Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-11
CHAPTER TX.

IL <AuSllOuJ lohIdolIC lLld6uldUOu Tic
smile on the faces Of the japanese masks
progress of the comedy.
Il am always glad to get back to our
| little home" he said to Cammarleigh, as
he sank into a chair.
This was just the sort of absurdity
that irritated Cammarleigh beyond en-
durance He made movement Of his
shoulders and professed to be profoundly
interested in the Nineteenth Century -
He would have liked to>nint to Anthony
that it would be better taste it he did not
| intrude into his private sanctum.
Anthony was very delicately inhaling
| the perfume of his buttonhole.
II think, he said. that whether to
| wear buttonholes or not is a question
| which will never be decided"
Then why argue it?' snapped Cam
marleigh.
"Ah. knew you were waiting for my
| next remark. ] won't argue the question
of buttonholes. because, after all, you are
not young enough to wear one. You
haven't asked me where l have BEEN
Il don't want to know
'Oh, yes. you do. If you don't want to
know where I am, you very much wish
| to know where I am not. I have been
calling on Lady Editha. How beautiful
Sybil Travers ISL
| slip on Anthony's part, said, with en-
phasis:
Miss Travers is beautiful
Il call her Sybil.' said Anthony. 'be
cause l love her.
Cammarleigh folded his hands and
looked at Anthony with frightened lips
II knew you would overreach yourself"
he said. with quite triumphant ring in
his voice. and he laughed as if it were
the finest joke in the world.
II don't quite see what you mean
IF you have fallen in love with my
niece
II have
Then you are not the clever fellow 1
took you for
You didn't take me; 1 gave myself to
you. But do explain to me why it should
seem so ridiculous for me to love Sybil?
She is very beautiful. When you come
to think of it, to love her is natural and
not to love her would be unnatural'S
Yes. but to take yourself seriously
ITO take ones self seriously is to shut
off all retreat. When I take myself
seriously no one shall know It, Your
niece has made up her mind to marry the
Duke of Frant."
Cammarleigh was annoyed. He had
been reserving this piece of information
for Anthony's discontinue.
That being the case don't you think
you had better keep your feelings to your
self?'
Nov. do you think 1 look the sort of
person who is likely to keep his love for
any one to himself? It's a very good
thing for You, Cammarleigh. that 1 have
fallen in love with your niece. 1t will
make me kind to you for her sake
Perhaps you would like to marry ner?"
Every much
do you think she would prefer being
Mrs. Brooke to being Duchess of Frant %
AT a first glance, no: but at the same
time. stranger things have happened. Just
think how wonderful the whole situation
is! One marvel more or less won't make
much difference
"All exceptional people are more or less
mad. but + don't think 1 shall end in a
lunatic asylum. and even If did 1t would
solve the problem of ones daily bread
And how do you propose to make my
niece love your
My dear Cammarleigh, why waste
time! Let us concern ourselves with
difficulties"
What do you mean?''
She does love me; we love each other"
This is simply amusing" said Cam
marleigh. addressing the ceiling.
Il am glad you find it so. 1t may. per-
haps. interest you to know that we fell In
love with each other at first sight,
IF you have taken advantage of your
position here to go into my sisters house
and make love to her daughter. 1 can
only say that I shall not lift finger to
save you from humiliation"
Anthony laughed aloud. 1t was always
delightful to work Cammarleigh up into a
state of pompous patronage. The sure
collapse that followed such outbursts was
infinitely diverting.
when the occasion of my humiliation
comes, Cammarleigh give you free per
mission to abstain from raising finger
In my defense
Your self-confidence is a thing not to
be believed: Has she told you ehat she
loves you?"
Don't be coarse. cammarleigh. All
lovers worthy Of the name feel those
things for long time before they ruin
them with words
Cammarleigh made no answer, so An
thony continued:
II don't think you have any idea, Cam
marleigh. of the wonderful things which
are going to happen before you and /
part. 1 don't know that I have a very
clear idea of what they are going to be
myself, but am sure they will be won
derful. You must have big house party
at Cammareigh Abbey in the autumn"
What for?"
We'll, ostensibly for your friends: in
reality for me. And for goodness sake
don't say that you will do nothing of the
kind. BY the way. I have taken Lady
Trowbridges box at the opera for the re-
mainder of the season."
What for?'
Cautiously enough, because I am fond
''You don't propose to sit in a box by
yourself? If you wanted to go to the
opera you ought to have taken STALL
u haVe-1uSt underneath the box. You
see, 1t appears that Lady Trowbridge on
account Of a family bereavement, was
anxious to get ride of her box, and so 1
took 1t in your name"
II hate music said Cammarleigh.
Il know you do, but Lady Editha
doesn't: or II she doesn't care much about
music she cares very much about the
opera"
"she is quite rich enough" began
Cammarleigh.
.'She says she isn't
Cammarleigh rose in great agitation,
pressing his hand to his forehead.
II shall go mad-I know I shall.
'.Oh, don't say that. Anything that I
can do to prevent it"
Well. you can prevent it by taking
yourself off,"
so 1 will If you'll give me two things"
What are they?" asked Cammarleigh.
eagerly.
Five thousand year and sybil as my
wife,
Absurd
IT quite agree with YOU" said Anthony.
ut sounds ridiculous, but those are my
terms"
"It is inconceivable that I should be
the victim Of such blackmail.''
"Cammarleigh," said Anthony. sternly,
II have told you that I won't have that
| word used.' He reflected for a few mo-
| ments deeply and then said: Look here.
the year Sybil has not promised to be my
wife engage to leave you for sum rep
resenting five hundred a year. If before
then she has promised to be my wife you
shall give me instead a sum representing
leight thousand a wear"