The more I upon my visit to the Palace Revecce that evening, the more puzzled I was by it. It had so many sides, and each so complex, that I which presented the most feature. What Nikola's had been for me to call upon him, and why he should have told me the story, which I was that of his own life, was more than I understand. Moreover, why, having told it me, he should have so me to think no more about it, only added to my bewilderment. The of the two men, and the trick, for it was in the meaning of the word, he had us, did not help to matters. If the truth must be told it added to the than from it. To it all up, I found, when I to fit the pieces of the puzzle together, also his Miss Trevor, that I was as from[Pg 110] to any as I had been at the beginning.
"You can have no idea how I have been on your account to-night," said my wife, when I her room. "After dinner the Duke gave us a of Doctor Nikola's room, and told us its history. When I of your being there alone with him, I must I almost to send a message to you you to come home."
"That would have been a great mistake, my dear," I answered. "You would have Nikola, and we don't want to do that. I am sorry the Duke told you that terrible story. He should not have you with it. What did Gertrude Trevor think of it?"
"She did not say anything about it," my wife replied. "But I see that she was as as I was. I am sure you would not either of us to go there, pressing Doctor Nikola's might be. Now tell me what he wanted to see you about."
"He and wanted some society," I answered, having that on no account would I tell her all the truth my visit to the Palace Revecce. "He also wanted me to something with a he has for people to out of the country by the[Pg 111] police. Before I left he gave me a good example of the power he possessed."
I then to her the of the two men and the lesson Nikola had read to the Police Agent. The with the I omitted. No good have from her, and I that the of I should be able to give of it would not be to her to see it in the light I desired. In any other way it would have her as ridiculous.
"The man more and more every day," she said. "And not the least thing about him is the way he other people. For my own part I must that, while I him, I like him; the Duke is of him; you are and in turn; while Gertrude, I fancy, him as a of being, who may turn one into a or a dog at a moment's notice, while Senor Galaghetti, with I had a to-day him, was so in his that for once failed him. He had met any one so wonderful, he declared. He would his life for him. It would appear that, on one occasion, when Nikola was at the hotel, he Galaghetti's child of diphtheria.[Pg 112] The child was at the last and the doctors had her up, when Nikola his upon the scene. What he did, or how he did it, Galaghetti did not tell me, but it must have been something irregular, for the other doctors were and left the house in a body. The child, however, from that moment, and, as Galaghetti proudly me, 'is now de of great upon de in Paris.' I have of her, but it would appear that Galaghetti not only her life, but also her success, to the that Nikola was in the hotel at the time when the child was taken ill. The Duke was with me when Galaghetti told me this, and, when he it, he away with an that very like 'humbug!' I do that Doctor Nikola and the Duke won't quarrel?"
As she put this in the of a question, I to reply with the the Duke had used. I did not do so, however, but myself with assuring her that she need have no upon that score. A surprise, however, was in store for me.
"What have they to about?" I asked. "They have nothing in common."
"That only proves how you are to what goes on around you," my wife replied. "Have[Pg 113] you not noticed that they Gertrude Trevor?"
Falling so upon my own thoughts, this gave me food for reflection.
"How do you know that Nikola her?" I asked, a little sharply, I fear, for when one has one is not always best pleased to that another them. A might be as almost to a certainty.
"I am of it," she replied. "Did you not notice his manner her on the night of our excursion? It was most marked."
"My dear girl," I said irritably, "if you are going to this of thing, you don't know where you will in the end. Nikola has been a all his life. He has met people of every nationality, of every rank and description. It is probable, though I am prepared to admit she is, that he would be by our friend. Besides, I had it from his own this that he will marry."
"You may be just as as you please," she answered. "Nevertheless, I to my opinion."
Knowing what was in my own mind, and that if the I might let something that I should regret, I with[Pg 114]drew from the field, and, having questioned her news she had from England that day, her good-night.
Next we paid a visit to the Palace of the Doges, and a and of hours in the rooms. Whatever Nikola's may have been, there was by this time not the least that the Duke Miss Trevor. Though the had her for so a time he was already over ears in love. I think Gertrude was aware of the fact, and I sure that she liked him, but the time was not yet ripe, or her her to play her fish for a while attempting to land him, I cannot say; at any she more than once herself of an opportunity and moved away from him to take her place at my side. As you may suppose, Glenbarth was not any the by these manœuvres; indeed, by the time we left the Palace, he was as a being as have been in all Venice. Before lunch, however, she a little him, and when we sat to the in question our friend had in some measure his spirits. Not so my wife, however; though I did not it, I was in for a wigging.[Pg 115]
"How you the so badly?" she said indignantly, when we were alone together afterwards. "If you are not very you'll everything."
