The Car of Destiny | Page 8

the end of the corridor. There I pushed aside a portière and followed her in.
She had been right; the room was unoccupied, though two or three bridge tables were ready for players. In one corner was a small sofa. The girl sat down, carefully leaving no place for me, even had I presumed; and, leaning forward, clasped her little hands nervously round her knees.
Then she looked up at me through her mask; and I did not keep her waiting.
"I've no invitation to-night," I said. "But I had to come. I came to see you. Do you forgive me for saying this?"
"I--think so," she answered.
"You would be sure, if you knew all."
"I do know. At least--I mean--but of course, I oughtn't to be here with you."
"According to convention you oughtn't. Yet--"
"I'm not thinking of conventions. But--oh, I should hate you to misunderstand!"
"I could never misunderstand."
I snatched off my mask and stood looking down at her, knowing that my face would say what was in my heart, and not now wishing to hide the secret.
"You know," I said, "that I've worshipped you since the first moment I saw you. It was impossible to meet you in any ordinary way, for you have no friend who would introduce to you the Marqués de Casa Triana. Have you ever heard that name before, Lady Monica?"
"Yes," she answered frankly. "I heard it yesterday. From Angèle de la Mole."
"Her brother's a friend of my best friend."
"I know."
"If it hadn't been for him, I should have had great trouble in getting here to-night. Yet I would have come. Did Mademoiselle de la Mole tell you that I loved you?"
Lady Monica dropped her head and did not answer, but the little hands were pressed tightly together.
"I've always been proud of my name," I said, "though it's counted a misfortune to bear it; but when I saw you, then I knew for the first time how great a misfortune it may be."
"Why?"
"Because my only happiness can come now in having you for my wife; and even if I could win your love, you wouldn't be allowed to marry my father's son."
"Your father may have been mistaken," the girl faltered. "I do think he was. But he was a gloriously brave man. Even the enemies against whom he fought must respect his memory. I--I've read of him. I--bought a book yesterday. You see--I've thought about you. I couldn't help it. We saw each other only those few minutes, and we didn't even speak; yet somehow it was different from anything else that ever happened to me."
"It was fate," I said. "We were destined to meet, and I was destined to love you. If I thought I could make you care, that would give me a right I couldn't have otherwise; the right to try and win your love, and beat down every obstacle."
"I could--I do care," she whispered. "Even if I were never to see you again, I shouldn't forget. This--would be the romance of my life."
"Angel!" I said. And then she took off her mask, with such a divine smile that I could have knelt at her feet as at the shrine of a saint.
"Isn't it wonderful?" she asked. "I didn't find out your name till yesterday, though I tried before; and we don't know each other at all--"
"Why, we've known each other since the world began. My soul had been waiting to find yours again, and found it the other afternoon, on the road to my own land. That's what people who don't understand call 'love at first sight.' "
"I think it must be so; because there was never anything like that first minute when you looked at me."
"If I could have known, it would have saved me sleepless nights. For now you're mine, my dearest, just as I am yours. Nothing can take you from me now."
"Ah, I'm afraid! Even if--everything were different in your life, it would be difficult; for--there's someone else in mine already."
"There can be no one else, since you care for me."
"Not truly in my life. But there's someone my mother wants me to marry."
"The Duke of Carmona."
"You knew?"
"You see, I've thought of nothing but you; and I've learned all I could about what concerns you."
"I don't like him, not even as a friend. He's handsome enough, but I'm sure he has a most horrible temper. I could be afraid of him. I believe I am afraid. And mother--you don't know her, but--when she makes up her mind that you're to do a certain thing, you find yourself doing it. That's one reason I was so glad when you came to-night, and said, 'The next is our dance,' in such a determined way. Not only did you take me away from him, but--I felt you'd try to keep me from him, in the