The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-03-27
By
Dornford Yates
Copyright by Minton. Balch & Co.
wNU Service.
CHAPTER vIII-Continued

L udu nuhuCu iCl ONCA W AeoNASAt ANA
self again; but we had arranged no
meeting and she had not so much as
spoken, except to bid me good night
and advise me to bar my door.
I began to see the secret of Pha-
raoh's success. Once 1t was known that
to call his bluff was fatal, the man
could win game after game with the
acme of ease. This knowledge had be-
come his bulwark-"Cross Pharaoh
and die" His defense was attack
always. So long as life was worth liv-
ing, it was not worth crossing Pha-
raoh, no matter how high the reward.
Some one was knocking-tapping,
but not on the door.
AS l started up, the sound ceased.
1t had come from the direction of
the bathroom. Perhaps, If 1 waited
The tapping began again.
For moment / stood STILL listen
ing. And then was proving the PAN
cling close to the bathroom door. The
sound came from behind the wood
work.
In vain 1 sought for some handle,
while little bursts of tapping demand
ed an answer that was not ready to
give.
Suddenly 1 thought of the bathroom.
This, like the bedroom, was paneled,
and there, sure enough, key was de-
claring a cupboard sunk in the wall.
The moment I opened this, I knew
that some one beneath it was knock
ing upon It's floor.
/ saw the bolts of a trap which was
sunk in the floor of the cupboard six
feet from the door.
In an instant 1 had it open, there
was a curling staircase of polished
oak and Helena, wrapped in dress
ing gown, sitting on one of the stairs.
Beside her was standing Sabre, fairly
snuffing excitement and ready to leap.
The sight of him made me wonder
where he had been. 1 had not set eyes
on the dog for more than two hours
"Thank Cod" says Helena. 81
thought you must be asleep. And now
take Sabre, my dear, and tell him to
watch your door. And then come
down."
The watch was soon set, for Sabre
was very wise, and thirty seconds
later 1 entered my lady's room.
She pointed to a table, standing
close to the hearth, laid for one only,
but bearing enough for. three.
"Open the wine, my darling. I'll cut
the chicken up"
eve mustn't eat much" whispered.
eff we do, they'll know I've been here"
'Let them know" said Helena,
quickly "What do I care? What does
it matter John? What does anything
matter now?"
shook my head.
''This matters, Nell. Compared with
this, the forester's cottage and all was
a Sunday School show. Don't think
I'm prudish. I'm not. I'm only too
glad of a good excuse to be here. You
see, I'm a man, and I love you-from
throat to foot. But no one must ever
know it. If we stood on the steps of
a scaffold, I'd say the same"
I saw her fingers tighten about the
stem of her glass.
you're right" she said. "Im getting
my values wrong. Never mind. Sabre
can cover your tracks. I'll leave
plate on the floor and they'll think /
gave him a meal"
Absurdly enough, this arrangement
comforted me. The fragments of pro-
priety that remained were scarcely
worth taking up, all the same.
SO we broke our fast together and
shared her glass.
For five minutes we smoked in ST.
lence, regarding the leaping flames.
I threw down my cigarette and got
to my feet.
"Interlude," I said quietly. Sand
now, if you please, my darling, 1 want
you to go to bed. We've got hard
day coming and we've left a hard day
behind. It's no good our talking to-
night. I shall be on the ramparts at
nine, but I hope that you won't ap-
pear till eleven o'clock"
She did not seem to hear me, but
after a moment or two she rose to
her feet.
"John," she said, "do you love me?"
/ caught her hand and put it up to
my lips.
"You know that love you" I said,
''far more than life"
II wonder" she said. "That's ter
ribly easy to say"
"Why, Nell, what's the matterT /
whispered.
She shook her beautiful head.
"Nothing's the matter. 1 only won
dered. You see, love you-blind-
ly. There's nothing else in my world.
Reputation. Yorick, Valentine = COM
pared with you they're so many idle
words. And I naturally can't help
wondering whether you love me as
much. 1t doesn't matter you know.
neither ask nor expect it. But some
times / wonder, my darling, whether
you do"
''Give me your hands," said, "your
beautiful hands," She dropped her Gig
arctic and gave me her other hand.
'And now your eyes" She lifted her
gaze to mine. IT can't define the word