Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1936-10-23


answered Jean. Couldn't l make my
own choice ?" He waited for a sign of
hesitation"
Sir Herbert smiled. GAS you wish.
Come along"
Jean followed him, his heart beat
ing little faster. His host led him
near his own cabin and opened door.
The painter saw a room with books
stacked in lemon-wood cases. On
various tables were bits of sculpture
bronze, Buddhas, carved jade. The
one seat in the room was deep, COM
Portable armchair.
"My retreat" said Sir Frawley.
81 think that you, too, have respect
for silence and a good book. You can
either take the book with you, just
as you desire"
"Thank you, I'll stay here" stam-
mered Hibeau. He was deeply troub
led. Were there two libraries on the
ship? The vision of the blonde girl
passed before him; also the high book
filled shelves and the Empire clock.
"I'll soon find out whether it was
a dream," he told himself.
He picked up book at random and
sat down; Frawley went out. Jean
was alone in the room. He heard the
door close. His Lordship's footsteps
receded down the passageway. An
ther step, that of Parkins, the valet,
rustled by. The captain was asleep,
having been on watch during the
night the two men of the night watch
were also sleeping. One sailor was
at the wheel, the other polishing
brass. The whole crew was account
ed for. Jean was free, to investigate.
For a quarter of an hour he look
ed through his book, then impatient
ly he listened to the sounds aboard
the ship. His breathing slightly op-
pressed, he closed the book and put
it under his arm in case of surprise,
opened the door silently and slid out
Of the room.
Jean was not familiar with the lay
out of the yachts interior. 1t took
him a little while to find the room
where he had slept. Finding it, he
stood still for a moment.
Touching a panel Of wood, he NUT
tered. "Here is the room containing
the other library"
Gently, then with increasing siren
9Th, he tried to open the door, but
it was locked. After looking up and
down the passage, he placed his ear
to the door. Then he bent and peer
ed into the keyhole. He could see sew
eral indistinct objects by the pale
light which filtered through the un-
washed glass of the portfolio. Jean
was straining his eyes to make out
when light touch on his shoulder
made him jerk erect. He turned
and saw Sir Herbert standing behind
him.
Neither spoke. Sir Herbert stared
at him coldly; their mutual silence
was embarrassing. Jean saw that he
must speak, explain himself.
"After ALL" he said resolutely, "you
can do what you want with me. I'll
be frank. You might doubt that I
did not give way to impulse of base
curiosity, but l do not make habit
of peeping through keyholes. I would
rather have repaid your hospitality
in another way, but there are times
when a gentleman must be indiscreet"
Frawley did not answer. He wait
ed-calmly, impassively.
"a few moments ago you spoke of
woman's right to respect" Jean went
on. Il don't know how the English
interpret it, but in France we have
an old word which describes the act
OF man holding woman captive.
1t is wrong. Do you recognize it,
Sir Herbert ?"
An unreadable emotion passed over
the Englishman's face.
OH, ain luII W 4lIlu you III q
position which in England we con-
slider improper and Vile But your
words are seemingly of accusive in
tent and 1 would like to have you
give lie a coherent explanation"
"Have you the means of destroying
the evidence of my ears and eyes :?
saw you menace an unfortunate wo-
man last night, without regard for
either her sex or youth. l heard you
propose pact, whose terms l do not
know, but which revolted me, never
theless. You warned her to choose
between know not what shame and
murder"
A frown creased the nobleman's
forehead. "You saw all of that, you