The Blood-Red Cross | Page 4

remove it on account of the position. It lies just over what they said was an aberrant artery, and the removal might cause very dangerous haemorrhage. One day Madame saw it; she said the doctors were wrong, and that she could easily take it away and leave no mark behind. I hesitated for a long time, but yesterday, when Lady Kennedy spoke to me as she did, I made up my mind. I wired to Madame and went to her to-day. She gave me chloroform and removed the mole. My neck is bandaged up and it smarts a little. I am not to remove the bandage until she sees me again. She is very pleased with the result, and says that my neck will now be beautiful like other women's, and that I can on the night of the ball wear the lovely Brussels lace dress that Lady Kennedy has given me. That is my secret. Will you respect it?"
I promised, and soon afterwards we reached the end of our journey.
A few days went by. One morning at breakfast I noticed that the little signora only played with her food. An open letter lay by her plate. Rowland, by whose side she always sat, turned to her.
"What is the matter, Antonia?" he said. "Have you had an unpleasant letter?"
"It is from----"
"From whom, dear?"
"Madame Sara."
"What did I hear you say?" cried Lady Kennedy.
"I have had a letter from Madame Sara, Lady Kennedy."
"That shocking woman in the Strand--that adventuress. My dear, is it possible that you know her? Her name is in the mouth of everyone. She is quite notorious."
Instantly the room became full of voices, some talking loudly, some gently, but all praising Madame Sara. Even the men took her part; as to the women, they were unanimous about her charms and her genius.
In the midst of the commotion little Antonia burst into a flood of tears and left the room. Rowland followed her. What next occurred I cannot tell, but in the course of the morning I met Lady Kennedy.
"Well," she said, " that child has won, as I knew she would. Madame Sara wishes to come here, and George says that Antonia's friend is to be invited. I shall be glad when the marriage is over and I can get out of this. It is really detestable that in the last days of my reign I should have to give that woman the entr?e to the house."
She left me, and I wandered into the entrance hall. There I saw Rowland. He had a telegraph form in his hands, on which some words were written.
"Ah, Druce!" he said. "I am just sending a telegram to the station. What! do you want to send one too?"
For I had seated myself by the table which held the telegraph forms.
"If you don't think I am taking too great a liberty, Rowland," I said, suddenly, "I should like to ask a friend of mine here for a day or two."
"Twenty friends, if you like, my dear Druce. What a man you are to apologize about such a trifle! Who is the special friend?"
"No less a person than Eric Vandeleur, the police-surgeon for Westminster."
"What! Vandeleur--the gayest, jolliest man I have ever met! Would he care to come?"
Rowland's eyes were sparkling with excitement.
"I think so; more especially if you will give me leave to say that you would welcome him."
"Tell him he shall have a thousand welcomes, the best room in the house, the best horse. Get him to come by all means, Druce."
Our two telegrams were sent off. In the course of the morning replies in the affirmative came to each.
That evening Madame Sara arrived. She came by the last train. The brougham was sent to meet her. She entered the house shortly before midnight. I was standing in the hall when she arrived, and I felt a momentary sense of pleasure when I saw her start as her eyes met mine. But she was not a woman to be caught off her guard. She approached me at once with outstretched hand and an eager voice.
"This is charming, Mr. Druce," she said. "I do not think anything pleases me more." Then she added, turning to Rowland, "Mr. Dixon Druce is a very old friend of mine."
Rowland gave e me a bewildered glance. Madame turned and began to talk to her hostess. Antonia was standing near one of the open drawing-rooms. She had on a soft dress of pale green silk. I had seldom seen a more graceful little creature. But the expression of her face disturbed me. It wore now the fascinated look of a bird when a snake attracts it. Could Madame Sara be the snake? Was Antonia afraid of this woman?
The next day Lady Kennedy came to me with a confidence.
"I am glad