The Ordway new era., 1918-02-22
CHAPTER xxI-continued.

INJURED, rs absolutely OF no conse-
Quence. but remember that you live
here. and"
Don't be silly!" he interrupted.
"What does that matter? And besides,
according to you and all the rest of
you here, these things don't affect a
mans reputation-they are expected
OF him. See, 1 have rung the bell for
breakfast. Now am going to tele-
phone down for a messenger boy to
go for your clothes"
They breakfasted together, little
later. and she made him smoke. He
stood before the window, looking down
upon the river, with his pipe In his
mouth and an unfamiliar look upon
his face.
DO you suppose that Louise knows
anything7" he asked at length.
II should think not" she replied.
at is for you to tell her. rang up
the princes house while you were In
the bathroom. They say that he has
q broken rib and some bad cuts. sus-
tained In a motor accident last night.
but that he Is In no danger. There
was nothing about the affair in the
newspapers, and the princes servants
have evidently been instructed to give
this account to inquirers."
A gleam Of interest shone n Johns
face.
by the Bye" he remarked, "the
prince is a Frenchman. he will very
likely expect me to fight with him"
mo hope of that, my belligerent
friend" Sophy declared, with an at
tempt at a smile. "The prince knows
that he Is In England. He would not
be guilty of such an anachronlsm. Be
sides, he Is a person of wonderfully
weIl-balnnced mind. When he is him.
self again, he will realize that what
happened to him is exactly what he
Asked for"
John took up his hat and gloves.
He glanced at the clock-it was a lit
tie past eleven.
81 am ready" he announced. LET
ne drive you home first"
His motor was waiting at the door,
and he left Sophy Mt her rooms. Be
fore she got out, she held his arm for
, moment.
"John." she said, remember that
Louise Is very high-strung and very
sensitive. Be CAREFUL"
"There is only one thing to do oil
10 say" he answered. '"There is only
one way in which can do it."
He drove the car down PIccadilly
like man In a dream, steering as
carefully as usual through the traffic.
and glancing every now and then with
unseeing eyes at the streams of peo-
pie upon the pavements. Finally he
came to a standstill before Louise's
house and stopped the engine with de-
liberate care. Then he rang the bell,
and was shown into her little draw
lng-room, which seemed to have become
perfect bower Of pink and white
lilac.
He sat waiting as If in a dream,
unable to decide upon his words, un-
able even to sift his thoughts. The
one purpose with which he had come,
the one question he designed to ask.
was burning In his brain. The min
utes Of her absence seemed tragically
long.
Then at last the door opened and
Louise entered. She came toward him
with a little welcoming smile upon
her lips. Her manner was gay, al
most affectionate.
Have you come to take me for
ride before lunch?" she asked. "Do
you know. think that 1 should really
like I'll We might lunch at Ranelagh
on our way home"
The words stuck In his throat From
where she was, she saw now the writ
ing on his face. She stopped short.
"What is iti" she exclaimed.
Ever since I knew you," he said
slowly, "there have been odd moments
when / have lived In torture. During
the last fortnight, those moments have
become hours. Last night the end
cnme."
Are you mad. John?" she demand
ed
Perhaps" he replied. 'Listen. When
left you last night, went to the
club in Adelphi Terrace. There was
well-known critic there. comparing you
and Latrobe. On the whole he fa-
vored you, but he gave Latrobe the
first place in certain parts. Latrobe.
he said, had had more experience In
life. She had had a dozen lovers
you. only onel"
She WINGED. The glad freshness
seemed suddenly to fade from her
face. Her eyes became strained.
"Well2"
II found Graillot. I cornered him.
/ asked him for the truth about you
He put me Off with an evasion.
came down here and looked at your
window. 1t was three o'clock In the
morning. dared not come In. A very
demon Of unrest was In my blood.
stopped at the night club on my way
back. Sophy was there. asked heI
plainly to put me out Of my agony
She was like Graillot. She fenced with
me. And then-the prince camew
'The prince was there" she fal
tered.