The Monmouth inquirer., 1919-05-08
CHAPTER II.
Alexandra.

words when Brodeur had spoken the
platitudes of introduction, all proved
her a woman of the upper world
where ordinary folk are i'll at ease
and strange.
A little moment of embarrassment
followed for me, despite my convic-
tion that some illegal matter was un-
der way and that my attitude should
be one of scorn. Alexandra and the
two doctors, must admit, were per-
sons hard to view with patronage.
Thus the meal began, with Mrs.
Spragg officiating between dining
room and kitchen. like clucking
nerve-shaken Hebe. Now and again
the old woman caught my eye,
frowned, shook her head, and made
strange noises In her throat. Her
shifts and glances, oblique though
they were, flung oil on the fires of my
indignation.
Yet, angry though | was at hav-
ing been-as | then thought-deceiy-
ed by Ergazy, tried to show no out
ward sign of it. Instead I set myself
to observe the patient.
Closely yet with care not to make
my study of her too patent, watched
her. AS a nurse and a physician,
knew my attitude must at all times be
strictly impersonal.
Mechanically, with my sinking
prescience of evil at my heart, l ate
and drank without knowing or caring
what the fare might be. Now and
then l took some little part in the con
strained conversation, which signally
failed to tighten the boding sense of
trouble that dominated all. Every at
tempt at light and casual talk ended
and died a failure.
Alexandra said little. She took only
tea. The fact that she ate nothing
showed me that the operation was in
deed to be reality. Even now she
was preparing for it. Within twenty
four hours, knew, and probably in
still shorter time, the work would act
ually begin My time for escape. were
tina, now possible, was growing short.
saw that the patient was truly
remarkable woman. The fine, delicacy
and beauty of her hands greatly i'm
pressed me with their artistic prom
ise. Her vigorous black hair, too,
struck me as splendid. | judged her
to be about fifteen years younger than
/ in years, but far older in experience
of the world, both here and beyond
the sea.
Her height seemed somewhat above
the average, her proportions perfect.
Each gesture was lowered with an
extreme grace. Her whole personality
gave out the indefinable magnetic
charm more often found among Euro
pean women than among those born
in our newer and less cultured land.
Her charmingly attractive face,
though lacking in some essential quail
tiles of real beauty, seemed to express
a character of good, gentle, and spirit
ual in nature, though tinged with mel
ancholy. From her features, coloring,
and accent / judged her to be Rus
sian or a Rumanian.
An extreme nobility dominated her
countenance, expressing every emo
ton quickly and with wo lderful ac-
curacy, as if she had been an actress.
She spoke rather rarely; but what she
said was timely and well-chosen, with
an occasional CLEAN Of humor, too,
despite the seriousness of the meal.
The conversation developed itself
mostly between the two men. 1t was
of most extraordinary character,
partly in English, occasionally going
over into French, and even passing
into a language which knew nothing
of, but which Alexandra understood
and spoke with the greatest ease.
The doctors rather ignored me, but
Alexandra with great tact for the
most part kept the discussion in Eng
lish and tried to limit it to subjects
with which | was familiar
Sne showed unusually familiarity
with the topics of the day-the Pana-
ma scandal involving the French, the
Bering Sea arbitration with Great
Britain, and the proposed annexation
OF Hawaii, all of which matters and
others came up during that memora-
BILE dinner. Music and drama enjoyed
their share of discussion, spiced with
bits of reminiscence about foreign life
and travels in countries and cities
that to me were only names.
On the whole, had not the occasion
been so trying l should have consider
ed that meal. plain as 1t was, a won
drous treat
One subject remained conspicuous
ly absent; l mean medicine and sur
gerry. Nothing of that nature came
into the discussion at all Doctors are
so prone to talk shop that the absence
of it seemed glaring. This false con-
straint, weighing heavily on me,
served only to increase my apprehen-
sion.
Thus the meal drew to close.
greeted its end with cast relief.
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK