Isobel, her chair drawn a little behind the curtain, was almost
invisible from the house. With both hands she held the cluster of pink
roses which she had found upon the seat. Gravely, but with wonderful
self-composure, she followed the action of the play with an intentness
which never faltered. Occasionally she leaned a little forward, and at
such moments her profile passed the droop of the curtain, and was
visible to the greater part of the audience. It was immediately after
one of such movements that I noticed some commotion amongst the
occupants of the box opposite to us. Their attention seemed suddenly
drawn towards Isobel--two sets of opera-glasses were steadily levelled
at her. A woman, whose neck and arms were ablaze with diamonds, raised
her lorgnettes, and, regardless of the progress of the play, kept them
fixed in our direction. I changed my position to obtain a better view of
these people, and immediately I understood.
I saw the house now for the first time, and I saw something which
pleased me very little. We were immediately opposite the Royal box,
which, with the one adjoining, was occupied by a very brilliant little
party. The Archduchess was there. It was she whose lorgnettes were still
unfalteringly directed towards Isobel. Lady Delahaye sat in the
background, and a greater personage than either occupied the chair next
to the Archduchess. Soon I saw that they were all whispering together,
all still looking from Isobel towards the stage, and from the stage to
Isobel; and in the background was a man whose coat was covered with
orders, and who held himself like a soldier. He looked at Isobel as one
might look at a ghost. I stood back almost hidden in the shadows, and I
wondered more than ever what the end of all these things might be.
Towards the close of the act that wonderful voice, with its low burden
of sorrow so marvellously controlled, drew me against my will to the
front of the box. He stood there with outstretched arms, the prototype
of all pathos, and the low words, drawn as it were against his will from
his tremulous lips, kept the whole house breathless. His arms dropped to
his side, the curtain commenced to fall. In that moment his eyes,
suddenly uplifted, met mine. It seemed to me that they were charged with
meaning, and I read their message rightly. After all, though, I am not
sure that I needed any warning.
The curtain fell. There was twenty minutes' interval. Isobel sat back in
her chair, and her hand lingered lovingly about the roses which lay upon
her lap. I did not speak to her. I knew that she was living in a little
world of her own, into which any ordinary intrusion was almost
sacrilege. Arthur and Allan had left their places. I judged rightly that
they had gone home. So I sat by myself, and waited for what I knew was
sure to happen.
And presently it came--the knock at the box door for which I had been
listening. I rose and opened it. A tall young Englishman, with smooth
parted hair, whose evening attire was so immaculate as to become almost
an offence, stood and stared at me through his eyeglass.
"Mr. Greatson!" he suggested. "Mr. Arnold Greatson?"
I acknowledged the fact with becoming meekness.
"My name is Milton," he said--"Captain Angus Milton. I am in the suite
of the Archduchess for this evening. Her Highness occupies the box
opposite to yours."
I bowed.
"I have noticed the fact," I answered. "The Archduchess has been good
enough to favour us with some attention."
The young man stared at me for some moments. I found myself able to
endure his scrutiny.
"Her Highness desires that you and the young lady"--for the first time
he bowed towards Isobel--"will be so good as to come to the anteroom of
the Royal box. She is anxious for a few minutes' conversation with you."
"The Archduchess," I answered, "does us too much honour! I shall be
glad, however, if you will inform her that we will take another
opportunity of waiting upon her. Miss de Sorrens is much interested in
the play."
The young man dropped his eyeglass. I was proud of the fact that I had
succeeded in surprising him.
"You mean," he exclaimed softly, "that you won't--that you don't want to
come?"
"Precisely," I answered. "I have already had the honour of one interview
with the Archduchess, and I imagine that no useful purpose would be
served by re-opening the subject of our discussion!"
"The young lady, then?" he remarked, turning again to Isobel.
"The young lady remains under my charge," I answered. "You will be so
good as to express my regrets to the Archduchess."
He hesitated for a moment, and then, with a slight bow to Isobel, left
us. She spoke to me, and we had been so long silent that our voices
sounded strange.
"Thank you, Arnold," she said quietly. "This is all so wonderful that I
could not bear to have it disturbed."
"I pray that it may not be," I answered. "The Archduchess's interest is
flattering, but mysterious. I for one do not trust her. I wish----"
I broke off in my speech, for I saw that the principal seat in the
opposite box was vacant. As for Isobel, I doubt whether she noticed my
sudden pause. Her hands were still caressing the soft pink blossoms in
her lap, her eyes were fixed upon vacancy. She was in a sort of dream,
from which I did not care to rouse her. I knew very well that the
awakening would come fast enough.
