The Moonlit Way: A Novel. Chambers Robert William

his steps to the house. There a servant accosted him on the terrace:

      “The telephone, if Monsieur le Comte pleases – ”

      “Who is calling?” he demanded with a flare of fury.

      “Paris, if it pleases Monsieur le Comte.”

      The Count d’Eblis went to his own quarters, seated himself, and picked up the receiver:

      “Who is it?” he asked thickly.

      “Max Freund.”

      “What has h-happened?” he stammered in sudden terror.

      Over the wire came the distant reply, perfectly clear and distinct:

      “Ferez Bey was arrested in his own house at dinner last evening, and was immediately conducted to the frontier, escorted by Government detectives… Is Nihla with you?”

      The Count’s teeth were chattering now. He managed to say:

      “No, I don’t know where she is. She was dancing. Then, all at once, she was gone. Of what was Colonel Ferez suspected?”

      “I don’t know. But perhaps we might guess.”

      “Are you followed?”

      “Yes.”

      “By – by whom?”

      “By Souchez… Good-bye, if I don’t see you. I join Ferez. And look out for Nihla. She’ll trick you yet!”

      The Count d’Eblis called:

      “Wait, for God’s sake, Max!” – listened; called again in vain. “The one-eyed rabbit!” he panted, breathing hard and irregularly. His large hand shook as he replaced the instrument. He sat there as though paralysed, for a moment or two. Mechanically he removed his tinsel cap and thrust it into the pocket of his evening coat. Suddenly the dull hue of anger dyed neck, ears and temple:

      “By God!” he gasped. “What is that she-devil trying to do to me? What has she done!”

      After another moment of staring fixedly at nothing, he opened the table drawer, picked up a pistol and poked it into his breast pocket.

      Then he rose, heavily, and stood looking out of the window at the paling east, his pendulous under lip aquiver.

      II

      SUNRISE

      The first sunbeams had already gilded her bedroom windows, barring the drawn curtains with light, when the man arrived. He was still wearing his disordered evening dress under a light overcoat; his soiled shirt front was still crossed by the red ribbon of watered silk; third class orders striped his breast, where also the brand new Turkish sunburst glimmered.

      A sleepy maid in night attire answered his furious ringing; the man pushed her aside with an oath and strode into the semi-darkness of the corridor. He was nearly six feet tall, bulky; but his legs were either too short or something else was the matter with them, for when he walked he waddled, breathing noisily from the ascent of the stairs.

      “Is your mistress here?” he demanded, hoarse with his effort.

      “Y – yes, monsieur – ”

      “When did she come in?” And, as the scared and bewildered maid hesitated: “Damn you, answer me! When did Mademoiselle Quellen come in? I’ll wring your neck if you lie to me!”

      The maid began to whimper:

      “Monsieur le Comte – I do not wish to lie to you… Mademoiselle Nihla came back with the dawn – ”

      “Alone?”

      The maid wrung her hands:

      “Does Monsieur le Comte m-mean to harm her?”

      “Will you answer me, you snivelling cat!” he panted between his big, discoloured teeth. He had fished out a pistol from his breast pocket, dragging with it a silk handkerchief, a fancy cap of tissue and gilt, and some streamers of confetti which fell to the carpet around his feet.

      “Now,” he breathed in a half-strangled voice, “answer my questions. Was she alone when she came in?”

      “N-no.”

      “Who was with her?”

      “A – a – ”

      “A man?”

      The maid trembled violently and nodded.

      “What man?”

      “M-Monsieur le Comte, I have never before beheld him – ”

      “You lie!”

      “I do not lie! I have never before seen him, Monsieur le – ”

      “Did you learn his name?”

      “No – ”

      “Did you hear what they said?”

      “They spoke in English – ”

      “What!” The man’s puffy face went flabby white, and his big, badly made frame seemed to sag for a moment. He laid a large fat hand flat against the wall, as though to support and steady himself, and gazed dully at the terrified maid.

      And she, shivering in her night-robe and naked feet, stared back into the pallid face, with its coarse, greyish moustache and little short side-whiskers which vulgarized it completely – gazed in unfeigned terror at the sagging, deadly, lead-coloured eyes.

      “Is the man there – in there now – with her?” demanded the Comte d’Eblis heavily.

      “No, monsieur.”

      “Gone?”

      “Oh, Monsieur le Comte, the young man stayed but a moment – ”

      “Where were they? In her bedroom?”

      “In the salon. I – I served a pâté – a glass of wine – and the young gentleman was gone the next minute – ”

      A dull red discoloured the neck and features of the Count.

      “That’s enough,” he said; and waddled past her along the corridor to the furthest door; and wrenched it open with one powerful jerk.

      In the still, golden gloom of the drawn curtains, now striped with sunlight, a young girl suddenly sat up in bed.

      “Alexandre!” she exclaimed in angry astonishment.

      “You slut!” he said, already enraged again at the mere sight of her. “Where did you go last night!”

      “What are you doing in my bedroom?” she demanded, confused but flushed with anger. “Leave it! Do you hear! – ” She caught sight of the pistol in his hand and stiffened.

      He stepped nearer; her dark, dilated gaze remained fixed on the pistol.

      “Answer me,” he said, the menacing roar rising in his voice. “Where did you go last night when you left the house?”

      “I – I went out – on the lawn.”

      “And then?”

      “I had had enough of your party: I came back to Paris.”

      “And then?”

      “I came here, of course.”

      “Who was with you?”

      Then, for the first time, she began to comprehend. She swallowed desperately.

      “Who was your companion?” he repeated.

      “A – man.”

      “You brought him here?”

      “He – came in – for a moment.”

      “Who was he?”

      “I – never before saw him.”

      “You picked up a man in the street and brought him here with you?”

      “N-not on the street – ”

      “Where?”

      “On