Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo | Page 5

come?" she challenged him.
"Your presence," he retorted, nettled into forgetting himself for a
moment, "would not have altered my plans in the slightest."
"Then you have a reason for coming!" she exclaimed quickly.
He gave no sign of annoyance but his lips were firmly closed. She
watched him steadfastly.
"I wonder at myself no longer," she continued. "I do not think that any
woman in the world could ever live with a man to whom secrecy is as
great a necessity as the very air he breathes. No wonder, my dear Henry,
the politicians speak so well of you, and so confidently of your brilliant
future!"
"I am not aware," he observed calmly, "that I have ever been unduly
secretive so far as you are concerned. During the last few months,
however, of our life together, you must remember that you chose to
receive on terms of friendship a person whom I regard--"
Her eyes suddenly flashed him a warning. He dropped his voice almost
to a whisper. A man was approaching them.
"As an enemy," he concluded, under his breath.
CHAPTER II

BY ACCIDENT OR DESIGN
The newcomer, who had presented himself now before Hunterleys and
his wife, was a man of somewhat unusual appearance. He was tall,
thickly-built, his black beard and closely-cropped hair were streaked
with grey, he wore gold-rimmed spectacles, and he carried his head a
little thrust forward, as though, even with the aid of his glasses, he was
still short-sighted. He had the air of a foreigner, although his tone,
when he spoke, was without accent. He held out his hand a little
tentatively, an action, however, which Hunterleys appeared to ignore.
"My dear Sir Henry!" he exclaimed. "This is a surprise, indeed! Monte
Carlo is absolutely the last place in the world in which I should have
expected to come across you. The Sporting Club, too! Well, well,
well!"
Hunterleys, standing easily with his hands behind his back, raised his
eyebrows. The two men were of curiously contrasting types. Hunterleys,
slim and distinguished, had still the frame of an athlete,
notwithstanding his colourless cheeks and the worn lines about his eyes.
He was dressed with extreme simplicity. His deep-set eyes and
sensitive mouth were in marked contrast to the other's coarser mould of
features and rather full lips. Yet there was about both men an air of
strength, strength developed, perhaps, in a different manner, but still an
appreciable quality.
"They say that the whole world is here," Hunterleys remarked. "Why
may not I form a harmless unit of it?"
"Why not, indeed?" Draconmeyer assented heartily. "The most serious
of us must have our frivolous moments. I hope that you will dine with
us to-night? We shall be quite alone."
Hunterleys shook his head.
"Thank you," he said, "I have another engagement pending."
Mr. Draconmeyer was filled with polite regrets, but he did not renew

the invitation.
"When did you arrive?" he asked.
"A few hours ago," Hunterleys replied.
"By the Luxe? How strange! I went down to meet it."
"I came from the other side."
"Ah!"
Mr. Draconmeyer's ejaculation was interrogative, Hunterleys hesitated
for a moment. Then he continued with a little shrug of the shoulders.
"I have been staying at San Remo and Bordighera."
Mr. Draconmeyer was much interested.
"So that is where you have been burying yourself," he remarked. "I saw
from the papers that you had accepted a six months' pair. Surely,
though, you don't find the Italian Riviera very amusing?"
"I am abroad for a rest," Hunterleys replied.
Mr. Draconmeyer smiled curiously.
"A rest?" he repeated. "That rather belies your reputation, you know.
They say that you are tireless, even when you are out of office."
Hunterleys turned from the speaker towards his wife.
"I have not tempted fortune myself yet," he observed. "I think that I
shall have a look into the baccarat room. Do you care to stroll that
way?"
Lady Hunterleys rose at once to her feet. Mr. Draconmeyer, however,
intervened. He laid his fingers upon Hunterleys' arm.

"Sir Henry," he begged, "our meeting has been quite unexpected, but in
a sense it is opportune. Will you be good enough to give me five
minutes' conversation?"
"With pleasure," Hunterleys replied. "My time is quite at your disposal,
if you have anything to say."
Draconmeyer led the way out of the crowded room, along the passage
and into the little bar. They found a quiet corner and two easy-chairs.
Draconmeyer gave an order to a waiter. For a few moments their
conversation was conventional.
"I trust that you think your wife looking better for the change?"
Draconmeyer began. "Her companionship is a source of great pleasure
and relief to my poor wife."
"Does the conversation you wish to have with me refer to Lady
Hunterleys?" her husband asked