To the of every one, by the Thursday Miss Trevor was to be able to her room. It was a happy day for every one concerned, particularly for the Duke, who came nearer the of an on that occasion than I had him before. Why my wife should have him in his I cannot say, but the that she allowed him to go out with her that with the idea of purchasing a flowers to the drawing-room for the invalid's reception. So great was their that the room more a hot-house, or a flower-show, than a apartment. I pointed this out to my wife with a remonstrance, and was that, being a husband, I nothing at all about the matter. I trust that I my and up to my for in the of this excitement, though I am prepared to that[Pg 219] I was myself when the procession, of my wife and the Dean, set off to the invalid's to her in. When she appeared it was like a of her self, and a too. Her father, of course, she had already seen, but neither I Glenbarth had of had the of meeting her since she was taken ill. She him very graciously, and was to thank me for the little I had done for her. We seated her us in a chair, a under her feet, and then, in order that she should not have too much excitement, and that she might quietly, the Dean, the Duke, and myself were sent about our for an hour. When we returned, a of roses on the table, and on it the card of Don Josè de Martinos was to be to it.
It is some proof of the that Glenbarth not to do anything that might worry her, when I say that he read the card and noted the without the least of annoyance. It is true that he me with his opinion of the for to send them, but the would have declared, had he been present to the manner in which he when he had first[Pg 220] the gift, that he had taken no in the at all.
Next day Miss Trevor was permitted to up a little earlier, and on the day a little still. In the meantime more flowers had from the Don, while he himself had twice personal as to the progress she was making. It was not until the third day of her that Nikola called to see his patient. I was alone with her at the time, my wife and our other two guests having gone shopping in the Merceria. I was a copy of a Tauchnitz that I had for her on the previous day. The weather was warmer, and, for this reason, the were open and a of was into the room. From the came the of laughter, then an American voice called out, "Say, girls, what do you think of Venice now you're here?" Then another voice replied, "Plenty of water about, but they don't to wash their much." Miss Trevor was about to speak, in she had opened her to do so, when a appeared upon her face. She closed her for a moment, and I to that she was ill. When she opened them again I was by a fact; the were certainly[Pg 221] there, but there was no of life in them. They were like those of a sleep-walker who, while his are open, sees nothing of about him. A moment later there was a at the door, and Doctor Nikola, by a servant, entered the room. Wishing us "good-morning," he the room and hands with Miss Trevor, with myself.
"You are looking better," he said, his patient, and his and thumb upon her as he spoke.
"I am much better," she answered, but for some without her animation.
"In that case I think this will be the last visit I shall pay you in my professional capacity," he said. "You have been an excellent patient, and in the of what our friend Sir Richard here calls Science, permit me to offer you my thanks."
"It is I who should thank you," she answered, as if she were some lesson she had learnt by heart.
"I trust then, on the that one or as one should, that you will not do it," he replied, with a smile. "I am by that the of health is returning to your cheeks."
He then after my wife's health, me be of her for the that, since[Pg 222] I had so them, no other doctors in Venice would her, should she be taken ill, and then rose to us adieu.
"This is a very visit," I said. "Cannot we you to give us a little more of your society?"
"I not," he answered. "I am a in Venice, and my time is no longer my own."
"You have other patients?" I asked, in some surprise, for I did not think he would to such a thing.
"I have your friend, Don Martinos, now upon my hands," he said. "The good Galaghetti is so for what I did for his child, that he will on trying to me into upon other people."
"Would it be to ask what is the with the Don?" I said. "He not look like a man who would be likely to be an invalid."
"I do not think there is so very much with him," Nikola vaguely. "At any it is not anything that cannot be very easily put right."
When he left the room I him the as as the hall.
"The of the is," he began, when we were alone together, "our friend the Don has[Pg 223] been the of life a little too fast of late. I am told that he no less a than fifty thousand in English money last week, and his nerves are not what they once were."
"He is a gambler, then?" I said.
"An gambler, I should say," Nikola answered. "And when a Spaniard takes to that of amusement, he it most thoroughly."
Whatever the Don's may have been, it had its mark upon his appearance. I to meet him that on the Rialto bridge, and was at the change. The man's was white, and his had dark under them, that to my spoke for an heart. When he stopped to speak to me, I noticed that his hands as though he were with St. Vitus's dance.
