strolled alongat Nellie's side. His name was Charles Holroyde, and it was he who, afew weeks later, had given Nelly the costly brooch which had been stolenfrom her throat by her assassin.
She glanced at the seat beside which she was standing. It was the oneon which they had sat that sunny afternoon when they chatted merrily,and he had first given the two girls his card. She sighed. Those dayswere passed, and even Nelly, her companion and confidante, was no more.She was, she reflected gloomily, without a single real friend.
At that moment, however, she felt a light hand upon her shoulder behindher, and a voice exclaimed,--
"Liane! At last!"
She turned quickly with a start, and next instant found herself face toface with George Stratfield.
"You, George!" she gasped, her face blanching.
"Yes, darling," he answered. "I called at your address at Nice, butthey told me you had come over here, so I followed. But what's thematter?" he asked, in consternation. "You are not well. How white youlook! Tell me what is worrying you?"
"Nothing," she answered, with a forced laugh. "Nothing whatever, Iassure you. I--I wasn't aware that I looked at all pale. Your suddenappearance startled me."
But George regarded her with suspicion. He knew from the look ofintense anxiety upon her fair countenance that she was concealing thetruth.
"Is the Captain with you?" he inquired after an awkward pause.
"Yes, he is inside," she answered. "But why have you come here?"
"To see you, Liane," he said, earnestly. "I could no longer bear to beparted from you, so one night I resolved to run out and spend a week orso in Nice, and here I am."
Her face had assumed a strange, perplexed look. He knew nothing ofZertho's existence, for loving him so well she had hesitated day by dayto write and tell him the hideous truth. She saw that he must now knowall.
She raised her clear, wonderful eyes to his as she stammered a question,asking if that was his first visit to the Riviera.
"Yes," he answered, gazing around at the Casino, the mountains, and thesea. "How charming it is here. I don't wonder that you are so fond ofit."
"I'm not fond of it?" she protested, with a sigh. "I would rather be inEngland--much rather."
"Yet you are half-French yourself! Surely this is gayer and much morepleasant than Stratfield Mortimer," he exclaimed, leaning with his backto the balustrade, glancing at her elegant dress, and noticing how wellit suited her.
"The surroundings are perhaps more picturesque," she replied, turningher gaze sea-ward. "But I was far happier there than here," She sighedand the little gloved hand holding her sunshade trembled.
"Why?" he inquired surprised.
For an instant she raised her eyes to his, then lowering her gaze,answered,--
"Why do you ask? Did I not then have you?"
"But I am here now," he said quickly. "I must, however, admit that yourwelcome was scarcely as cordial as I expected."
Her lips tightened, and she swallowed the lump rising in her throat.
"I--I cannot kiss you here, in a public place," she said, with a littlegesture of regret.
The strange coldness about her voice caused him dismay. It proved thatthe apparent apathy of her letters actually arose from indifference.His suspicions were correct. Her love had grown cold.
A heavy look of disappointment crossed his face, as pausing a moment, heglanced at her, and saw that she shivered.
"Come," he exclaimed. "You have, I believe, stood here too long. Thebreeze is perhaps chilly. Let us walk."
"I'm not cold at all," she assured him, without moving.
"Except towards me," he observed, gloomily.
"I wasn't aware that my attitude was one of indifference," she said,endeavouring to smile.
"There is a change in you, Liane," the young man declared, gazingseriously into her eyes. "Tell me, darling, what has occurred."
She held her breath for a moment. She loved him dearer than life, yetshe feared to speak the truth lest he should turn from her and renounceher as an enchantress false and unworthy. Her countenance was almostpale as the dress she wore, and her breast rose and fell convulsively.
"Nothing," she answered at last. "Nothing has occurred."
"But you are not bright and happy as you used to be," he declaredsympathetically. "Something troubles you. Confide in me, darling."
She turned her face from him and tears slowly coursed down her cheeks.But she made no response. Together they walked several times the wholelength of the terrace, and their conversation drifted to other topics.He told her of his bachelor life in London, his lonely, dreary chambers,of his desperate struggle to secure a foothold in his alreadyovercrowded profession, and of his good fortune in obtaining a littlebook-reviewing for a weekly paper.
"Now, what distresses you, Liane?" he asked at last, when again theywere standing against the parapet gazing over the sea. "Surely I mayknow?"
"No," she murmured. "No, George, you cannot."
"Do you fear to trust me--the man who loves you?" he asked in areproachful tone, grasping her hand.
"Ah!" she cried with sudden emotion, "do not make my burden heavier tobear, George. Why have you come here to me--now?"
"Why now? Are you not pleased that I should be beside you when you areunhappy?"
"Yes--I mean no," she sobbed. "Your presence here only adds to mytorture."
"Torture?" he echoed. "What do you mean, Liane?"
"I must tell you now," she gasped, clutching his arm convulsively, andraising her tearful face to his with an imploring look. "You will notthink me false, cruel and heartless--will you? But I cannot marry you."
"What!" he ejaculated, starting and regarding her in abject dismay."Why, what is there to prevent it? Surely you cannot say that you nolonger love me?"
"Ah! no," she answered, panting, her gloved hand still clutching hisarm. "I do love you, George. I swear I love you at this moment as noother woman ever can."
"Yet you cannot marry me?"
"It is impossible."
"Ah! don't say that, darling," he protested. "We love each other toowell ever to be parted."
"But we must part," she answered, in a blank, despairing voice. "Youmust no longer think of me, except as one who has loved you, as one whowill still think often, very often, of you."
"Impossible!" he cried quickly. "You told me once that you loved me,that you would wait a year or so if necessary, and that you would marryme."
"I know! I know!" she wailed, covering her face with her hands. "And Itold you the truth."
"Then you have met someone else whom you love better," he observed, in atone of poignant sorrow.
She did not reply. Her heart was too full for words. Her breath camein short, quick gasps, and she laid one hand upon the stone balustradeto steady herself.
"Ah, George," she murmured brokenly, "you do not know the fatality thatof late has encompassed me, or you would not reproach me. You wouldpity me."
He saw she was trembling. Her eyes were downcast, her chin had fallenupon her breast.
"I cannot sympathise with you, or advise you, if you will not tell methe cause of your distress," he said in a kindly tone, grasping herhand.
They were in the eastern end of the garden, at a spot but littlefrequented.
"I know you must hate me for having deceived you like this, but truly Icould not avoid it. Many, many times have I striven to write to you andtell you the truth, but my words looked so cold, formal and cruel onpaper that I always tore up the letter. While you were in ignorance Iknew that you still loved me, but now--"
"Well, I am still in ignorance," he interrupted.
"And I have lost you!" she cried despairingly.
"Why? I still love you."
"But I must not--I dare not think of love again!" she whisperedhoarsely. "From to-day we must part. You must go away and let us bothtry and forget all that has passed between us. If I have acted cruelly,forgive me. It was because
I have been so weak--because I loved you sowell."
"No," he answered firmly, "I shall not leave you, dearest. I love youstill as fondly as in the old days when we strolled together aroundStratfield; therefore you shall not send me away like this."
"But you must go," she cried. "You must go; I am betrothed."
"Betrothed?"
The colour died from his face. She hung her head, and her breast roseand fell quickly.
"Ah!" she cried, "do not hate me, George. Do not