the price of things

7/30/2019 The Price of Things

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ThePriceofThings

ElinorGlyn


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FOREWORD

Iwrote thisbook inParis in thewinterof191718in themidstofbombs,and raids,anddeath.Everyonewaskeyedup toa strangepitch,andonlyprimitiveinstinctsseemedtostandoutdistinctly.

Lifeappearedbrutal,andourvery fashionof speaking, thewordsweused,thewaywelookedatthings,wasmorerealisticcoarserthan in times ofpeace,when civilization can reassert itself again.

Thisis

why

the

story

shocks

some

readers.

Iquite

understand

that

it

might do so;but Ideem it the duty ofwriters tomake a faithfulpictureofeachphaseoftheeratheyarelivingin,thatposteritymaybe correctly informed about things, and get the atmosphere ofepochs.

The story is, so to speak, roughhewn.But it shows thedangerofbreaking laws, and interferingwith fatewhether the lawsbe ofGodorofMan.

Itisalsoapsychologicalstudyoftheinstinctsoftwowomen,whichthestrenuoustimesbroughttothesurface.Amaryllis,withallherbreedingandgentleness,reactingtonaturescallinherfiercefidelityto the fatherofher childandHarietta,becoming inherself theepitomeoftheageoldprostitute.

I advise those who are rebuffed by plain words, and a ruthlessanalysisoftheresultofactions,nottoreadasinglepage.

ElinorGlyn


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CHAPTERI

If one consciously and deliberately desires happiness on this

plane,said

the

Russian,

one

must

have

sufficient

strength

of

will

to

banish all thought. The moment that one begins to probe themeaning of things, one has opened Pandorasbox and itmaybemanylivesbeforeonediscovershopelyingatthebottomofit.

Whatdoyoumeanbythought?Howcanonenotthink?AmaryllisArdayreslargegreyeyesopenedinapuzzledway.Shewasonherhoneymoon inParis at aparty at theRussian Embassy, and untilnowhad accepted thingsandnot speculated about them.Shehad

livedin

the

country

and

was

as

good

as

gold.

She was accepting her honeymoon with her accustomed calm,although it was not causing her any of the thrills which ElsieGoldmore,her school friend,had assuredher she shoulddiscovertherein.

Honeymoons!Heavens! But perhaps itwasbecause SirJohnwasdull.He lookeddull, she thought, ashe stood there talking to the

Ambassador.A

fine

figure

of

an

Englishman

butyesdull.

The

Russian,on thecontrary,wasnotdull.Hewashugeanduglyandroughhewnhis eyeswere yellowishgreen and slanted upwardsand his facewas frankly Calmuck. But you knew that youweretalking to a personalityto one who had probably a number ofunknownpossibilitiesabouthimtuckedawaysomewhere.

John had none of these.One couldbe certain of exactlywhat hewoulddoonanygivenoccasionanditwouldalwaysbehisduty.

TheRussian

was

observing

this

charming

English

bride

critically;

shewassuchaperfectspecimenofthatestimableracewellshaped,refinedandhealthy.Chock fullof temperament too,he reflectedwhen she shoulddiscoverherself.Temperamentand romanceandevenpassion,andtherewereshrewdnessandcommonsenseaswell.

Anagreeable task foraman toundertakehereducation,andhewishedthathehadtime.

AmaryllisArdayre

asked

again:

Howcanonenotthink?Iamalwaysthinking.


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Hesmiledindulgently.

Oh! no, you are notyou only imagine that you are. You have

questionednothingyou

do

right

generally

because

you

have

anice

character andhavebeenwellbroughtup,not from any consciousdeterminationtoupliftthesoul.Yesisitnotso?

Shewasstartled.

Perhaps.

Doyoueveraskyourselfwhatthingsmean?Whatwearewhere

weare

going?

What

is

the

end

of

it

all?

Noyou

are

happy;

you

live

fromdaytodayandyetyoucannotbeaveryyoungego,youreyesare toowiseyouhavehadmany incarnations.It ismerely that inthis one life the note of awakening has not yetbeen struck. Youcertainlymusthaveneededsleep.

