The Night Was Young

Evening Star, Issue 23681, 14 September 1940, Page 3 (Supplement)

The Night Was Young

By DUDLEY HOYS

Short Story

LEIGHTON stared at her brother as if he had gone mad. “ Won’t be here to-morrow ! What do you mean?” “ Exactly what 1 say.” He gave her a solemn and yet nervous nod. Her sapphire eyes narrowed, and under the sleek, fair hair her forehead wrinkled iu bewilderment. “ What on earth are von driving at,' Hick? You know very well mother’s due any time now, and yet you talk about not being here.” He said: “ Come on to the balcony. Nobody there ’’ Wondering, she followed him out. The balcony, a wide, ornate structure decorating ‘the principal hotel in Dontsa, gave a long view of the town, the valley, and the distant mountains. Ho rite a itself, a product of modernised Albania, looked gay with the electric lights pricking the violet dusk. By contrast the mountains were savage, barbaric.^ He pointed along the valley. His lean face had an eager intensity, and his sister gave him a curious glance. *1 You can just see Prelep’s place—that pale blur among the trees. I’m going along there at 10.” “ Well, -what of it? ” she asked.

She had met Prelep several times during her stay here. He was young, rich, and attractive in a dangerous fashion.

41 Xshan't he coming back alone.”

At that she laughed impatiently. “ For heaven’s sake, stop being mysterious! ”

He said quickly: “All right. I’m bringing Sandra with me.” It was a shock to Erica, though she had half-expected it. Alksandra. Prelep’s sister, was 19, small, dark, slender and vivacious as a bird in spring. Often Erica had wondered how the girl could bear the loneliness of the house out there, after schooldays spent in England. Leighton went on in a low, urgent voice: “There is no other way. You know Prelep. Smooth, cheerful, quite the Piccadilly touch—on the surface. Actually, he’s a swine. I didn’t realise it until'l asked him about Sandra. He laughed m my face, told me- 1 was wasting my time. He’s marrying her to a fat old Armenian named Letossian.” “ But if she doesn’t want to marry him ” . “ That’s nothing to do with it. This isn’t England, remember. On top it seems civilised enough. Underneath it’s appalling. Don’t forget Prelep’* a Moslem. He’s his sister’s guardian, and here he can do as ho likes with her, in law. She might be his horse or his dog.” “Oh, I don’t believe it! “ You’ve been here a month, my child, in one of the biggest towns. Buses, cinemas, tennis. Sounds civilised enough, doesn’t it? I’ve had seven years of it, and I know what’s underneath.” “ You ought to' know, she said soberly. , He had just concluded a short-term service in the Albanian gendarmerie, and the last few weeks he had been showing her the chief sights of the country. Their mother had planned to come out and spend a short holiday with them before they returned to England. Ho touched his sister s wrist. “ Don’t be scared. Sandra’s watched as if she’s a prisoner. But I’ve been spending money. I’ve bribed the old hag who keeps an eye on her, and in turn she has bribed some of the servant*. Sandra will be ready at 10. She’s got a passport. AVe shall make straight for Durazzo, and the ‘ Miralan ’ is sailing at G in the morning. Erica stirred uneasily. “ She’s a nice girl. 1 like her. couldn’t you have waited a bit?” “ No. To-morrow Prclep’s taking her off up-country to some relatives.” “Suppose he’s found out already?” “ He couldn’t have found out.” “But suppose he has?” she persisted. He shrugged his shoulders and said: “Don’t worry.” His studied casualness did not deceive her. She looked thoroughly frightened. “Dick, what would he do?” “ Don’t know, my child. No use bothering your head about that. At the best ho could charge me with attempted abduction.” “ And at the worst?” The darkness over the valley had come with a swoop. There was an ugliness about it that made her shiver, And the .worst?.’! she repeated.

The story of a bold deception, which involved a man’s life and a girl’s honour —of a country where, under the thin veneer of civilisation, the currents of primitive passion and primitive cruelty ran dark and swift.

