Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-21
CHAPTER XXI.
A Spy From Bucharest.


1t is an English characteristic to deride
the Europe code of social ethics and
pecially those fine heroics which attended
the vsndicaticn of what is SO often mis-
called honor" Whatever else Gavin Ord
lacked. sound common sense he had album
dainty; and that came to his aid when he
returned from the gynsys tent to the
manor and debated the odd Interview which
he had so abruptly terminated. These men,
he said, were mere bravadoes; but they
might be dangerous none the less. OF
Count Odin he knew nothing: but his an
tipathy to all counts was ineradfcabie. and
he had come to number them together as
SO many imposters, valiants and bank
rupts. This habit Of thinking first led him
to the supposition that Lord Melbourne. his
host, had been the victim of a little band of
swindIers and was about to be blacknlailed
By them as few even of the most unfor-
tunate degenerates are blackmaiied, even In
this age of accomplished roguery
1T is a hundred to one old Georges Odin
lis dead he argued: this son of his got the
story somehow and came over here to
meke what he could by 1t. The earl has
lost his nerve, and his love for Evelyn. ls
betraying him into cowardice l shall see
him and tell him the truth. If they fire off
pistols at me. must take my luck In my
hand. There may be a deeper story-if SO.
l shall find 1t out when the time comes. l
am now to act for Evelyn's sake and
Germ her. Very well. will begin tomor-
row and the earl is my first step. He shall
hear everything. When he has done SO.
shall know what to do
He slept upon this, but 1t was a broken
sleep whose interludes found him sitting
up in bed listening for any sounds in the
house, and repeating in spite of himself
the gypsy threats. He could not forget
that some one had watched him In his
sleep when first he came to Melbourne
Hall; and this unforgotten figure his mag
ination showed to him again. telling him
that 1t crossed the room with cat-like steps
or breathed upon his face whenever his eyes
We're closed. His natural courage made
nothing of the darkness; but the suggestion
of unknown and undisclosed danger be-
came lntolerabie as the night advanced;
and at the very first call of dawn, he drew
the curtains back and waited with chids
longing for the day. When this at length
broke above the nights mists floating up
from the river, Gavin rose and put on his
dressins-gown, being quite that sleep
had, for the time being. deserted him.
True, his odd hallucination that some one
was In the room with him no longer
troubled him; but certain facts disquieted
him none the less; and of these. the belief
that his wallet and his papers had been
ransacked during the night was not the
least alarming. He felt sure that he could
not be mistaken. A man of method, he
remembered clearly how he had placed his
papers and In what order he had left them.
Whoever had played the spy's part had
wallet and leaving the dressing table In
some disorder This troubled Gavin less
than the knowledge that some one had, af-
ter all, watched him while he slept and
that his dream had not deceived him.
They take me for spy from Bucharest"
he said and he could laugh at the
delusion.
1t would have been about O'Clock of the
morning by this time; glorious hour, full
or the sweet breath of day and Of that
sense Of life and being which is the day.
dawn's gift. Gavin knew little Of the hab-
its of groonls. save that they We're the peo-
pie who were supposed to rise with the
sun: but when an hour had passed he went
out impatiently to the stables and there
the excellent William found him a rare
ould divil of a boss and one that came
just short Of winnin the National to be
sure he did This raw-boned cantanker-
Gus brute carried him at sound gallon
twice round the home park; and. greatly re-
freshed, he returned to the hall and asked
the apologetic Griggs If the earl were yet
down. The answer that his lordship was
awaiting him in the long gallery" hardly
surprised him He felt sure that the recog-
milton last night had been mutual
"Zallonys son has told him." he said;
very well, 1 will go and ask him to give
me Evelyn"
o Of e ths of t fs0 sa placed In
had aged greatly these last few weeks and
there were lines upon his face that had not
been there when Gavin first came to Morer
town. close observer would have said
that the habit of sleep had long deserted
him This his eyes betrayed, being CLASSY
in their distracted gaze and rarely resting
upon any object as though to observe II
for more than an instant. When Gavin en-
tered. tremulous hand indicated chair
drawn up near by the table, The earl was
the first to speak and he did so with avert
ed gaze and in q loud voice which failed to
conceal the hesitation of his words
hear OF your unfortunate accident for
the first time, Mr.. Ord he said slowly
Let me lmplore you to run no more risks
of the kind The belfry tower is too old to
write new histories
Gavin replied with an Immediate admis-
sion OF that which he Dyed to Evelyn's
bravery.
But for your daughter my lord" he
said, II should not be here this morning to
speak to you of very grave things. Please
do not think me insensibie of your kindness
II L mention that at once. l have asked
Lady Evelyn to be my wife and she has
given her consent. Naturally tell you of
this upon the first possible occasion. You
know something of my story or you would
not have paid me the compliment of asking
me here. l have an assured income of some
two thousand year. and with your friend
ship. l should double it In as many years.
That Is a vulgar statement, but necessary.
My father Lord Justice Ord, as you
possibly knew; my dear mother is the
daughter of Sir Francis Wilmington of
Audley court, Suffolk. These things, I
know, must be talked about at such times.
so please bear with me. l am sure that
Evelyn would wish me to continue in the
profession I have chosen, and with your
consent, I shall do so. There is nothing
else / can tell you If 1t Is not to say how
very deeply l love your daughter and that
l believe her love for me is not less.
The earl heard him without remark
When he had finished he made no imnae-
diate response. seeming to lack words
rather than decision.
MFR. Ord" he said at length, you had
every right to speak to Evelyn. l make no
complaint of 1t. But she cannot be your
wife, for If she is not already the betrothed
of another there is at least honorable
understanding that she will make no mar
rage until he has been heard again. This
affair must begin and end today. If / am
no longer able to ask you to remain my
guest here, you will understand my diff !
Guilty. / cannot answer YOU in any other
way For your sake l wish indeed that l
could"
Gavin had fully expected this; but 1t did
not discomfort him in any way The battle !
which he must wage for Evelyns sake had
but begun. Settling himself in his chair |
and looking the earl full in his face, he
said.
Does Lady Evelyn know of thia my
ford3 Is this the answer she wishes YOU to |