The Profiteers | Page 7

time
one thought was foremost in my mind--'shall I meet Sister Josephine?'"
"But you never even made enquiries," she reminded him. "At my
hospital I made it a strict rule that our names in civil life were never
mentioned or divulged, but afterwards you could have found out."
He touched her left hand very lightly, lingered for a moment on her
fourth finger.
"It was the ring," he said. "I knew that you were married, and somehow,
knowing that, I desired to know no more. I suppose that sounds rather
like a cry from Noah's Ark, but I couldn't help it. I just felt like that."
"And now you probably know a good deal about me," she remarked,
with a rather sad smile. "I have been married nine years. I gather that
you know my husband by name and repute."
"Your husband is associated with a man whom I have always
considered my enemy," he said.
"My husband's friends are not my friends," she rejoined, a little bitterly,
"nor does he take me into his confidence as regards his business
exploits."

"Then what does it matter?" he asked. "I should never have sought you
out, for the reason I have given you, but since we have met you will not
refuse me your friendship? You will let me come and see you?"
She laughed softly.
"I shall be very unhappy if you do not. Come to-morrow afternoon to
tea at five o'clock. There will be no one else there, and we can talk of
those times on the beach at Étaples. You were rather a pessimist in
those days."
"It seems ages ago," he replied. "To-day, at any rate, I feel differently. I
knew when I glanced at Lady Amesbury's card this morning that
something was going to happen. I went to that stupid garden party all
agog for adventure."
"Am I the adventure?" she asked lightly.
He made no immediate answer, turning his head, however, and
studying her with a queer, impersonal deliberation. She was wearing a
smoke-coloured muslin gown and a black hat with gracefully arranged
feathers. For a moment the weariness had passed from her face and she
was a very beautiful woman. Her features were delicately shaped, her
eyes rather deep-set. She had a long, graceful neck, and resting upon
her throat, fastened by a thin platinum chain, was a single sapphire.
There was about her just that same delicate femininity, that exquisite
aroma of womanliness and tender sexuality which had impressed him
so much upon their first meeting. She was more wonderful even than
his dreams, this rather tired woman of fashion whose coming had been
so surprising. He would have answered her question lightly but he
found it impossible. A great part of his success in life had been due to
his inspiration. He knew perfectly well that she was to be the adventure
of his life.
"It is so restful here," she said presently, "and I can't tell you how much
I have enjoyed our meeting, but alas!" she added, glancing at her watch,
"you see the time--and I am dining out. We will walk to Hyde Park
Corner and you must find me a cab."

He rose to his feet at once and they strolled slowly along on the least
frequented footpath.
"I hope so much," she went on, "that my husband's connection with the
man you dislike will not make any difference. You must meet him, of
course--my husband, I mean. You will not like him and he will not
understand you, but you need not see much of him. Our ways,
unfortunately, have lain apart for some time."
"You have your troubles," he said quietly. "I knew it when you first
began to talk to me at Étaples."
"I have my troubles," she admitted. "You will understand them when
you know me better. Sometimes I think they are more than I can bear.
Tonight I feel inclined to make light of them. It is a great thing to have
friends. I have so few."
"I am a little ambitious," he ventured. "I do not wish to take my place
amongst the rank and file. I want to be something different to you in
life--more than any one else. If affection and devotion count, I shall
earn my place."
Her eyes were filled with tears as she gave him her hand.
"Indeed," she assured him, "you are there already. You have been there
in my thoughts for so long. If you wish to keep your place, you will
find very little competition. I am rather a dull woman these days, and I
have very little to give."
He smiled confidently as he stopped a taxicab and handed her in.
"May I not be the judge of that?" he begged. "Giving depends upon the