Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo

He was contemplating one of the sights of the world. Crowded around the two roulette tables, promenading or lounging on the heavily cushioned divans against the wall, he took note of a

. A little tired with many weeks' travel in countries where the luxuries of life were few, his senses were dulled to the magnificence of the scene, his pulses as yet had not responded to its charm and wonder. And then the change came. He saw a woman standing almost exactly opposite to him at the nearest roulette table, and he gave a notice

beautiful face. Her delicately curved lips were free from the grim lines of concentrated acquisitiveness. She was thirty-two years old but she looked much younger as she stood there, her lips a little parted in a pleased smile of anticipation. She was leaning a little over the table and her eyes were fixed with humorous intentness upon the spinning wheel. Even amongst that crowd of beautiful women she possesse

man murmured under

she saw the man opposite. The smile seemed to die from her lips; it appeared, indeed, to pass with all else of expression from her face. The plaques dropped one by one through her fingers, into the satchel. Her eyes remained fixed upon him as though she were looking upon a ghost. The seconds seemed drawn out into a grim hiatus of time. The croupier's voice, the muttered imprecation

ginning to consider their next coup. The voice of the cro

eux, mesdames

er mind. Her delicate eyebrows drew closer together in a distinct frown. After that first shock, that queer turmoil of feeling, beyond analysis, yet having within it some entirely unexpected consti

n," he said, a

forehead, although to a certain extent it was co

ternoon,

eech seemed to him a difficult matte

ction," he observed,

rful weapon of defence. It gave her a bri

world," she murmured

o extrao

ow. A scene like this," she added, glancing around, "would sca

articularly,"

y have y

The frown upon her

ause you are not satisfied with the reports of the private detective whom you hav

ess of his tone was rendered even

on," he declared. "All I can say is that it is thoroughly in keeping wi

incredulously, not

elf that there is any other person in the world suffi

impression that that is th

in a brown suit and a Homburg hat, and with a habit of lounging. He lounges under my windows, he is probably lounging across the way now. He has lounged within fifty yard

me to assure you, upon my word of h

him. His tone was convincing. He had not the face

t the matter. I am watched day and night-I, an insignificant person

d to have wandered off for a moment. When he spok

you that I have never had any idea of having you watched. It is not a course whi

-at once puzzle

urse I believe you, but there the fact is. I thin

it is your companions who are the object of this ma

im a littl

ounced, "with Mr. an

somehow or other it was easy to see that her news

peated, with slight emphasis on t

"that my companions do not meet with your approval.

he insisted, watch

ngs," she replied, a

eyer is still

still an

sideways towards him. She moved her fan slowly backwards and forwards, her head was thrown back, her manner was almo

measured tone, "by what means you became possessed of the pearls

yes f

ned, "that you are a little

in matter, you are still subject to my authority. I see you wearing jewels in public of which

terrupted icily. "The pearls are not m

Dracon

nwell to appear in public and she is very seldom able to wear any of her wond

become such a habit of his that there were no indications of his condition save in the slight twitchings of his l

he said, "may I ask whether my

ends," sh

that you do not wear another woman's j

effect she was struggling against a con

o poor Mrs. Draconmeyer to see her jewels and admire them, even if she is unable to wear them herself. It gives me an intense

ed towa

f I be

his tone. It was a moment which might have meant much. If she could have seen into his heart and understood the fierce jealous

nreasonable. Your present request is another instance of it. I was enjoying myself very much indeed

d a little, perhaps, the point of view of this man who was still her husband. She watched him almost eagerly, hoping to find some sign in his

are staying here?"

Hotel de

observed. "I will move

ged her s

d, "but it seems a pity that you should move

ou found London itself too small. I sho

a woman whose name had once been a household word, dethroned now, yet still insistent for notice

y to avoid disputable subjects. Shall I be too inquisitive if I ask you once more wh

resented the slightly ironical note in h

iament is not particularly amusing when one is in oppositi

this atmosphere which could possibly attract you for long. There is no work for you to do-work, the very br

s all that?" h

her pearls

permitted to look for a moment into the past, can you tell me a single hour when work was not the prominent

an unexpected one,

nly literature which you really understand is a Blue Book

things. Yet you knew before you married me that I had

ndering from the point. I am still wondering what has

ok his

-day from

d. "Bordighera, indeed! I thought you o

o," he

t you a

I am

e went on, "and the mystery of the little br

rson," he asserted, "and I ha

t have come?" sh

forgetting himself for a moment, "would n

ason for coming!" s

ut his lips were firmly closed

ver live with a man to whom secrecy is as great a necessity as the very air he breathes. No wonder

as you are concerned. During the last few months, however, of our life together, you

ing. He dropped his voice almost to

he concluded, u