ll the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission. It was not until he had actually commenced his lunch that anything ha

Rosari

not yet arrived," the ma?tre d'h?tel replied.

il, he recognized Mrs. Weatherley at once as she swept into the room, following the ma?tre d'h?tel. She c

so soon," she remarked, giving him h

ne," Arnol

er she recognized any acquaintances. Arnold, however, was

uired, "has my hus

dmitted

message,"

r. Ros

r. Ros

ything of him yet, th

ld assured her. "I have kept

essage quickly

s wife. If there were secrets between them, it was not his concern. It seemed natural eno

-day," Arnold said. "He was to go instead to the grill room a

ough he was watching her, Arnold could not himself have declared at

rious," she said thoughtfully. "I cannot imagin

therley this morning. He was asked for privately several times

repeated, frowning. "Now I wo

wo, looking through the glass-paneled

e to lunch and I am hungry. I will not

nd the extra place w

can please himself. I should like some Omelette aux Champignons, please, and some red wine-nothing mo

f. The collection of costly trifles which she had

id we not, to be friends? It is possible you may f

ask for more since

therley. The name annoys me. It reminds me of things which at times it is a

repeated, ha

no

g I have to ask of you. If Mr. Rosario comes, I do no

rowned s

me up here for no other reason. He has given me an exact commission, h

sm

er of which my husband understands little. There are people whose interest it is to protect Rosario. It is they who have spoken, without a doubt, this morning throu

ed at her t

the object of my message is to bid Mr. Rosario k

fficult and dangerous matter. He runs his own risks and he

utiful as he had thought her last night, but her complexion was pallid

he said. "It was the

ted, "but that passes. Thi

y could have been after no good. I wish you would let me go to the police-station. Or would

k her he

do any good. Just now, at any

le she exchanged greetings with friends passing in and out

y, "why are you a clerk in the city? Y

ly. "I hadn't a sovereign in the w

brought up for

admitted. "It suits m

, have had evil fortune. Perhaps th

red, impulsively, "but you-you were

the rings upon her fingers.

had been happy I should have done that? Do you think that, having do

y towards the man who, in his way, had been kind to him, and the woman who seem

very much devoted t

derision par

n better for him as well as for me if he had kept away from the Island

es twi

the Island of Sabatini, and that your brother ke

laug

at did you t

were to be found in those seas, I would like to beg or bor

you say very charming things

nty-

rtunes. All the women of my race have done so. I can tell you that you had a youth of ease

rly," he

won

The hand of some unseen person was gripping him by the throat, bearing him backwards. There was a shout and they both saw the cloakroom attendant spring over his counter. Something glittered in the dim light-a flash of blue polished steel. There was a gleam in the air, a

cloakroom attendant bending over him, and no one else in the vestibule. Then the people began to stream in-the hall p

he shouted

n the doorway look

oom attendant cried out again.

rd to where Rosario lay on his back, with a thin stream of blood finding its way through his wa

This is no affair of ours. I want to think

he man's hand?

t of

sill last night. It was the same ring-a

ed. He passed his arm around her, and even in that moment of wild excitement he was conscious of a nameless joy which seemed to set his heart

leave me?"

her hand

l you sen