Red Money | Page 2

straight away. They're thieves and liars."

"So are many other people," snapped Miss Greeby, who had lost
heavily at bridge on the previous night and spoke feelingly.
Her host paid no attention to her. "There's been a lot of burglaries in
this neighborhood of late. I daresay these gypsies are mixed up in
them."
"Burglaries!" cried Mrs. Belgrove, and turned pale under her rouge, as
she remembered that she had her diamonds with her.
"Oh, it's all right! Don't worry," said Garvington, pushing back his
chair. "They won't try on any games in this house while I'm here. If any
one tries to get in I'll shoot the beast."
"Is that allowed by law?" asked an army officer with a shrug.
"I don't know and I don't care," retorted Garvington. "An Englishman's
house is his castle, you know, and he can jolly well shoot any one who
tries to get into it. Besides, I shouldn't mind potting a burglar. Great
sport."
"You'd ask his intentions first, I presume," said Lady Garvington tartly.
"Not me. Any one getting into the house after dark doesn't need his
intentions to be asked. I'd shoot."
"What about Romeo?" asked a poetic-looking young man. "He got into
Juliet's house, but did not come as a burglar."
"He came as a guest, I believe," said a quiet, silvery voice at the end of
the table, and every one turned to look at Lady Agnes Pine, who had
spoken.
She was Garvington's sister, and the wife of Sir Hubert Pine, the
millionaire, who was absent from the house party on this occasion. As a
rule, she spoke little, and constantly wore a sad expression on her pale
and beautiful face. And Agnes Pine really was beautiful, being one of
those tall, slim willowy-looking women who always look well and act

charmingly. And, indeed, her undeniable charm of manner probably
had more to do with her reputation as a handsome woman than her
actual physical grace. With her dark hair and dark eyes, her Greek
features and ivory skin faintly tinted with a tea-rose hue, she looked
very lovely and very sad. Why she should be, was a puzzle to many
women, as being the wife of a superlatively rich man, she had all the
joys that money could bring her. Still it was hinted on good
authority--but no one ever heard the name of the authority--that
Garvington being poor had forced her into marrying Sir Hubert, for
whom she did not care in the least. People said that her cousin Noel
Lambert was the husband of her choice, but that she had sacrificed
herself, or rather had been compelled to do so, in order that Garvington
might be set on his legs. But Lady Agnes never gave any one the
satisfaction of knowing the exact truth. She moved through the social
world like a gentle ghost, fulfilling her duties admirably, but apparently
indifferent to every one and everything. "Clippin' to look at," said the
young men, "but tombs to talk to. No sport at all." But then the young
men did not possess the key to Lady Agnes Pine's heart. Nor did her
husband apparently.
Her voice was very low and musical, and every one felt its charm.
Garvington answered her question as he left the room. "Romeo or no
Romeo, guest or no guest," he said harshly, "I'll shoot any beast who
tries to enter my house. Come on, you fellows. We start in half an hour
for the coverts."
When the men left the room, Miss Greeby came and sat down in a
vacant seat near her hostess. "What did Garvington mean by that last
speech?" she asked with a significant look at Lady Agnes.
"Oh, my dear, when does Garvington ever mean anything?" said the
other woman fretfully. "He is so selfish; he leaves me to do
everything."
"Well," drawled Miss Greeby with a pensive look on her masculine
features, "he looked at Agnes when he spoke."
"What do you mean?" demanded Lady Garvington sharply.

Miss Greeby gave a significant laugh. "I notice that Mr. Lambert is not
in the house," she said carelessly. "But some one told me he was near at
hand in the neighborhood. Surely Garvington doesn't mean to shoot
him."
"Clara." The hostess sat up very straight, and a spot of color burned on
either sallow cheek. "I am surprised at you. Noel is staying in the
Abbot's Wood Cottage, and indulging in artistic work of some sort. But
he can come and stay here, if he likes. You don't mean to insinuate that
he would climb into the house through a window after dark like a
burglar?"
"That's just what I do mean," retorted Miss Greeby daringly, "and if he
does, Garvington will shoot him. He said so."
"He said nothing of