Anna the Adventuress

Neither of them joined in the applause which followed upon her exit.

They were both conscious, however, that something had intervened

between them. Their conversation became stilted. A spot of colour,

brighter than any rouge, burned on her cheeks.

"She is marvellously clever," he said.

"She appears to be very popular here," she remarked.

"You too sing?" he asked.

"I have given it up," she answered. "One genius in the family is

enough." After a pause, she added, "Do you mind fetching back my

recalcitrant cavalier."

"Anything except that," he murmured. "I was half hoping that I might

be allowed to see you home."

"If you can tear yourself away from this delightful place in five

minutes," she answered, "I think I can get rid of the others."

"We will do it," he declared. "If only Sir John were not Sir John I

would ask you to come and have some supper."

"Don't imperil my reputation before I am established," she answered,

smiling. "Afterwards it seems to me that there are no limits to what

one may not do amongst one's own set."

"I am frightened of Sir John," he said, "but I suggest that we risk

it."

"Don't tempt me," she said, laughing, and drawing her opera-cloak

together. "You shall drive home with me in a hansom, if you will. That

is quite as far as I mean to tempt Providence to-night."

* * * * * Again on his way homeward from Cavendish Square he abandoned the

direct route to pass by the door of Anna's flat. Impassive by nature

and training, he was conscious to-night of a strange sense of

excitement, of exhilaration tempered by a dull background of

disappointment. Her sister had told him that it was true. Anna was

married. After all, she was a consummate actress. Her recent attitude

towards him was undoubtedly a pose. His long struggle with himself,

his avoidance of her were quite unnecessary. There was no longer any

risk in association with her. His pulses beat fast as he walked, his

feet fell lightly upon the pavement. He slackened his pace as he

reached the flat. The windows were still darkened--perhaps she was not

home yet. He lit a cigarette and loitered about. He laughed once or

twice at himself as he paced backwards and forwards. He felt like a

boy again, the taste for adventures was keen upon his palate, the

whole undiscovered world of rhythmical things, of love and poetry and

passion seemed again to him a real and actual place, and he himself an

adventurer upon the threshold.

Then a hansom drove up, and his heart gave a great leap. She stepped

on to the pavement almost before him, and his blood turned almost to

ice as he saw that she was not alone. A young man turned to pay the

cabman. Then she saw him.