Evening star., 1941-03-25

you must know"
She shook her head.
81 don't care about that. Any
way, that's not the real reason why
you told me to stay away! It's an
other woman. 1t always is Who
Is it this time?'
Involuntarily VaSlav glanced to-
ward the rehearsal room. He recov-
cred himself.
Never be jealous, my golden one.
1t is woman'S least becoming trallty.
But I shall prove your suspicious
are, as usual, unjust. If you will
wait only little while. until finish
this rehearsal, 1 shall jein you"
"Where?"
where but our usual place?" He
beckoned to the skirted valet,
"IVan|
Lacy Gladys touched Vaslavs
arm: You promise?"
of course!"
Silently the servant preceded her
to the end of the hall. He touched
a wall hanging and it moved aside,
revealing a tiny house elevator. The
man stood aside for Lady Gladys
to pass AS the lift assembled, the
wallhanging fell back into place.
Vaslav returned thoughtfully to
the rehearsal room. A few moments
later he was explaining volubly to
BrlnGa the significance OF the num-
bered squares on the cheSsboard.
Explains Step Sequences.
"It SimplitieS renearSals greatly"
he said, Merely by remembering a
sequence of numbers, it is impOS-
Sible to make a mistake. OF course,
in actual performance, the numbers
will not be visible from the audi
ence. But they will be there 8. for
you and the other dancers to fol-
low"
1T sounds little mechanical"
mo doubt he agreed. But I
am sure it will prove helpful, even
for you. AS for those others" he
indicated the girls rehearsing-"for
them it is necessary. They would
not remember without it"
At the end of a half hour, he
abruptly cut the rehearsal short.
My car will take you where you
wish to 60" he told Brinda, after
escorting her to the door. There
will be another rehearsal the day
after tomorrow. May I count on
you?'
IT suppose So" said Brinda, little
vaguely, her thoughts busy with the
problem Of her incalculable host.
n
Goodnight my premiere DAN
seuse"
She sank back in the luxurious
car cushions . Not until the car
had gone several blocks did she no
tice that the chauffeur was not the
one who had driven her before.
LADY GLADYS waited impatiently.
This room was known to few OF
Prince Vaslav's visitors. 1t was a
strictly private retreat on an upper
floor. so constructed that no sign
of if was visible from the stairs or
hall. It contained a desk, books in
a half dozen languages, an immense
FURNISHED geographical globe, a
lounge, luXuriously deep.
quite long rehearsal" she said
acidly, as VaSlav entered.
Speaks in Russian.
Without answering. he picked up I
en- intercommunicating phone af-
fixed to low table beside the
lounge. He spoke rapidly into the
transmitter-in Russian.
What did you say?" asked Gladys
as he hung up.
VaSlav smiled.
"Only that I am not to be dis
turbed,"
He disposed his strong, supple
figure carelessly on the divan,
ordering gently, "A cigarette, my
dear"
Lady GLADYS drew a sharp breath.
For a moment she stood motionleSS, .
her head lifted haughtily. Then she
obeyed.
"A light"
She held the flame close.
Vaslav eXhalted careful ring OF /
smoke. removed the cigarette and
with his free hand drew her face .
to his. Their lips merged in long /
kiss.
do you know" he said, your
hair is very beautiful in this light?"
DO you know" Gladys replied,
"that you are the most heartless, /.
unscrupulous, fascinating man in
London?"
Vaslav laid the cigarette aside.
Nonsense, my darling. I am only
a very simple fellow. who pene-
trated your pose of British hauteur.
I knew at once that you were
most human, a most voluptuous
woman =. and that in spite of your
attempt to impersonate an austere
society snob! So made love to you,
like a sensible man; and like a nor
NAL, you responded"
But do you love me?" The voice
Of the Mountwyn heiress strove to
be casual The attempt was not
signal success. She went on, You
bewilder me so, darling-you are so
mysterious-and there are so many
other women . . there was new
one tonight, wasn't there?"
Gladys Is Enraged.
Vaslav laughed outright.
"Yes, my dear, there was new
one, and I can thank you for max
ing her acquaintance. She is your
charming friend Brinda Duncan,
whom your excellent flance, the good
1t. Maiden, also seems to find most
attractive. I am giving her the
principal part in the Chessboard
Ballet"
Gladys sprang to her feet.
mo! won't have it! That name
less creature from nowhere! Oh, I
might have known it! 1 could see
she intrigued you from the start
that's her special gift. Even in
school she had the boys making fools
of themselves. And now you!"
Compose yourself, my golden
one" soothed Vaslav. Your friend
Brinda interests me only because
she is really marvellous dancer