AN INTRODUCTION AT HURST PARK
It was pure chance that led to the introduction of Hector Woodridge,
as William Rolfe, to Fletcher Denyer.
Hector had been in London a week; he visited various places of
amusement, showed himself openly, made no attempt at concealment.
He went to the races at Hurst Park and Gatwick. It was at the famous
course on the banks of the Thames that he was made known to Denyer, by
a man he became friendly with at his hotel. There is much freedom on
the racecourse, and men, often unknown to each other, speak on various
topics connected with the sport, without introduction.
Denyer and Hector were soon in conversation, discussing the merits
of various horses. Denyer received a word from the man who introduced
them that Mr. Rolfe had money and might be exploited profitably to
both. A hint such as this was not likely to be neglected; he thought
if he could put this newly made acquaintance on a winner it would
probably result in future business. He had been advised to back Frisky
in the Flying Handicap, and told Hector it was a real good thing, and
likely to start at a long price.
Hector wondered why he should tell him. As he looked at Denyer he
fancied he had seen him before, but where he could not for the moment
recall. Denyer walked away to speak to a jockey, and Hector stood
trying to remember where he had met him. It flashed across his mind so
vividly and suddenly that he was startled--Denyer was the man he had
seen at the supper table in the hotel with Lenise Elroy. There was no
doubt about it; he remembered his face distinctly. Here was a stroke
of luck. Some guiding hand had led him to this man. He must cultivate
his acquaintance; through him he could be brought face to face with
the woman who had ruined him.
Frisky won comfortably, started at ten to one, and Hector landed a
hundred pounds. He also backed the winner of the next race, the Welter
Handicap, and doubled his hundred. This was encouraging; it was to be
a day of success--at least it appeared so.
Denyer he did not see for some time. Shortly before the last race he
noticed him walking across the paddock with a lady. It was Mrs. Elroy,
and Hector's heart almost stopped beating. For a moment he trembled
with nervous excitement, which by a great effort he suppressed.
They came up; Denyer introduced her. She held out her hand, Hector
took it, they looked into each other's eyes. There was not a shadow
of recognition on her part, but there was something else there--Lenise
Elroy had by some strange intuition thrilled at the sight of this man,
felt a wave of emotion flow through her body. She was sure she would
like him, like him very much indeed, and she immediately resolved to
better the acquaintance. Hector divined something of what passed in
her mind and smiled. He could have wished for nothing better; it was
what he most desired, but had not dared to hope for.
Denyer left them together for a moment.
"You are a friend of Mr. Denyer's?" she said in a soothing voice.
"I was introduced to him here," he said. "I have not known him more
than an hour or so. He put me on a winner, Frisky, and I also backed
the last winner. My luck is in to-day," he added, as he looked
meaningly at her.
Lenise Elroy returned his glance; she understood men. She thought she
had made a conquest and that he was worth it.
"Will you ride back to town with us in my motor?" said Denyer, as he
joined them again.
"Yes, do, Mr. Rolfe; we shall be delighted if you will. And perhaps
you will dine with us at the Savoy," she said.
Hector said he would be delighted. Fortune was indeed favoring him.
They rode to town together, and dined at the Savoy; later on they went
to the Empire. It was an eventful day and night for Hector. Before he
left, Denyer was half inclined to regret introducing him to Lenise; he
did not care for her to show preference for another man; where she was
concerned he was jealous. He reflected, however, that if she and Rolfe
became good friends it would facilitate the process of extracting
money from him, and this was his intention; every rich man he regarded
as his lawful prey. To him Rolfe appeared rather a simple-minded,
easy-going fellow; probably he had traveled a good deal, he looked
tanned with the sun, as though he had been in hot climates; such men
were generally free with their money, fond of company, and the society
of an attractive woman like Lenise, who had very few scruples about
the proprieties.
When he left, Hector promised to lunch with them the following day.
Fletcher Denyer went home with Lenise. Her maid was accustomed to
seeing him in her rooms at all hours; she had never known him remain
in the house for the night; she judged, and rightly, there was nothing
improper in their relations. The fact of the matter was, they were
mutually useful to each other. Lenise wanted some one to go about
with; and Denyer not only liked her society, but found her help to him
in many of his schemes.
