| Show THE KING versus W ARGRAVE B FLETCHER Copyright 1924 by Alfred A. A Knopf Inc ma I S S. S By y J J. J Published January 1924 Second printing February 1924 Continued from yesterday Driving at nothing Merely mentioning mentioning men men- a a. fact tact I say what say a magnificent mag mag- prize in the the marriage marriage market mar mar- ket And And And-and and what a rare chance hance for the needy and unscrupulous adventurer adventurer adventurer ad- ad I. I Gr Graye e still kept his e eyes V es fixed on I Herb Herbert rt Look here he said laid Im not good at men mental tat gymnastics And Arid I Isay Isay Isay say again what again what the devil are you driving at at In other words what is it youre you're waiting to say Herbert groaned You always alwa's were such a matter matter- of tact chap Adrian n I was only trying to Intimate to you as delicately dell deli cately as po possible bl that Lady Wargrave Wargrave War- War gra grave vo Is fair game for tor fortune- fortune hunters Well Weil And that the gentleman of ot whom you jou have heard something is isone one of the small house party at the Manor Ma Ma- nor Grayes Graye's face tace flushed J I Di Spada The same And according to Withers DI Dl Spada is very much one of ot the house party In fact the I house party consists of ot himself his sisters and his sisters sister's husband A A-a A a sort of family affair eh And between you and t me rue me Master Adrian I should say that Lady Wargrave poor innocent that I fear she sheia is Is is in In For a moment Graye made no answer an an Then he threw out his hands with a gesture of helplessness the use ue in talking Jack rack What can I what I-what what can we do V I called three times in Park Lane and and ot of course she didn't want to see me why me-why why God knows he ex ex- ex claimed Its beyond me V Quite so eo agreed Herbert But Put Im I'm Im I'm not sure that Its It's beyond me Adrian Up to the time you saw her going off oft 1 in that thick veil ven shed she'd been glad enough to see you hadn't she V I thought so I believes so Very well Then hats what's the obvious Inference Somebody's got Influence over over her Somebody's Somebody Somebody's Some Some- body's body making her makIng her making her do you understand keep k keep off what we ep we may without exaggeration call her friends old friends If you life lite and that's no no zo exaggeration either Who can that h t somebody be but but DI Dl Spada Z V But how do we know that How do doVe Ve We e know that Haven't we got brains minds Intellects Cant Can't Cantwe we infer things Cant Can't we de- de deduce conclusions from obvious f facts Lady Wargrave ought to owe you a It lifelong debt of ot gratitude for tor risking your own life Ute to save her son sons son's oh s life oh lIte-oh oh yes my dear fel fe- low Its It's all aU very well protesting and shaking your our head but she ought Its if It s she's es e's a scrap of decent feeling left I in her And for anything you or I 1 know she may have that fee feeling of gratitude e as strongly as ever eyer and wish to show it as much as ever B But t she refused you her presence in to town n and Ill I'll lay Jay you a thousand pounds to a China orange that youre you're not asked up to the Manor while this house party is on on Why The Inference Is that she is being coerced The Dl DI Spada family have got hold of her Now why Graye uttered a dismal groan God knows I dont don't he said I I cant can't understand It it V Well Ive I've been trying to puzzle it out out continued Herbert V Ill tell you what I think I think Di Dl Spada Is probably blackmailing her terrorizing ter ter- her That's what I think old chap And Im I'm not quite a fool at at least I hope not Graye clenched his fists If I thought thought It if I was aura sur of that he growled By God Id I'd go up there Just now flow and kick the fellow out Keep cool coot V That'll help her and everything best But to me roe the thing g is as plain as the proverbial pikestaff Look here hare didn't you jou OU ascertain that DI Dl Spada was some none assistant or pupil of old Gral's Graffis Yes Then of course D Dl S Spada V a ia knew all about the murder of the old man Now then do a constructive reasoning DI Dl Spada somehow o or other steps Into old Graffin's shoes as 55 regards the he practice IT r connection tion or whatever its it's called He goes on with it In time Gemma Graft Graffi comes back bank tn r-no-i. r i o Lady Wargrave DI Dl Di Spada sees h her picture In the papers papers you you 1 know w. w it was In s several veral ch cheap ap newspapers at t the time of ot the homecoming He lIe recognizes In L Lady cly Wargrave argrave Gemma Gem ma Graffi He makes inquiry h he finds out out easy easy enough to find it out Adrian my boj that boy that Lady Wargrave has pounds and pounds a a. year besides V He sees les lesa a magnificent opportunity And he takes advantage e of It And so so Lady Wargrave visits visits Austerlitz Mansions heavily veiled V Graye listened to nil ill this tills with set face and gloomy eyes Ills his pipe had long since gone out but he still kept it between his teeth and bit hard on on the stem After all that's all theory Jack he said For anything we u-c. know these people may be even relations Ladles Ladies dont don't go tb to see relations rell gentlemen