The sun was blazing gloriously next day, the whole air was full of
freshness and spring and youth. An ideal one for lovers, and not at all
the atmosphere for anger and strife. But these facts did not enter into
the consideration of three of the people, at least, connected with our
little comedy.
Eustace Medlicott woke more full of wrath than he had been the night
before, and, the moment he was dressed, proceeded to make havoc with
the peace of the Reverend Canon and Mrs. Ebley. He sent up an urgent
summons that they would see him immediately. Having no sitting-room, he
suggested the reading-room, which would be empty at this hour.
The Aunt Caroline had experienced some misgivings herself at the
Embassy about her niece's absence with the foreign count, who had risen
to this distinctive appellation in her mind from "that dreadful man,"
but she had felt it more prudent not to comment upon her apprehensions
to her niece. Eustace evidently had discovered further cause of
resentment and feminine curiosity assisted her to dress with greater
rapidity than usual.
The pair entered the room with grave faces and took two uncomfortable
chairs.
The Reverend Mr. Medlicott remained standing, and soon, from his
commanding position, let them hear his version of the hated foreigner's
communications. They were duly horrified and surprised and then Mrs.
Ebley bridled a little--after all, it was the behavior of her own niece
upon which aspersion was being cast.
"I am certain, Eustace, the man must be mad--I assure you, Stella has
not been for an instant absent from me, except yesterday morning she
went to the Thermes Museum with Martha, whom you know has proved by
twenty-five years of faithful service that she can be completely
trusted, therefore the girl cannot have had any opportunity of
conversing with this stranger until last night. It would be only fair
to question her first--"
"My wife is quite right," Canon Ebley agreed. "We should listen to no
more until Stella is here to defend herself. Let us send a message for
her to descend at once."
He went and rang the bell as he spoke, and the summons to Miss Rawson
was dispatched. Then the three somewhat uncomfortably tried to exchange
platitudes upon indifferent subjects until the waiter returned.
Mademoiselle was very fatigued and was not yet up! Such an unheard of
thing petrified them all with astonishment. Stella to be still in bed,
at half past nine in the morning! The child must be ill!--or it was
distinct rebellion. Mrs. Ebley prepared to go and investigate matters
when another waiter entered with a note for Canon Ebley, and stood
aside to receive the answer.
"Dear, dear!" said that gentleman to his wife, "I have not my glasses
with me, I came down in such a hurry. Will you read it to me?"
But Mrs. Ebley was in a like plight, so they were obliged to enlist the
services of Eustace Medlicott.
He knew the writing directly he glanced at it and every move of his
body stiffened with renewed anger. And it is to be feared he said to
himself, "it is from that cursed man."
He read it aloud, and it was the briefest and most courteous note
asking for the honor of an interview at whatever time would be most
agreeable to Canon Ebley. The nature of the business to be discussed at
it was not stated.
"I strongly advise you not to see the scoundrel," Mr. Medlicott said
vehemently. "It is far better that we should all leave Rome immediately
and avoid any chance of scandal."
"Before we can decide anything," Mrs. Ebley said decisively, "I must
speak with my niece. If she is quite ignorant of this foreigner's
ravings, then there will be no necessity to alter our trip--we can
merely move to another hotel. The whole thing is most unpleasant and
irritating and has quite upset me."
Stella, upstairs in her cosy bed, had meanwhile received another note
from her lover. Full of tenderness and encouragement, it made her feel
as bold as a young lioness and ready to brave any attack. That her aunt
had not been to see why she was not dressed already was filling her
with surprise, and after the waiter had brought the message she guessed
the reason why.
A firm tap to the door presently and her Aunt Caroline's voice saying
sternly. "It is I, Stella, please let me in at once."
Miss Rawson got out of bed, unlocked the door and bounded back again,
and a figure of dignified displeasure sailed into the room.
"Are you ill, my dear?" Mrs. Ebley asked, in a stern voice. "It is
otherwise very strange that you should not be dressed at this hour--it
is a quarter to ten o'clock."
"No, I am not exactly ill, Aunt Caroline," Stella answered gently, "but
I was very tired, and as I was making up my mind what I should say in
my letter to Eustace to break off my engagement--I preferred not to
come down until I had done so."