Manylives?Youbelieveinthattheory?

Shewas not accustomed to discuss unorthodox subjects. Shewas

interested.

Butofcoursehowelsecouldtherebejustice?Wedrawthereflexofeveryevilactionandofeverygoodone,butsometimesnotuntilthenextincarnation,thatiswhytheheedlessonescannotgraspthetruththeyseenovisibleresultofeithergoodorevilevil,infact,seemsgenerallytowinifthereisabalanceeitherway.

Whyarewenotallowedmemorythen,sothatwemightprofitby

ourlessons?

Weshouldinthatcaseimprovefromselfinterestandnothaveourfaultseliminatedbysuffering.Wearegivennoconsciousmemoryofour last life,sowegoonfightingforwhateverdesirestillholdsusuntilitsachievementbringssuchoverwhelmingpainthatthedesireisnomore.

Whydoyousaythatforhappinesswemustbanishthoughtthat

seemsaparadox.

Shewasalittledisturbed.


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I said if one consciously and deliberately desired happiness, onemust banish thought to bring oneself back to the condition ofhundreds of people who are happy; many of them are even

elementalswithout

souls

at

all.

They

are

permitted

happiness

so

that

theymaybecomesoattached to theearthplane that theywillinglyreturn andgradually obtain a soul.Butno onewho is allowed tothink is allowed any continued happiness; there would be noprogress.Ifso,weshouldremainasbrutes.

Then how cruel of you to suggest tome to think. Iwant tobehappyperhapsIdonotwanttoobtainasoul.

Thatwas

born

long

agomy

words

may

have

awakened

it

once

more,butthesleepwasnotdeep.

AmaryllisArdayre lookedat thecrowdspassingand repassing inthosestatelyrooms.

Tellme,who is thatwoman over there? she asked. The verypretty one with the fair hair in jade greenshe looks radiantlyhappy.

Andissheisfranklyananimalexquisitelypreserved,damnablyselfish,completelydevoidofintellect,sugarmanners,thesensesofaharemhouriandthetenacityofarat.

Youaresevere.

Not at all.HariettaBoleski is aproduct of thatmost astonishingnationacross theAtlanticnoneother couldproduceher. It is the

hothouseof

the

world

as

regards

remarkable

types.

Here

for

immediate ancestrywe have amother, from heaven knowswhatEuropean refuseheap,arrived inan immigrant shipfatherof thepore white trash of the southresult: Harietta, fine points,beautiful,quitealadyforordinarypurposes.Theabsenceofsoulisstrikinglyapparenttoanyordinaryobserver,butoneonlydiscoversthevulgarityofspiritifoneisastudentofevolutionorchancestocatchherwhenirritatedwithhermodisteorhermaid.Othernationscannotproducesuchbeings.WomenwiththeattributesofHarietta,

werethey

European,

would

have

surface

vulgarity

showingand

so

beoutoftherunning,ortheywouldhaverealpassionwhichwouldbe theirundoingpassion isgloriousit is arousedby somethingbeyondthephysical.Observehernostril!Thereissimple,delightful


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animalsensualityforyou!Lookalsoat theconvexcurvebelow theunderlipshewillbiteoff thecherrywhether it ishersbyrightoranothers,anddevouritwithoutabackwardthought.

BoleskithatisaRussianname,isitnot?

No, Polishshe secured our Stanislass, a great man in hiscountrylastyear inBerlin,havingdivorcedano longerrequired,but worthy German husband who had held some post in theAmericanConsulatethere.

IsthatoldmanstandingobedientlybesideheryourStanislass?he

looksquite

cowed.

Asadsight,isitnot?Stanislass,though,isnotold,barelyforty.Hehad a beguin for her. She put his intelligence to sleep andbamboozledhisjudgmentwith a continuous appeal to the senses;shehas vampiredhim now.Cloying allhiswillwith her sugaredcaprices,shemakeshimscenesandsokeepshim insubjection.Hewas one of the Council de lEmpire for Poland; the aims of hiscountrywerehisearnestwork,butnowambition isnomore.He is

tired,he

has

ceased

to

struggle;

she

rules

and

eats

his

soul

as

she

has

eatenthesoulsofothers.ShallIpresenthertoyou?Asatype,sheisworthyofyourattention.