relatives I relatives late late te at night heavily veiled Yelled and leaving their own residences by back or side en entrances cn- cn n trances observed V Herbert gr I dont don't deny that what I have put before you is theory but Ill I'll bet its it's not far from the truth Just think man man Supposing this Di Spada Isa Isa Is Is' Isa a clever and unscrupulous US U'S drel think how he could terrorize a a. woman who knows nothing of J English Eng Eng- ng- ng lish law Theory or not I 1 say Ill I'll bet any odds odd that Im I'm not far off the truth And you'll tee nee that al although although al al- though she size asked you and me ane up to dine several times before sho l the Manor shell she'll not ask us now that she's returned In that prophecy Herbert proved himself correct The two young doctors heard nothing of th the th people people peo pea pIe at manor Nor was Lady Wargrave seen in the village Around the big bis house and the great park there rested an air cf of mv tery and silence as dark as al the woods and trees which sh shut t both Ir in Nut Not even gossip in full or thin stream percolated to the thirsty soil of the village tea tables It was merely known that her ladyship an and her lIer friends were there nd nd all that the spinsters and the old men of the alehouse corners orners could say was that foreigners were of course vastly different to Christians Christians Chris Chris- ad must be allowed for tor accordingly accord accord- I And thep then one night ht as Herbert and Graye Grae were smoking a last pipe before turning in their parlor maid opened the door and admitted a alady l la lady ady y who threw back her veil vell as she entered and revealed herself as Lady dy War Wargrave rave CHAPTER X X A Childs Child's Life To John Herbert detached from the feelings and emotions of the theother theother the theother other two people who stood with him in his smoking room roomS room and therefore therefore- able In some sort to take a 11 more or l less ss disinterested rested and Impartial view of matters one pertinent pertinent pertinent per per- fact made Itself immediately evident as soon as Lady Lody Wargrave had entered and the parlor mad closed the door upon her She Sho had not known that she was to find Adrian Graye there At sight of him she paused the olor color flooded her face she Joked half halt In fear fear fear-a a strange v vague ue 6 fear which was in indefinitely In- In indefinitely definitely expressed in her features half half In appeal appear from him to Herbert Her Her- bert Before either man could coald move or 0 speak she herself hersel spoke or rather she unconsciously let the thought that sprang up in In- her voice Itself I did not know that Dr Graye Oraye w was s here she said Herbert rec recovered vered from his surprise stir sur prise bustled into activity He went forward brushing Grayes Graye's arm as ns be he passed whispered Clear out Adrian he Clear ou outi U V VV V Graye turned away abruptly and went out by a door which led into the tha surgery Herbert took Lady Wargrave's hand and led her to the chair from which he himself had st started at her entrance Dr Graye has been staying with me rae some little time he said He HeIs HeIs Is helping me What hat can I d do for you you Lady Wargrave V Then seeing that she needed time timeto to recover from the shock which Greye's unexpected presence had evidently given giyen her he add added d I hope there Is nothing wrong And I hope you have not come down from th the Manor al alone ne I would have come up at once if It you had sent for me me meShe She shook her head looking at him in a wistful half frightened fashion Yes I came alone she answered It doesn't matter Dr Herbert Herbert I I know the way I I-I I I couldn't send for you There are are reasons I wanted to see you you very very badly Youre not ill Z said Herbert quickly She shook her head smiling in ip a fashion that indicated the nearness of tears and Herbert felt thankful that Graye was out but of the room No she answered Im not But Tm rm weary unhappy Uncertain about my my boy x I want you to see see him him him- somebody must see him Certainly said Herbert Til com come com up to the Manor Mano first thing t tomorrow morning Ill I'll gO go tonight just now now if you vou like Watching her ke keenly as he was he saw V a a look of f something like Uke terror come Into he eyes and she unconsciously laid her hand band ion ou oi his hisami ami arm as if to stop him from moving No no no she exclaimed I I 1 I dont don't want you to come come cometo to the house hous I want to to to-to to to a arrange range something some some- t thing Not if t tto to come to the tho house house said sald Herbert But But Why Why Lady Wargrave withdrew her hand from his arm arm an and looking away remained silent for tor a moment When she looked around again he knew w that she was going to give him he her confidence I am eng engaged ged to be married mar mar- ried she said to SIgnor Signer dl iii Spada whom I 1 ha have ve known a long time Signor di dl Spada's brother brothel who is staying a athe at atthe atthe the Manor is ISa isad a doctor They would be beery very ery angry if It I I called caned in any other medical man They say that thatis is etiquette Is it Z Herbert gave her no immediate answer There was something