"Spoil what?" I inquired, as if I did not to what she alluded. "You have a of speaking in riddles."
"Fiddle-de-dee!" she answered scornfully, "you know very well to what I allude. I think your at the Palace this was disgraceful. You, a married man and a father, to try and the of that man."
"But she it," I answered in self-defence. "Did you not see that she my company to his?"
"Of that was only make-believe," my wife replied. "You are as well aware of that as I am."
"I know nothing of the kind," I returned. "If the girl not know her own mind, then it is that she should pretend, as she did to-day."
"She was not pretending. You know that Gertrude Trevor is as as the day."
"Then you admit that she was only playing her fish?" I said.
"If you are going to be I shall you," she retorted; "I don't know what you[Pg 116] by 'playing her fish.' Gertrude only came to you she did not want to allow her for the Duke to appear too conspicuous."
"It's the same thing in the end," I answered. "Believe me it is! You it as not making her appear too conspicuous, while I call it 'playing her fish.' I have the best possible of a lady who used to play with me on the of the Orotava a good many years ago. One day—we were Naples at the time—she played game after game with the doctor, and me unmercifully."
"You know very well that I didn't it," she answered, with a of her foot. "You know I had to act as I did."
"I don't mind that," I replied. "Nevertheless, you were playing your fish. That night after dinner you me and——"
She her arm through mine and gave it a hug. I to be generous.
"Those were dear old days, were they not? I, for one, am not going to about them. Now let us go and the others."
We them in the balcony, to some in a below. Miss Trevor our with delight; the Duke, however, was by no means so well[Pg 117] pleased. He did his best, however, to his chagrin. Going to the of the I looked at the boat. The were four in number, two men and two girls, and, at the moment of our in an appearance, one of them was the "Ave Maria" from the Cavalleria Rusticana, in a manner that I had it before. She was a girl, and the value of her good looks. Beside her a man with a guitar, and I gave a start as I looked at him. Did my me, or was this the man who had the Police Agent to Nikola's on the previous evening? I looked again and sure that I not be mistaken. He the same bullet-head with the close-cropped hair, the same clean-shaven face, and the same square shoulders. No! I sure that he was the man. But if so, what was he doing here under our windows? One thing was apparent; if he me, he did not give me of the fact. He played and looked up at us without the of recognition. To all and purposes he was the picture of indifference. While they were I the of the previous night, and what had of the police officer, and what the man me had of the Nikola had[Pg 118] performed? It was only when they had their and, having our reward, were about to move away that I any to the that the man had me.
"Illustrious Senora, Senorita, and Senors, I thank you," he said, his as he spoke. "Our performance has been successful, and the which it at one time has been removed."
The then passed on, and I to the Duke as if for an explanation.
"At the hall-porter was not to let them sing here," the Duke remarked, "but Miss Trevor wanted to them, so I sent word that I them to remain."
In of the I to what the man had referred, but for the life of me I not arrive at his for visiting our hotel that day. I that it might have been all a of chance, but I soon put that idea as absurd. The was too remarkable.
At my wife that she had that that Lady Beltringham, the wife of our neighbour in the Forest, was in Venice, and at a hotel along the Grand Canal.
"Gertrude and I are going to call upon her[Pg 119] this afternoon," she said, "so that you two must yourselves as best you can without us."
"That is very easily done," I answered; "the Duke is going to have his cut, and I am going to the atrocity. You may to see him return not that man with the in the this morning."
"By the way," said Glenbarth, "that me that I was going to point out a thing to you that man. Did you notice, Miss Trevor, that when we were alone together in the he did not once touch his instrument, but directly Hatteras and Lady Hatteras arrived, he jumped up and to play?"
This my suspicions. I had come to the by this time that the man had only his the hotel in order to be of my address. Yet, I had to ask myself, if he were in Nikola's employ, why should he have been to do so?
An hour later the ladies on their errand, and the Duke and I were left together. He was not what I should call a good companion. He was in an mood, and nothing I do or say to him. I very well what was the matter,[Pg 120] and when we had English politics, the and of Venice, Ruskin, and the of travel, I mentioned the name of Miss Trevor. The from his face, and he answered like a mortal.
"Look here, Hatteras," he said, with a of confidence, "you and I have been friends for a good many years, and I think we know each other about as well as two men can do."
