Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-14
CHAPTER II.-Continued.

tCdATIEh u.-COnLlUucQ.
"well," she said. II have played your
game for you. I have gone even to the
extent of being talked about with Julien
Portel"
Her husband moved uneasily in his
chair.
''That will all blow over directly" he
declared. Besides, Tiff things go our
way, we shant see much more Of Portel.
Give me the letter.
Still she hesitated. 1t was curious that
throughout the slow evolution Of this
scheme to break a mans life. for which
she was mainly responsible, she had
never hesitated until this moment. Al
ways it had been fixed in her mind that
Agernon was to be q cabinet minister:
she was to be the wife Of a. cabinet min
| lister. That there were any other things
greater in life than the qualification OF
| so unreasonable an ambition had never
seemed possible. Now she hesitated. She
! looked at her husband and she saw MIN
with new eyes. He seemed suddenly a
mean, little person. She thought OF the
other man and there was strange culver
| in her heart-a very unexpected sensa-
| ton indeed. There was difference IN
the breed. It came home to her at that
moment. She found herself even won
der1ng, as she swung the letter idly be-
i tween her thumb and forefinger, whether
| she would have been q different woman
| II she had had different manner of hus-
band.
1.-THE letter." he repeated.
| She laid it calmly on the desk before
| him.
"Of course" she said, coldly. IF you
remember that I am in no way respon-
| sible. This was your scheme. l have
done my best"
The mans fingers trembled slightly as
he broke the seal.
Naturally" he agreed, pausing for an
instant and looking up at her. Il knew
| that could trust you or I would never
have put such an idea into your head"
! She laughed. a characteristic laugh 1t
| was, quite cold. quite mirthless, appar-
emily quite meaningless. Carraby turned
back to the letter. tore open the envelope
and spread 1t out before them. He read
1t out aloud In q sing-song voice:
Downing street, Tuesday.
my Dearest Mabel: had your sweet
little note an hour ago. OF course, / was
disappointed about luncheon, as l always
am when cannot see you. Your promise
to repay me, however, almost reconciles
me-"
The man looked up at his wife.
promise" he repeated, hoarsely.
What does he mean?'
Go on" she said, with unchanged ex-
preston. ''See If what you want is
there
The man continued to read:
II am going to ask you q very great IA
vor, Mabel. When we are alone together,
talk to you with absolute freedom. To
write you on matters connected with my
office Is different. I know very well how
deep and sincere your interest in politics
| really is. and 1t has always been one OF
my greatest pleasures, when with you, to
talk things over and hear your point of
view. Without flattery. dear. l have real
ly more than once found your advice use
| makes our companionship always a
pleasure to me, and I rely upon that
| when I beg you not to ask me to write
you again on matters to which I have
really no right to allude. You do not
| mind this, dear? And having read you
my little lecture, will answer your ques-
ton. Yes. the cabinet council was held
exactly as your surmise. With great
difficulty I persuaded B to adopt my
view of the situation. They are all much
! had my own way. Our answer to this
/ latest demand from Berlin was prompt
and decisive negative. Nothing of this is
| to be known for at least week.
II am sorry your husband Is such q
| bear. Perhaps on Monday we may meet
| at Cardington House?
please destroy this letter at once.
JULIEN"
The mans eyes, as he read, grew
brighter.
1T is more than enough!"
| Slowly he replaced it In its envelope
and thrust 1t into the breast pocket of his
| coat.
What are you going to do with it,"
she inquired.
II have made my plans" he answered.
IT know exactly how to make the best
| and most dignif1ed use Of it,
| He rose to his feet. Something in his
wife's expression seemed to disturb him.
He walked a few steps toward the door
and came back again.
Mabel" he said, "are you glad?"
Naturally I am glad she replied.
You have no regrets?"
Again she laughed.
Regrets" she echoed. What are they?
One doesn't think about such things
nowadays"
They stood quite still in the center of
that very handsome apartment They
were almost alien figures in the world in
which they moved-Carraby. the rankest
of newcomers. carried into political life
| by his wife's ambitions, his own self
amassed fortune and sort of subtle cum
ning-a very common substitute for
brains; Mrs. Carraby, on whom had been
plastered an expensive and ultra-fashion-
able education, although she was able.
~
origin, the daughter of q rich Yorkshire
manufacturer. who had secured a paid
entrance into society. They were purely
artificial figures, for the very reason that
| they never admitted any one of these
| facts to themselves, but talked always the
jargon of the world to which they as
pired, as though they were indeed deni-
| zens therein by right. At that moment.
| though. single natural feeling shook the
man, shook his faith in himself, in life, in
his destiny. There was Jewish blood in
| his veins and 1t made itself felt.
Mabel" he began. this man Portel-
you've f1irted with him you say?"
| Il have most certainly iirted with
him." she admitted. quietly.
He hasn't dared
| A flash Of scorn lit her cold eyes.
| st think" she said, that you had bet
| ter ask me no questions of that Sort
/ Carraby went slowly out. Already the
| moment was passing. OF course he could
trust his wife! Besides, in this letter was
the death warrant of the man who stood
| between him and his ambitions. Mrs.
| Carraby listened to his footsteps in the
| hall. heard his suave reply to his secre-
i tary, heard his orders to the footman who
| let him out. From where she stood she
| watched him cross the square. Already
he had recovered his alert bearing. His
shoes and his hat We're glossy. his coat
] Of an excellent fit The woman watched
! expression.
CHAPTER III.
A Ruined Career.