A Butterfly on the Wheel

n St. James's was thought by many people to

o soft greys or greens, no patterns of pomegranates, no brown and pleasing so

though slightly different in tone. The very few pictures which hung upon the walls were all of

yle of the Second Empire, fragile and delicate in appea

one could see that even in winter time it would

its gay French air, there was, nevertheless, a huge open hearth on which, in winter, logs

was a large sofa of blue linen; and there was also a big wri

t. It was, in fact, Mrs. Admaston's own particular room-she hated the word boudoir. The b

not yet veiled the warm outside evening, when a footman entered an

h one arm stretched out u

Attwill entered, and

," Pauline said in a lo

in a voice full of pain, "do compose yourself

hed. Her eyes glittered, her hand

endish letter! Who could have sent

r shoulders. "Anonymous-

she cried. "It was sent before we left London. Who knew we sho

hands that trembled to touch and soothe. "Remember, madame," she said, "it was

like me?" Peggy

sunbeams. Your old aunt lived in t

The letter was written by some one who knew that we were go

e fireplace and sank down

rge straw hat upon which the flowers were amethyst an

t to her?" Lady

t her he would probably have ignored it. But who was it who knew that we should be in Pa

ergone had left vivid traces upon it. It was not a frightened face-it was the

ris that night, the writer of that letter must be some one who did know, and who planned thi

tion had flashed out. She turned towards Lady Attwi

from side to side like a snake about to str

a fait rien, expliquez-vous. Tiens! What you want to say is that the letter was written by Mr. Colli

languid way-was defiant as

ing almost opposite Lady Attwill, but now there seemed to be hesitat

e said. "The luggage, don't you know-it was

porter says," Alice A

obviously true. Pauline saw through it the s

l immediately in

a little bit suspicious, since you put i

upon it with her gloved fingers. "Colling!" she muttered. "It's impossible! And yet

do you think it could have been Colling

She was bending forward, nodding her head slightly

length, "I can see plenty of reasons. After all, we know

Pauline broke in, "but I

hen, looking at Peggy, "I am sure I can't imagine Mr. Collingw

r. "Come along, Peggy," she said; "you must get

ly. She hardly seemed to

" she cried, and there was a risi

of my things, at anyrate." Then she spoke with s

y must lie down and rest-I sh

she took her paras

gy let h

damning letter in scarlet upon my breast-branded by law, divorce-court law! Oh, the ignominy, the shame of it all-the shame! It is barbarous! To h

d caught her firmly by the arms

u will break my heart if you go on like this. You are innocent; I stake my

ou as they did me. It is useless. Sir Robert Fyffe will make you say just what he wants. It is not justice that triumphs in the end-it is

hould be in Paris. But I am certain he did not write that letter. M. Collingwood mig

ite it-then you think

s not M. Collingwood, madam

he have done such

g Mr. Admaston. Did I not tell you, mad

; "but I can't believe you. She has seen

ossible. She can only

r face aflame with righteous anger. "Pauline!" she said i

d, with a despairing gesture of he

raft and cunning of the whole machine. I am very rich, Pauline, quite apart from my husband-as you know very we

yed at the interruption; then her eye fell upon the windows at the end of the room which led

aid impatiently;

windows, pulling aside the curtains

gy said. "I can always think in tha

ingwood calls?"

ll?" Peggy said.

g if you would see h

, with a sudden

Breton maid. "Don't see him

see him. I must see him. Let him be show

ws just as the two men-servants came out of

comes," Pauline sai

, though it was bitterly resented below-stairs that she, a servant

akwood from Benares. Behind it upon a little table stood a telephone. The Admastons-husband and wife-had always made a great point of using the

pon the glittering little machine of ebony and silver with a frown of dislike. She was thinking of Colli

eton town, and these things seemed to her part and parcel of the hot, fever

ary expression, was now mocking and malevolent as she stared at the

ng-room open and close quietly, and

and stepped up to the big writing-table at whi

shining curiously. "Can I do anything for madame?" she

onfused. Her face was a little flushed,

ench, paused to think, and th

my bag down here

, and with a slightly sneering note of triumph in it, as if she was pl

went upstairs. But I will ring and ask.

