search of something to bring his schedule back to normal. And he had
found it--in front of the Opera House at eleven o'clock at night.
Monte strode into his hotel with a snap that made the little clerk glance
up in surprise.
"Any mail for me?" he inquired.
"A telephone message, monsieur."
He handed Monte an envelope. It was not often that he received
telephone messages. It read as follows:--
Can't you come over? Teddy was very angry about the taxi, and I think
I shall leave Paris tonight. The flowers were beautiful.
Monte felt his breath coming fast.
"How long has this been waiting for me?" he demanded.
"A half-hour, monsieur."
He hurried out the door and into a taxi.
"Sixty-four Boulevard Saint-Germain--and hurry."
Leaving Paris? She had no right to do that. Edhart never left. That was
the beauty of Edhart--that he remained stationary, so that he could
always be found. He was quite sure that Edhart was too considerate
even to die, could he have avoided it. Now Marjory was proposing to
go and leave him here alone. He could not allow that. It was too early
to quit Paris, anyway. It was only the first day of spring!
She came down into the gloomy pension reception-room looking as if
she had already begun to assist Marie with the packing. Her hair had
become loosened, and escaped in several places in black curls that gave
her a distinctly girlish appearance. There was more color, too, in her
cheeks; but it was the flush of excitement rather than the honest red that
colored his own cheeks. She looked tired and discouraged. She sank
into a chair.
"It was good of you to come, Monte," she said. "But I don't know why I
should bother you with my affairs. Only--he was so disagreeable. He
frightened me, for a moment."
"What did he do?" demanded Monte.
"He came here early, and when Marie told him I was out he said he
would wait until I came back. So he sat down--right here. Then, every
five minutes, he called Madame Courcy and sent her up with a note. I
was afraid of a scene, because madame spoke of sending for the
gendarmes."
"Why didn't you let her?"
"That would have made still more of a scene."
She was speaking in a weary, emotionless voice, like one who is very
tired.
"So I came down and saw him," she said. "He was very melodramatic."
It seemed difficult for her to go on.
"Absinthe?" he questioned.
"I don't know. He wanted me to marry him at once. He drew a revolver
and threatened to shoot himself--threatened to shoot me."
Monte clenched his fists.
"Good Lord!" he said softly. "That is going a bit far."
"Is it so men act--when they are in love?" she asked.
Monte started.
"I don't know. If it is, then they ought to be put in jail."
"If it is, it is most unpleasant," she said; "and I can't stand it, Monte.
There is no reason why I should, is there?"
"No: if you can avoid it."
"That's the trouble," she frowned. "I've been quite frank with him. I told
him that I did not want to marry him. I've told him that I could not
conceive of any possible circumstances under which I would marry him.
I've told him that in French and I 've told him that in English, and he
won't believe me."
"The cad!" exclaimed Monte.
"It does n't seem fair," she mused. "The only thing I ask for is to be
allowed to lead my life undisturbed, and he won't let me. There are
others, too. I had five letters this morning. So all I can do is to run away
again."
"To where?" asked Monte.
"You spoke of the little villages along the Riviera."
"Yes," he nodded. "There is the village of Étois--back in the
mountains."
"Then I might go there. C'est tout égal."
She shrugged her shoulders. (She had beautiful shoulders.)
"But look here. Supposing the--this Hamilton should follow you
there?"
"Then I must move again."
Monte paced the room. Obviously this was not right. There was no
reason why she should be continually hounded. Yet there seemed to be
no way to prevent it.
He stopped in front of her. She glanced up--her eyes, even now, calm
and deep as trout pools.
"I'll get hold of the beggar to-day," he said grimly.
She shook her head.
"Please not."
"But he's the one who must go away. If I could have a few minutes
with him alone, I think perhaps I could make him see that."
"Please not," she repeated.
"What's the harm?"
"I don't think it would be safe--for either of you."
She raised her eyes as she said that, and for a moment
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