The Aunt Caroline could not believe her ears. She was obliged to sit
down. Her emotion made her knees tremble. It was true then--something
had been going on under her very eyes and she had not perceived it--the
deceit and perfidy of human nature had always been a shock to her--
"You wish to break your engagement, Stella," she said, as soon as she
could steady her voice. "But you cannot possibly do so scandalous a
thing--and for what reason, pray?"
"I find I do not love Eustace," Stella answered calmly, although her
heart now began to beat rapidly. "I know I never have loved him; it was
only because I thought it would please you and Uncle Erasmus that I
ever became engaged to him, and now that I know what love is--I mean
now that the time is getting nearer, I feel that I cannot go through
with it."
"There is something underneath all this, Stella," Mrs. Ebley said
icily. "You cannot deceive me. You have been led astray, girl--it is
wiser to confess at once and I will try to pardon you."
Stella's spirit rose--she raised her head proudly, then she remembered
her lover's counsel to have no arguments whatsoever, and so she curbed
her heated words and continued gently:
"I have not been led astray, Aunt Caroline, and there is nothing to
pardon. I am twenty-one years old now and surely can judge for myself
whether or no I wish to marry a man--and I have decided I do not intend
to marry Eustace Medlicott. I almost feel I detest him."
Mrs. Ebley was petrified with anger and astonishment.
"I am sorry to tell you I cannot believe you, Stella," she said, "your
fiance had a most unpleasant shock last night. The foreign person,
Count Roumovski, who was presented to us at the Embassy, insulted him
greatly, and told him that you had agreed to marry him as soon as
Eustace should set you free! I almost blush to repeat to you this
shocking story which we had considered the ravings of a madman, but the
time has come when we must have some plain speaking."
"It has indeed," Stella agreed, her wrath rising, then went on
respectfully, "but I must refuse to discuss anything about Count
Roumovski at present. Please believe me that I do not wish to annoy
you, dear Aunt Caroline. I only wish to do what is right, and I know it
is right to break off my engagement with Eustace Medlicott."
Mrs. Ebley felt her anger augmenting to boiling point, but nothing, she
could say had any effect upon her niece, who remained extremely
respectful and gentle, but perfectly firm. Mrs. Ebley could not get her
to tell her anything about her acquaintance with this dreadful
foreigner. She became silent after she had refused point blank to
discuss him. At last the baffled and exasperated older lady got up and
fired her last shot.
"Words cannot express my pain and disgust at your conduct, Stella," she
said. "Putting aside all the awful suspicions I have about this
Russian, you will lay up for yourself a lifelong regret in outraging
all decency by refusing to marry that good and pure young clergyman,
Eustace Medlicott."
"I have done nothing wrong, Aunt Caroline, please do not go away angry
with me," Stella pleaded. "When Count Roumovski asks Uncle Erasmus' and
your consent to his marrying me--then I will tell you everything about
him,--but now I do not wish to. Please forgive me for causing you
pain--we shall all be very happy soon, and surely I have a right to my
life like any other person."
Mrs. Ebley would not bandy further words; their points of view were too
different.
"I regret that I am obliged to request you to keep your room and have
no communication with anyone whatever until I can consult with your
uncle and Eustace as to what is the best thing to do with you. That we
shall leave Rome immediately you may be prepared for."
Stella here burst into tears. She had an affection for her aunt, who
had always been kind to her in a hard, cold way, and she was deeply
grieved at their estrangement, but there were forces in life which she
knew now mattered more than any aunts in the world.
Mrs. Ebley did not relent at the sound of the sobbing, but left the
room, closing the door firmly after her. And a few minutes afterward
Martha was let in by the chambermaid without knocking and sat down
grimly by the window and began to knit.
Then Stella's tears turned to resentment. To be insulted so! To have a
servant sent to watch her was more than she would bear. But as she
turned in bed she felt her lover's note touch her and like a magic wand
a thrill of comfort rushed through her. After all, he would settle
things for her--and meanwhile she would close her eyes and pretend to
sleep. So with her precious love letter clasped tight in her hand under
the clothes she turned her face to the wall and shut her eyes.