"I Miss Trevor is better," he said, after I had upon the that I had not him of late.
"Much better," I answered. "In fact, she may now be said to be convalescent. I was sorry to from Doctor Nikola, however, that you are not the thing."
"Nerves, only nerves," he answered, with what was almost a look in his eyes.[Pg 224] "Doctor Nikola will set me right in no time, I am sure of that. I have had a of luck lately, and it has me more than I can say."
I to what he referred, but I did not my knowledge. After that he me farewell, and his walk. That another of flowers for Miss Trevor. There was no card to it, but as the Duke all knowledge of it, I as to it came. On the day following, for the time since her illness, Miss Trevor was able to the house and to go for a upon the canal. We were to take her, and for her comfort, but there was one man who was more than all the of the party put together. Would Miss Trevor like another cushion? Was she sure that she was comfortable? Would she have a to a barca? I said nothing, but I what the Dean thought, for he is an old gentleman. As for the lady herself, she the other's with the most good-humour, and thus all as marriage-bells. On the day she out again, and on the of the next day so much as to a to walk for a time on the of[Pg 225] St. Mark. We at the well-known steps, and slowly the cathedral. It was a afternoon, the air being soft and warm, with a in from the sea.
It is needless for me to say that Glenbarth was in the Seventh Heaven of Delight, and was already to little into my ear. Her had the opportunity he had to have had, but he was going to make up for it now. Indeed it looked very much as if she had at last up her mind him, but, having had one of the sex, I was not going to myself that all was satisfactory until a was by the lady herself. As it out it was just as well that I did so, for that afternoon, not I must confess, was to prove the truth of the old saying that the of true love smooth. Miss Trevor, with the Duke on one and my wife on the other, was slowly across the great square, when a man appeared us from one of the shops on our right. This was none other than the Don Josè de Martinos, who his to the ladies and his at Miss Trevor once more. As usual, he[Pg 226] was dressed, and on the whole looked in health than he had done when I had last him. By some means, I know how it was done, he managed to in my wife and Miss Trevor, and in this order we our way our resting-place, Florian's café. Never, since we had him, had the Don himself so much to please. The Duke, however, did not satisfied. His high had left him, and, in consequence, he was now as as he had been before. It was plain to all of us that the Don Miss Trevor, and that he wanted her to aware of the fact. Next he an and joined our party again. At this the Duke's anger no bounds. Personally I must that I was sorry for the fellow. It was very hard upon him, just as he was so favourably, that another should appear upon the and the lady's attention. Yet there was only one way of it, if only he up to do it. I fear, however, that he was either too as to the result, or that he his fate, should she him to the Outer Darkness, too much to put it into execution. For this he had to submit to her with the Spaniard, which, if[Pg 227] only he have it, was an excellent thing for his patience, and a trial for his character.
Meanwhile my wife looked on in despair.
"I it was all settled," she said pathetically, on one occasion, "and now they are as off as ever. Why on earth that man come them?"
"Because he has as much right to be there as the other," I answered. "If the Duke wants her, let him ask her, but that's just what he won't do. The whole should have been settled by now."
"It's all very well for you to say that," she returned. "The boy would have done it Gertrude was taken ill, but that you him."
"And a very proper too," I answered. "Miss Trevor was under my charge, and I was not going to let any man, very desirable, but who had only her two days, to her, sent about his business, it for our party to continue together, and by so doing take all the out of our holiday."
"So it was only of you were thinking?" she returned, with that that is such a marked in her character. "Why do you him now to do it?"[Pg 228]
"Because Miss Gertrude is no longer under my charge," I answered. "Her father is here, and is able to look after her." Then an idea to me, and I upon it at once.
"When you come to think of it, my dear," I said, as if I had been the question, "why should the Don not make Gertrude as good a husband as Glenbarth? He is rich, comes of a very good family, and would make a very in society."
She at me aghast.
"Well," she said in astonishment, "I must say that I think you are a friend. You know that the Duke has set his on marrying her, and yet you are the of his rival. I should have it of you, Dick."
I to her that I was not in earnest, but for a moment I almost she I was.