in her look took in even her attitude which seemed to suggest that she was askIng asking ask ask- ing lag for understanding and sympathY sympathy sympathy thy and help And Ana once again he was thankful that he had cleared Graye out of the room oom Is it she repeated Ought I Inot not nol to have come to you No one knows knows no no one must know please that that I hav have e come Herbert knew that he would have to speak k p possibly have to act Ina in ina ina a way which he did not yet foresee If this gentleman is a medical man he said slow slowly ly and you have hav already employed his services on on behalf of your child it would not be in accordance with the etiquette of ot the pt professIon that you should come to me without consulting him But But Is Is he an English doctor Lady Wargrave shook her head looking her bewilderment at the question I Ido I I do not know she ehe answered I know w nothing Lucien says he Is isa a a. doctor Walt Wait a a. moment said Herbert He lie went across the room to a stand full of ot reference books and took down a a. medical dictionary DI Dl Sp Spada da Is the name name eh Lady Wargrave Wargrave War War- grave He turned turned over the pages care carefully tully searching He is not an English medical man he said re replacing replacing replacing re- re placing the But he may of course hold some foreign qualification tion He e has been treating the child 1 suppose suppose Lady Wargrave bowed her head Again Herbert saw In h her r eyes the dumb dum appeal the appeal the searching for help against against what Y Yes so sh she murmured Yes But But But- V She paused paused- so so that Herbert felt he must prompt herBut her But you are not not satisfied he suggested Well cant can't you tell him bin so IIO Lady Lady Wargrave began to to twist her fingers together as they lay on her knee She was obviously distressed distressed distressed dis dis- dis- dis and perplexed by something of which she dare not speak They They she she used this term again Herbert was quick to notice they notice they would be so angry Lucien and his sister say that Stefano is so cleverAnd clever And Stefano says that nothing is I the matter with the child except that English air does not suit him and that he win will be better etter when we return to Italy You are going to Italy soon asked Herbert S Next ext month she answered Next ext month Herbert considered matters a lit lit lit- tle tie P Perhaps Dr dl di Spada Is right he said Have you any reason to think he I isn't lIn I dont don't know pow ow she said I I I feel afraid afraM but I dont don't know of ot what I 1 am afraid He my He-my my boy- boy seems to be be wasting wasting Ohi Oh cant can't you se see him But how But how said Herbert How Come Lady Wargrave cant can't you say to Dr dl di Spada that you would like more inure advice and suggest that you should call me in That's the proper thing to do and as a a. medical medical medi medi- cal man he cant can't make any tion But Lady Wargrave ve shook her head II I I she whispered I I You dont don't understand But But It if you yoU could see him without vim without t their knowing Couldn't you you you- plea please lie How could I I asked HerbertI Herbert I thought of how she answered You often otten drive across the low V road pad in the park dont don't yo you you you-I I 1 I know you do do because Ive I've seen you Well Veil tomorrow Lucien and Stefano are going to town early I will go out across the park with the nurse I she she knows I have come to you you you- and the child about noon and meet I I YOU Vou therA by hv th th Low t Then you OU could pee fee him Will wm you do this please I will said Herbert Be there thereat thereat thereat at the Low Spinney as near noon as you can Lady Wargrave But But But- forgive me for tor asking you you you-Is Is there therean an any need for tor this secrecy Remember ber I ber-I If your sons son's health If his life Is in any danger you ought to communicate communicate com com- with the trustees If there is the slightest doubt about his health you ought to have the very highest medical advice The trustees trustees trus true tees would insist upon It it But But Stefano Stefano says there Is nothIng nothing nothing noth noth- ing the matter with him but what I 1 have said sai she replied He says I Iam Iam Iann am ann unduly anxious simply because he is a little thin and doesn't seem seem- to have any life ute in him You Will come tomorrow wont won't you 1 she broke off turning to him almost I 1 seem so anxious anxious- so anxious I I shall b be there tomorrow w said Herbert Now about your going back Let me walk b back ck with you But Lady Wargrave shook her head as she rose Please not she replied The nurse is waiting for me Just within the park There Is a private way into the house that we know No Noone Noone one knows that I 1 have come to see you you you-no no one must know It is a pity said Herbert quiet Quiet- ly iy Is it absolutely necessary to have this secrecy She made no answer but gave him a significant look as she held heldI I lout out her hand Herbe Herbert t took her out o 0 the door In the darkness with with- out she spoke Tell Dr Graye that I am always grateful she said In a a. low voice I I 1 I did not know he was here But ButI I was forced to come corne to you And you will be |
