Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-11
CHAPTER XIV.
The OnIyCIue,

The first thing he did, after swallowing
a cup of coffee, was to send for the search
er, aud ask the result of his investiga-
tons.
1t was virtually nil. The gentleman
pocket were quite empty-he had been
robbed of everything his linen was
marked in initials-"C. c."
The next thing to be done was to go to
the superintendent with the folded paper.
As there was no chance of the patient be-
ing able to speak for himself for many
hours, it behooved the authorities to take
all possible measures to acquaint his
friends with his condition, and the last
hope of tracing them lay in this fragment
of paper 1t was opened in the superin-
tendent's room, and found to contain these
words -
Farewell
"Your unfortunate countrywoman,
"LUcA SILvEsTRELLI.
The surgeon and superintendent looked
at each other, and there was silence in
the room for minute.
Then the former said, in an undertone,
II know that lady She is the wife of an
italian attacho. They live in Whitehall
Gardens"
81 suppose we must send there, said
the superintendent cit is n painful
thing to do under the circumstances but
it is the only address we can find, and he
may have family in anxious suspense
about him. "
81 see no other course" assented the
surgeon. He will not be able to give
any account of himself for the next eight
and-forty hours"
SO, shortly utter eight o'clock, a hospi-
tai porter was despatched in cab to
Whitehall Gardens.
SIS there lady of the name of Silves-
trelli living here p that official inquired
of the smart footman who answered his
knock.
whats your business with her if she
does?' WAS the reply, uttered with the
ineffable insolence which flunkeyism
adopts towards those it is pleased to sup
pose its interiors.
Look here, young man, that's my nu-
thority y said the porter, severely, pro-
ducing at the same time the official card
always supplied in such cases land my
business is private with the lady"
''It's as much as she is up, muttersd
Plush-and- Powde', shaking his head over
the mysterious card.
But he went away to inquire.
She WaS up. aud at breakfast, though
the Count, who lad not returned home
the previous night till past twelve, was
still in his dresslng-room.
"a man from st. Georges Hospital
waits below, my lady, wishing to see you
on private business" was the announce
ment made ut the boudoir-d ooor.
care you sure it is he wishes to see ?"
said the Countess. with q startled look on
her white, weary face.
HE asked for you by name my lady"
There wss pause, during which Lucia
looked hard at the man-servant and
Rosette looked hard at her mistress.
Since that scene at the theatre, the
young wife's existence been one pulse of
dread; and although no tangible reason
associated this strange visitant with Cecil
Chesterton, a powerful inward conviction
did.
In that brief silence she was gathering
up all her energies to prevent the betray-
al of herself or him.
81 shall have finished my breakfast in
five minutes" she said, at last, with lam
guild Indifference. "You can show him
up then."
Rosette, standing in the background,
with the silver chocolate straner, pre-
pared herself for discovery.
But Lucia meant to have no witness to
the coming interview
whilst am engaged with this per-
| son. she said, after declining more cho-
colate, "you can take Fidelma for run
IL the grounds"
Now Fidelma was an italian greyhound
| and the whole extent of the grounds was
visible from the window near which the
Countess sat.
The waiting woman made q mortified
grimace, but her irritation did not last
more than minute She was female of
resources, and before she left her mis-
tress's presence had hit on II plan for cir
cumventing her.
Lucia, listening and Suspicious, heard
her walk across the adjoining room ard
out into the passage that led past the
Counts apartments to the servants stair
case.
"She is not going to listen !" thought
the lady.
No she was going to dc something
much more malicious
Before ROsette's retreating footsteps
died away, the Countess's attention was
diverted by the entrance Of her expected
visitor.
The hospital porter's duty did not often
lead him into such luxurious quarters as
those i'll which he now found himself, and
still less frequently took the form of tetc-
d-tetc interviews with lovely and high
born ladies. He was very far from feel
ing at his ease, and to strike the balance
| of bodily aWl [Waulunsg he oloDtel q