"If you are on the Duke's I wonder that you Don Martinos to continue his visits," she on, after the other had been settled. "I cannot tell you how much I him. I that I would see Gertrude married to a crossing-sweeper than to that man. How she can him, I do not know. I it very difficult to do so."[Pg 229]
"Poor Don," I said, "he not appear to have a very good impression. In common I must admit that, so as I am concerned, he has been civil."
"Because he wants your interest. You are the of the house."
"It is a fiction—let it pass however."
She not to notice my gibe.
"He is away every he possesses."
I her with astonishment. How she have aware of this fact? I put the question to her.
"Some one with the hotel told my maid, Phillipa," she answered. "They say he returns to the hotel until two and three in the morning."
"He is not married," I retorted.
She no to this speech, but, me keep my open, and there should be trouble the two men, left me to my own thoughts.
The she had me was not a one, for it needed only an to see that Glenbarth and Martinos were of one another. They each other when they met as if, at any moment, they were prepared to at each other's throats. Once the Duke's was such as to[Pg 230] my speaking to him upon the when we were alone together.
"My dear fellow," I said, "I must ask you to keep in hand. I don't like having to talk to you, but I have to that there are ladies in the case."
"Then why on earth doesn't Martinos keep out of my way?" he asked angrily. "You into me for riled, but you don't see how he is to me. He me as often as he can, and, for the of the time, me as if I were a child."
"In return you him as if he were an outsider, and had no right to look at, much less to speak to, Miss Trevor. Nevertheless he is our friend—or if he is not our friend, he has at least been to us by a friend. Now I have no that you should at all, but if you must do so, let it be when you are alone together, and also when you are out of the hotel."
I had no idea how my were to be taken.
That night, according to a he had of late adopted, Martinos put in an after dinner, and his with him. As he us "good-evening" I looked at the Duke's face. It was and set as if he had at[Pg 231] last come to an with himself. Presently my wife and I sang a together, in a fashion that pointed very to the that our were elsewhere. Miss Trevor thanked us in a that me that she also had but small attention to our performance. Then Gertrude sang a song of Tosti's very prettily, and was with applause. After this the Don was called upon to perform. He took up his guitar, and having it, a and to sing. Though I look upon that moment now with pain, I must that I do not think I had him sing better; the of the song his voice to perfection. It was a with some of the farm-yard at the end of each verse. When he had finished, my wife asked him to give us a of the words. Fate that she should ask, I suppose, and also that he should answer it.
"It is a of a man who loved a maid," he replied, speaking with the deliberation. "Unfortunately, however, he was to tell her of his love. He to be with her, yet, he was of his passion, his failed him at the last moment, and he was to[Pg 232] talk of the most things, such as the animals upon his father's farm. At last she, of such a laggard, sent him away in to learn how to woo. In the meantime she married a man who was with his business."
Whether the song was as he it, I am not in a position to say; the fact, however, that at least four of our party saw the and it. I saw the Duke's and then go pale. I for a moment that he was going to say something, but he himself by up a book from the table at his side, and at it. I guess, by the way his hands it, something of the that was in his breast. My wife, meanwhile, had the into another by asking the Dean what he had of a old church he had visited that morning. This gave a little relief, but not very much. Ten minutes later the Don rose and us "good-night." With a on his face, he his good wish to the Duke, who bowed, but did not reply. When he had gone, my wife gave the for a dispersal, and Glenbarth and I were presently left in the drawing-room alone. I an outburst, but to my he[Pg 233] said nothing on the subject. I had no of to it unless he did, and so the for the time in abeyance. After a on topics, a of an hour, we each other "good-night," and retired to our rooms. When I entered my wife's room later, I was prepared for the which I was inevitable.
"What do you think of your friend now?" she asked, with a touch of into the word "friend." "You of how he the Duke?"
"I noticed that he did a very thing, not only for his own with us, but also for other reasons. You may upon it that if he had any with Gertrude——"
"He had the chance, I can promise you that," my wife interrupted.
"I say if he had a with Gertrude, he has it now. Surely that should satisfy you."
"It not satisfy me that he should be to our guest at any time, but I am particularly to his him in our presence."
"You need not worry yourself," I said. "In all you will see no more of him. I[Pg 234] shall a hint to him upon the subject. It will not be for Anstruther's sake."
