The Blood-Red Cross | Page 3

is not ashamed to stick to her principles. You
know, of course, that in a house like Rowland's Folly it is the custom
for the ladies to come to dinner in full dress. Now, Miss Ripley won't
accommodate herself to this fashion, but will wear her dress high to the
throat, however gay and festive the occasion."
"Ah! there doesn't seem to be much that, does there?"
"I don't quite agree with you. Pressure has been brought to bear on the
girl to make her conform to the usual regulations, and Lady Kennedy, a
woman old enough to be her mother, is quite disagreeable on the
point."
"But the girl sticks to her determination?"
"Absolutely, although she promises to yield and to wear the
conventional dress at the ball given in her honour a week before the
wedding."

Vandeleur was silent for nearly a minute; then dropping his voice he
said, slowly:--
"Did Miss Ripley ever mention in your presence the name of our
mutual foe--Madame Sara?"
"How strange that you should ask! On our journey to town to-day she
told me that she knew the woman--she has known her for the greater
part of her life--poor child, she even loves her. Vandeleur, that young
girl is with Madame Sara now."
"Don't be alarmed, Druce; there is no immediate danger; but I may as
well tell you that through my secret agents I have made discoveries
which show that Madame has another iron in the fire, that once again
she is preparing to convulse Society, and that little Miss Ripley is the
victim."
"You must be mistaken."
"So sure am I, that I want your help. You are returning to Rowland's
Folly?"
"To-night."
"And Miss Ripley?"
"She goes with me. We meet at Euston for the six o'clock train."
"So far, good. By the way, has Rowland spoken to you lately about the
pearl necklace?"
"No; why do you ask?"
"Because I understand that it was his intention to have the pearls
slightly altered and reset in order to fit Miss Ripley's slender throat;
also to have a diamond clasp affixed in place of the somewhat insecure
one at present attached to the string of pearls. Messrs. Theodore and
Mark, of Bond Street, were to undertake the commission. All was in
preparation, and a messenger, accompanied by two detectives, was to

go to Rowland's Folly to fetch the treasure, when the whole thing was
countermanded, Rowland having changed his mind and having decided
that the strong-room at the Folly was the best place in which to keep
the necklace."
"He has not mentioned the subject to me," I said. "How do you know?"
"I have my emissaries. One thing is certain--little Miss Ripley is to
wear the pearls on her wedding-day--and the Italian family, distant
relatives of the present Duke of Genoa, to whom the pearls belonged,
and from whom they were stolen shortly before the Battle of Agincourt,
are again taking active steps to secure them. You have heard the story
of the American millionaire? Well, that was a blind--the necklace was
in reality to be delivered into the hands of the old family as soon as he
had purchased it. Now, Druce, this is the state of things: Madame Sara
is an adventuress, and the cleverest woman in the world--Miss Ripley is
very young and ignorant. Miss Ripley is to wear the pearls on her
wedding-day--and Madame wants them. You can infer the rest."
"What do you want me to do?" I asked.
"Go back and watch. If you see anything, to arouse suspicion, wire to
me."
"What about telling Rowland?"
"I would rather not consult him. I want to protect Miss Ripley, and at
the same time to get Madame into my power. She managed to elude us
last time, but she shall not this. My idea is to inveigle her to her ruin.
Why, Druce, the woman is being more trusted and run after and
admired day by day. She appeals to the greatest foibles of the world.
She knows some valuable secrets, and is an adept in the art of restoring
beauty and to a certain extent conquering the ravages of time. She is at
present aided by an Arab, one of the most dangerous men I have ever
seen, with the subtlety of a serpent, and legerdemain in every one of his
ten fingers. It is not an easy thing to entrap her."
"And yet you mean to do it?"

"Some day---some day. Perhaps now."
His eyes were bright. I had seldom seen him look more excited.
After a short time I left him. Miss Ripley met me at Euston. She was
silent and unresponsive and looked depressed. Once I saw her put her
hand to her neck.
"Are you in pain?" I asked.
"You might be