New-York tribune., 1911-03-05
CHAPTER XLVI. Answering the Souh'

rh,,,-r XIYI. Answering the Count
rdURLEY did not rest; her brain was
L too alive and the fever too active IN heT
pulses. MYSTERIOUS arrivals, plus an ar OF
hurry and excitement, pcrvaded all tHc
house. She suffered herself to be dreSSeu Ioi ~
dinner in a dainty gown that, with ITS Soit-
ness and lis fraiitv. completely belicd the
strength, the courage, and the resolution
with which She was so amply endowed.
Major Phipps appeared IN time Tor dinner
He was, if possible, more tanned iIl1lt cA-
nlosive and more hearty than ever before.
His admiration for Thurley was. likewise
more pronounced He Dragged OF her dlS-
covery quite immodcstly, taking Sucn noun
tains of credit to himself that Alice was
thoroughly shadOwed.
"The one truly noteworthy and creditable
achievement of my career, by George! ne
asserted. "ReeStabiSheS my mental acu'
men. 1t does, sir! I've said so repeatedly
But, by the gods of battle! that satisfaction
is nothing as compared with the tatheriy
affection engendered in my breast-tatherly.
and brothcrly and unclcish-and and
"Angeic," Alice supplied dryly' -, 1T $
very beautiful and touching. But Will you
kindly indicate whether or not you Will nave
some peas, thereby providing a moment Tor
Thurey's bushes to subSide"
Thurey's color, however, was destined
for the briefest subsistence. The Major kept
1t flaming pleaSurably for an hour both DUR
ing and after dinner and eight o'clock
romped in upon them all, it seemed quite
prematurely, to ignite 1t again. :,
Alice herself was nervouSly perturbed and
trife feveriSh, when one Of the servants
came toannounCct cthcarriyalot Count flaSchl.
The Major excused himself IN haste ana
promptly disappeared.
Alice. in one Of her motherly moods, came
swiftly TO her "PrincesS' and placed both
hands on her shoulders. "BccauSe he hap
pened to demand that he see you alone IS no
reason why Fiaschi should be gratfied, un-
less you wish it," she said. 81 feel as If per,
hapS it might be much easier If | remained
with you as chaperon all the time he is here.
"If the horrid creature should attempt
what he did before" Thurley halted.
vividly remembering the kiss that FlaSchi
had dared to msapproprlate. "Ot course
he wouldn't if you were there. And yet II
he's here to demand Perhaps the way we
have planned it is the best after all. You re
sure that shc-that everything is ready:
"Lcave that to me-" said Alice, a little
pale, but smiling. "I'll 60 with you now and
excuse myself at once.
They went together to the golden room
where the Count was impatiently waiting.
LIE was flushed with a sense of victory
IL over Gaillard and his own irresistible
proweSS with the women. He had sent
great masses of roses earlier and was certain
now that the single American beauty worn
on Thurley's bosom was selected from his
offering. He could never have dreamed It
was Stuyverant's rose, worn as token OF
their comradcShip, and also as a talisman to
guard her heart from evil.
II do him credit for mere physical APP
pearance, the Count had never been hand
Somcr in his life His glossy black hair, his
damask skin, and his long laShed eyes. which
burned like molten garnetS, dashed with
liquid whrls of brown and ebony were prac-
tically physical perfection. Only his mouth,
over red and SensuouS. supplied a hint of the
animal crouched behind his mask.
He wasted no energy in passing the time