I think it was. Charley

Pevenill was our host. My name is Armytage--Lord Ernest Armytage."

Anna had suddenly stiffened. She regarded the young man coldly. Her

tone was icy.

"I am afraid that you are making a mistake," she said. "I was never at

any such dinner, and I am quite sure that I do not know you."

"Perhaps you remember me, Miss Pellissier," the second young man

interposed. "I had the pleasure of--er--meeting you more than once, I

believe."

A spot of colour flared in Anna's cheek as she glanced towards the

speaker. Something in his smile, in the cynical suggestiveness of his

deferential tone, maddened her.

"To the best of my belief," she said, with quiet dignity, "I have

never seen either of you before in my life."

For a fraction of a second the two young men hesitated. Then the

foremost bowed and passed on.

"I am exceedingly sorry," he said. "Pray accept my apologies."

"And mine," murmured his companion, with the smile still lingering

upon his lips.

They took their places at a distant table. Anna sat quite still for a

moment, and then the colour suddenly returned to her cheeks. She

laughed softly, and leaned across the table.

"Do not look so uncomfortable, both of you," she begged. "Those young

men startled me at first, because they knew my name. I am quite sure

though that they did not mean to be rude."

"Impudent beggars," Sydney growled. "I never wanted to kick any one so

much in my life as that second fellow."

"I think," Anna said, "that it was only his manner. Do look at this

tragedy in mauve, who has just come in. What can she be? The wife of a

country tradesman, or a duchess? And such a meek little husband too.

What can she have done to deserve such a fate? Oh!"