He remained silent. Erica’s face was pale. “ 1 don’t blame yon. Dick, but I wish you could have waited, somehow. You know mother’s ship is due at Durazzo this evening, and she’s coming straight on by car. She might bo here any minute. What am I going to toll her if ”

“ You won’t have to do any telling,” ho said, cheerfully. “If mother arrives within the next two hours say I’ve been called away on a spot of business. By quarter to 11. at the latest, I shah be hack here with Sandra on our way to Durazzo.” “ And if you’re not?” “If I’m not ” he began, and stared frankly at his sister. “If I’m not you’d better ring up the British consul. But don’t expect too much, from him.”

There were a hundred questions she wanted to ask, a hundred warnings she wanted to give, but she was wise enough to say nothing. She knew that quiet, obstinate look on her brother's face. Besides, what was the use of arguing with a man in love?

She tried to assure herself that Prelep was a modern and sporting young man who ordered his clothes from London and read English newspapers. Hadn’t he spent three years at Harrow and four at Magdalen? To he afraid for Dick was to be silly and melodramatic.

Yet the nagging anxiety refused to be smothered. Each time she had met

Prelep she had been aware of the black depths under tbo suave, boyish manner.

Although it gradually grew chilly on the balcony, she remained there, her spirit following her brother through the town and along the winding valley road. Once clear of Doritsa, he had put out the cigarette he was smoking and walked along more quietly and carefully, Seven years of the country had taught him a great deal. In this queer land the ultra-modern and the middle ages lived side by side. Clumps of olive trees stood out against the deep purple of the sky. A faint, elusive scent was in the air. After the town, the stillness was absolute.

He had two miles to cover, and he moved with the caution of a man who knew that many a house like Prelep’s was unobtrusively guarded, day and night. - To have used a car would have invited betrayal. At last he came to a wall, and followed it round to a shadowed spot. He crooked his hands on the top, drew himself over, and dropped quietly into the grounds of Prelep’s house. There was a stretch of turf ahead, broken at intervals by leafy bougainvillea trees Beyond lay the house, its white stone frontage gleaming under the rising moon. A r efy patiently he crept from shadow to shadow, threaded his way through the shrubbery, and came opposite a window in the side of the house. He looked at his watch. Three minutes to 10. The nearness of crisis made him stiffen. He stood sheltering behind a tree trunk, watching the window. Without any warning two shadows slid up. , „ . , Ho started, swung mind. Before be could raise an arm a heavy cloth descended over his head. Kicking out. he wrenched savagely to tree himself from its stilling folds, hut it grew tighter, and a cord bit into his lo"S. Struggling helplessly, half choked, he was carried away. Prelep lolled in an easy chair, a scented Balkan cigarette smouldering between his fingers. His dinner jacket had been cut by a Savile Row tailor and fitted him to perfection. His skin had the faintest olive tint, and he might have passed for a good-looking Englishman. with his straight forehead and slightly aquiline nose and thin bar moustache. The only hint of the nnEnglish was an occasional glint in his brown eves, a glint almost purple. He flicked the ash from his cigarette and thought: “There are dozens of ways of dealing with Leighton. The difficulty is to choose. Perhaps I might wait a" little, to see what happens. Sometimes things have a knack of developing in a pretty way ” . He leaned hack, smiling, and Ins nostrils dilated “ The fool. he said aloud. the fool. His friends will have to he careful.” Friends? There was that sister, Erica,

Prelcp squeezed up bis eyes at a vision of Erica, and his lips became moist. The girl would get worried, more than worried- There was Leighton’s mother, too. She wax due at Doritsa. Not that the mother mattered, but her anxiety would feed .Erica’s anxiety, and when they started to make inquiries, lie would—negotiate with Erica.

There was a tap at the door. A man in a white hnrnons and rod fez and slippers entered and touched his forehead. “ A ladv wishes to see von.”

