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！
courage to put to the test。 He relieved her in his abrupt but not
unkindly fashion。 〃Well； when is it to be？〃
〃It？〃
〃Your marriage。〃
〃Oh； not for some time。 There's no hurry。〃
It might have struck the practical Mr。 Rushbrook that； even
considered as a desirable business affair； the prospective
completion of this contract provoked neither frank satisfaction nor
conventional dissimulation on the part of the young lady； for he
regarded her calm but slightly wearied expression fixedly。 But he
only said： 〃Then I shall say nothing of this interview to Mr。
Leyton？〃
〃As you please。 It really matters little。 Indeed； I suppose I was
rather foolish in coming at all； and wasting your valuable time for
nothing。〃
She had risen； as if taking his last question in the significance
of a parting suggestion； and was straightening her tall figure；
preparatory to putting on her cloak。 As she reached it； he stepped
forward； and lifted it from the chair to assist her。 The act was
so unprecedented； as Mr。 Rushbrook never indulged in those minor
masculine courtesies； that she was momentarily as confused as a
younger girl at the gallantry of a younger man。 In their previous
friendship he had seldom drawn near her except to shake her hand
a circumstance that had always recurred to her when his free and
familiar life had been the subject of gossip。 But she now had a
more frightened consciousness that her nerves were strangely
responding to his powerful propinquity； and she involuntarily
contracted her pretty shoulders as he gently laid the cloak upon
them。 Yet even when the act was completed； she had a superstitious
instinct that the significance of this rare courtesy was that it
was final； and that he had helped her to interpose something that
shut him out from her forever。
She was turning away with a heightened color； when the sound of
light； hurried footsteps； and the rustle of a woman's dress was
heard in the hall。 A swift recollection of her companion's
infelicitous reputation now returned to her； and Grace Nevil； with
a slight stiffening of her whole frame； became coldly herself
again。 Mr。 Rushbrook betrayed neither surprise nor agitation。
Begging her to wait a moment until he could arrange for her to pass
to her carriage unnoticed； he left the room。
Yet it seemed that the cause of the disturbance was unsuspected by
Mr。 Rushbrook。 Mr。 Leyton； although left to the consolation of
cigars and liquors in the blue room； had become slightly weary of
his companion's prolonged absence。 Satisfied in his mind that
Rushbrook had joined the gayer party； and that he was even now
paying gallant court to the Signora； he became again curious and
uneasy。 At last the unmistakable sound of whispering voices in the
passage got the better of his sense of courtesy as a guest； and he
rose from his seat； and slightly opened the door。 As he did so the
figures of a man and woman； conversing in earnest whispers； passed
the opening。 The man's arm was round the woman's waist； the woman
wasas he had suspectedthe one who had stood in the doorway； the
Signorabutthe man was NOT Rushbrook。 Mr。 Leyton drew back this
time in unaffected horror。 It was none other than Jack Somers！
Some warning instinct must at that moment have struck the woman；
for with a stifled cry she disengaged herself from Somers's arm；
and dashed rapidly down the hall。 Somers； evidently unaware of the
cause； stood irresolute for a moment； and then more silently but
swiftly disappeared into a side corridor as if to intercept her。
It was the rapid passage of the Signora that had attracted the
attention of Grace and Rushbrook in the study； and it was the
moment after it that Mr。 Rushbrook left。
CHAPTER VI
Vaguely uneasy； and still perplexed with her previous agitation； as
Mr。 Rushbrook closed the door behind him； Grace； following some
feminine instinct rather than any definite reason； walked to the
door and placed her hand upon the lock to prevent any intrusion
until he returned。 Her caution seemed to be justified a moment
later； for a heavier but stealthier footstep halted outside。 The
handle of the door was turned； but she resisted it with the fullest
strength of her small hand until a voice； which startled her；
called in a hurried whisper：
〃Open quick； 'tis I。〃
She stepped back quickly； flung the door open； and beheld Somers on
the threshold！
The astonishment； agitation； and above all； the awkward confusion
of this usually self…possessed and ready man； was so unlike him；
and withal so painful； that Grace hurried to put an end to it； and
for an instant forgot her own surprise at seeing him。 She smiled
assuringly； and extended her hand。
〃GraceMiss NevilI beg your pardonI didn't imagine〃he began
with a forced laugh。 〃I mean； of courseI cannotbut〃 He
stopped； and then assuming a peculiar expression； said： 〃But what
are YOU doing here？〃
At any other moment the girl would have resented the tone； which
was as new to her as his previous agitation； but in her present
self…consciousness her situation seemed to require some
explanation。 〃I came here；〃 she said； 〃to see Mr。 Rushbrook on
business。 Your businessOUR business；〃 she added； with a charming
smile； using for the first time the pronoun that seemed to indicate
their unity and interest； and yet fully aware of a vague
insincerity in doing so。
〃Our BUSINESS？〃 he repeated； ignoring her gentler meaning with a
changed emphasis and a look of suspicion。
〃Yes；〃 said Grace； a little impatiently。 〃Mr。 Leyton thought he
ought to write to my uncle something positive as to your prospects
with Mr。 Rushbrook； and〃
〃You came here to inquire？〃 said the young man； sharply。
〃I came here to stop any inquiry；〃 said Grace； indignantly。 〃I
came here to say I was satisfied with what you had confided to me
of Mr。 Rushbrook's generosity； and that was enough！〃
〃With what I had confided to you？ You dared say that？〃
Grace stopped； and instantly faced him。 But any indignation she
might have felt at his speech and manner was swallowed up in the
revulsion and horror that overtook her with the sudden revelation
she saw in his white and frightened face。 Leyton's strange
inquiry； Rushbrook's cold composure and scornful acceptance of her
own credulousness； came to her in a flash of shameful intelligence。
Somers had lied！ The insufferable meanness of it！ A lie； whose
very uselessness and ignobility had defeated its purposea lie
that implied the basest suspicion of her own independence and
truthfulnesssuch a lie now stood out as plainly before her as his
guilty face。
〃Forgive my speaking so rudely；〃 he said with a forced smile and
attempt to recover his self…control； 〃but you have ruined me unless
you deny that I told you anything。 It was a jokean extravagance
that I had forgotten； at least； it was a confidence between you and
me that you have foolishly violated。 Say that you misunderstood
methat it was a fancy of your own。 Say anythinghe trusts you
he'll believe anything you say。〃
〃He HAS believed me；〃 said Grace； almost fiercely； turning upon him
with the paper that Rushbrook had given her in her outstretched
hand。 〃Read that！〃
He read it。 Had he blushed； had he stammered； had he even kept up
his former frantic and pitiable attitude； she might at that supreme
moment have forgiven him。 But to her astonishment his face
changed； his handsome brow cleared； his careless； happy smile
returned； his graceful confidence came backhe stood before her
the elegant； courtly； and accomplished gentleman she had known。 He
returned her the paper； and advancing with extended hand； said
triumphantly：
〃Superb！ Splendid！ No one but a woman could think of that！ And
only one woman achieve it。 You have tricked the great Rushbrook。
You are indeed worthy of being a financier's wife！〃
〃