Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-05

will have 1t sent in here, and Mr.. PEN
ton shall go away and type the letters
I have given him. We shall not be dis
turbed, for l have given orders that l
am absolutely not at home this after
noon."
so far as am concerned said the
marquis. IT shall be delighted. 1 have
an hour and a half to spare and I really
came home to rest.
Are you speaking tonight" the mar
chioness asked.
Il imagine so." he answered. I'VE
are being frightfully harried over this
Penton hurried away with his note
book. The marchioness rang the bell and
ordered tea.
Francis" she said. Il hope you won't
think me quite impossible If / ask you a
somewhat bourgeois question"
My dear" he answered, TASK me what
ever you Will.
Who is the young lady with whom you
have lunched and dined several times
lately. and who has / think, been seen In
your automobile?'
The marquis did not reply for a mo-
ment. His wife drew up an easy chair
to the fire and seated herself in it.
II hope you will not misunderstood the
spirit in which / ask you this question, =
she said. smiling at him a little apollo
getically. II am simply curious. II you
We're different sort of man / should not
dream. of course. of mentioning it.
The marquis waited while a footman
who had entered the room arranged tea
upon little round table. AS soon as the
door was closed he turned to his wife.
My dear Margaret. he said. the
young lady in question Is connected with
a part of my life which I am only anX-
ious to forget myself. and which l sin
cerely wish that good many other peo-
pie would forget also. However, there
she is, person to be explained or not.
according to the extent of your Curl
osity'
The marchioness shrugged her shoui-
ders. Il never allow my curiosity" she
said. Ito go beyond bounds. At the same
time, l should like to ask you this: The
a part OF your life which you would pre-
fer to forget. Is she connected also with
the anXieties which seem lately to have
made changed man of your
The marquis slipped his tea thought
fully.
Il had hoped" he said. that l was ex-
ercising little more self-control.''
THE change she remarked. may not
have been obvious to every one. l, how
ever, have noticed it. Your nervous
breakdown, of which the papers made so
much was. l imagine, only pretext for
getting away from England. You show
a very brave front to the world, but l
am an observant woman"
young lady, he said, lis certainly con-
nected with events in the past which are
just now giving me a great deal Of anx
iety. I may add that when she appeared
I was very much at a loss to know what
to do with her. 1 very nearly came to
you to beg for your patronage"
The marchioness sighed gently. ANY
thing that 1 could do she murmured.
II am quite sure that you would not
have failed me- he interrupted I'm
fortunately. However. any direct connec-
ton between that young person and my
own household was not exactly desir-
able
Il cannot be of any assistance to you.
them" she asked.
He came and sat on the arm of her
chair and took her hand in his. MY
dear Margaret" he said, II fear that you
cannot To tell you the truth, I am very
much on the brink of volcano. 1t may
blow up. and 1t may not have to take
my chances
"You would not care, 1 suppose she
suggested, hesitatingly. "to tell me about
it alp
my DEAR" he answered, Il could not"
The marchioness was thoughtful for a
moment. There was a man." she said.
murdered few weeks ago in young
lady's apartment. I forget her name, or
the name OF the man, but several Of the
penny society papers limited that she was
the friend of a nobleman pre-eminent in
politics and society. No name was men,
toned. of course, but it was quite clear