*CHAPTER XV.*
*HUNT THE SLIPPER.*
A fine perspiration stood out on Lefroy's face, he swayed to and frolike one in an advanced stage of intoxication, the Count was utterlyunmanned for the moment. As his brain and eye cleared presently,Frobisher came out of the mist in the semblance of a man who wasmanifestly enjoying himself.
"I pray you sit down," he said in his silkiest manner. "My dear Count,the heat has been too much for you. The hero of a thousand adventuressuccumbs to a high thermometer--it is possible to choke a Hercules withan orange pip. A little of the old brandy, eh?"
Frobisher's face was perfectly grave now, only the dilation of hispupils and the faint quivering of his lips denoted his amusement.Lefroy forced a smile in reply. He was conscious of the fact that thatlittle demon opposite was reading his inmost thoughts.
"Just a little of the brandy," Frobisher said coaxingly. "The kind thatI keep for my very dear friends. Ah, I am sure that is better. Now letus sit down and smoke, and forget the giddy side outside."
Lefroy nodded. The course suggested suited him admiringly. When he wasbest pleased Frobisher chatted most, and he seemed to be exceedinglypleased about something now. Lefroy would have time to recover hisscattered thoughts and define some line of action.
"You have solved the problem of the lady of the rubies?" Sir Clementasked.
"I have," Lefroy replied carelessly. "From a romantic point of view thesolution is disappointing. I expected to see a regal personage at thevery least, whereas----"
The speaker shrugged his shoulders insolently. The other smiledexpectantly.
"Go on, my dear Lefroy. I am all attention, I assure you. The lady ofthe rubies is----?"
It was on the tip of Lefroy's tongue to snarlingly reply that Frobisherknew perfectly well, but that was bad policy under the circumstances.
"You are typical of the spirit of the age," he said. "All the same, Ihardly expected to see the wife of a moneylender under your roof. LadyFrobisher----"
"Has progressed rapidly of late in the cult of the proletariat. So Mrs.Benstein is the lady of the rubies. I half expected it from thefirst--only the wife of a moneylender could sport jewels like that. Butshe is a beautiful woman, Lefroy, and she is going to make a greatsocial success."
Lefroy could only mutter something in reply. He had one great aim inview at the present moment--to get back to the ballroom and persuadeFrobisher to remain where he was. Did the Count but know it, Frobisherwas just as eager to reverse the order of the procedure. But nosuggestion of this escaped him, he sat there smiling as if he and adouble meaning were strangers.
"I am very partial to rubies myself," he said. "In a modest way I am acollector, and my uncut stones are worth an inspection. My wife alsohas the same weakness, which is another of the many strong bonds thatbind us together. I'll show them to you."
"Don't trouble," Lefroy said hastily. "Any other time will do. If youhave to fetch them----"
"Sit down. Positively you must have another drop of the brandy. Yournerves are better, but not what the nerves of a bold warrior should be."
So saying, Frobisher produced a case from a drawer and laid the contentsbefore Lefroy's eyes. In spite of himself he could not but admire. Hedid not see the keen, alert look on the face of his host as he bent downto examine the gems. People were passing the open door; there was alight ripple of laughter and conversation. Frobisher darted into thehall.
"This way a moment," he whispered, as he caught his wife by the arm."Come with me and do as I tell you. You are to keep Lefroy in yonderroom for half an hour."
He was back again before Lefroy had missed him. Lady Frobisher'sscornful eyes softened as they fell upon the tray of gems.
"We have a taste in common, then, Count," she said.
Lefroy replied suitably enough. He had a strong admiration for thewhite, cold beauty of this woman; he watched her slim fingers as shetoyed with the gems. Some of them were unnamed, whilst others hadhistories of their own. Frobisher pitched his cigarette into the grate.
"You can amuse the Count, my dear," he said. "He has had some littletouch of illness, and should be kept quiet. The gems will interest him.Meanwhile, I will endeavour to take your place."
It was all done so quickly and naturally that Lefroy could do or saynothing. Did Frobisher really know anything or not, he began to wonder.If there was any conspiracy Lady Frobisher knew nothing of it, it onlyneeded a glance at that scornful, beautiful face to feel that. She wastalking now easily and naturally enough with one of the stones in herpink palm, and Lefroy had perforce to listen. To leave the room nowwould have been an unpardonable rudeness--a _gaucherie_ Lefroy neverallowed himself to commit.
Meanwhile Frobisher had mingled with his guests. He was in no hurry.Lefroy was safely out of the way for a time, and Frobisher alwayspreferred to hunt his game leisurely. Besides, the crush of dancers andguests generally was so great that progression was a matter of somedifficulty. He came across Angela presently attired in white and with apair of gauze wings suggestive of Peace or something of that kind.
"Stop a bit," he said, "and tell me all about it. Upon my word, you arelooking exceedingly nice. By common consent, who is the success of theevening?"
"Oh, Mrs. Benstein, without doubt," Angela replied, with sincereadmiration. "She is lovely, and those rubies are simply superb.Everybody is talking about them."
"And the fortunate woman herself? How does she wear her blushinghonours?"
"Very well indeed. You know, I rather like her. Everybody is askingfor an introduction now, but at first people held aloof. I have had along chat with Mrs. Benstein, and she quite fascinated me. She is goingto be a great success."