Itsoundsas ifshehad theevileye,as theItalianssay,Amaryllisshuddered.

Only formen.She is reallyanamiablecreaturewomen likeher.She isso franklysimple,since forher therearenever two issues

onlyto

be

allowed

her

own

desiresa

riot

of

extravagance,

the

first

placeand someone togratify certain instinctswithout toomanyrefinementswhen themood takesher.For therest,she iskindandgoodnaturedandjolly, asyouEnglishsay,andhasnonotionthatshe is a road to hell. But they aremostly dead, her other spidermates,andcannottellofit.

Iammuchinterested.Ishouldliketotalktoher.Yousaythatsheishappy?

Obviouslyshe isanelementalshenever thinksatall,except toplansomefurtherbenefitforherself.Idonotbelieveinthislifethatshecanobtainasoulheronlyforceishertenaciouswill.


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Suchforceisgood,though?

Certainly.Evenbad force isbetter thannegativeGood.Onemust

firstbe

strong

before

one

can

be

serene.

Youarestrong.

Yes,butnotgood.Hardlya fitcompanion forsweet littleEnglishbrideswithexcellenthusbandsawaitingthem.

Ishalljudgeofthat.

Tiens!So

emancipated!

Ifyouarebad,howdoesyour theorywork thatwepay foreachaction?Sincebythatyoumustknowthatitcannotbeworthwhiletobebad.

ItisnotIamawareofit,butwhenIambadIambaddeliberately,knowingthatImustpay.

Thatseems

stupid

of

you.

Heshruggedhisshoulders.

ItakeverysevereexercisewhenIbegintothinkofthingsIshouldnot and Ibecome savagewhen I require happinessnow is ourchanceformakingyouacquaintedwithHarietta,sheismovingourway.

MadameBoleski

swept

towards

them

on

the

arm

of

an

Austrian

PrinceandtheRussianVerisschenzkosaid,withsuavepoliteness:

Madame, letme present you to LadyArdayre.Withme she hasbeenadmiringyoufromafar.

The twowomenbowed,andwithcheery,disarmingsimplicity,theAmericanmadesomegraciousremarksinavoicewhichsoundedasifshesmokedtoomuch;itwasnotdisagreeableintone,norhadshe

apronounced

American

accent.

AmaryllisArdayrefoundherselfinterested.Sheadmiredthesuperbattention todetail shown inMadameBoleskiswhole person.Her


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facewastouchedupwiththelightestart,notoverdoneinanyway.Herhair,ofthatverylighttoneborderingongold,whichsometimesgoeswithhazeleyes,wasquitenaturalandwonderfullydone.Her

dresswas

perfectionso

were

her

jewels.

One

saw

that

her

corsetierewasanartist,andthateverythinghadcostagreatdealofmoney. She had taken off one glove andAmaryllis saw herbarehanditwaswellshaped, save that the thumb turnedback in aremarkabledegree.

Sodelighted tomeetyou,MadameBoleski said. We aregoingovertoLondonnextmonthandIamjustcrazytoknowmoreofyoudeliciousEnglishpeople.

They chatted for a fewmoments and thenMadameBoleski sweptonwards.Shewasquitestatelyandgracefulandhadawellpoisedhead. Amaryllis turned to the Russian and was startled by theexpressionoffierce,sardonicamusementinhisyellowgreeneyes.

But surely, she can see that you are laughing at her? sheexclaimed,astonished.

Itwould

convey

nothing

to

her

if

she

did.

Butyoulookedpositivelywicked.

PossiblyI feel it sometimeswhen I thinkofStanislass;hewasaverygoodfriendofmine.

SirJohnArdayrejoined themat thismomentand the threewalkedtowardsthesupperroomandtheRussiansaidgoodnight.

It isnotgoodbye,Madame. I, too, shallbe inyour country soonandIalsohopethatImayseeyouagainbeforeyouleaveParis.

Theyarrangedadinnerforthefollowingnightbutone,andsaidaurevoir.

