Messengers of Evil

given in La Capitale, the smart little town house inhabited by the Baro

esidence was very much a woman of the world, whose reception-rooms were constant

ng-room adjoining. Crossing a carpet so thick and soft that it deadened the sound of footsteps, she pressed the

ness rang

ctively sought the flattering ap

anyone called this

he Bar

tience in her voice: "I want to know if

mad

oned from the Barb

mad

g of annoyance, Madame de

s the guests arrive. They will not be

d into the anteroom, and from t

the great gallery with its glass roof, encircling the stairc

ion to the flowers scattered over the table in a conventional disorder; then she went to the sideboard, where the major-domo had left a china

ings were! Antoine is a good fellow, b

colour print, and had scrupulously preserved the picture born of an eighteenth-century artist's imagination, with its brilliancy of tone and soft background of tender grey. Madame de Vibray could not tear herself away from the contemplation of it.

The good Antoine announced in a low voice, and

oness in the small drawing-room:

ll. I am

eturned by way of the gallery to greet her guest. She paused o

ive woman still. Her figure had retained its youthful slenderness, her neck, white as milk, was as round and fresh as a girl's; and had the hair about her foreh

and advanced to meet her. He ki

with an admiring glance, "you ar

in which there was something ambig

e asked in an affectionate

s in friendly fashion. Whilst listening to his complaints, Madame de Vibray could not but a

e looked like an old soldier. He was the last of the great Thomery family who, for many generations, had been sugar refiners. His was a personality well known in Parisian Society; always first at his office or his f

t. But they had been tactful, had respected the conventions whilst their irregular union had lasted. Though now a thing of the past, for Thomery had sought other loves, his passion for the Bar

ceased talking

ee that pretty smile which is yo

: her beautiful eyes gazed

ternally smiling; life sometimes hol

ou?" Thomery's tone was

asive reply. There was a

tion in telling you that, you, my old friend:

ry no

I expected! My poor Mathilde, are

that there are moments when one is short of cash! Yesterday I asked my banke

r! The Barbey-Nanteuil

but, as a rule, their delay in sending me what I ask for

an scolding

um must mean that you have been drawn into some deplorable speculation!

dame de Vibray's excuse: she lowered her eye

was walking up and down the

to advise you, when you are bent on plunging into speculations of this description!

n to the remonstrances of her too prudent friend: "What does it matter? It is my only diversion n

rate further, but the Baroness had caught him gl

ology. Then, with a touch of malice, and looking up a

to wait!... I have invited Prince

ned. He again seated him

e invite

n is one of your special friends... that you consid

ke up the challeng

the Princess was not

ashed a sad, strange look on he

.. Besides, I quite recognise that the Princess deserves the reputatio

y to this: he looked

oness c

y, is not indifferent to her fascinations!... That, fo

ened, and the Princess Sonia Danidoff rustled into the room, a

ess," she cried, "for arriving so la

a long way out!" ad

," amended the Princess. The

ignified gesture, the Princess extended her hand,

wide, and Antoine, with his most solemn air

r is s

the arm offered by her old friend; "take in the P

Princess. Behind them came the Baroness, who watched them as they went: Thomery

ess could not help thinking, an

would make!... What a fin

self opposite her gues

sad thoughts flying

ish-I expect you to show yourself the most c

rceptibly into the channels she wished it to follow. Thus she learned what she had feared to know, namely, that a very serious flirtation had been going on for some time between Thomery and the Princess; that between this beautiful and wealthy young widow and the millionaire sugar refiner, the flirtation was rapidly developing into something much warmer and more lasting. So far, the final stage had evidently not been reached; never

comed by both: it was

ge is practically arranged, that is evident!..

rst at his old friend, then at the Princess, asking himself what he ought to do. Madame de Vibray felt secretly gra

oing to let the Princess return alone?... I ho

hands of her generous h

sincere affection. Then, with a questioning glance, in which

let me k

the two women clung together, sealing with the

cess and Thomery, had died away in the distance, Madame de

," she murmured. The poor woman sighed deepl

e mastered her emotion. It was the dignifi

me

xplained that, believing his mistress to be anxiously awaiting som

ne good night, she

come up. I shall not require

h stood in one corner of her room; in leisurely fashion she

first letter she opened: "I was thinking of him at this very minute!" ...

in a fine, regular hand. When she began to read it her attention was wandering, for her mind was full of Sonia Danidoff and Thomery, and what she had ascertained regarding their relation to each other; but little by little she became absorbed in what she was reading, til

she gasped out several tim

the smart town house of the Baroness d

k, the bedroom of Madame de Vibray was still flooded with light. She had not left her writing-table since sh