Meanwhile, Canon Ebley and the Reverend Eustace Medlicott were spending
a very disagreeable time in the reading-room. Relieved of Mrs. Ebley's
presence, Eustace had recounted more fully the interview he had had
with Sasha Roumovski the night before. He was not a very accurate
person and apt to color everything with his own prejudice, so Canon
Ebley did not obtain a very clear idea of the Russian's arguments. They
seemed to him to be very unorthodox and carnal and reprehensible from
all points. But it was evident they were dealing with a clever and
dangerous character and Stella must be rescued from such a person's
influence and married off to her lawful fiance at once.
"We could have the ceremony here, Eustace, in three weeks' time, or we
could go back to England immediately, for until our niece is your wife
I am sure her aunt and myself will not feel easy about her."
"Nor I either," Mr. Medlicott returned, and at that moment the Aunt
Caroline entered the room and gradually disclosed the awful truth she
had arrived at from Miss Rawson's admissions.
"That dreadful foreigner must be told at once we refuse to have any
communication with him and Stella shall be kept locked in her room
until we can leave Rome," Mrs. Ebley said sternly. "I could not have
believed my own sister's child could have behaved so disgracefully."
"Dear, dear," said Canon Ebley, "but we must get at the facts of when
she has been able to see this Russian. It is impossible that the
present state of things could have arisen from merely last night at the
Embassy."
At this stage of the proceedings, it being a public room, Count
Roumovski entered it serenely and, coming toward the group, made a
stiff bow to each in turn.
"I believe you have received my letter, sir," he said, addressing Canon
Ebley, "but, as I have had no reply, I ventured to present myself
without further delay--"
"We do not wish for any communication from you," Eustace Medlicott
hastened to announce before either of the others could speak. "I have
informed Canon and Mrs. Ebley of your disgraceful conduct and that is
sufficient. We shall discuss nothing further."
"I was not addressing you, sir," Count Roumovski returned mildly. "My
business with you terminated last night." And he turned his shoulders
to the irate junior chaplain and looked Canon Ebley straight in the
face. "I am here to ask for the hand of your niece, Miss Rawson, as she
is now free from other engagements, and with her full consent I desire
to make her my wife."
"Come, Erasmus," Mrs. Ebley said with icy dignity. "Let us go up to our
apartment and if this person annoys us further we can complain to the
manager of the hotel," then, with an annihilating glance, she took her
husband's arm and drew him toward the door.
"As you will, madame," and the Russian gentleman bowed with respectful
serenity. "It would have been more sensible to have taken my request
otherwise, but it is, after all, quite immaterial. I will wish you a
good-day," and he bowed again as Canon Ebley and his outraged spouse
sailed from the room--and, with an exclamation of suppressed fury,
Eustace Medlicott followed in their wake.
Then Count Roumovski laughed softly to himself and, sitting down at a
writing-table, wrote a letter to his beloved. His whole plan of life
was simple and direct. He had done what he considered was necessary in
the affair, he had behaved with perfect openness and honor in his
demand, and if these people could not see the thing from a common sense
point of view, they were no longer to be considered. He would take the
law into his own hands.
When he had finished his note he went straight up in the lift to the
corridor where Stella's room was and there saw in the distance her
raging and discomfited late betrothed evidently keeping watch and ward.
Count Roumovski did not hesitate a second; he advanced to the door and
knocked firmly on the panel, slipping his letter through the little
slide for such things before Mr. Medlicott could bound forward and
prevent him.
"A letter for you, mademoiselle, from me, Sasha Roumovski," he said in
French in a loud enough voice for the occupant of the room to hear, and
then he stood still for a second, as both men heard Stella jump from
her bed and rush to the door to take the missive before Martha from the
place at the window could intercept it.
"Do not dare to touch that, Martha," they heard her voice say
haughtily, and then she called out, "Sasha, I have it safe and I will
do exactly as you direct."
Count Roumovski looked at Eustace Medlicott, who stood as a
spread-eagle in front of the door--and then, smiling, went calmly on
his way.