"That is so," I answered, what he was at; "we have been through some together, and should know each other. I that you are not going to that we should on some harum-scarum like that you wanted me to join you in last year, to the Pamirs, was it not? If so, I can tell you once and for all that my lady won't of it."
"Confound the Pamirs!" he angrily. "Is it likely that I should think of going there just now? You my meaning entirely. What I want is a friend, who can enter into my troubles, and if possible help me out of them."
For the life of me I not from him for a little longer.
"My dear old fellow," I said, "you know that[Pg 121] I will do anything I possibly can to help you. Take my and of the man at once. As I told you in my to you you left England, it is only to keep him on. You know very well that he has been to you for some years past. Then why allow him to continue in his wrong-doing? The will come sooner or later."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Well, I your trouble is with the agent you were telling me of yesterday. The man who, it was discovered, had been cooking the accounts, selling your game, pocketing the proceeds, and his own at your expense."
An upon my friend's forehead.
"Upon my word," he said, "I you are taking of your senses. Do you think I am myself at such a time about that Mitchell? Let him sell every upon the farms, every of game, and, in point of fact, let him me as he likes, and I wouldn't give a second to him."
"I am very sorry," I answered penitently, the of my cigar. "Then it was the you were about? You have had what I a very good offer for her. Let her go! You are rich to be able to build[Pg 122] another, and the work will you. You want of some sort."
"I am not of the either," he growled. "You know that as well as I do."
"How should I know it?" I answered. "I am not able to tell what is in your mind. I do not to be like Nikola."
"You are to-day," he asserted, what of his cigar into the Canal and taking another from his case.
"Look here," I said, "you're into me I can't your position. Now how am I likely to be able to do so, that you've told me nothing about it? Before we left London you me that the place you had purchased in Warwickshire was going to prove your worry in life. I said, 'sell it again.' Then you that your agent in Yorkshire was not what he might be. I you to of him. You would not do so of his family. Then you in a most fashion that your was by of her age. I that you should sell her to Deeside, who her, or part with her for a junk. You you would not do so she was a favourite. Now you are unhappy, and I naturally that it must be one of those which is you uneasi[Pg 123]ness. You the idea. What, therefore, am I to believe? Upon my word, my friend, if I did not that you have always your of the Sex, I should to think you must be in love."
He looked at me out of the of his eye. I not to notice it, however, and still rolled the of my cigar.
"Would it be such a very thing if I did in love?" he asked at last. "My father did so me, and I my did also. You, yourself, the same indiscretion."
"And you have the result?"
"I have one of the in the world," he replied. "But, joking apart, Hatteras, I want to talk the over with you seriously. I don't mind telling you at once, as friend and friend, that I want to Miss Trevor."
I to look surprised, but I the attempt was a failure.
"May I you," I said, "that you have her a week? I don't want to you, but is not your of quick growth?"
"It is, but it not that I am any the less sincere. I tell you candidly, Dick, I have such a girl in my life. She would make any man happy."[Pg 124]
"Very likely, but would any man make her happy?"
His fell, and he in his chair.
"Confound you," he said, "you put in a new light. Why should I not be able to make her happy? There are of who would give their to be a Duchess!"
"I admit that," I answered. "I don't fancy, however, your rank will make much with Miss Trevor. When a woman is a lady, and in love, she doesn't mind very much the object of her is a Duke or a chimney-sweep. Don't make the mistake of that a Dukedom for where the is concerned. We should have no at all if that were the case."
"But, Hatteras," he said, "I didn't that. I'm not such a as to that Miss Trevor would me I to have a to my name. I want to put the you. I have told you that I love her, do you think there is any of her taking a to me?"
"Now that you have told me what is in your mind," I answered, "I can safely my opinion. Mind you, I know nothing about the lady's ideas, but if I were a young[Pg 125] woman, and an man—you may thank me for the afterwards—were to his at my feet, when that is up on and five-pound notes, I I should be to think twice I his advances. Whether Miss Trevor will do so, however, is another matter."
"Then you are not able to give me any encouragement?"
"I will wish you God-speed upon your enterprise," I said, "if that is any to you. I cannot do more."
As I said it I out my hand, which he took and shook.
"God you, old man," he said, "you don't know what all this means to me. I've these last two days. I I should go if it continued. Yesterday she was itself. To-day she will speak to me. I Lady Hatteras takes my side?"
I was not to be napping.
