Man and Maid

Of course it was the very irony of fate that Suzette should have

selected this very afternoon to come in and thank me for the Villa which

she was just now going down to see--!

Antoine opened the door to her while Burton was out. I heard afterwards

that she told him she had an appointment with me when he had hesitated

about letting her in. She was quite quietly dressed and had no great

look of the demi-monde, and a new footman, blunted with war service,

was probably impervious even to the very strong scent which she was

saturated with--that perfume which I had never been able entirely to

cure her liking for, and which she reverted to using always when she

went away from me, and had to be corrected of again and again when she

returned.

Antoine came to my room by the passage, and said "a lady was in the

salon to see me by appointment."

For a moment I was not suspicious. I thought it might be Coralie, and

fearing Alathea might be somewhere about, and it might be awkward for

her, I hastened to rise and go in to see and get rid of the inopportune

guest. I told Antoine he must never let anyone in again without

permission.

It was just growing dim in the salon, about half-past four o'clock, and

a figure rose from the sofa by the fire as I entered.

"Mon chou--mon petit cheri!" I heard, simultaneously with a softly

closing sound of the door behind the screen, which masks the entrance to

the room from the hall--Antoine leaving I supposed at the time, probably

it was Alathea I surmised afterwards!

"Suzette!" I exclaimed angrily. "Why do you come here?"

She flew to me and held out her arms, expressing affection and grateful

thanks. She had come for no other reason only just to express her

friendly appreciation! To get rid of her was all I desired. I never was

more angry, but to show it would have been the poorest game. I did not

tell her it was my wedding day. I just said I was expecting some

relatives, and that I knew she would understand and would go at once.

"Of course," she said, and shook me by the hand. I was still standing

with my crutch. She was passing to see her cousin Madame Angier, in the

flat above, and could not resist the temptation to come in.

"It must be the very last time, Suzette," I said. "I have given you all

that you wanted, and I would rather not see you again."