The Reverend Mr. Medlicott shook with burning rage. He was being made
to look ridiculous and he was absolutely impotent to retaliate in any
way. He would bring scandal upon them all if waiters and other guests
saw him guarding Miss Rawson's actual door, and he could not sit
outside like a valet; the whole thing was unspeakably maddening, and
murderous thoughts flooded his brain.
"Give me that letter this minute, Stella," he said in an almost
inarticulate voice through the keyhole, he was so shaken with passion.
"Open the door and let Martha hand it to me. You are disgracing us all."
"It is you who are doing that, Eustace," Stella said from beyond the
panel, lifting the slide that her voice might be heard distinctly. "You
have no authority over me at all. I told Aunt Caroline I did not intend
to continue my engagement with you--but even if I had not decided to
break it off, this conduct of yours would now be sufficient reason. How
dare you all treat me as though I were a naughty child or insane!"
"Because you are both," Mr. Medlicott returned, "and must be controlled
and compelled into a proper behavior."
Stella was silent--she would not be so undignified as to parley
further. She got back into bed, taking not the slightest notice of the
maid, and then proceeded to read her letter.
Her lover had explained in it the situation and advised her to dress at
once, and then if menaced in any way to ring the bell. Ivan would be
waiting outside to obey her slightest orders, and to warn his master if
any fresh moves were made, so that when the waiter or chambermaid came
in answer to her summons she might be sure of extra help at hand. Then
she was to walk out and down into the hall, where he, Sasha, would be
watching for her and ready to take her to the Excelsior Hotel, where
that same evening would arrive the Princess Urazov. "But if they do not
molest you, dearest," he wrote, "do not leave your room until seven
o'clock, because I wish my sister to be in the hall ready to receive
you that your family can see that I only desire to do everything right."
And as she finished reading, Stella got up and told Martha to prepare
her things.
"I have no orders from Mrs. Ebley for that, Miss Stella," the woman
answered sullenly. "I do wonder what has come over everybody. I never
was in such an uncomfortable position in my life."
Stella made no answer, but proceeded to dress herself, and then sat
down to read again the letters she had received in the last twenty-four
hours.
If her family, who knew her, could treat her in this abominable way,
when she had committed no fault except the very human one of desiring
to be the arbiter of her own fate, she surely owed no further obedience
to them. So she waited calmly for a fresh turn of events.
Her luncheon was brought up on a tray by the waiter, and some for
Martha also, and the two ate in silence, until Stella suddenly burst
into a merry peal of laughter, it was so grotesquely comic! A grown up
English girl in these days locked in her room with a dragon duenna
gaoler!
"Martha, isn't it too funny, the whole thing!" she said, between her
gurgles. "Can't you laugh, you old goose! and to think how sorry you
will be, you were so horrid, when I am gone, because, of course, you
know you cannot keep me once I make up my mind to go."
"Mrs. Ebley said I was to have no conversation with you, Miss," Martha
said, glumly, at which Stella laughed afresh.
Meanwhile Count Roumovski had made all arrangements at the Excelsior
Hotel, and after lunch sat quietly in the hall awaiting his beloved.
Mrs. Ebley had felt too upset to go down to the restaurant, so the two
clergymen were there alone, and glanced wrathfully at the imperturbable
face of Count Roumovski seated at his usual table, with his air of
detached aloofness and perfect calm. They, on the contrary, were so
boiling with rage that they knew not what they ate.
After lunch it had been decided that the party should leave the Grand
and take the five o'clock train to Florence, and their preparations
were made.
Mrs. Ebley had herself been laboriously packing so as not to take
Martha from her post, and orders were whispered to that faithful
Abigail through Stella's letter slide to pack Miss Rawson's things at
once.
Stella watched these preparations serenely, and gave Martha directions
as to what to put on the top. Then when all was finished and she had
donned her hat, she rang the electric bell for the waiter, and when he
knocked at the door she calmly bade him enter, which, of course, he was
able to do with his key, and she told him in French, which Martha did
not understand, to send the porters there immediately, and have her
luggage consigned to the care of the servant who would be waiting in
the passage. This person would give orders for its destination. The
waiter bowed obsequiously. Had he not been already heavily tipped by
this intelligent Ivan, and instructed instantly to obey the orders of
mademoiselle?