P.relep raised his eyebrows. He often received visits from ladies, but they were always expected. He had made no appointment for to-night.

“ What is her name?. ’’ “ She would not give it.” “ What,is she like? Is she young? ” The man nodded. “ I think she is English.” Prelcp made a delighted, incredulous sound. He could scarcely believe that what ho had hoped for was happening so soon.

“ Show the lady in here,” he said, and when the door had closed, his hands rubbed softly together. “It may he. It may he. If licightou tohl Ids sister before he left, lleeausc he'hasn't returned, she may have come to inquire. One of those proud, very fair milk-skinned girls.” He leaned back in the chair and waited. The door opened. A slim woman, her face hidden by a veil, a native yashmak of white net, and her head covered with a silk scarf, came into the room.

Prelep sprang to his feet and bowed. For a collide of seconds he stared at her covertly. Then he smiled. “ I believe 1 have the pleasure of addressing Miss Leighton.” She said huskily; “How did you guess?”

“ Because, my dear lady, we have met several times, haven’t we ? That veil is discreet,' hut the least tribute my admiration could pay was to remember you. Won’t you sit down? ’ ■ “ No, thank you.” She was silent a while, and ho could hear her breathing jerkily. “J—oh! what’s the use of pretence? You know why I’ve come. AA’here is Dick? ” “ Dick? You mean Dick Leighton? Really, I—” “ Please he frank. You know quite well what 1 mean.” Prelep shrugged his shoulders. My dear Miss Leighton, there is some mistake. If you would explain—” She put a hand to her breast. “If vou insist,” she said tensely, “ I’ll repeat what you already know. Dick came here at ten o’clock to-night to meet vour sister, Sandra. He was going to take her away and marry her, because you refused your permission and openly told him you wore marrying her to some old Armenian.” Prelep had assumed a carefully blended expression of anger, sorrow, and amazement. He raised his arms towards the ceiling. “ You tell me this! I cannot believe it! Never could my beloved little sister, Sandra, hurt me so deeply. No, I do not believe she agreed to such treachery. AVhy, she is upstairs in her room now, no doubt asleep. I admit Leighton once came to me and said li© loved Snndra, and in tne kindest way possible I told him it could not be, as I had other views. But where he is now—how should I know? ”

“ He came here at ten,” she said obstinately. “He was to let me know at the hotel not later than quarter to eleven.”

“ If this is true, then he must have ■gone away alone. Sandra must have changed her mind. She would never trick me like that.” She swayed slightly. One hand waved him hack as he stepped forward to help her. “ Can’t you realise my feelings? ” she begged. “ Please, please be honest! 1 know he had no right, from your point of view, to try to take Sandra away. But they are in love with each other, and how could you dream of marrying her to some old Armenian? ” He was shrugging his shoulders again. Her tone changed. “ Very well,” she said. “If this is your attitude, I have only one alternative.” “ And what is that, may I ask? ” “ To inform the gendarmerie.” Prelep smiled. “ There is nothing to prevent you I am really very sorry for you. It is such a delicate matter, both for you and your brother. When you go to the gendarmerie and expain that your brother disappeared while engaged in the curious project of attempting to abduct ray sister— You see what I mean? So awkward. However, you can only do what you think right. Needless to say, they will jiqt find him here,’’- Behiud>'the polite,

