Frivolous Cupid | Page 9

"I went up to my room in a state of great contentment. I had been there
about half an hour when my friend the waiter came in. Advancing
toward me with a mysterious air, he took a blank envelope out of his
pocket and held it up before me with a roguish smile.
"`Monsieur will know the handwriting inside,' he said cunningly.
"Now I had never corresponded with Lady Mary, and of course did not
know her handwriting, but I saw no use in telling the waiter that. In
truth, I thought the fellow quite familiar enough. So I said shortly and
with some hauteur:
"`Give me the note;' and I took another piece of gold out of my pocket.
We exchanged our possessions, the waiter withdrew with a wink, and I
tore open the precious note.
"`Whatever you do,' it ran, `don't recognize me. I am WATCHED. As
soon as I can I will tell you where to meet me. I knew you would
come.--M.'
"`The darling!' I exclaimed. `She's a girl of spirit. I'll take good care not
to betray her. Oh, we'll circumvent old Dibbs between us.'
"At eight o'clock I went down to the salle a manger. It was quite empty.
Mary and Miss Dibbs no doubt dined in their own sitting room, and

there appeared to be no one else in the hotel. However, when I was
halfway through my meal, a stylishly dressed young woman came in
and sat down at a table at the end of the room farthest from where I was.
I should have noticed her more, but I was in a reverie about Mary's
admirable charms, and I only just looked at her; she was frowning and
drumming angrily with her fingers on the table. The head waiter
hurried up to her; his face was covered with smiles, and he gave me a
confidential nod en passant. Nothing else occurred except that a
villainous looking fellow--something, to judge by his appearance,
between a valet and a secretary--thrust his ugly head through the door
three or four times. Whenever he did so the waiter smiled blandly at
him. He did it the last time just as the lady was walking down the room.
Seeing her coming he drew back and held the door open for her with a
clumsy, apologetic bow. She smiled scornfully and passed through. The
waiter stood grinning in the middle of the room, and when I, in my turn,
rose, he whispered to me, `It's all right, sir.' I went to bed and dreamed
of Mary.
"On entering the room next morning the first person I saw was Mary.
She was looking adorably fresh and pretty. She sat opposite a stout,
severe-looking dame in black. Directly my eyes alighted on her I
schooled them into a studiously vacant expression. She, poor girl, was
no diplomatist. She started; she glanced anxiously at Miss Dibbs; I saw
her lips move; she blushed; she seemed almost to smile. Of course this
behavior (I loved Mary the more that she could not conceal her
delightful embarrassment!) excited the dragon's curiosity; she turned
round and favored me with a searching gaze. I was equal to the
occasion. I comprehended them both in a long, cool, deliberate, empty
stare. The strain on my self-control was immense, but I supported it.
Mary blushed crimson, and her eyes sank to her plate. Poor girl! She
had sadly overrated her powers of deception. I was not surprised that
Miss Dibbs frowned severely and sniffed audibly.
"At that moment the other girl came in. She walked up, took the table
next to mine, and, to my confusion, bestowed upon me a look of
evident interest, though of the utmost shortness--one of those looks,
you know, that seem to be repented of in an instant, and are generally
the most deliberate. I took no notice at all, assuming an air of entire
unconsciousness. A few minutes later Mary got up and made for the

door, with Miss Dibbs in close attendance. The imprudent child could
not forbear to glance at me; but I, seeing the dragon's watchful eye
upon me, remained absolutely irresponsive. Nay, to throw Miss Dibbs
off the scent, I fixed my eyes on my neighbor with assumed
preoccupation. Flushing painfully, Mary hurried out, and I heard Miss
Dibbs sniff again. I chuckled over her obvious disapproval of my
neighbor and myself. The excellent woman evidently thought us no
better than we ought to be! But I felt that I should go mad if I could not
speak to Mary soon.
"I went out and sat down in the veranda. It was then about half- past ten.
The ugly fellow whom I had noticed the evening before was hanging
about, but presently a waiter came and spoke to