"You must that Lady Hatteras herself is an woman," I answered. "She you and in you, and she she thinks her friend ought to do so also. Now look here, your Grace——"[Pg 126]
"You needn't put on any of that kind," he answered reproachfully.
"I I am talking to the Duke of Glenbarth," I returned.
"You are talking to your old friend, the man who the world with you, if that's what you mean," he answered. "What is it you have to say?"
"I want you to that Miss Trevor is my guest. I want you also to try to realize, difficult it may be, that you have only her a very time. She is a particularly girl, as you have admitted. It would be fair, therefore, if I were to permit you to give her the that you were in love with her until you have up your mind. Think it well over. Take another week, or shall we say a fortnight? A month would be still."
He in despair.
"You might as well say a year while you are about it. What is the use of my waiting a week when I know my own mind already?"
"Because you must give your time to set. Take a week. If at the end of that time you are still as much in as you are now, well, the will be about. You can then speak to the lady or not, as you please. On the other hand, should[Pg 127] your opinion have changed, then I have been your only confidant, and no has been done. If she you, I can say that no one will be more than myself. If not, you must look elsewhere, and then she must the man she better. Do you agree?"
"As I can't help myself I I must," he answered. "But my position the next week is not likely to be a very one."
"I don't at all see why," I replied. "Lots of others have been to do their under auspices. Myself for instance. Here you are in the same house as the object of your affections. You meet her almost every hour of the day; you have opportunities of paying your to her, and yet with all these you your lot."
"I know I am an beast," he said. "But, by Jove, Dick, when one is as much in love as I am, and with the most woman in the world, and don't to go right, one ought to be if one to with somebody."
"Quarrel away with all your heart," I answered. "And now I am going with you to the hairdresser. After that we'll go to the piazza."
"I I must," he said, from his[Pg 128] chair with a air of resignation. "Though what fun you can in that I cannot for the life of me imagine."
I did not him that on the previous he had it to be the most in Europe. That would have been an to have taken, particularly as I had him already. We our and sticks, and having a gondola, set off. It was a afternoon, and the Grand Canal was crowded. As we passed the entrance to the Rio Consiglio, I a at the Palace Revecce. No was at the door, so Nikola was at home or I not say. When Glenbarth had been upon we to the of Saint Mark, which we the promenade. The had not to play, and the were in number. Having two chairs at one of the tables we sat and ordered coffee. The was at ease. He and continually. His from the steps of the lagoon, and every that up his attention. When at last two ladies and their way across the Florian's café, where we were[Pg 129] seated, I he would have an of himself.
Lady Beltringham, it would appear, had arrived, but was so by her long that she was unable to visitors.
"We returned almost to the hotel," said my wife reproachfully. "We you would have waited for us there."
Glenbarth looked at me as if nothing I do would make up for the of my offence. He then to Miss Trevor some he had that in a shop on the other of the piazza. She questioned him them, and I that they should go off and them. This they did, and when they had my wife produced some for me she had taken from the at the hotel. I looked at the upon the of the first, but for a moment not where or when I had it before. Then I opened it and the contents.
"Why, it's from George Anstruther," I when I had the signature. "He is in Algiers."
"But what is the about?" my wife inquired. "You have not from him for so long."
"I'll read it," I said, and as follows[Pg 130]—
"My dear Hatteras,
"Here I am in the most place on the whole Mediterranean, and I ought to know, for I've and all the others. My the sea, and my at in the bay. There are many people here, and not the least is my very good friend, Don Josè de Martinos, who is to-day for his visit to Venice, viâ Nice, and I from him that he is to at your hotel. He is a creature; has much of the world, and if you will admit him to the circle of your acquaintance, I don't think you will it. I need not either myself or you by the phrase to the that any you him will be a to myself, etc., etc. Remember me most to Lady Hatteras, and
"Believe me to be,
"Ever yours,
"George Anstruther."
My wife a little of vexation.
"Pleasant though he may prove, I cannot help saying that I am sorry Don Josè Martinos is coming," she said. "Our little party of four was so arranged, and who but that a may its peace altogether?"
"But he is Anstruther's friend," I said in[Pg 131] expostulation. "One must be to one's friends' friends."
"I do not at all see why," she answered. "Because we like Mr. Anstruther it not that we shall like his friend."
At that moment the were to be the in our direction. Glenbarth a parcel under his arm.
"I don't think there is much about that affair," said my wife, as she them approvingly.
"Don't be too sure," I answered. "There is many a 'twixt the cup and the lip, and there is another old saying to the that those who live see most."
One is sometimes in jest.[Pg 132]