almost apologetic words was a vein of mockery. “ Arc yon sure you won’t sit down? ” She shook lior head, and stood staring helplessly at the carpet, one hand clenched. Somewhere in the house o clock struck. After the mellow chimes the warm. apprehensive silence seemed redoubled. Prelep remained watching her. his lids half closed, until the stillness became unbearable. She turned to him abruptly. “ Once again, will you tell me where he is?'’ “ Mow can 1? Naturally 1 am anxious to assist you. Hut I -can only suggest a private search. The gendarmerie are not very clever. As yon may know, my resources are practically limitless. I 'might succeed wliero they are likely to fail.” 11 Why should they be likely to fail?” she asked quickly. “An intuition of mine.” He jerked his hands outwards, and gave a diffident nod. But his eyes held a warning. “ T simply feel that they will.” ’ With a" visible effort she forced her thoughts into words. “ You say yon are willing to make a private seaerh. What arc your—terms?” . “ Terms! What an unpleasant thing to say, I am quite willing to help in your smirch for your brother, and I might even allow‘my little Sandra to marrv him, if—” “ Yes?” The word was a whisper. “ [f you would do me a favour. Exchange is no robbery.” “ What do you mean?” “ If your brother marries my sister, why shouldn’t you marry her brother?” “ Marry you!” “ Why not?” “ Arc you mad?” she gasped. _ 11 Sane, Krifiv —may 1 call you Krica . —and devoutly in love with you. I assure you, Tam sincere. Let me tabulate my virtues. As you see, T have some taste in clothes. I like good music and art. 1 have a most even temper, and enough money to buy you eier.lthing you■ like to ask for.’ His voice changed. Ho leaned forward. “Let mo toll yon this. If you refuse you may not find your brother unless the river in the valley casts him up, to be regretted as a case of accidental drowning.” She put her hands to her face. 1 relop said with a silkv gentleness: “ Why be surprised at my proposal P Yon must have noticed before. In any case, I never go back on my word. Your threats about the gendarmerie arc amusing. W ithont Drools, what can you "do'? If yon will excuse me. I’ll have a cigarette on the verandah while yon think matters over.’ ‘ With a glance at her bowed bond he walked to the long windows, throw them open, and strolled slowly up and down with a cigarette in his mouth. Eor perhaps 10 minutes he enjoyed the smoke and his satisfying thoughts. Then he came back into the room. _ She started up and looked at him helplessly. “ You devil!” she burst out. Prelop laughed. “ You arc nervous, overstrung. I forgive you. Have you made vour choice?” “How can IP Haven’t you any decency at all?” . “Is it indecent to.be m love with vou?” ' , ~ “In love! Even if you-were, you ro the last man in the world I would marry.” ’ . “ I’m sorry. 1 admit our religions are different. r lhat can he got o\er without fuss. Beligion is for poor people. Why should it bo worse foi you to marry mo than for your brother to marry my sister?” “You devil!” she said again, without hope. “ If you really care for your brother —1 never go back on my word. Have you made your choice?” She took a long time to answer, and the words came "out as if they were choking her. “ Yes. If yon will let Dick go, unhurt, and let him take Sandra away to-night, I will—marry you if you want me.” His hands stretched out as if they meant to close on her shoulders. His eyes were glowing. He stared into her hunted eyes above the yashmak, and he said slowly: “If I want you! But a promise is not enough.” “What else can I do?”

“What is a mere promise?” There was a controlled excitement about him. “ You must do more. Ah, yes.” Ho pointed at an inlaid desk. “ There is a pen and paper. Write a note to the British consul in Horitsa. Say you have become a Muslim convert,