"It is much better I am before them," Stella thought to herself, while
Martha looked on in rageful bafflement.
"The porters will come up and take the trunks outside, Martha," Miss
Rawson said. "You can give them what orders aunt told you to."
Such was her supreme confidence in the methods of her lover that she
felt sure once Ivan was apprised of the fact by the waiter that the
trunks would be consigned to him it would not matter what Martha said
to the porters! So she calmly sat down by the window and folded her
hands, while the elderly maid fumed with the uncertainty of what she
ought to do. And in a few moments the men appeared, and smilingly
seemed to understand the gestures and English orders of Martha to take
the trunks to the door of Madam Ebley, number 325, round the corner of
the passage and on the opposite side.
They nodded their heads wisely and carried the box out, shutting the
door after them, and then there was silence for a while; and Stella
half-dozed in her chair, it was so warm and peaceful by the window and
she had had so little sleep in the night.
An hour passed, and at four o'clock the Aunt Caroline appeared. Her
face was grim. Had Stella been an outcast in deed and word she could
not have looked more disdainful.
"You must come down with me now, Stella," she said, "we are ready to go
to the station. I will remain with you here until Martha gets her hat."
Stella rose to her feet and before the astonished lady could speak
more, she had swiftly passed her and gained the door, which she threw
open, and, like a fawn, rushed down the passage toward the staircase
entrance side of the hotel, and by the time her slowly moving aunt had
emerged from the room she had turned the corner and was out of sight.
Fortunately, she met no one on the stairs except one astonished page,
and arrived in the outer corridor breathless with excitement and
emotion.
Count Roumovski saw her through the door of the hall, and hastened to
meet her.
"There is not a moment to be lost," she said, as he got to her side.
"Go to the place you went before under the trees," he whispered
hurriedly in return. "The automobile is there, and I will follow
presently." So she went.
Her knees would hardly support her, she trembled so, until she was safe
in the big blue motor, which moved off at once. For an awful moment a
hideous sense of terror overcame her, making her cold. What lay in
front of her? What new fate?--and then joy and life came back. She was
going to freedom and love-away from Exminster and dreary duties--away
from Eustace Medlicott, for ever! For, of course, her uncle and aunt
would come round in time, and they could be happy again with her some
day.
When Mrs. Ebley had collected her scattered senses and followed down
the passage only to find Stella out of sight, she was obliged to
retrace her steps and rejoin her husband and Mr. Medlicott, who were
awaiting her at the lift on the other side, the restaurant end, which
was the one they were accustomed to descend by.
"She ran away from me, Erasmus!" the agitated lady cried, "passed me
without a word, and I suppose has gone down the stairs--if we hasten in
the lift we shall catch her yet."
But as they frantically rang the bell and the lift boy did not come,
Eustace Medlicott, with a most unsaintly exclamation, hastened off by
that staircase and arrived in the hall to see the hated Russian calmly
smoking his cigarette and reading an English paper.
He advanced upon him regardless of the numbers of people beginning to
assemble for tea.
"What have you done with Miss Rawson?" he asked furiously. "She has
this moment run away from her aunt."
"I have nothing to converse with you about," Count Roumovski returned,
with mild surprise. "And, as I see it is four o'clock, I must wish you
a good-day, as I have an appointment," with which he rose quietly
before the other could prevent him, and crossed the broad path of
carpet which separates the groups of chairs, and there was seen to
enter into earnest conversation with a Russian-looking individual who
had just entered.
The Reverend Mr. Medlicott was nonplussed, and hurried into the front
vestibule, where he made rapid inquiries of the hall-porter.
Yes--the young lady, he believed, had walked out of the hotel not two
minutes before. Monsieur would overtake her certainly, if he hastened.
And the frantic young man rushed from the door, through the porte
cochere, and so to the street, but all he saw in the far distance was a
retreating large, blue automobile--and this conveyed among all the rest
of the traffic no impression whatever.
To search for Stella was hopeless; the only thing to do was to return
to the Ebleys, and with them go to the Embassy. There they could,
perhaps, get advice and help how to communicate with the police.
But what an ignominious position for a Bishop's junior chaplain to be
placed in, a humiliation in every way!