Man and Maid

And when she had gone I laughed aloud, and began to analyse the

situation.

George Harcourt has paid the gambling debt, therefore the fifty thousand

I gave Alathea cannot have been used for that. Some fresh worry is

perhaps upon the wretched family. The obvious thing for me to do is to

go and see the Duchesse, and yet I have some strange sort of wish that

it should be Alathea herself who tells me everything, and not that she

becomes aware, by inference, that I must know. I feel that our future

happiness depends upon her giving up all this stubborn pride. What is at

the back of her mind? I do not know. That resentment and dislike of me

has only become crystallized since the Suzette affair. I am sure she

thinks that Suzette is my mistress still, and this insults her, but she

reasons that with the bargain as it is, she has not the smallest right

to object. She is furious with herself to think that it should matter to

her. That is a thought! Why indeed should it matter if she is utterly

indifferent to me? Is it possible? Can it be that? No--I dare not think

of it, but, in any case it will be the most thrilling situation, once

she is my wife.

I believe it would be wisest for me not to go to the Duchesse's but

simply to write her a note telling her of my news, then anything she

may tell me will be gratuitous.

I had just finished doing this when once again a letter was brought in

from that lady, and this time it was to thank me for my cheque, and to

tell me that it had been the means of preventing a most disagreeable

scandal and bringing peace to a family!

Sardonic mirth overcame me. So three separate people seem to be under

the impression that they have paid this gambler's debts! Each apparently

unaware that there was anyone else in the running! It looks as if

"Bobby" had wolfed the lot! Does Alathea know, and is this the extra

cause of her worry?

I sent my note back by the Duchesse's messenger, who still waited, and

went to my luncheon.

In about an hour the telephone rang--a request from the Hotel de

Courville that I should repair there immediately without fail.

"Her Grace spoke herself," Burton said, "and said it was most important,

Sir Nicholas."

"Very well, order the carriage. By the way. Burton, did you congratulate

Miss Sharp?"

Burton coughed.

"I did make so bold, Sir Nicholas, as to tell the young lady how very

glad I was, but she took it queer like, she stiffened up and said it was

only a business arrangement, to be able to write your letters and do

your work without people talking about it. That seemed funny to me, so I

said nothing more."