Evening star., 1921-06-18
CONTINUED from Yesterdays starr

The conversation for moment or
| two followed the obvious lines. Nine.
| de Melbain and Louise had drawn a
| little apart; a few remarks as to the
beauty of the chateau and its s!tua-
| ton passed between Wrayson and the
baron. The name of its owner was
mentioned. and Wrayson indicated his
acqua intance with her. At the sound
of her name Nine. de Melbain turned
somewhat abruptly around. ana
seemed to be listening, but at that
moment the door was thrown open
| and the major-domo of the household.
who had received Wrayson. announced
dinner He directly addressed Nine.
de Melbain.
Madame is served" he murmured
respectfully.
The little procession arranged itself
| as Louise had intimated. Nine. d"
Melbain led the way. ushered by the
ma jor -domo and followed Immediate
| " by the baron and Mile. de Cour-
celles. Wrayson. with Louise. brought
up the rear. They crossed the white
tagged hall and entered an apart
ment which Wrayson, although his
capacity for wonder was diminishing.
felt himself compelled to pause and
admire 1t was of great height and
again the curiously shaped windows
were filled with stained glass. The
oak -paneled walls. black with age.
were hung with portraits. somber and
yet vivid. and upon marble pedestal
at the end of the room, lifelike. and
untouched by the centuries, stood
wonderful presentation of Ralph de
St. Etarpe, the founder of the house.
clad in the armor of his days. The
dinner table. with its brilliant and
modern appurtcnanceS of flowers and
plate, standing in the middle of the
floor. seemed like a minute and yet
startling anachronism. The brilliant
patches of scarlet geranium. the deep
blue livery of the two footmen. the
glitter of the Venetian glass upon
the table, were like notes of alien
color among surroundings whose chief
characteristic was I: magnificent re-
straint. and yet such dignity as 1t
was poSSib to impart into the cv-
ery-day business Of eating and drink
ing was certainly manifest in the
meal, which presently took It's lei
surely course.
Wrayson. although no one could
accuse him of lack of savoir faire.
found himself scarcely at ms ease;
Nine. de Melbain. erect. diEnified and
beautiful. sat at the head of the table.
and, although she addressed remark
to each of them occasionally, she re-
manned always unapproachable. The
baron made only formal attempts at
conversation, and Mile. de Courcelles
was absolutely silent. Wrayson was
unable to divest himself of the feel
ing of representing an alien presence
among little community drawn
closely together by. some mysterious
tic. Louise was his only link with
them. and to Louise he decided to
devote himself entirely. regardless of
the apparent demands of custom. His
position at the table enabled him to
do this. and very soon he discovered
that it was precisely what was cX-
pected of him. The conversation be-
tween the others. such as it was.
lapsed into German, or some kindred
tongue. Wrayson found himself able
presently to talk confidentially with
Louise.
Remember" he said. after a slight
pause, that I have finished alto
gether with the role of investigator.
I no longer have any curiosity about
anything. Still. I think that there
you"
She smiled.
you may tell me as much as you
like."s she said: "as long as you don't
ask questions"
"Exactly! Well, there is another
| Englishman staying at the Lion dor.
He appears to be decent fellow and
| a gentleman. 1 am not going to talk
asout him. I imagine that he is
| harmless"
murmured. "It certainly appears as
though he were only an ordinary
tourist. Has any one else arrived"
| Yes" Wrayson answered, "some
one else has arrived, and I want to
| tell you about him."
| Louise was obviously disturbed She
refused a course a little impatiently
and turned toward Wrayson anx-
| iously.
| But the landlord" she said, in a
low tone. has orders to receive no
| more guests"
| 'This man arrived to luncheon to-
| day." WraySon answered. THE land
| lord could not refuse him that. He
wished for a room, and was told that
he could not be taken in"
! We'll. who is he, what is he like?'
1 she demanded.