swered; "please don't tro

glance she almost h

hters of the small Breton farmers selling a cow or a pony on market-day in some old-world town has seen this cautious, watchful look. One can s

staken," the woman said to

ting-table and looked do

nd to open the great blotter of Nile-green leather, bordered with si

" she said. "What? Yes, this is Admaston

aggered back from the mouthpiece. She began to tremb

r! she

ran down her cheeks, her old mouth tremble

and is resting. Monsieur, I can hardly speak to you! Your wife

d, "come. Yes, by the gate leading from the Park.

round from behind the Indian screen, walking towards the door. She had not got withi

nnaire as ever, but showing in his face tr

e; where is ma

the maid said, with

?" he answered, movin

ent and placed herself bet

in her room, monsieu

ome surprise. He seemed hurt. "Wha

er, sir. Would you l

madame," she said, and hurried from the room-well knowing that there

the day's proceedings. Then he flung it down with an oath just as a footman en

?" Collingw

s,

im up a

llerdine, looking flurried and

d, and he was wearing

ngwood said, "what on

d over to the big settee of blue

rather unsteady voice; "so I went round to your solicito

?" Collingwood as

do you write wit

atience. "My dear Dicky," he sai

?" Ellerdin

't," Collingwood

said Lord Ellerdine,

od replied, with a slight smi

ng; it's dead serious,"

cky, wha

ass forged my name on a cheque?" Lord Elle

el

fellow. When we left the court just now, and Peggy was thinking pretty

ared. He bent forward with a keen, searching

dine

hat does

ued, "and then the originals, and he says that they are written

Great Scott!

expert can be of anyth

od replied, shrugging his shoul

at clears me, at anyrate," he said. "But w

, pathetically waiting for a word of praise.

ht of that American chap-d

ear him. His head was bent for

, yes. Left

ive note in his voice. "I think, Colling, I'v

other repeated,

ing-what? Skill-what?"

ddenly realised that the poor gentleman was pining for praise,

d. "My dear Dicky, it's splendid! Really, you missed your vocation. Diplomacy! Never!

. His little mouth twitched with pleasure. His face beamed like the risi

f it, old chap"; and then, with a sudden, swift transit

hard hit, devilish hard hit. He doesn't believe Peggy

e!" Collingwoo

It's the letter which sticks with Fyffe, and I don't unde

"Yes," he said; "t

hear Peggy coming; so off you go, please. Get your American expert

e said; "that is what I'll do. Eight o'clock. I'm so

icing that he had left his hat a

ndow. She started violently when she saw Collingwood. "You here!" she said, and

t up to her. "P

hat Dicky

es

y enough, when the door leading into the hall opened and Lord Ellerdine came ba

e of her hands in both of his. "Buck up, little

while his cheeks flushed and he showe

"we'll pull you throu

the table. "Ah!" he said. "My hat-yes-good-bye. Buck up, lit

l, Lord Ellerdine somehow

h, more to herself than to her companion; and

ds. "Peggy-dear little Peggy!" he

on't let's talk about

, Pe

the same cold voice; "the time for sympath

s voice as he answered. "I could not let you thi

way. "You promised," she said, "ne

e answered; and if ever a man had tea

n Stevens is telling a lie, and that

lied. "Peggy dear

g! why did you d

y as if he had received an

-for God's

ther of God nor me,"

ried-"always o

all I have had to suffer. Did you think of me when you planned to go to Paris? W

my love," he answered-"my fierce, burning love. The mad desire to h

The little ivory-white hand was palm upw

you have thought of me and not foreseen the shame, the misery, and the torture to which I have been subjected? Where was your love for me when you were conscious of the mass of evidence these

with a terrible

ade me believe that you were in earnest-that you lo

you," she said; and now all t

all those risks? You knew my intention. I told

ed--" the girl

swered her was ver

my right hand to save you from it. But don't you ever think of the torture you have given me? All the pain, the longing of months and months-is it all to b

, Colling," Peggy sai

ed dazed. "The let

ou anything you have done because you loved

n u

see me go under. There is no hope for a woman. Don't stand there and watch me struggle wh

he meant. "Peggy-little Peggy," he said, "surely you don't judge me as harshly as that, do you? No, dear; I have done much that I am sorry for

letter is everything after all. It means everything to me. Then, if you did

Paris trip, who could know anything about it. But the question is, how on earth are we going to prove th

wered, "do you think it wil

satisfied already. But still, you know, Peggy, the letter sticks. Why, even Lady Attwill knew that there wa

worst happens, she hopes to marry

dness were almost incredible. Could the woman who had been her constant friend, who had stayed with her for

t was passing in he

thout a doubt, Peggy

these months? Why? Why? That is

u see?" he said. "Because her devotion to y

e said, and her voice was inexpressibly pathetic-"o

ld have won you I should not have stayed away all these m

ss, "I never liked you so much as I do now, Colling. I thi

e eyes of this hardened man of fashion, tears which sprang to hi

any chance at all of proving it against her? She

he said. "But there is just one thing-I have just remembered it. I have a sort of cl

gy said, with a

what he said this time. I'll tell you. He has consulted an American handwriting expert about the letters, and he says that the

wered slowly; "I have nev

an the ordinary?" Co

eagerly. "She is ever so g

gwood

did tell me-yes-that she broke her right arm sleighing when she was a girl, and that sh

up from the table

ove! it is," he cried.

a moment," Peggy said. "I am e

d, "where does she write her letters

answered, pointing to the table

comes, leave her alone with me. I'll do what I can.

ht be of use, though of course it will be dreadfully unpl

go out upon the terrace again. I will just come with you and settle you in your chair-how

l," Peggy said, as they walked t

o one else could have done it; and what you have just tol

er, and there was the sound of a chair

AST C

was upstairs

dams ceiling, while the walls were covered with a paper of white upon which

, and Alice Attwill had thrown open a

ers, poured into the place, but s

eful pose or cultivated mannerism. Her lovely head was bent a little forward as she walked, a

istened, the lips twitched nervously, and t

there from the open windows, but radiated out from a guilty mind and a wildly pulsating heart. Every now and again, as she walked up and down,

with one thoughtful

ovel and almost every play has this question of the blotting-book in it. It is such a simple device, and yet in real life how

, descended the wide Georgian stairs into the

the room, now lit up by c

the door very quietly, and with silent, ca

d round in an agony of apprehension. Then, opening it hur

riting upon them was wholly distinguishable, whi

an agony of anxiety, but-either she was too agitated or

thought c

the mirror she would be able to identify the sheet

haking exceedingly, hardly knowing what she did, she held up the heavy blotter

rfectly livid face, she heard the f

ad discovered what she wanted, and with twitchin

hind the curtains which hung over

ack to the writing-table and

ing the book, when the curtains parted with a

was something in his face which made Alice Attwil

though there was a chill in his voice which sounded

ing," she said, stamm

is eyes from hers. He came slowly up, with a

" he said. "I want to have a talk with you,

t trouble,"

than ever. "I assure you it is no trouble, Alice. There can't even be a great weight of letters

all its contents, was spinning round her with horrible rapidity. She sank into the chair, unable to stand longer; but, even as she did so

igh, staccato voice, the words coming from her one by one a

ingwood asked.

the arms of the chair to hold, that she was som

h an ugly note of temper was beginning to displac

ittle forward, and her

at the revelations of thi

sed the change of a

o those who planned t

ng of the trip to

ers. "Because we were partners

out it. It was you who gave the orders to the por

apart, looking down upon her with a face which, in its contem

t it had become harsh and imperative. It was the voice of a bullying c

?" he said. "You never kn

with one precisely in the same key; it was a voice a

where as you-your guilt, my frien

assertion, and by this time her composure had

followed with perfect clearness the changes in her voice and attitude. He

upreme moment, noticed that Alice Attwill had wheeled round upon her chair and seem

possession lay there of which

he said: "Perhaps you are also going to su

must have written it," she said, "and your

said-"and isn't

she asked, with a

g at her with an almos

t you hope to marry Admasto

y very frightened; but she

with the remarkable excellence of Sir Robert Fyffe's methods that you are

It remained as set and firm as before, abs

marry George Admaston?" he rep

ir and snapped her fingers in a gesture

tisfy your curio

tely not to be deterred from it or to be influenced

, in the insistent tone of a judge. "Who e

t to explain it," she said; "but I certainly agree with you that one

n looked him straightly in the f

ed. "That's the point upon wh

at you will endeavour to fathe

ince that night have I not been in constant attendance here, her devoted

," Collingwoo

nce for a moment and her manner becoming infinitely more assured. "You are in a ver

threaten me?" Colli

now your cards too. Even if I did write that letter-how can you ever prove it? You can assert it, but who w

s present mood of penitence a

tance," he said,

here is nothing but your word. It will be suggested to you-by Peggy's counsel, if not by Admasto

u will never dare to deny it,"

