The Vision of Desire

t could never be too hot to please Ann-she was a veritable sun-worshipper-and she lay back on a wicker chaise-longue, basking contentedly in the golden warmth while she awaited Lady

ide of the water, the beautiful Savoy range sloped upwards from the shore, brooding maternally above the villages which fringed the borders of

here life slipped effortlessly on from day to day. This morning Ann felt peculiarly aware of the peaceful atmosphere prevailing. It struck her how smoothly and easily the last few months had passed. To-day seemed typical of

fled period of her life had run its course and was drawing to an end. Almost, it seemed to her, she

t discovery that she and Robin were left practically penniless. She had felt then as though a definite epoch in her life was approachi

ening of a door and the sound of voices in the hall heralded Lady Susan's return. Unpleasant premonitions and such-like ghostly visitants

nd his chauffeur were supporting Lady Susan on either side, while Marie, the excitable fe

the world hasn't come just because I've sprained my ankle! Go and ge

nxiously, but Lady Su

ious. I slipped on the gangway, coming off t

er with infinite care on to a couch. "Now, then, you clumsy fool!" This to the unfort

few minutes later, hot water and bandages being forthcomin

fussing helplessly round and feeling as inadequate as most men in similar circum

r foot for him to see. "Thank goodness, most of our girls know how to give first aid nowadays! Now, run along, Philip, and look after that har

to look in again in the evening. But when evening came Lady Sus

xhausted that Ann was thoroughly alarmed and despatched Marie in search of the doctor, who promptly prescribed rest and quiet. By the following morning Lady Susan found herself too s

ng her absence at Evian. So that when Lady Susan asked her how she had amused herself that day, she merely vouchsafed that she had gone up to the Dents de Loup and stayed the night there in order to see the sunrise. Afterwards, it seemed simpler to let it

a huge sheaf of flowers for the invalid, and the news that there was a particularly good programme of music to be given at the Ku

fé mélange or ice-cream soda, or whatever indigestible drinks the Kursaal management provides, and listen to this 'perfectly ripping programme.'"

mbating Lady Susan's decisions, m

*

of various kinds of refreshment while they listened to the orchestra. Festoons of coloured lights sparkled like jewels in the dusk, and from the twilit shadows of the gardens below came answering gleams of re

nd of wandering on the Continent himself, no suggestion had ever emanated from him that his daughter might like to wander with him-and the essentially un-English atmosphere of the casino still held for her the attraction of novelty. It was all so gay, so ful

t of the people here are really enjoying the music-and quite a lot are si

nod

But boule's a rotten poor game," discontentedly. "Give me roulette-

lose equally as m

rry him, he was perfectly free to gamble if he chose. Yet he had spoken so casually, apparently quite without arri?re pensée that it almost appeared as though the memory of that day upon the mountain had been wiped out of his mind. He seemed unconscious of any g?ne in the situat

e young knight of old, and she would ask herself whether she had done right or wrong in refusing him. But, for the most part, the episode seemed to her to be invested with a curious sense of un

be prepared to lose-at everything. The whole

eadily. "I don't. Lif

coloured eyes re

, as though trying to turn the conversation into a more impersonal channel: "Rum crowd here to-night, isn't it? See that woman sitting on your left? She looks as though she

white hair. She was of foreign nationality-Russian, probably, Ann reflected, with those high cheek-bones of hers and that subtle grace of movement. But she was atrociously dressed. Crammed down on to her beautiful white hair was a mannish-looking soft felt hat that had seen its best days long ago, and the coat and skirt sh

mmented Ann, observing a certain regal turn o

nod

war. Now she can't afford to go there. So she lives here and plays

agedies hidden among that cosmopolitan crowd on the terrace. Then her straying glance shifted to a man seated alo

uchsafed. "I don't know who he is-never spoken to him

strongly-marked brows, seemed to premise the correctness of Tony's surmise. Suddenly the man lifted his bent head, and over the top of the newspaper Arm found herself looking into a pair of unmista

here had been an ironical glint in the regard which the grey eyes had levelled at her that suggested their owner might have overhea

ony. No one but an Englishman

r boule. With a hurried "Come along, quick," he jumped up and, with Ann beside him, was first in the van of the throng which was hastening into the rooms to play. In a few

Ann contented her

essieurs. Messieurs

monotone sounded warningly above the w

ays. Only there were no responses! Everybody was engrossed in watching the ball as it dodged in and out amongst the numb

ne va

upier's rake descended sharply on a claw-like hand which was attemp

tte, was followed by the hungry rake's sweeping everything into the coffers o

nd, turning excitedly to Ann,

"I'm going to win to-nig

caught the infection and began to play, staking where he staked, as he had suggested. Now and then she ventured a little flu

uch about her actual winnings. She was staking too lightly for that to matter. But it entertained her enormously to win-to beat the bank as embodied in the person of the croupier, who reminded her of nothing so much

to place a fresh stake on the table-never to gather up any winnings. Its owner must be losing heavily. He was betting, not only on single numbe

met the same ironical grey eyes which she had last encountered over the to

a hot climate, she reflected; that deep bronze was never the achievement of an elusive northern sun. It emphasised the penetrating quality of his eyes, giving them a curious brilliance. Ann had been conscious of a little shock each time she had encountered them. She was inclined to set his actual age at thirty-six or seven, though his face

essieurs; messieurs

voice recalled her sh

this time, Tony?"

lied tersely. And in due c

the tables. Meanwhile, the grey-eyed Englishman continued to lose with the same persistency as his young compatriots were winning. Apparently he was playing on a system, for, in spite of his want of success, he continued steadily backing certain definite combinations. He showed neither impatience or annoyance when he lost. His face

the same moment, some one pressing from behind jolted her arm, and the bag fell with a little thud, its contents spilling out on the floor. Tony, engrossed in the play, failed to notic

aid, as he handed it to her. "But you'd

Thank you so much." Ann spoke rather breathlessly. F

an sm

ight that I suppose an odd franc o

d frankly. "It's been such fun." Then, with fri

ged his

sing," he repli

y of his losses at the tables. That note of bitterne

rry," she

y. "If you expect nothing, you're never di

in its very churlishness the sting of some old hurt, s

'll get nothing. That's one

garded her with a mixture of contempt and amusement,

nt on courageously. "If you expect good things, they'll come t

a shor

! I'm afraid I've outg

messieurs," into

owed the circlings of the ball with a curious tense anxi

éro

taked on number one grab up their winnings, while the cro

ey eyes mocked her. "Qui

away from the table and pas

n, then lose once, then win again several times in succession

ny?" she asked at last "I'm r

. "Rather not!" Then, catching sight of her

no

hink I am

y for staking. Without the least sign of disa

ople nearest him, who had been watching his phenomenal run of luck, he

id gratefully, as they started to wa

a quick, en

position. Haven't you

laug

he retorted. "Tony, you nearly brok

the roadway. "It was confounded bad luck to get a run like that with such a

ed here and there with the swaying orange light of a fishing-boat. High up, like a ring of planet

d to the eve

he said, challengingly. "You we

e smile cros

bored," she an