The Castle Of The Shadows

for a moment undecided, then tapped gently. The

Gardiner she snatched up a paper and hastily laid it over the volume. "Oh, I thought

ng on for the past three days?" but aloud, she said, without appearing to notice the hurried movemen

rginia answered. "You se

him to meet us in about an hour; and we might

didn't think of going into Mentone," she said. "We shall jus

d Mr. Trent and Sir Roger. Would it be indiscreet to ask, dear child, if there has been

no hitch. What mad

ess. But now-you are very much changed these last few days, since we went to the chateau, Virginia

like as it used to be. "You needn't wait, if your shopping can," she said. "Do sit down.

do you know, I've been rathe

very sorry. Is it

on in her softest voice, to which she could give a pretty, tearful tremolo at will, "I'm in rather a peculiar position. You have been so sweet all this year and

are," retur

used. You don't seem to want my society; you make excuses if I suggest going anywhere. You and your brother and cousin are continually getting away by yourselves and talking in whispers. Oh, I'm not hurt. It isn't that. I'm not so t

ut the chateau. I-didn't mean to tell you until things were more settled, but since you've been talking like thi

onte Carlo was more amusi

nough of the Riv

hen-your chateau in the oli

ter. There's lots to be done. And-I

lor, and Virginia knew it. Even the crossing from

ip?" she asked, con

ome weeks, perhaps. The on

and spent it freely until what remained was lost in a great financial panic; that since then she had lived as she could, trading upon her own aristocratic connections to chaperon girls, chiefly Americans, who wished to see "English society from the inside." Roger knew her real age, or something near it; he knew that she had been in debt when she had got this chance with Virginia, to whom she had been recommended by an American duchess; and as there was nothing against her character, he had been too good-natured-as she would have expressed it-to "put a spoke

th the tragic eyes and the dead-white face, with no more life in it than a marble statue. Maybe he was planning to att

of George Trent's life to make room for a younger woman. She would not have it-she would not! If it

. I dare say I shall be ill for a few days, but it can't last forever. I shall simply stop in

and was certain that it changed. There could no longer be any doubt on

ing is actually decided yet), whether you would like to wait here. I would keep on your room and the sitting-room, and the victoria, and you should

ger and you have been 'talking things over?' You seem to have thought out the details pretty well; and I'm to be bribed. But it won't work, my love, it won't work." She rose, and going to

I would be all the party on board

ate. "I'm afraid he also is

inia, her colour deepening. "Why should

on to be given some rights over you. Only the other d

ant-oh, I don't know what I meant then; but I know I don't mean it now. The Marchese Loria is the last per

dge, she's refused him. I heard him reminding her of it the other night. But one never knows how many times a

ust get over my horror of the sea. Mayn't I be with you, dear, if you have rea

or a fe

go home to the States, I must lose you, bu

ginia, trying in vain not to appear constrained. "Only

age to the North Pole. Probably, though, you'll simply linger abou

orge are looking for a yacht. We'll talk of it again later. I only mentioned it now to show you that we've really had business. And by the way, Kate, I'd rather you didn't say a

hom hid itself under this new plan of Virginia's. "And now for something else I wanted to ask you. Do, like a

turned, and during that moment Kate Gardiner, standing close to the desk which the girl had left noiselessly, raised a corner of the paper and peeped underneath. The book which Virginia had been reading lay

irginia would beg her not to give back the money, and that, with a gratefu

on entering, and George Trent appeared, looking excited and eager. His eyes fell upon Virginia, and he beg

luck. We can get hold of a steam yacht with four cannon-

him and Virginia, quick as a flash of lig

lk. Kate's going shopping." Evidently she intended to chan

ng out as pirates?" s

der her unsparing eyes, but he smiled

rth while to have the yacht dismantled. I think myself they'd give d

e may, if we can get far enough up the Nile. You see, Virginia has t

when she went out, making the necessary agreeable remarks about her shopping expedition. But when the door

er passenger, are we?"

tter of it and beg to be put off at the nearest port. I had to tell her about the yacht, for she was so inquisitive concerning the business

h does s

red of the Riviera and want to go y

doesn't

could

houldn't trust her as if she were one of ourselves; a nice, jolly little woman,

y one knew except you and Madeleine Dalahaide and me. He wouldn't hear of poor Kate's being told,

y? He poured whole cataracts of i

pose I w

said you'd marry him i

xactly say

l you be cad enough t

rd could be too great for him-that is, if we succeed. He is a dear, kind fellow, and I hav

refused him

o put off t

jolly near acc

so long ago, I can hardly remember.

when he hears that Kate Gardiner is bent on going? If he consents to her bei

t-that I have bought the Chateau de la Roche, and interest has been revived in the Dalahaide story. It's so unfortunate that people should begin to talk again just now! And t

hat she should be

els that herself though, of course, it's hard. Still, think how awful for h

lutely hopeless, and is only going into the adventure to please

the yacht you

. She was charmingly dressed, and had secured ten pounds with which to buy an exquisite antique Italian watch which had taken her fancy a day or two before; never had there been so little need to worry about the future from a pecuniary point of view; still, Kate was not happy. She had lost interest in the watch, lost interest in her shopping

idden off to find the Valley of the Shadow. She was certain that, for some reason which puzzled her sorely, Loria had completely lost his chance with Virginia, and because his intere

ive, for Loria knew that Lady Gardiner was one of the few women who never act without o

caught your fancy?" he inqui

g its open mouth lined with rubies. "Isn't that lovely?" she asked. "An antique, of

ly. "I mean to give it to a woman I know, as a litt

eally wanted the diamond snake. "She must have don

she will tell me certain things I'm anxious to know, and afterward help me

oked up quickly and met his eyes. For, a long instant they gazed at each

me when I buy the

alm which gave an illusion of youth. They went in, and L

ng thing and laid it on a piece of black velvet,

, and I see that the illustrious Signor is a countryman of my own. This jewel was an heirloom in a very ancient family; but great misfortune

re of horror, he pushed the velvet away, not

y Gardiner. But she was merciless. He had as much as of

quaint," she said. "I think this bit of h

ler to send the belt to his hotel, where it would be paid for on delivery. Kate decided that, as she was in such a vein of luck, she would have the watch she fanc

y," returned the man, as he placed the old blue-enameled watch in a box filled with

and nearest her closed tightly on the stick it held. A moment later

at Monte, and that a little sympathy and good advice would do you good. I meant

but Loria understood what the suggestion of a tête-à-tête at Rumpelmayer's meant, and au

oria chose a table in a corner, far from the few early customers who had already arrived. It was not yet four o'clock, and the