The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-13
CHAPTER XVI.
THE AMBASSADOR.

1hG AhbASoAbOns
Almost the first man that Byng encoun-
tered in the hall of the Queens hotel was
Hugh Fleming, and having given the neces-
sary directions about his pormanteau, he
at once bore him off to the smoking room.
TO hear the account OF his doings and disas-
tiers since they last met.
Its something, you know, +" said Tom. as
he came to the end of his narration, Ito
have got this fer. We've found Polly
Phybbs that was, and I've ascertained that
she knows all about it. Now the thing is to
make her speak. She won't for me, that's
quite clear. Miss Lynden's dead full
against you, and you've no chance of max
ing it up with her, unless you meet her face
to face. Mrs. Tarrant takes her late mis-
tress' part, and is an out and out partisan,
and no mistake. | don't know what chance
you have, but you'll have to try; l don't see
any thing else for it."
mo, must do my BEST" said Hugh. 81
knew her bit better than you did, and of
course she knew Nellie aud l were en-
gagged. It's quite possible she was indig-
nant with you, because she though | ought
to have been there in your stead. Heaven
knows | should l should have been, If l
could have found her. I've been vainly
trying to, for the last three days"
So it was finally settled between them,
Hugh should try what he could do with the
impiacable Mrs Tarrent.
Though that lady gave a little start of
surprise when Fleming presented himself
the next afternoon, still there was defiance
in every fold of her dress, contemptuous
obstinscy in every line of her countenance.
Neither money nor argument should wiring
Miss Nellie's secrets out of her, and if they
insisted in worriting her in her own house,
well they should have a bit of her mind i,
that was all. If Miss Nellie was above tell
inc n ElaV,fucr bof Sbe = Et Of
she wasn't. She frigidly acknowledged
Hugh's greeting, and placed chair for him,
but it required no penetration to see that
though at present on the defensive, she was
prepared to assume the aggressive on slight
provocation.
Hugh wasted but short time on prelimina-
ries, but came to the point at once. Would
she give him Miss Lynden's addressl He
did not question whether she knew it would
she give it him! And Mrs. Tarrant's reply
was, mot il she knew it," in every sense of
the phrase.
In vain did Hugh attempt to cross-ques-
ton her. She would admit nothing, and
gave palpable signs of becoming peppery
under the operation.
Quickly retrieving his false step, Hugh
urged that he was engaged, as she knew, to
Miss Lynden; that he had Just returned
from the Crimea, hoping TO marry her. and
that he could hear nothing of her; that she
was withholding her address from him I'M
der q most erroneous impression; that there
had been an infamous lie circulated about
him in Manchester-could Mademoiselle
Ivanhon but have heard that; that this lie
had probably reached Miss Lynden's ears
that it had already occasioned him infinite
unhappiEess; that he had at all events, a
right to demaud an interview, if it was only
to justify himself in her eyes-rather high
tone this to take under the circumstances
now would she give him Miss Lynden's
address,
No, she would not; but though Polly
was still inhexible in her refusal, she had
softened very much IN her manner. Hugh
pleaded we'll, and Mrs. Tarrant was not In
sensible altogether to the Utilization of act
ing as proxy for her mistress. in a good,
strong love scene. She could not help think
ing that il she had been Miss Nellie she
would have, at all events, heard what Capt.
| Capt Fleming had got to say for himself.
Whatever it was Miss Nellie thought he
had done, it seemed they had been telling
lies of him. But, no, she had promised hel
young mistress, and she would be true K
| her word.
| Hugh, at least, saw that it was useless, ht
was conscious that he had progressed rap
| idly in MIR. Tarrant's good graces, but h'
saw that she was quite inflexlble in her de-
termination to tell him nothing whatever
about Miss Lynden.
"Good-by, Mrs. Tarrant," he said at last
you've no doubt good reasons for refusing
| to give me her adde's, but you are wrong
and before long Miss Lynden herself vii
| tell you so.n
As he uttered the above words, man.
head was suddenly thrust in at the oper
window, which, as Hugh at once guessei
belonged to Mr.. Tarranr.
Il heard you'd visitor" said Dick, ''as
| xo&f,O I TVrcf N in, 60
who it was. All right, sir, I'm coming in.
and as he spoke MIR. Tarrant withdrew hi
! head, and in another minute entered hi
own abode, and looked inquiringly at tn
intruder.
This is Capt Fleming, Dick" said hi
wife,
But this apparently conveyed nothing t.
Mr.. Tarrant's mind.
He came TO inquire after" and her
Polly hesitated a little, latter DIR. Lyn
den."
$50 heard" replied Mr.. Tarrant, with
the same stupid stare of emazement on hi
face; suddenly light seemed TO break il
upon him. beg pardon, sir" he exclaimed
but you're the young gent who used Il
come sweethearUinR after Miss Lynden
Capt Fleming, OF course. I'd forgot, Polly
Bad business, sir. All, that doctor was n
better than he should be-"
Dick flashed out his wife, Indignantly
show can you say such things! It's do wn
right wicked to say sucn things Of d mai
that's dead"
"Daadm calculated Hugh. "Deadl ar
you sure, Mrs Tarranti How did you hes
it,"
Polly felt as if she could have bitten be-
tongue out for the way it had betrayed
her. For a moment she hesitated, and thel
said, confusedly:
Il forget now. l read it in the papers,
think, somewhere.
"Why you never told me a word about
it," said Dick. "If you saw 1t in the pa
pers, it would say where he died." con.
tinued Mr.. Tarrant, with cunning look
land, think, this gentleman said some
thing about behaving liberal to any one VIII,
could give him Miss Lynden's address"
"'ve told Capt. Fleming l don't know
it," returned Folly, glancing uneasily q
Hugh.
"If what you tell me is true.n said Elem
ing, IL am more sorry than ever that yol
don't know it, Some OF Miss Lynden'
friends ought t. be with her in her afihc
ton. If ny chance you should hear of it il
the course Of the next two or three days
perhaps you will send it me at the Queen
Hotel. Good morning. and with tina
Hugh, moro thoroughly convinced thar
ever II Polly's knowledge on the point. lef
tho house. He had not got clear Of TIN
tiny garden before he heard footstep be
hind him.
| or 81, bara - safa NJ Ta--art stT a;ri