"Mr. Anstruther should have than to have sent him to us," she replied. "There is one thing I am for, and that is that the Duke took it so beautifully. He might have been angry, and have a scene. Indeed I should not have him, had he done so."
I did not ask her, for of my own, she was sure that his Grace of Glenbarth was not angry. I must that I was more by the way he had taken it, than if he had into an explosion. Concealed are more than open ones.
Next after breakfast, while we were together in the balcony, a note was to Glenbarth. He took it, opened it, and when he had read the contents, it into his pocket.
"No answer," he said, as he a cigar, and I his hand a little as he put the match to it.
His was than usual, and there was a far-away look in his that me that it was not the or the houses opposite that he was looking upon.
"There is something all this, and I[Pg 235] must out what it is," I said to myself. "Surely he can't be going to make a of himself."
I knew, however, that my of anything satisfactory out of him in saying nothing about the just then. I must play my game in another fashion.
"What do you say if we to Rome next week?" I asked, after a little pause. "My wife and Miss Trevor to think they would it. There are of people we know there just now."
"I shall be very pleased," he answered, but with a visible effort.
At any other time he would have jumped at the suggestion. Decidedly there was something wrong! At he was preoccupied, so much so that I see Miss Trevor what was the matter. Had she the terrible that was in my own mind, I wonder what she would have said, and also how she would have acted?
That the ladies to at home, and the Dean to with them. In consequence, the Duke and I out together. He was still as as he had been in the morning, but as yet I had not been able to up my to such a as to be able to put the question to him. Once,[Pg 236] however, I asked the for his quietness, and the reply "that he was not up to the mark that day."
This time I came a little nearer the point.
"You are not about that fellow's rudeness, I hope?" I said, looking him and in the face.
"Not in the least," he answered. "Why should I be?"
"Well, I know you are hot-tempered," I returned, puzzled to an for him.
"Oh, I'll have it out with him at some time or another, I have no doubt," he continued, and then the by to some he had had from home that day.
When later we returned to the hotel for tea, we the two ladies our coming. From the moment that he entered the room, Miss Trevor was itself to the man. She upon him, and him, until he he was upon his or his heels. I she was to him for the Don's to him.
That we all of tired, and to early. I was the latest of the party, and my own man had not left my dressing-room more than a[Pg 237] minute he returned with the that the Duke's would be if he have a with me.
"Send him in," I said, and the man his appearance.
"What is it, Henry?" I inquired. "Is your master not well?"
"I don't know what's with his Grace, sir," the man replied. "I'm very much about him, and I I would come to you at once."
"Why, what is the matter? He well when I him good-night, half-an-hour or so ago."
"It isn't that, sir. He's well in his body," said the man. "There's something else it all. I know, sir, you won't mind my to you. I didn't know what else to do."
"You had tell me everything, then I shall know how to act. What do you think is the of it?"
"Well, sir, it's like this," Henry on. "His Grace has been very all day. He a of this and put them in his dispatch-box. 'I'll tell you what to do with them later, Henry,' he said when he had finished. Well, I didn't think very much of that, but when to-night he asked me what I had up my mind to do with myself if I[Pg 238] should his service, and told me that he had put it in his will that I was to have five hundred if he should die I left him, I to think there was something the matter. Well, sir, I took his to-night, and was in the act of the room, when he called me back. 'I'm going out early for a swim in the sea to-morrow morning,' he said, 'but I shan't say anything to Sir Richard Hatteras about it, I to know that he thinks the about here are dangerous. Well, one what may turn up,' he goes on to say, 'and if, by any chance, Henry—though I such a thing will not happen—I should be caught, and should not return, I want you to give this to Sir Richard. But this, you are on no account to touch it until mid-day. Do you understand?' I told him that I did, but I was so frightened, sir, by what he said, that I up my mind to come and see you at once."
This was indeed. From what he said there be no that the Don and Glenbarth a duel. In that case what was to be done? To attempt to with the Duke in his present would be absurd, his was at stake, and, though I am totally against duels, that for something.[Pg 239]
"I am you told me this, Henry," I said, "for now I shall know how to act. Don't worry about your master's safety. Leave him to me. He is safe in my hands. He shall have his swim to-morrow morning, but I shall take very good that he is watched. You may go to with an easy heart, and don't think about that letter. It will not be needed, for he will come to no harm."
