按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
She would have drawn him further down but he kept away。
〃Listen；〃 he said； 〃when I tell you that I am going to write to your father to…morrow； you know what that means。 For the rest； I must think。 Perhaps this is the only way out。 Of course； I like you but the truth is best； isn't it？ I hadn't any idea of this。 As a matter of fact； I am rather in love with someone else。〃
She caught at her breath for a moment； half closed her eyes as thought to shut out something disagreeable。
〃I don't care；〃 she muttered。 〃You see how low I have fallenI'll bear even that。 Come；〃 she added； springing up； 〃my aunt goes to bed before eleven。 You can drive me down there； if you like。 Are you going to kiss me？〃
He bent over her a little gravely and his lips touched her forehead。 She caught his face suddenly between her hands and kissed him on the lips。 Then she turned towards the door。
〃Of course； I am horribly ashamed；〃 she exclaimed； 〃but thenwell； I'm myself。 Come along； please。〃
He followed her down into the taxi and they drove off towards Kensington。
〃How long have you known the other girl？〃 she asked abruptly。
〃Very little longer than I have known you；〃 he answered。
She took off her glove。 He felt her hand steal into his。
〃You'll try and like me a little； please？〃 she begged。 〃There hasn't been any one who cared for so many yearsnot all my life。 When I came outever since I came outI have behaved just like other properly； well…brought…up girls。 I've just sat and waited。 I've rather avoided men than otherwise。 I've sat and waited。 Girls haven't liked me much。 They say I'm odd。 I'm twenty…eight now； you know。 I haven't enjoyed the last six years。 Father's wrapped up in his work。 He thinks he has done his duty if he sends me to London sometimes to stay with my aunt。 She is very much like him； only she is wrapped up in missions instead of science。 Neither of them seems to have time to be human。〃
〃It must have been rotten for you；〃 Granet said kindly。
Her hand clutched his； she came a little nearer。
〃Year after year of it；〃 she murmured。 〃If I had been good…looking； I should have run away and gone on the stage。 If I had been clever； I should have left home and done something。 But I am like millions of othersI am neither。 I had to sit and wait。 When I met you； I suddenly began to realise what it would be like to care for some one。 I knew it wasn't any use。 And then this miracle happened。 I couldn't help it；〃 she went on doggedly。 〃I never thought of it at first。 It came to me like a great flash that the only way to save you〃
〃To save me from what？〃 he asked。
〃From being shot as a spy；〃 she answered quickly。 〃There！ I'm not a fool； you know。 You may think I'm a fool about you but I am not about things in general。 Good…bye！ This is my aunt's。 Don't come in。 Ring me up to…morrow morning。 I'll meet you anywhere。 Good…bye； please！ I want to run away。〃
He watched her go； a little dazed。 A trim parlourmaid came out and； after a few words of explanation； superintended the disposal of her luggage in the hall。 Then the taxicab man returned。
〃Back to Sackville Street；〃 Granet muttered。
CHAPTER XXX
Granet； on his return to Sackville Street； paid the taxicab driver； ascended the stairs and let himself into his rooms with very much the air of a man who has passed through a dream。 A single glance around； however； brought him vivid realisations of his unwelcome visitor。 The little plate of sandwiches； half finished； the partly emptied bottle of wine； were still there。 One of her gloves lay in the corner of the easy…chair。 He picked it up； drew it for a moment through his fingers； then crushed it into a ball and flung it into the fire。 Jarvis； who had heard him enter； came from one of the back rooms。
〃Clear these things away； Jarvis；' his master ordered。 〃Leave the whiskey and soda and tobacco on the table。 I may be late。〃
Jarvis silently obeyed。 As soon as he was alone； Granet threw himself into the easy…chair。 He was filled with a bitter sense of being entrapped。 He had been a little rash at Market Burnham； perhaps； but if any other man except Thomson had been sent there； his explanations would have been accepted without a word； and all this miserable complication would have been avoided。 He thought over Isabel's coming； all that she had said。 She had left him no loophole。 She had the air of a young woman who knew her own mind excellently well。 A single word from her to Thomson and the whole superstructure of his ingeniously built…up life might tumble to pieces。 He sat with folded arms in a grim attitude of unrest； thinking bitter thoughts。 They rolled into his brain like black shadows。 He had been honest in the first instance。 With ancestors from both countries； he had deliberately chosen the country to which he felt the greatest attachment。 He remembered his long travels in Germany； he remembered on his return his growing disapproval of English slackness； her physical and moral decadence。 Her faults had inspired him not with the sorrow of one of her real sons； but with the contempt of one only half bound to her by natural ties。 The ground had been laid ready for the poison。 He had started honestly enough。 His philosophy had satisfied himself。 He had felt no moral degradation in wearing the uniform of one country for the benefit of another。 All this self…disgust he dated from the coming of Geraldine Conyers。 Now he was weary of it all； face to face； too； with a disagreeable and insistent problem。
He started suddenly in his chair。 An interruption ordinary enough； but never without a certain startling effect； had broken in upon his thoughts。 The telephone on his table was ringing insistently。 He rose to his feet and glanced at the clock as he crossed the room。 It was five minutes past twelve。 As he took up the receiver a familiar voice greeted him。
〃Is that Ronnie？ Yes； this is Lady Anselman。 Your uncle told me to ring you up to see if you were in。 He wants you to come round。〃
〃What； to…night？〃
〃Do come； Ronnie；〃 his aunt continued。 〃I don't suppose it's anything important but your uncle seems to want it。 No； I sha'n't see you。 I'm just going to bed。 I have been playing bridge。 I'm sure the duchess cheatsI have never won at her house in my life。 I'll tell your uncle you'll come； then； Ronnie。 。 。 。 Good night！〃
Granet laid down the receiver。 Somehow or other； the idea of action； even at that hour of the night was a relief to him。 He called to Jarvis and gave him a few orders。 Afterwards he turned out and walked through the streetscuriously lit and busy it seemed to himto the corner of Park Lane； and up to the great mansion fronting the Park； which had belonged to the Anselmans for two generations。 There were few lights in the windows。 He was admitted at once and passed on to his uncle's own servant。
〃Sir Alfred is in the study； sir；〃 the latter announced； 〃if you will kindly come this way。〃
Granet crossed the circular hall hung with wonderful tapestry； and passed through the sumptuously…furnished library into the smaller； business man'' study； in which Sir Alfred spent much of his time。 T