Evening star., 1924-06-13
CHAPTER LII.
The Forging.

I,olette left Brunei with the fixed
intention of signing the London con-
tract and going straight to the north
ern metropolis for a season, but be-
tween the making of this decision
and its execution was forged one
more link in the chain.
Mordac called on Lolette. He was,
in fact, waiting for her at her apart
ment wen she returned home from
her lit,4s dinner with Brunei She
arrived aome in "A condition of white
fury which died directly she saw
him.
"Cheri" she said, holding out both
her hands. You are just the man
l would wish to see at this moment.
/ have just quarreled with that
odious Brunei and am feeling lonely
and cheerleSs.'
She ordered champagne and when
the maid had left it she said And
why did YOU prepare this so pleasant
surprise for me-?
II just wished to see you. Mordac
toasted her silently and slipped the
champagne.
That is good of you" Her eyes
softened as they rested on him. She
would have told him all about Brunei
and her intention to go to London,
hut ne gave her no chance.
For d little while he chatted with
her on a diversity of topics and had
the satisfaction of watching her be-
come more and more friendly and
of seeing all traces of the anger
which had fingered from her inter-
view with Brunei vanish ompletely.
At last he ventured to approach
the subject which had brought him
to the apartment.
THAT oil affair of Hendricks in
Mesopotamia has gone none too we'll.
~ thought kendrick had returned
a
factorily." She would have gone on
TO say something else. but that Nor
dac gave her no chance.
completed satisfactorily from his
point of view. My people on the spot
advise me that stand to lose heavily
find. is very shrewd man.
Suddenly Lolette had an apprehen-
siye thought that this visit was not
merely a call for friendships sake.
81 should have thought kendrick hon
est" she observed.
He is. But he is a business man
and he loses no chance to make
money. | fear l shall be forced to
journey to Bagdad. My representa-
tive reports that my presence is nee
essary and there seems no way of
avoiding the trip
LoIette could have shivered. as
though an icy wind had touched her.
And how long nogsiddrsg Will you be awag bargiv
know. Probably month. Not more.
II shall miss you. especially now
that things are wrong with me and
I have quarreled with Brunei; But if
YOU must go-you must. Which route
will YOU take"
"MarseilIes, and from there by
boat
hand and he lifted it and kissed it.
He left her.
She went into the silver and gray
bedroom.
He went to MArseilles-he went
La Phalene went south-Brunel
went south That story of the oil
wells was lie. Kendrick was guilty
lowing La Phalene. like Brunei.
Which meant that she was not
going to Monte Carlo with Brunei.
La Phalene was not yet caught
Mordac and Brunei were still hot on
the trail, and now only they rem ain
ed. Against Mordac. Brunei had no
chance. Mordac would win-Mordac
whom she loved.
She felt that her life was altogether
wrecked. She had cut herself off
from Brunei and all that circle in
which she had moved SO brilliantly.
Paris would know her no more. The
only man for whom she had ever
cared was going away from her in
the steps of another woman. She
sat down on the edge of the bed and !
down her painted cheeks tears rolled
1t was later that she remembered
Mordac had mentioned the name OF
kendrick. The memory reused her
brain to action.
Kendrick loved La Phalene and if
La Phalene gave herself to any man
down there in the south it would be
10 the man she loved. If kendrick
was at Monte Carlo, then both Bru-
mel and Mordac would find them
selves faced by rival against whom
they would have no chance.
She decided to see Kendrick. A
word. she thought would send him
to the Riviera. He would follow her
south Lolette was confident of it.
And she herself? She might add
vet another stone to the monument |
of her fame by going to London.
1t had seemed golden prospect in |
the heat of her rage against Brunei. |
It had been a chance to show Brunei
that he was not the only producer |
who recognized merit when he saw |
it. But now it held no allurement |
for her The last time she had seen |
London had been on a January morn
ing as the Continental express dash |
ed south to FolkeStone. There had |
been the great panorama of dirty |
roof tops and smoking chimneys. and |
above them clouds lowered, heavy |
with dampness, which drove in sheets |
before the wind.
She shivered.
ciSion which lurked at the back of |
her mind
She would go to Monte Carlo. She |