Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-02-17

II Couldn't do that" answered "rIe
acted under my orders in letting the
dog be about at night. so les my own
fault. IL it's anyone's. Please tell him
not to worry"
1 remained in my room all day, and
towards night, / felt much better. but
exceedingly wakeful. When the rest OF
the house retired. still sat in an easy
chair, warmly wrapped I'm dressing gown
and slippers. 1t was useless to go TO
bed IL one could not sleep. i thought.
l must have fallen into q doze: for,
when 1 opened my eyes, I found the
nre burned low. and the clock just
striking two was about to rise and
undress, when / fancied I heard the
soft swish Of a woman's dress In the
corridor. Swift as lightning I turned
down my lamp, and sat motionless as q
statue, with all my senses concentra-
ted into one-that OF hearing NY ears
are. at all times. unusually keen: but,
that night, / verify believe I should
nave heard the proverbial pin, even
had 1t fallen outside my door. Nv
mind was so full OF Beatrice Gramont
that took IT for granted IL was she
who was walking about the house at
this unearthly hour.
Nevertheless received a shock when
l cautiously opened my door an inch or
so. and peered through the aperture. I
saw Lady Gramont, truly enough; but
1 saw someone else as well-a man
and man, too, who was an utter
stranger to me. Assuredly, he was not
one Of the guests. told myself; quite
as certainly he was not one OF the SER
wants. 1 knew them all well enough.
and this man had never seen before
He and Lady Gramont were walking
swiftly down the corridor, she clad In
a long, white dressing-gown, he In an
ulster which reached to his feet. and
the collar OF which was drawn well up
about his ears. He was tall and slend-
er, approaching middle age, with very
dark hair.
They passed out of the corridor and
down the staircase. 1 watched them
well out of sight, and then stole after
them. determined to discover why Lady
Gramopt was meeting this strange man
secretly. and at such an hour, in Sir
Thomas Msllory's house.
A light was always kept burning
through the night in the corridor; and
that was how it was 1 had seen the
strangers face so distinctly; but, after
the staircase was passed, all was utter
darkness. had to grope my way, and
was afraid at every step that I might
stumble against one or other Of those
two.
was standing against a suit Of mail
in the entrance-hall. when suddenly I
saw glimmer of light apparently pro-
ceedins from Sir Thomas's private
room. In moment 1 slipped behind
the suit OF mail. and. quite concealed
by II, listened with bated breath. At
first heard nothing. but the soft rus
I'm
after minute or so. there was the
Withdrawing of a bolt, and the turning
of key, followed by a gust OF frosty
air.
Quite evidently the hall door was he
Ing opened. I peeped cautiously out
from my place OF concealment, and saw
that the man was in the act Of cross
Ing the threshold. and Lady Gramont.
with small spirit lamp in her hand.
was preparing to close and faste.l the
door upon him. Suddenly he turned TO
her.
''Rememberi" he said, in a deem
whisper. "Half-past Ave tomorrow az
ternoon."
II will be there" she whispered back:
then the door closed.
Lady Gramont, after carefully lock-
Ing and boiling 1t. turned and went I'D
the staircase passing within a couple
OF yards OF where I stood. My first
impulse had been to confront her; and.
telling her boldly what suspected, de-
mand an explanation of her extraordi-
nary conduct.
But when ] heard the man arrange
TO meet her, I saw IL might be wise
to hold my peace a little longer.
Although ] did not know the place
OF meeting-only the time-I fancied II
would be easy for me to be present at
that interview. All I had to do was TO
keep Lady Gramont In my sight from
half-post four TO half-past FIVE to-mor-
row afternoon, and she would surely
betray herself. I made up my mind
that wherever she went, there I would
follow.
TO BE ooNTIEURD