Another imperative tap upon the door. I opened it, and the Archduchess
swept past me. In the darkness of our box her diamonds glittered like
fire, the perfume from her draperies was stronger by far than the
delicate fragrance of the roses which Isobel still held. Me she ignored
altogether. She went straight up to Isobel, and, stooping down, rested
her gloved hand upon the girl's shoulder.
"I sent for you just now," she said. "Did you not understand?"
Isobel raised her eyebrows. The Archduchess was angry, and her voice
betrayed her.
"I do not know any reason," Isobel answered, "why I should do your
bidding."
[Illustration: "I do not know any reason" Isobel answered, "why I should
do your bidding."]
The Archduchess was silent for a moment. I think that she was waiting
until she could control her voice.
"Isobel," she said, "I will tell you a very good reason. I cannot keep
silence any longer. They will not give you up to me any other way, so I
have come to claim you openly. You shall know the truth. I am your
mother's sister!"
Isobel rose slowly to her feet. She was as tall as the Archduchess, and
the likeness which had always haunted me was unmistakable. Only Isobel
was of the finer mould, and her eyes were different.
"Why did you not tell me this before--at the Mordaunt Rooms, for
instance?" she asked.
"You came upon me like a thunderclap," the Archduchess answered quickly.
"For years we had lost all trace of you. Besides, there were
reasons--you know that there were reasons why I might surely have been
forgiven for hesitating. But let that go. We had better have your story
blazoned out once more to the world than that you should live your life
in this hole-and-corner fashion. I shall take you back to Waldenburg. I
presume, sir!" she added, turning suddenly towards me, "that even you
will not question my right to assume the guardianship of my own niece?"
The memory of Feurgéres' look came to my aid, or I scarcely know how I
should have answered her.
"Your Highness," I said, "it is for Isobel to decide. She is no longer a
child. Only I would remind you that you have on more than one occasion
endeavoured to assume that guardianship without mentioning any such
relationship."
"You know Isobel's history," the Archduchess answered. "Can you wonder
that I was anxious to avoid all publicity?"
"Your Highness," I said, "we do not know Isobel's history--yet. We shall
hear it to-night."
"He has not told you--yet?" she asked incredulously.
"He is coming to my rooms to-night," I answered.
"You shall hear it before then," she exclaimed, with a little laugh.
"Put on your hat, child. We will drive to my house, you and I and Mr.
Greatson, and I will tell you everything. You will know then how greatly
that man insulted you by daring to allow you to occupy this box, to
approach you at all."
"Madame," Isobel said, "I thank you, but I wish to hear the end of the
play. And as for my history, Monsieur Feurgéres has promised to tell it
to Mr. Greatson to-night."
I saw the Archduchess's teeth meet, and a spot of colour that burned in
her cheeks.
"You talk like a fool, child," she said fiercely. "You are being
deceived on every side. It is not fit that that man should come into
your presence. It is a disgrace that you should mention his name."
"Mr.--Monsieur Feurgéres has proved himself my friend," Isobel answered
quietly.
The Archduchess's eyes were burning. She was a woman of violent temper,
and it was fast becoming beyond her control.
"Child," she said, "I am your aunt, the daughter of the King of
Waldenburg. You, too, are of the same race. You know well that I speak
the truth. How dare you talk to me of a creature like Feurgéres? You
have our blood in your veins. I command you to come with me, and break
off at once and for ever these remarkable associations. You shall make
what return you will later on to those whom you may think"--she darted a
contemptuous glance at me--"have been your friends. But from this moment
I claim you. Come!"
Isobel looked her aunt in the face. She spoke courteously, but without
faltering.
"Madame," she said, "it is not possible for me to do as you ask.
Whatever plans are made for my future, it is to my dear friend here,"
she said, looking across at me with shining eyes, "that I owe
everything. And as for Monsieur Feurgéres, I have promised him to occupy
this box for this evening, and I shall do so."
The Archduchess was very white.
"You force me to tell you, child," she said. "This creature Feurgéres
was your mother's----"
"Your Highness!" I cried.
She stopped short and bit her lip. Isobel was very pale, but she pointed
to the door. The orchestra had commenced to play.
"Madame," she said, "Monsieur Feurgéres loved my mother. I shall keep my
word to him."
There was a soft knock at the door. Captain Milton stood on the
threshold.
"Your Highness," he said, bowing low, "the curtain will rise in thirty
seconds."
The Archduchess left us without a word.