She took off her cloak, handing it to her maid, then sat down on the
couch and made herself comfortable, and attractive; she knew the
full value of her personal appearance, and fine figure, and posed
accordingly. Fletcher Denyer always admired her; to-night she looked
so radiant and alluring he was fascinated, under her spell. He forgot
his caution so far as to come to the sofa, bend over her, attempt to
kiss her. She pushed him back roughly, and said: "Keep your distance,
Fletcher, or we shall fall out. You have had too much champagne."
"It's not the champagne," he said hotly; "it's your beauty; it acts
like wine. You are lovelier than ever to-night. That fellow Rolfe
admired you, any one could see it. You're not going to throw me over
for him, are you, Len?"
"Don't be a silly boy. As for throwing you over, there is no
engagement between us; we are merely good friends, and if you wish to
maintain the relationship you had better not try to kiss me again. I
hate being kissed; kisses are only for babes and sucklings," she said.
He laughed; it was no good quarreling with her. He was satisfied to
think that had any other man attempted to kiss her she would have
ordered him out of the house.
"Not much of the babe about you," he said.
"More than you think, but I'm not made to be kissed."
"That's just what you are, the most lovable woman I ever met."
She laughed.
"That champagne was certainly too strong for you," she said.
She never seemed tired; all go, no matter how late the hour; her
flow of spirits seldom flagged, her eyes always shone brightly, her
complexion never failed her; she was really a remarkable woman. No one
knew what an effort it cost her to keep up appearances--alone a change
came over her, the reaction set in. She did not care to be alone, at
times she was afraid.
"What do you think of Rolfe?" he asked.
"In what way?"
"All ways, as far as you can judge from what you have seen to-day, and
to-night," he said.
She was thoughtful. He watched her; the jealous feeling came uppermost
again.
"I think," she said slowly, "he is a man who has had a great deal of
trouble, suffered much, probably on account of a woman. I think he is
a strong man, that he is determined, and if he has an object in view
he will attain it, no matter what the obstacles in his way.
Probably he has traveled, seen a good deal of the world, had strange
experiences. He has remarkable eyes, they pierce, probe into one,
search out things. He is a fine looking man, well built, but has
probably had a severe illness not long ago. I think I shall like him;
he is worth cultivating, making a friend of."
She spoke as though no one were present. Fletcher Denyer felt for the
time being he was forgotten and resented it.
"You have analyzed him closely; you must be a character reader. Have
you ever turned your battery of close observation on me?" he asked
snappishly.
She smiled.
"You angry man, you asked me what I think of him and I have told you.
I have turned the battery on you, Fletcher. I know your worth exactly.
I am useful to you; you are useful to me--that is all."
"All!" he exclaimed.
"Well, what else? We are not in love, are we?"
"No, I suppose not. Has it ever occurred to you, Lenise, that I want
you to be my wife?" he asked.
"No, it has not occurred to me, nor has it occurred to you before
to-night," she said.
"Yes, it has."
"I doubt it. Besides, things are much better as they are. I would not
be your wife if you asked me," she said.
"Why not?" he asked.
"Because--oh, for the very sufficient reason that you could not keep
me, and I have sufficient to live upon," she said.
He saw it would be better to drop the subject and said: "You have no
objection to giving me a helping hand?"
"In what way?"
"This man Rolfe has money. I don't agree with your estimate of him as
a strong man; I think he is weak. He may be useful to me."
"You mean he may be induced to finance some of your schemes?" she
said.
"Yes; why not? Where's the harm? His money is as good as another's, or
better."
"And you think I will lure him into your financial net?" she said
calmly.
"Not exactly that; you can hint that I sometimes get in the know,
behind the scenes, and so on, then leave the rest to me," he said.
"Take care, Fletcher. This man Rolfe is more than your equal; I am
sure of it. If he is drawn into your schemes it will be for some
object of his own. Don't drag me into it."
"There's no dragging about it. You have merely to give me a good
character, say I am clever and shrewd--you know how to work it," he
said.
"Yes, I think I know how to work it," she said quietly.