Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-27
CHAPTER XXI.

| Lady Carey suddenly dropped her part.
| ner's arm. She had seen a man standing
by himself with folded arms and moody
face at the entrance to the ball room. She
raised her lorgnettes His Identity was un-
questionable.
| Will you excuse me for a moment Capt
| Horton" she said to her escort. II want
particularly to speak to Mr.. Brott.''
| Capt. Horton bowed with the slight dis
| to the supper room.
Don't be long" he begged. The places
| are filling up
Lady Carey nodded and walked swiftly
across to where Brott was standing He
| moved eagerly forward to meet her.
| Not dancing. Mr.. Brott?'
| He shrugged his shoulders
This sort Of thing isn't much in my
| way, he answered. Il rather hoping
| to see the countess here. 1 trust that she is
| not indisposed''
She looked at him steadily.
DO You mean" she said that YOU do
not know where she is?'
IL: he answered in amaZement. How
should /? l have not seen her at all this
evening. 1 understood that she was to he
here"
Lady Carey hesitated. The man was too
honest to be able to lie like this. even in
good cause: She stood quite still for a
friends had already told her that she was
looking tired and Ill this evening. At that
moment she was positively haggard.
II have been down at Ranelagh this af-
ternoon.' she said slowly. and dining out
so l have not seen Lucille. She was COM
planning Of headache yesterday but 1
quite thought that she was coming here
Have you seen the duchess?"
He shook his head.
NO. There is such a crowd
Lady Carey glanced toward her escort
Il will try and find out what has become
Of her. she said. Don't go away yet"
She rejoned her escort.
when We have found table" she said,
moments while l try and find some of my
party
They passed into the supper room, and
appropriated a small table Lady Carey
left her partner. and made her way to the
farther end of the apartment, where the
Prince Of SAKE Leinitzer supping with
half dozen men and women. She touched
him on the shoulder.
II want to speak to you for a moment
Ferdinand" she whispered.
He rose at once, and she drew him lit
tie apart.
"Brott Is here" she said slowly
''Brott here.' he repeated. And Luz
cille?"
He is asking for her-expected to find
her here. He is downstairs now looking the
picture of misery
He looked at her inquringly. There was
a curious steely light in her eyes. and she
was showing her front teeth, which were a
little prominent.
do you think" he asked, that she has
deceived us?'
What else? Where are the Dorsets?"
1.-The duchess is with the Earl of Con-
don, and some more people at the round
table under the balcony"
Give me your arm" she whispered. 1--WE
must go and ask her."
They crossed the room together. Lady
Carey sank Into vacant chair by the side
of the duchess and talked for few min
utes to the people whom she knew. Then
she turned and whispered in the duchess
ear.
Where is Lucille?'
The duchess looked at her with a mean
ing smile.
did"
"Alone?"
Yes. 1t was all understood wasn't it?"
Lady Carey laughed unpleasantly
She has fooled u.s." she said. "Brott is
here alone. Knows nothing of her.
The duchess was puzzled.
We'll. know nothing more than you do"
she answered. Are you sure the man is
telling the truth?'
"Of course. He is the image of despair"
Il am sure she was in earnest" the
duchess said. When I asked her whether
she should come on here she laughed lit
tie nervously, and said perhaps or some
thing of that sort"
The fool may have bungled it," Lady
Carey said thoughtfully. II will go back to
him. There's that idiot of a partner of
mine. l must go and pretend to have some
supper"
Capt Horton found his vs-a-vis a some
what unsatisfactory companion. She drank
several glasses of champagne, ate scarcely
anything, and rushed him away before he
had taken the edge off his appetite. He
brought her to the duchess and went back
in a huff to finish his supper alone. Lady
Carey went down stairs and discovered Mr..
Brott, who had scarcely moved
Have You seen anything of herr" she
asked.
He shook his head pIonmily
No! 1t is too late for her to come now
isn't it,"
Take me somewhere where we can talk"
she said abruptly. "One of those seats in |
the recess will do
He obeyed her and they found a retired /
corner. Lady Carey wasted no time in |
fencing.
II am Lucille's greatest friend, Mr. Brott, |
and her confidante," she said.
He nodded.
$50 have understood"
'She tells me everything"
He glanced toward her little uneasily.
THAT is comprehension he rema rked.
ut is true she answered Lucille has
told me q great deal about your friend
ship! Come, there is no use in our mine
ing words. Lucille has been badly treated |
years ago. and she has perfect right to
seek any consolation she may find. The
old -fas hioned ideas, thank goodness, do not |
sary to tie yourself for life to a man in
order to procure a little diversion
Will not pTetenu 10 fTlSunOerS1anQ you,
Lady Carey, he said gravely, but l must
decline to discuss the Countess of Radantz
in connection with such matters"
oh comet" she declared impatiently
remember that I am her friend Yours is
quite the proper attitude. but with me 1t
doesn't matter. Now I am going to ask
you plain question. Had you any engage
ment with Lucille tonight?'
She watched him mercilessly. He was
coloring like a boy. Lady Careys thin lips
curled. She had no sympathy with such
amateurish love-makng. Nevertheless his
was great relief to her
She promised to be here" he answered
stiffly. ]
. Everything depends upon your being
honest with me- she continued. You will |
see from my question that l know. Was
there not something said about supper at
your rooms before or after the dance?" |
II cannot discuss this matter with you or
any living person." he answered. IF you
know so much why ask me?"
Lady Carey could have shaken the man. |
but she restrained herself
1T is sufficient! she declared. What
understand is why you are here
when Lucille is probably awaiting for you
at your rooms?"
He started from his chair though he
had been shot.
What do you mean?" he exclaimed. She
was to- /