and save you? You can make your mind easy on that score. No, my dear Colling, there is only one way out. To-morrow your counsel wil

the witness-b

ll marry Admaston-and no one will know about the letters. But if you dare to fight, you will leave the court dishonoured. Peggy will never lo

very sense of honour in him. He raised his eyebrows in extreme contem

she replied; "but the situation

very frank with me. I gather that you don't

cannot be proved," she said. "You have heard this afternoon that the experts have entirely failed to identify the writi

ust received from an American expert may give you food for thought. After all, if you hadn'

ell, what does your Y

vely that I could not h

l keeping herself between the writing-tab

at since you have finished writing your own letters, you

cision, that Alice Attwill slunk away from the table, trem

she asked almo

ssion--"

nfess

leave this room to have from you a sign

ke a long stay," she sai

took a sheet of paper and wrote a few sent

ld it up to her. "Will you

rd over the writing-table. Her manner was t

so," she sa

our signature to that, par exemple, there would be an end o

d. "That is obvious

ed the blotting-book, while Lady At

ut, when she heard the heavy leather-and-silver cover fall u

ook, and then with the utmost care and deliberation turn over each separate

d it out, pulled the blotter closer towards him, and took fr

ared them carefully. Then he took a small glass from his pocket a

d round with a white, stern face to where the defian

It was broken by Lady Attwill sa

u can bring me that looking-gla

him without

e said. "But there is an excel

e little table by the piano and took up a sm

ll," she asked, "have y

hand, propping up the blotter with its back to

u blot your letters," he said simply. "You will notice that the impressi

at the sheet in the blotter which she had already

it when I came in just now. Now, look here-look at the photograph and at the representation of your writing in the mirro

t effort, "what does that prove? Why shoul

per on which this letter was blotted. You alone knew where it was. Very well, in the sequence of events, Pauline found you here-the first moment the room was empty-with a cock-and-bull s

r, and malignantly mocking came out upon La

bluff? You have forgotten the important link in your chain. How do

?" he ask

iracy!-to damn me and save Peggy Admaston

ed at her for a moment. He sat down in the writing-chair, pulling it up

d at him

d she did so. "Now take the pen and

"'Please destroy th

e, tapping gently upon

er hand, ple

most fell ov

. "What on earth do you mean? I

sternly. "Come-write; or would you

, and hysteri

as hardly human. "Neither here nor in court! Y

table. "You shall write to-morrow with all London looking on; they'll know I could no

believe you!

ry newspaper in England will be full of it. This is not the first time you've written with your left hand; there'll be other specimens somewhere-so

e sank down

ly. "No!" was all

ieve me, you had better write now! Society may never know

will took up the pen in her left hand and

the other lette

en looked up at him with a face

ing his foot upon the carpet. "N

ent down once more t

, "'and save an old servant

looked u

ely, rapping his knuckles up

"'... from the anger of Mrs. Admasto

rms and she burst into a fit of hysterical sobs-shaking,

h a certain compassion at his old friend and companion of so many years, w

Peggy c

terrace were pulled aside and

e was r

e!" She hurried up to Collingwood, looking fo

ariness of the past weeks sponged and smoothed f

rather shyly, but with r

he said. "Lady Attwill has written you another copy of the letter

in the room as Admaston s

table as she was, and put his hand not unkindly on h

ined face looked

obbed out into the silence,

as a swish of skirts, one deep sob, and t

r husband and clung

"Colling," she said, "how

to the blotter. "L

went up to the writing-table and stared as

myself that I can't help feeling sorry for her. Perhaps, Admaston, you will find it in your

aid in a quiet voice, "I think in her he

ton n

" he said. "I wil

and flattering reflection that, but for the fit of nerves which caused Alice to write that second letter three days ago

en no judge nor jury would have doubted her guilt-then,

but had also been moving slowly to

Colling--"

d a rotten thing because I cared for you, but I've tried to play the game since fo

tic, but very tender face at the two

er husband's face. "Ge

on playing it,"

down at his wife. Then he lifted his head and smiled

ve you anything to-d

-bye, then, little Butterfly," he said, a

up into her h

w there sat

shyly towards Collingwoo

as if to kiss it, refraine

en-not really," he said in a vo

t closing of a door-a little

husband and put her ha

band!"

n his arms-in h

in his arms-in

eggy!" he

said. "I have

and Lady Alice Attwill dined alo

E