THE DOUBLE SECRET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9659, 25 November 1909, Page 2

THE DOUBLE SECRET.

V BY DUNCAN McGKEGOU, 9 1 1 lp Author of "Kennedy's Foo," '•lshmael Eefoimo {, V "A Game of Three," "Edna's Peril." $ / Etc, etc. /

CHAPTER XXX. THE STOKY TOLD. 'lhe two ghls sat anxious a:;d embarrassed. "Father," said Linn, "what have you against Mrs Bemis? I love her dearly.'* "That's Scripture to lnve your enemies," said Lord Harcourt hotly. "Ftobyn"—but Baptiste and the two contadinas came iti with supper, and that being partaken with an appearance of amity, Lord Harcourt retired with Dtigald to his own room. Delay in Torre del Pocco was odimus to' Lord Haieourt Dugald was able to return to Florence, Lina declared she was prefeetly happy, and Arriann askul fn: no favours. There was nothing to be dure but to go home. Lord Harcou; t ordered lh-j horses early. But carilcr still Mrs Bemis sent fur him. "Lor.j Hciivourt," she said, "we have been nearly lifelong enemies. Even when we seemed to be lovers, I think we were each other's bane. You beguiled me from the lover of my youth; I broke his heart, but learned his worth too late, and adored him when—he was dead. I may have caused you misery; it would be but just. But fate disarmed me iuat as my weapon was at your heart. Let us cease to strive. This marriage which you deplore—which I deplore fully as much as you could—is a marriage that cannot be unmade—we would not if we could. Let us make the best of it. I have now a request to make of you. You have influence. I desire you to bring all your influence to bear in the court of King Victor Emmanuel, that hj?. may make Ser. Arriano a member of his household and a high officer in his army. This will set his wife in a position worthy of her beauty ai.d talent." ~_-., "They chose their own part,"_said Lord Harcourt angrily; "let them make the best of it."

"I cannot be put off si," said Mrs Bemis: "i must have your promise for this young couple. Gome. I ask no fa\\-ur3; I bargain with you. There is a secret which you would be glad to know: I will sell it to you. Its price is that you take this pair into favour, and procure for Arri <no the position which for bim."

"1 will do nothing of the kind," cried Lord Harcuurt. "You have done your worst against me. I will buy nothing of you. Keep your secret, it is nothing to me." >r .^ "This sacret you must buy at tie exact price that I name," said Mrs Bemis steadily. " Ihe secret concerns also Miss Percy. It is in the packet which she expected. How do you know but it may help on the marriage with Mr Probyn? Give me your friendship for him and his wife, and I give you this packet."

"Never! never!" snouted Lord Harcourt,

"At least lay my offer before Lady Astraea," said Mrs Bemis, still calmly, "and on the twenty-fifth of this month I will be in Florence to give you the secret at the price that I name." "I utterly decline to treat with you," said Lord Harcourt, besile himself with vexation; "we are enemies, as you said. The fault, I own, is mine. ,1 behaved to you as a dastard. I scorn myself for it. I ask no pardon, for I deserve none, but I have repented as induct and ashes all my life—repented and suffered. But I will not bind myself to reward the villain who ran away with my daughter, who violated the sanctity of my home, and disgraced my name." He turned to leave the room. "I will be at Palazzo Ridolfi on the twenty fifth," said Mrs Bemis. "Lady Astraea reached home last night." In the hall Lord Harcourt met Pauline, prepared for her journey. He could not resist her entreaties to take a kind leave of Lina and to shake hands with Granitto. Lord Harcourt found his mother at Palazzo Ridolfi. That night he gave her a detailed account of his visit at Torre del Poc:o, concluding with the fkal interview with Mrs Bemis, and her proposition concerning the packet. "My sop," cried Lady Astraea, "that proposal must be accepted. I feel sure that the packet is of the utmost interest, and that the secret concerns us all. Close with her offer at once." The anxiety with which Lady Astraea waited the 25th of April came to be shared by her son. He, too, looked with restless impatience for the coming of the woman from the hills. She came early, accompanied ny Granitto and Lina. "Arriano!" cried Probyn, as the young Italian coolly entered the Ridolfi Palace, "you will be captured and executed. I fear our flag cannot be made to shelter you. Why did you come?" "There is no danger in life," said Arriano calmly. "1 picked up a brother of the grand duke's last night, and he is now eating luncheon with the old lion of the hills. If aught happens to me, the Austrian is i likely to lose his head. I sent a ' note of his and a note of mine over

to the grand dnke. I have in my breast pocket, with some other little matters, his safe conduct for 1112 and my suite, but the following just now is merely Haptifte and Carlo's.'' Presently Lady Astraea and Lord Harcourt entered the grand salon. Lina went and seated herself by the old lady. "What I have to say," remarked Mra Remis, "cannot be spoken until Miss Ptrcy and Mr Prnbyn come here." "You have already brought Set. Arriuno, who is in no wise concerned, to hear jour accusations against m?," said Lord Thomas, "and now you add the other two." "I can retire," said Arriano, rising promptly. "Pray stay," said Lady Astraea. "I feel sure you ought to do so." "Stay! You are concerned," said Mrs Bsmis, "and so are those other two. and they must come before I speak." "Let them come, and say all that you can," said Lord Thomas, folding his arms. "It is too late now to do nnre than suffer the results of early folly. Ring for Miss Percy and Mr Probyn to be called here." Wheu these two entered Dugald seated himself near Lord Thomas, and Pauline took a place by a window a litttle apart. Mrs Hem is, in a clear, even voice began briefly to recapitulate the story which Lady Astraea told to Allan Bird. As she closed a narrative of the chief points she said: "Lord Harcourt, the night that we parted in anger, and you left me with words of scorne, I registered a solemn vow that I would have revenge—revenge of a fashion matched to my wrong, I vowed that if ever you had son or daughter, that child should be placed in my position in Ufa, and should marry in mv rank - the statioii which you had thought beneath you!" Lord Harcourt'a htari was bowed. He seemed humiliated and sore distressed. "Yes," he said huskily, "and you have kept your vow. You have pursued my family, and entwined yourself in my daughter's affections, and led her to despise her mother and her home ties." The faces of Pauline and Lina ea:h turned to Mrs Bemis as ahe told her story, were a curious study. Lina evidently experienced a growing sympathy with the speaker. Her cheek flushed, her eyes brightened, her face kmdled into glowing interest, and her young heart heat responsive to the daring and sharply defined character 01 Agnes. Pauli- e, on the other hand, experienced a growing repultion. She pitied, hut s'le reproached. She wondered at the ambhiun. the vanity the vindictive disposition displayed. She slmink from this woman and her avowed conduct. "You planned, an! you succceJcd!" groaned Lord Thomas. ■I'O BE CONTINUED, i