Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-19
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR AUGUST 10. 1906
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of the acute danger of your further stay in London
at present"
Il think you make mountain of mole hill,
Mr. van Hupfeldt,' said Mrs. Mordaunt with some
dryness and am sorry that have promised
not to speak with Violet on the subject. OF course,
recognize your right to have your say and your way
but as for leaving London to-day at moments
notice, really that can't be done.
Mot to obhge me? Not to please me?' said he,
grasping the old lady's hand with a nervous in
tensity of gesture that almost startled her
I'VE might go tomorrow, she admitted
But if they correspond or meet tonight"
We'll, you are lover, OF course; but you
shouldn't start at shadows Here is Violet her
self"
Leave us little, will your" whispered van
Hupfedt rising to meet the girl in his imp I n
foreigners way but, forgetting his wounded leg,
nap 70 you asGR asked Violet and Certain aloo
ness of manner did not escape him.
Z" A small accident and he told again the
history of his fall from horse which had never
borne him Mrs. Mordaunt went out Violet stood
at a table, turning the leaves of book while
van Hupfedt searched her face under his anxious
eyes, and there was silence between them, until
Violet taking from her pocket Davids first unsigned
note to her, held 1t out, saying, 1t was you who
sent this"
Il have told you So answered van Hupfeldt,
gray to the lips. Why do you ask again.
this morning received note in this same handwrit
ing, unless am very much mistaken, a note from
certain Mr."
Yes Harcourt-Christian name David
Quite David Harcourt-l can say it, she
answered quietly But, how then comes It that
your note and his are in the same handwriting?
Van Hupfeldt's lips opened and shut, his eyes
shifted, and yet he chuckled with the uneasy mirth
of ghoul. The solution of that puzzle doesn't
seem difficult to me-
You mean that you got Mr. Harcourt to write
your note for your" asked Violet.
You are shrewdness ITSELF, answered van
HuPfeldt
"Ah, know him well.
"Well, then have you brought the certificates
she asked keenly
Which certfcates?"
Which? You ask that? Surely, surely, you know
that certificate of marriage and one of birth were
found in the fiat by Miss LEstrange?"
NO didn't know. How could known
But am I in dream? have made that it
was upon some knowledge of them that you relied
when YOU wrote in the unsigned note 1t is now
pretty certain thing that your sister was duly
welded wife" And she looked at David's letter
again.
what, since they not certan-other grounds.
have not heard yet of any certificates
We'll, God God help me them she murmured half
CRYING. What, then, does Mr. Harcourt mean?
He says in the note of this morning: Mr. Harcourt
has not been able to secure the certificates; but
believes that Miss Mordaunt's fiance, Mr..
Hupfeldt, may be in a position to give her some
information on the subject What does that mean,
when you never heard of the certihcates?"
Van Hupfeldt looking squamTely now at her
said 1T means nothing at all. You may take
it from that no certificates have been found "
Violet flushed angrily. Some one is untrue'
she Crled out.
"a / fear that that is so, murmured van Hupfedt
dropping his eyes from her crimsoned face.
There was silence then for awhile.
With what object did this Harcourt come to
you yesterday, Violet" asked Hupfeldt.
8" He wished to obtain my mothers authorization
for him to spend hundred pounds in buying
the certificates from Miss L'Estrange's servant"
All, that what he said was his object But
his real object slightly different, I'm afraid
honest"
Not honest?"