Barbour County index., 1907-08-07
CHAPTER xVI.-continued.


The suite allotted me was at the end
of gloomy corridor. I threw open
one of the narrow windows. The
noisy stream below, beating futilely
against the walls, almost deafened the
voice Of the servant as he asked if he
could be of assistance to me. l looked
out. There was sheer drop of some
SO feet
That fact vaguely disconnected me.
The words of DIR. Starva' were Earring
note that sobered my excitement.
When had dressed was almost pre-
pared to find the massive door of my
chamber locked or barred. 1 had en-
tered the spiders web audaciously
enough. To escape might be less
simple.
The dinner was simply but well
my situation been less serious might
have felt some humor at the elaborate
Difference shown me by my compan-
ions for the benefit of the two servants
who waited on us. Even DR.. Starva
followed the lead of Madame de Var
nier in solemn if cynical obedience.
But did Madame de Varnier believe
me so complaisant a fool, that, like
another Bottom, 1 was expected in this
modern Midsummer Nights Dream to
accept this Difference without Ques.
ton? 1 became more and more con-
vinced that she did not. Once she
even referred to the events of the
night before in such a manner that l
believed her not ignorant Of my true
condition. If she were persuaded that
I had been acting a part then, that
would account for her confidence in
expecting me to continue acting that
part. 1t would give her encourage
ment that I was the willing tool she
looked for.
And suppose that she really believed
that, did she think that I expected no
reward? She had limited that in serv
ing her ends 1 was to serve myself as
well. But Madame de Varnier was
not the kind of woman to believe that
a man would be allured by a promise
so vague. Then the reward?
She had protested that she had not
expected me to fall in love with her.
She had protested that, but in the
same breath she had confessed a half
resolve to bring me to her feet. Now
as she exerted every charm of coquet-
ry she was giving the lie to her own
words. oh, the reward was obvious
enough, if 1 chose to take it.
eve will smoke our cigarettes in
my favorite music room. You must
hear DR.. Starva play on the cello.
You have had the piano carefully
tuned, Jacques?"
"All is in readiness" replied the
servant, as he preceded us with can
dies.
DR.. Starva had pushed back his chair
eagerly. For the first time since had
met him his face lost something of
its heavy sullen expression.
"My fingers have not the practice"
he said modestly, "but to play with
Madame de Varnier-ah, that is worth
while"
We were in the music room that
Madame de Varnier had described to
me so enthusiastically the day before.
Dimly lighted with wax candles, PAN
eled in dark oak to the ceiling, the
floor waxed and polished to a dazzling
luster, it was room almost bare, but
1t had its melancholy charm. There
was little furniture. At one end OF
the room was row of carved seats
built into the wall. There were no
pictures or tapestries. The one touch
OF color was the vivid flame of blaz-
ing logs.
"The strife of the world, it's lies
and it's shams, 1 leave behind when I
enter here" said Madame de WARMER
sentimentally. Look, 1 throw open
this easement. The noisy Aare browns
my voice. Beyond, you see the moon
light on the valleys, and still beyond.
the mountains. This is your seat.
Once this was chapel; in these
carved seats the monks chanted ves-
pers; in the seat of honor which you
occupy drowsed the father superior.
When you hear the enchanting melo-
dies of DR.. Starva you will not have
lived in vain"
This hour at least was innocent.
Perhaps 1t was the lull before the
storm, but why should look for clouds
when the heavens were clear?
The long. darkly paneled room, its
shining floor seeming to rise and fall
mysteriously in the Pickering fire.
light. the noisy murmur of the stream
below, the white moonlight that strug-
gled feebly through the easement win
dows-all had its charm And these
two adventurers, unscrupulous and
conscienceless, had abandoned them
selves for the moment to the joy of
their music.
I looked over toward Madame de
Varnier. The shaded light of the can
dies fell on her white shoulders. The
splendor of her beauty had never
seemed more seductive
I asked myself incredulously If this
dreaming woman was the desperate