Evening star., 1908-01-26

when she mentioned the dukes name,
proved very clearly that she had seen
him. and seeing him had perhaps learned
to love him.
Who knows? Some secret intrigue,
not altogether avowable, might lay at
the bottom of this strange adventure.
Everingham's heart misgave him at the
thought that WesseX's most open enemy
should perhaps learn secret hitherto
kept from all his friends.
The girl. on the other hand, seemed
willing to trust the cardinal She re-
peated doggedly once or twice:
You'll take me to him?-at once:
IF / cam replied his eminence, still
very protecting, very Suave and kind.
but not just now-His grace is with
the queen-you are too sensible ana
earnest. | feel sure, to wish to intrude
upon him-But will you not trust me a
you shall see him.
Nay, I've nothing to lose by trusting
you or any one" she replied. If you do
not take me to him, I'll find my way
alone"
Come. that's brave independence.
But child if | am to help you with his
grace of WesseN, | must at least know
who you are
They call me Mirrab.'
AL the sound of the name ENerlnS nam
started One or two vague recollectionS
in connection with the soothsayer Oh East
Molesey fair seemed to be chasing one
another in his mind, but he could not give
them definite shape.
\ strange feeling. made up OF uneasi-
ness and shame, coupled with exctemen1
and intense curiosity, caused him TO go
and pick up the watchmanS iantnorn
which lay on the ground close py.
When he was near the girl again he
held it up and the light fell full on her
face.
Then he remembered.
1t was Mirrab, the necromancef, the
kitchen wench. used by vulgar trlchSlet
to hoodwink some gullible burSeSses ana
their DANES at village falf, put Nlioiii
Nature had in one of her unaccountaple
freaks endowed with the same soidea
hair the same exquisite features, the
same deep and wonderful eyes as the
most beautiful woman at Mary tudor
court the Lady Ursula Glynde.
The veil which usually envelooed Mlr-
rab's head had fallen round her Shout
ders. her dress was, of course, Wooien
stuff, open at the neck and short IN the
sleeves; the arms and hands, rough and
clumsy in shape. betrayed the girl $ num-
BILE origin. and the likeness to Lady Cr-
sula was confined to the face and hair.
But Il was there, nevertheless; quite ln-
mstakable, even bewildering to the two
men who were gazing-speechless-at this
strange spectacle
Then Everingham put down the Ian
thorn. He dared not look at the cardinal.
half-fearng perhaps that the wild
thoughts and schemes which had sud
denly arisen in his mind at sight of this
extraordinary freak of nature. should
have already found more definite shape
in his emnence's astute and seeing
brain.
Strangely enough. at this moment, the
practiced diolomatist. the willy and un-
scrupulous Spaniard. met the more
simple-souled Englshman common
ground. and at once felt sure of his CO.
operation.
Both had the same end in view; de-
sire to break up any relationship which
may have sprung up between the Duke
of WesseX and the beautiful young girl,
of whom this otherwise coarse wench was
the perfect physical counterpart. But
the Spanfard was the quicker in thought
and in action. Whilst Everingham still
vaguely wondered how the extraordinary
resemblance might be utilized to gain
that great end which he had in view the
cardinal had already formed and ma
tured a plan.
He took the veil from Mirrab's shoul-
ders and once more drew 1t over her
head Then he undid the clumsy knot
with which the watchman had pinioned
her hands. Mrrab remained perfectly
passive the while: she seemed under the
magic spell of the soft, velvety hands
which had, as it were, taken possession
of her person.
The two men had not exchanged one
word since the light of the lantern had
revealed the strange secret to them: they
seemed to be acting in perfect accord.
There was no longer any need for protes-
tation of outward friendship, or for ce-
menting the compact of temporary al
lance
Everingham once more picked up the
lantern and went in search of the watch
man. in order to dismiss him with a
word of command and to insure his
silence with threat and a few silver
coins. The man. of course, knew nothing
of the Importance of the event which he
had unwittingly brought about. He may
have vaguely wondered in his mind why
his emnence the Spanish cardinal should
take such keen interest in a female
vagrant found trespassing on royal
ground. But the few pieces of silver
given to him by the noble lord soon s-
fenced even this transitory astonishment
Stolidly he resumed his nightly round.
satisfied that he need no longer look for
lurking thieves in the park.
When Everingham. having seen the
last of the watchman, returned to the
spot where he had left his eminence and
Mirrab. he found that both had disap-
peared.