Evening star., 1925-09-06


tremble. He laughed at her.
"Mademoiselle,' he said. life is a
great game, and to taste it's full flavor
one should be prepared for the unex-
pected, one should have the courage
always to face it, You shall be
fetched at s o'clock by the Vicomte
lain, He is a harmless youth who
duct you home. May | know at what
hotel?"
THE st. James," she murmured
"It is arranged Londe declared,
rising to his feet.
moment later she was wondering
whether it were not Dream The
remainder of the day passed rest
lessly There came no word from
Daniel at the hotel. She made up her
mind that If the vicomte called for
her she would go. She would leave
word at the office where she was and
IL there were no other guests she
would decline to stay. There could
he mo- risk. fhe yicomte was well
known young F'renchman OF fashion.
She would go with him and return
with him. Even Daniel could not dis
approve. and she would be able to spy
out the land; she would be able to
decide whether his attitude was a
magnificent bluff.
At 8 o'clock she descended to the
lounge, and few minutes later a
very elegantly turned-out young man.
whom she recognized by his picture
as the yicomte, entered. and. after
looking around, approached her, hat
in hand.
Il have the honor to address
Mademoiselle Lancaster" he inquired.
THAT is my name" she admitted,
rising. II suppose you are the
Vicomte d'AiX.'
He bowed low.
Il have the privilege to escort you
to the Villa Violette," he announced.
II am quite ready" she replied.
So far he was entirely canonical.
She took her place by his side in the
small but luxurious limousine. They
drove off in silence.
You are very well acquainted with
Mr. and Mrs. Broadbent?" Ann In
quired presently.
Il can scarcely call myself an old
friend" he admitted. but | visit them
great deal l think that Madame
Broadbent is the most beautiful
woman l have ever SEEN"
Il shall be interested to meet her
again" Ann observed. How do you
get on with her husba nd" she asked
bluntly.
Monsieur Broadbent is a man of
science" he pointed out. Il respect
him greatly. We are not on init
mate terms"
do you know whether they are
leaving Monte Carlo soon?" Ann In
quired.
II have heard no mention of their
doing go" the vicomte replied. II
trust not
A T the Villa they were received
with some ceremony. A butler
welcomed them in the hall. An IRE.
proacha BILE looking maid took charge
OF Ann. The whole atmosphere of
the place was normal. In the little
drawing room her last .apprehe ensions
vanished. The professor from Paris
was already there, the local doctor.
Londe and his wife. Ann gave a little
gasp as she shook hands with her
hostess. The vicomte had not ex.
aggerated Judith, in her gown of
pale blue velvet, a rope of pearls
around her neck, her beautiful hair
becomingly arranged. youth and
health alight in her face. was indie
scribable. She seemed scarcely more
than % years of age, and she had
the conquering presence of woman
at whose feet the world lay. Her
welcome to Ann was kindly hut in
different. She had the air OF never
having seen her before. They went
to dinner almost at once.
Forever afterwards that meal re-
manned a haZy memory with Ann.
! Its appurtenances were all, of their
kind. perfect. One or other OF the
guests talked to her and she replied,
glibly enough. but mecha nically She
could not keep her eyes away from
Londe. He was at once the perfect
host the savant. the courtier. He
kept Professor Trenchard interested,
at times almost excited, yet he
never allowed the general converse
tion to flag.
He dropped valuable hint to the
doctor AZ to one of his cases. ex-
planned minutely the only safe sys-
TEN Of roulette by the use of which
heavy loss was impossible and smil-
ingiy acknowledged that his own
large winnings were solely matter
of chance ~ that he had not the pa
thence himself to play upon any sys-
tenn at all.
The meal drew to an end At
Londes request coffee and lioueurs
were served at the table. With only
two women. he suggested AN adjourn.
ment was unsociable. A little haze
of cigarette smoke hung around the
table. Conversation grew louder at
one end. softer at the other. The
Vicomte was leaning toward Judith.
Her eyes shone like brilliant but
unspeaking stars through the haze.
. And then Ann was suddenly
conscious that she was struggling
against curiously potent sense of
sleepiness. The voices around her
died away, became louder again and
then receded like the waves of the
sea. Her eyes ached, her head drop
ped. She felt herself mumbling an
apology. She lurched a little for.
ward. Once more the voices had gone.
There was si1ence-relief
The awakening was the most won
derful thing she had ever known.
1t came suddenly and without q start,
just as though she had opened her
eyes after a long nights sleep in her
own bed She sat up and looked
around her. dazed and incredulous
The most amazing thing of all was
that she was still at the dinner table
The sunlight was shining full into the
| room, paling the electric light, giving
a strange impression of debauchery to
the remains of the dessert, the half
filed wine and liquor glasses, the
cigarette ashes on the plates. Oppo-
site to her, as though aroused by her
movement. the doctor opened his eyes
and gazed wonderingly around. The
professor followed suit.
The vicomte. with a. little groan.
staggered to his feet. Only two