"Of course she is with her cleverness and audacity, to say nothing ofher beauty and her jewels, it could not be otherwise. I must go and paymy respects to her. Where is she?"
But Angela had not the slightest idea. Something like a thousand peoplewere scattered about the long suite of rooms, and there were shadyalcoves and dim corners for easy conversation _a deux_. Mingled withthe brilliant throng of uniform and fancy dresses the jewelled turban ofthe Shan of Koordstan stood out. He came up with his companionsimilarly attired, and held out his hand.
"This is an unexpected pleasure, your Highness," said Frobisher. "Iheard that you were not quite----"
"Sober," the Shan said frankly. "I have been leading a deuce of a lifelately, Frobisher. My servant here, Aben Abdullah, insisted upon myputting in an appearance here to-night. He has been bullying me as hewould never dare to do at home. When we get back I shall have tobowstring him gently. He is a very valuable servant, but he knows toomuch."
Aben Abdullah bowed and smiled. The Shan extended his patronage toAngela.
"My servant knows a little English," he said. "My dear young lady, wouldit be too great a trespass on your kindness to ask you to act as hiscicerone for a time? I have a little business to discuss with SirClement. Aben is very intelligent, and he is a noble in his owncountry."
Angela expressed her pleasure. She was always ready to sacrificeherself to others; besides, she had rather taken a fancy to thishandsome young foreigner, who reminded her somehow of Harold Denvers.
"What would you like to do?" she asked, as they strolled off together.
Aben murmured something about the flowers that he had heard so muchabout. Could he see them? Angela would be delighted. They stood in alarge conservatory at length in the dim light, and then Aben smiled downinto Angela's face.
"I feel sure of my disguise now, darling," he whispered. "If I coulddeceive you, I am not in the least afraid that Sir Clement will find meout."
"But what does it mean, Harold?" Angela asked. "You certainly remindedme of yourself; but I should never have penetrated your disguise. Butthe Shan must know all about it."
"Of course he does. It is a little scheme that we have hatchedtogether. I have no time to te
ll you everything now; indeed, with soclever a man to deal with as Frobisher it is far better that you shouldnot know. But the Shan has done a very foolish thing, and his verythrone is in danger. Both Frobisher and Lefroy know this, and they willdo all they can to keep him under their control. If I can defeat thatplot and free the Shan, then I need not trouble about the future."
Angela's eyes lighted up eagerly. All her quick sympathies had beeninterested.
"You will let me help you?" she exclaimed. "Harold, I am quite sure thatyou want my assistance. I am a great deal stronger and braver than youimagine. Try me."
"I am going to try you, my dear little girl," Harold whispered. "Ishould like to kiss you at this moment, but I dare not take any risks.For the present your task is a very simple one. I want you to get acertain lady in here and sit under the shaded lamp yonder. You must gethere and keep her talking till I come back. If I hold up my two handsyour task is finished; if I come forward, you must know that I want tospeak to the lady alone."
"It all sounds very mysterious, Harold. Who is the lady?"
"They have christened her the lady of the rubies here. I was verypleased just now to hear that you had, so to speak, made friends withher. Will you go at once?"
Angela made off hurriedly, and, for the time being, Harold returned tothe ballroom. On the whole, he was not particularly enamoured of thepart he was playing: the idea of forcing himself into a house where hehad been forbidden by the host was repugnant to his finer feelings; but,on the other hand, any scheme was worthy which had for its end thedefeat of a scoundrel. As the Shan caught Harold's warning eye he leftFrobisher and moved towards his ally.
"So far there is not much the matter," Harold replied. "Miss Lyne knowsexactly what she has to do, and she will do it well. You are going tohave a pretty big surprise just now, but whether it will turn out apleasant one or the reverse I cannot say as yet. Stand here and pretendto be interested in the pictures."
Angela had been more successful in her search than Frobisher. A prosypeer had buttonholed his host and the latter could not get away for thepresent without using actual violence. Angela had found the lady of therubies sitting in a dim corner alone. She looked a little dazed andtired.
"I am not used to it," she said frankly. "And I can't stand all theirsilly folly. I sent my partner for an ice on purpose to get rid of him.My dear young lady, you are very kind, and I've taken a great fancy toyou because you are the first person I have spoken to to-night who ishonest and true. All the same, I really want that ice, and if you canfind some quiet corner----"
"I know the very thing," Angela cried eagerly, delighted at the way fatewas playing into her hands. "Come along. There, what do you think ofthat? Sit down near the light and I'll go and get the ice."
Mrs. Benstein protested, but Angela was already out of earshot. TheShan and his companion were deeply engrossed in a pair of Romneys asAngela passed them.
"I have secured your bird," she whispered. "She is exactly where youasked me to place her."
Harold touched his companion on the arm, and they strolled awayleisurely in the direction of the great conservatory. It was fairlyquiet here, with few people about. Under the lamp sat a rarelybeautiful woman whose dress from head to foot was one mass of rubies.Another one flamed across her forehead.
"What do you think of her?" Harold whispered. "And what do you think ofthat big stone that is attached to her forehead by those thin goldwires?"
The Shan started violently. He rubbed his hands across his redbloodshot eyes.
"The Blue Stone of Ghan," he whispered hoarsely. "By Allah, she iswearing the sacred jewel!"