Farewell, Nikola | Page 9

surpasses everything!" I
said in astonishment. "Why, you audacious creature, not more than five
minutes ago you were inviting me to co-operate in the noble task of
finding a husband for Miss Trevor!"

"Richard, how can you stand there and say such things?" she ejaculated.
"Gertrude, my dear, I insist that you come away at once. I don't know
what he will say next."
Miss Trevor laughed.
"I like to hear you two squabbling," she said. "Please go on, it amuses
me!"
"Yes, I will certainly go on," I returned. "Perhaps you heard her declare
that she fears what I may say next. Of course she does. Allow me to tell
you, Lady Hatteras, that you are a coward. If the truth were known, it
would be found that you are trembling in your shoes at this moment.
For two centimes, paid down, I would turn King's evidence, and reveal
the whole plot."
"You had better not, sir," she replied, shaking a warning finger at me.
"In that case the letters from home shall be withheld from you, and you
will not know how your son and heir is progressing."
"I capitulate," I answered. "Threatened by such awful punishment I
dare say no more. Miss Gertrude, will you not intercede for me?"
"I think that you scarcely deserve it," she retorted. "Even now you are
keeping something back from me."
"Never mind, my dear, we'll let him off this time with a caution," said
my wife, "provided he promises not to offend again. And now, let us
settle what we are going to do to-day."
When this important matter had been arranged it was reported to us that
the ladies were to spend the morning shopping, leaving the Duke and
myself free to follow our own inclinations. Accordingly, when we had
seen them safely on their way to the Merceria, we held a smoking
council to arrange how we should pass the hours until lunch-time. As
we discovered afterwards, we both had a certain thought in our minds,
which for some reason we scarcely liked to broach to each other. It was
settled, however, just as we desired, but in a fashion we least expected.

We were seated in the balcony outside our room, watching the
animated traffic on the Grand Canal below, when a servant came in
search of us and handed me a note. One glance at the characteristic
writing was sufficient to show me that it was from Doctor Nikola. I
opened it with an eagerness that I did not attempt to conceal, and read
as follows:
"DEAR HATTERAS,
"If you have nothing more important on hand this morning, can you
spare the time to come and see me? As I understand the Duke of
Glenbarth is with you, will you not bring him also? It will be very
pleasant to have a chat upon bygone days, and, what is more, I fancy
this old house will interest you."
"Yours very truly,
"NIKOLA."
"What do you say?" I inquired, when I had finished reading, "shall we
go?"
"Let us do so by all means," the Duke replied. "It will be very
interesting to meet Nikola once more. There is one thing, however, that
puzzles me: how did he become aware of my arrival in Venice? You
say he was with you on the piazza, last night, so that he could not have
been at the railway station, as I haven't been outside since I came,
except for the row after dinner, I confess it puzzles me."
"You should know by this time that it is useless to wonder how Nikola
acquires his knowledge," I replied. "For my own part I should like to
discover his reason for being in Venice. I am very curious on that
point."
Glenbarth shook his head solemnly.
"IF Nikola does not want us to know," he argued, "we shall leave his
house as wise as we entered it. If he does let us know, I shall begin to

grow suspicious, for in that case it is a thousand pounds to this
half-smoked cigar that we shall be called upon to render him assistance.
However, if you are prepared to run the risk I will do so also."
"In that case," I said, rising from my chair and tossing what remained
of my cigar into the water below, "let us get ready and be off. We may
change our minds."
Ten minutes later we had chartered a gondola and were on our way to
the Palace Revecce.
As a general rule when one sets out to pay a morning call one is not the
victim of any particular nervousness; on this occasion; however, both
Glenbarth and I, as we confessed to each other afterwards, were
distinctly conscious of being in a condition which would be described