CHAPTER XXVI
AN UNEXPECTED GUEST
Lord Littimer returned, as he declared, with the spirits and appetite ofa schoolboy. All the same, he did not for one moment abandon his usualcritical analysis. He rattled on gaily, but he was studying his guest allthe same. She might have been the typical American lady student; but hewas not blind to the fact that the plain muslin and lace frock she worewas made in Paris or that her manners and style must have been picked upin the best society. She sat there under the shaded lights and behind thebank of flowers like as to the manner born, and her accent was onlysufficiently American to render her conversation piquant.
"You have always been used to this class of life?" Littimer asked.
"There you are quite mistaken," Christabel said, coolly. "For the lastfew years my existence has been anything but a bed of roses. And yourremark, my lord, savours slightly of impertinent curiosity. I might aswell ask you why your family is not here."
"We agree to differ," Littimer responded. "I recollect it caused me agreat deal of annoyance at the time. And my son chose to take hismother's part. You knew I had a son?"
"Yes," said Christabel, without looking up from the peach she waspeeling. "I have met him."
"Indeed. And what opinion did you form of my son, may I ask?"
"Well, I rather liked him. He seemed to me to be suffering from somegreat trouble, and trouble I am sure that was not of his own creating."
"Which means to say you feel rather sorry for Frank. But when you say thetrouble was not of his own creating you are entirely mistaken. It is nota nice thing to say, Miss Lee, but my son was an utter and mostunmitigated young scoundrel. If he came here he would be ordered out ofthe house. So far as I am concerned, I have no son at all. He sides withhis mother, and his mother has a considerable private fortune of her own.Where she is at the present moment I have no idea. Nor do I care. Seemsodd, does it not, that I should have been very fond of that woman at onetime, just as it seems odd to think that I should have once been fond oftreacle tart?"
Littimer spoke evenly and quietly, with his eyes full upon the girl. Hewas deceiving himself, but he was not deceiving her for a moment. Hiscallousness seemed to be all the more marked because the servants were inthe room. But Christabel could see clearly what an effort it was.
"You love your wife still," she said, so low that only Littimer heard.His eyes flashed, his face flamed with a sudden spasm of passion.
"Are we to quarrel so early as this?" he whispered.
"I never quarrel," Christabel said, coolly; "I leave my antagonist to dothat. But I have met your son, and I like him. He may be weak, but he isa gentleman. You have made a mistake, and some day you will be sorry forit. Do you grow those orchids yourself?"
Littimer laughed, with no sign of anger remaining. All the same,Christabel could see that his thin brown hand was shaking. She noticedthe lines that pain had given under those shrewd black eyes.
"You must see my orchids," he said. "Most of the specimens I obtainedmyself. They tell me I have at least three unique kinds. And now, if youwill permit me, I am going to smoke. The drawing-room is at yourdisposal, though I rarely enter it myself. I always retire at eleven, butthat need not bind you in any way. It has been altogether a mostdelightful evening."
But Christabel did not dally long in the drawing-room. As she wentupstairs and along the corridor she heard the snapping of the electriclights all over the house as the servants were preparing to retire. Shepaused just a moment in the alcove where the precious Rembrandt was andlocated carefully the position of the switch there. Then she retired toher own room, where she changed her dress for a simple black gown. A bigclock somewhere was striking twelve as she finished. She looked out ofher door. The whole house was in darkness, the silence seemed to clinglike a curtain.
She paused for a moment as if afraid to take the next step. If it wasfear, she shook it aside resolutely and crept into the corridor. Shecarried something shining in her hands--something that gleamed in thedim, uncertain light from the big window. She stood just for an instantwith a feeling that somebody was climbing up the ivy outside the house.She felt her way along until she came to the alcove containing theRembrandt and then she stopped. Her hand slid along the wall till herfingers touched the switch of the electric light.
She stood for a long time there perfectly motionless. It was a stillnight outside, and there was nothing to account for the rustling of theivy leaves. The rattling came in jerks, spasmodically, stopping every nowand then and resuming again. It was no longer a matter of imagination, itwas a certainty. Somebody was climbing up the ivy to the window.
Leaning eagerly forward, Christabel could hear the sound of labouredbreathing. She seemed to see the outline of an arm outside, she couldcatch the quick rattle of the sash, she could almost see a bent wirecrooked through the beaded edges of the casement. Yes, she was right.The window swung noiselessly back and a figure stood poised on theledge outside.
With a quick breath and a fluttering of her heart Christabel felt forthe switch.
"It will be all right," she murmured; "the other one will fancy that thelight is necessary. Courage, my dear courage, and the game is yours. Ah!"
The intruder dropped inside and pulled the window behind him. Evidentlyhe was on familiar ground, though he seemed to be seeking an unfamiliarobject. Christabel's hand stole along to the switch; there was a click,and the alcove was bathed in brilliant light. The intruder shrank backwith a startled cry. He rubbed his dazed eyes.
"Why not come in through the front door, Mr. Littimer?" Christabeldrawled, coolly.
Frank Littimer had no words for a moment. He was wondering who this womanwas and what she was doing here. American, evidently, by her accent, andalso by the revolver that she handled so assuredly.
"That is the way you used to enter," Christabel proceeded, "when you hadbeen out contrary to parental instructions and the keepers expected tohave a fracas with the poachers. Your bedroom being exactly opposite,detection was no easy matter. Your bedroom has never been touched sinceyou left. The key is still outside the door. Will you kindly enter it?"
"But--" Frank stammered. "But I assure you that I cannot--"
"Take the Rembrandt away. You cannot. The frame is of iron, and it isfastened to the wall. It would take an experienced carpenter quite along time to remove it. Therefore your mission has failed. It is veryannoying, because it puts the other man in a very awkward position.The position is going to be still more awkward presently. Please go toyour room."
"My dear lady, if my father knows that I am in the house--"
"He is not going to know that you are in the house, at least not for somelittle time. And when you see him it will be better not to say more thanis necessary. Later on you will recognise what a friend I am to you."
"You are not showing it at present," Littimer said, desperately.
"The patient rarely sees any virtue in his medicine. Now, please, go toyour room. I can hear the other man muttering and getting anxious downbelow. Now, if you approach that window again I am pretty certain that myrevolver will go off. You see, I am an American, and we are so carelesswith such weapons. Please go to your room at once."
"And if I refuse your ridiculous request?"
"You will not find my request in the least ridiculous. If you refuse Ishall hold you up with my weapon and alarm the whole house. But I don'twant to do that, for the sake of the other man. He is so veryrespectable, you know, and anything unconventional may be so awkward forhim. Yes, it is just as I expected. He is coming up the ivy toinvestigate himself. Go!"
The revolver covered Littimer quite steadily. He could see into the bluerim, and he was conscious of strange cold sensations down his spine. Arevolver is not a pretty thing at the best of times; it is doublyhazardous in the hands of a woman.
"What do you want with me?" he asked.
"My dear man, I want to do nothing with you. Only do as you are toldand--there! The other man is coming up the ivy. He can't underst
and thelight and you not returning. He imagines that you are looking in thewrong place. Please go."
Littimer backed before the weapon, backed until he was in the doorway.Suddenly the girl gave him a push, shut the door to, and turned the keyin the lock. Almost at the same instant another figure loomed large inthe window-frame.