The man thanked me and withdrew, in his mind by his with me. Then I sat myself to think the out. What was I to do? Doubtless the Don was an duellist, while Glenbarth, though a very with a or fowling-piece, would have no against him with the pistol or the sword. It was by no means an position for a man to be in, and I my in the matter. I that I needed help, but to should I apply for it? The Dean would be than useless; while to go to the Don and to ask him to his to our for Glenbarth would be to the of being the door. Then I of Nikola, and up my mind to go to him at once. Since the Duke had spoken of the hotel early in the morning, there be no as to[Pg 240] the hour of the meeting. In that case there was no time to be lost. I to to my wife.
"I had a that this would happen," she said, when she had me out. "Oh, Dick! you must stop it without fail. I should myself if anything were to to him while he is our guest. Go to Doctor Nikola at once and tell him everything, and him to help us as he has helped us before."
Thus encouraged, I left her, and to my dressing-room to complete my attire. This done I to the to to obtain a gondola. Good me, for the American party who had but at the hotel, had just returned from the theatre. I the man who had them, and told him to take me to the Palace Revecce with all possible speed.
"It's a late hour, Senor," he replied, "and I'd go than to that house in the Rio Consiglio."
"You will be well paid for your trouble and also for your fear," I as I got into the boat.
Next moment we were on our way. A light was in Nikola's room as we up at the steps. I the wait for[Pg 241] me, and to his doing so, to pay him until my return. Then I the bell, and was in a minutes by Nikola's on the flag-stones of the courtyard. When the door opened he was at me; he soon his equilibrium, however. It took more than a small to Nikola. He me to enter.
"I there is nothing wrong," he said politely. "Otherwise how am I to account for this late call?"
"Something is very indeed," I said. "I have come to you, and to ask for your assistance."
By this time he had his own room—that room I so well.
"The of the is," I said, seating myself in the chair he offered me as I spoke, "the Duke of Glenbarth and Don de Martinos have to a soon after daybreak."
"To a duel?" Nikola repeated. "So it has come to this, has it? Well, what do you want me to do?"
"Surely it is needless for me to say," I replied. "I want you to help me to stop it. You like the Duke, I know. Surely you will not allow that life to be by that Spaniard?"[Pg 242]
"From the way you speak it would appear that you do not for Martinos?" Nikola replied.
"I that I do not," I replied. "He was to me by a personal friend, but none of my party very much for him. And now this new only to our dislike. He the Duke most in my drawing-room last night, and this is the result."
"Always the same, always the same," Nikola to himself. "But the end is coming, and his will their own fruit." Then to me, he said aloud—"Since you wish it, I will help you. Don Josè is a shot, and he would place a in the Duke's he might choose to it. The issue would for one moment be in doubt."
"But how do you know the Don is such a good shot?" I with surprise, for until the moment that I had them to each other I had no idea that they had met.
"I know more about him than you think," he answered, his upon me. "But now to business. If they at there is not much time to be lost."
He to his writing-table at the other side[Pg 243] of the room and a lines on a of note-paper. Placing it in an he I had told my to wait. Upon my in the affirmative, he left me and down-stairs.
"What have you done?" I when he returned.
"I have sent word to an agent I sometimes employ," he said. "He will keep his open. Now you had to your hotel and to bed. Sleep secure on my promise that the two men shall not fight. When you are called, take the you will you the hotel, and I will meet you at a place. Now let me wish you a good-night."
He me to the and saw me into the gondola. Then saying something to the that I did not catch, he me adieu, and I returned to the hotel. Punctually at five o'clock I was by a at my door. I dressed, a cloak, for the was cold, and to the hall. The night me that a was me at the steps, and me to it. Without a word I got in, and the little out into the canal. We entered a narrow on the other side, took two or three to right[Pg 244] and left, and at last came to a at some steps that I had noticed before. A tall figure, in a black cloak, was us there. It was Nikola! Entering the he took his place at my side. Then once more we set off.
At the same moment, so Nikola me, Glenbarth was the hotel.[Pg 245]
