Evening star., 1939-08-06
THIS WEEK MAGAZINE


have met? Our friend is Mrs. Quentin
Homerton."
The Lavender Lady acknowledged
Mrs. Homerton's astonished gaze with
a warm clasp of the hand. please
forgive me, my dear" she said, and
there was new quality in her voice.
too. This is entirely Trevvy's idea.
But because l owe him so much. l
simply couldn't refuse. You see" -
her expression became almost pathetic
u lost my memory for several
years. And he found it for me again"
In state of mute amazement was
presented, as were the other members
of the company. Il feel" said Trevvy.
that owe an explanation.
Although we were assembled at
cocktail counter, no man ever had a
more attentive audience. Every men,
Der of the party knew the beautiful
Russian whom we all expected.
Il was looking for Princess Pc
trowska. She and her husband lived
retired life of exile in the South of
France, and shortly after the Princes
death, Marie informed near relative
that she proposed to visit the United
States From that moment she COM
pletely disappeared. No anxiety was
felt for some time, as the Princess -
you won't deny the fact. Marie -
was notoriously eccentric. The Laven
der Lady smiled sadly and slipped a
champagne cocktail.
Nobody moved in the matter for
over year. Marie is nearly the last of
her family - he rested his hand on
her shoulder for a moment - land l
suppose it was nobody's business.
Then, very belatedly, inquiries were
set on foot They moved slowly. but
at last the fact was discovered that
Soviet consul had issued her pass
port in the style of Marie Elizabeth
Petrowska, widow This discovery
was made only three months ago"
He paused to light cigarette for
Marie Elizabeth Petrowska. widow.
Customs authorities and shipping
companies were notified and set to
work. Marie was traced to New York,
and there all trace was lost. have
known her since was boy. She was
Marie Merstham, only daughter of
Sir John Merstham of Low Fennell,
Newdigate, Surrey. I was guest at
her wedding in Paris"
Dear Trevvy." whispered the
Lavender Lady - and something of
the quaver came into her voice as she
touched his hand.
The credit for what follows be-
longs to your admirable Secret Serv-
ice. l was asked to call upon Miss
Kingswood. living in Hartley Corners"
"Trevvy" exclaimed, you knew
her all along!'
''Of course did You see, she went
straight from New York to the coun-
try home of Senator William Blore,
an old friend of the family. (These
facts learned later: Blore is in Eu-
rope.) There she had nervous break
down, but she implored Mrs. Blore to
keep her presence secret - and her
wishes were respected. even when she
lost her memory. Always she had
loved lavender. which. when she was
a child, was extensively cultivated at
Kingswood. in Surrey. The Blores
installed her in the cottage. planted
out lavender, and humored her in her
harmless eccentricity."
"Trevvy revived the dead me, said
Princess Petrowska, again taking his
hand. HE brought two friends OF
Igor's (my late husband) to see me.
They spoke in Russian - they spoke
of the old days . and l remem-
bered."
But" somebody began - "the
Princess we knew
"A brilliantly clever spy! DE
Treville broke in. MANY of your
military and naval secrets have been
stolan hv herl Her credentials were