and that you are staying here in this house, and are going to marry me. Then there will ho no search and no trouble.” “It Dick knew,” she whispered. Halfway to the desk she swung round on him. “ I can’t believe this is real! I can’t believe any man would bo such a devil! I can’t believe this is the only way of saving Dick!” “ No? Some things are difficult to believe, and yet Write that note to the consul.” “ How do I know it will save Dick and Sandra?” Prelep said : ‘‘ That is simple. Write your note and keep it. When you see your brother and Sandra leave this house together you will give me the note and 1 will sc.ud it at once to the consul.” “ You’re telling the truth at last,” she said bitterly. “ 1 suppose you had him seized the moment he ” “ Supposing helps nobody. Write that note, b'orgive me if 1 leave you for a while.” lie gave her a sardonic how and went out. Soon ho returned and said: “They .are together. Leighton rather wanted to use' his lists.” " He laughed softly. “ The sight of Sandra soothed him. They are both somewhat amazed at my generous forgiveness.” “ You haven’t told him?” she asked hoarsely. “ lUy Erica, 1 am not . a fool. Dearly as he loves Sandra, he would no doubt change his mind if he knew —the terms. The ear is to take them straight through to Durazzo. 1 promised to phone the hotel at. Doritsa and tell his sister that all was well. No need to phone yon, is there? Ho is beginning to think I am not really a bad sort at all.” He beckoned her towards the door. “ Now you may wateli your brother’s happiness from a front window.” Ho led her through a hall into a long room decorated with alabaster panels. The room shone brightly through the tall at the far end. Outside on the drive stood a car. Leighton appeared, a slender figure clinging to his arm. They got into the car and it purred away, dwindling down the moon-dappled drive. “ I have kept my word,” came Prelep’s voice at her elbow. “ Give me your note.” Still looking through the windows, she handed him the note. Her voice rose, muffled and quivering, ” At least he has his life and his happiness. But when he finds out ‘‘Haven’t we all obtained our happiness? 1 have lost my little sister, Sandra, but as a compensation ceive the charming _ Erica.” The purple glitter was in his eyes, a hungry glitter. “ Won’t you greet your lover?” lie said. “The night is young.” His hand raised her yashmak. Then he jumped back as if he had been struck. A middle-aged lace was looking at him, the face of a woman with lines beneath her eyes, lines that had been hidden In- the yashmak. The cheeks anil month were made up heavily, but the maturity of 50 was there. She had drawn the scarf from her head, and her hair was heavily streaked with grey. “ Yon didn’t guess I was Dick’s mother?” she said. Prelep could not speak. His features were contorted with the savagery of some dumb animal. “ Erica takes after her mother,” she went on calmly, “ particularly, as to the eyes and voice.” “ You !” His arras were flung up in menace. “ What are you going to do?” she asked without a sign of flinching, “ Are you going to hit me?” fife lowered his arms. Black fury still held him mute. “ What arc you going to do? Anything? You don’t want me now, do you?” “You cunning old hag!” he screamed at her. “ Hardly a hag. And why cunning? I never told you I was Erica Leighton, the daughter. I wore a yashmak and a scarf over ray head, hut every woman has the right to look young and attractive if she can. _¥uu imagined I was Dick’s sister. We all make mistakes.” Prclep’s fingers curved and groped at the air. “ You see, Mr Prelep, where a middle-aged woman can tread safely, a young girl can’t. Erica, the daughter, was very, very worried about her brother. When he didn’t turn up she knew that something had to be done. She guessed you might listen to her pleading—at a price. Only it would be a case of the fly walking into the spider’s parlour. It was lucky her mother had just arrived. In these days mothers are sometimes mistaken for their daughters, in a kindly light. A yashmak is so flattering.” She picked up the note and said: — “ This doesn’t seem much use now, as you obviously don’t want to marry

me. I’d better tell you,” she went on more quickly, “ that the people at the hotel know I’ve come up here. If anything happened to me it would be awkward for you, wouldn’t it, Mr PrelepP” Suddenly he rushed at the long windows, wrenched down the handle, flung them open. “Get out!” he shouted thickly. “ Get out! Before I ” She smiled and walked through into the garden and down the drive. Three minutes later she was stepping into the hired car that had been waiting on the valley road. Ten minutes later she was entering a bedroom of the principal hotel in Doritsa.

A message lay on the dressing table. It had been written out by the reception clerk, who spoke English. It ran: “Mrs Leighton phoned from Durazzo to say she will arrive about 11 in the morning,” She picked up a brush, and the white powder flew in clouds from her hair. She rubbed her face vigorously with a towel, and the lines came away from the sides of her eyes, and the towel was smeared with pink and black and the peach tint of grease paint. She looked into the mirror at the face of a gill of 24. Then unexpectedly Erica’s calmness deserted her, and she began to cry with complete happiness.