AnhourlatertheRussianwasseatedinahugeEnglishleatherchairinthelittlesalonofhisapartmentintherueCambon,whenMadame

Boleskivery

softly

entered

the

room

and

sat

down

upon

his

knee.

Ihadtocome,darlingBrute,shesaid.IwasjealousoftheEnglishgirl, and she fitted her delicately painted lips to his. Stanislass


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wanted to talk over his new scheme for Poland, too, and as youknowthatalwaysgetsonmynerves.

ButVerisschenzko

threw

his

head

back

impatiently,

while

he

answeredroughly.

I amnot in themood foryour chastisement tonight.Goback asyoucame,Iamthinkingofsomethingreal,somethingwhichmakesyourbodyofnousetomeitweariesmeandIdonotevendesireyourpresence.Begone!

Thenhekissedherneckinsolentlyandpushedheroffhisknee.

Shepouted resentfully.But suddenlyher eyes caughta small caselying on a table nearand an eager gleam came into their hazeldepths.

Oh,Stepan! Is it the ruby thing!Oh!Youbeloved angel,you aregoingtogiveittomeafterall!Oh!Illrushoffatonceandleaveyou,ifyouwishit!Goodnight!

Andwhen

she

was

gone

Verisschenzko

threw

some

incense

into

a

silverburnerandasthecloudsofperfumeroseintotheair:

Wough!hesaid.


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CHAPTERII

WhatareyoudoinginParis,Denzil?

Icameover forabitofracing.Awfullyglad toseeyou.Cantwedine together? I goback tomorrow. Verisschenzko put his armthroughDenzilArdayresanddrewhim in to theCafedeParis,atthedoorofwhichtheyhadchancedtomeet.

Ihadanotherguest,butshecanbeconsoledwithsomeofMidasfood,andIwanttotalktoyou;wereyougoingtoeatalone?

Afellow

threw

me

over;

Imeant

to

have

just

asnack

and

go

on

to

a

theatre. It is good running across youI thought youweremilesaway!

Verisschenzkospoketotheheadwaiter,andgavehimdirectionsasto thedisposalof the lovely ladywhowouldpresentlyarrive,andthenhewenton tohis table, ratherat the top, ina fairly secludedcorner.

Thefew

people

who

were

already

diningit

was

early

on

this

May

nightlookedatDenzilArdayrehewassucharefreshingsightofhealthandyouth,sotallandfitandEnglish,withhisbrownsmoothheadandfearlessblueeyes,gayanddebonnaire.Onecouldseethatheplayedcricketandpolo,andanyothergamethatcamealong,andthatnotamuscleofhisframewasoutofcondition.Hehadsoldierwritten upon himyoung, gallant, cavalry soldier. Verisschenzkoappreciated him; nothing complete, human or inanimate, left himunconsciousofitsmeaning.Theyknewoneanotherverywellthey

hadbeen

at

Oxford

and

later

had

shot

bears

together

in

the

Russians

faroffhome.

They talked for awhile of casual things, and thenVerisschenzkosaid:

Some relations of yours are hereSir John Ardayre and hisparticularly attractivebride. Shallwe eatwhat I had ordered forCollette,orhaveyouotherfanciesafterthesoup?

Denzilpaidonlyattentiontothefirstpartofthespeechhelookedsurprisedandinterested.


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JohnArdayrehere!Ofcourse,hemarriedabouttendaysagoheistheheadofthefamilyasyouareaware,butIhardlyevenknowhimbysight.HeisquitetenyearsolderthanIamanddoesnottrouble

aboutus,

the

poor

younger

branch

and

he

smiled,

showing

such

goodteeth.Besides,asyouknow,IhavebeenforsuchalongtimeinIndia,andtheleaveswereforsport,notforhuntinguprelations.

Verisschenzkodidnotpressthematterofhisguestsfanciesinfood,and they continued themenuordered forCollettewithout furtherdelay.

Iwanttohearallthatyouknowaboutthem,thegirlisanexquisite

thingwith

immense

possibilities.

Sir

John

looksdull.

Heisreallyasplendidcharacterthough,Denzilhastenedtoassurehim. Doyouknow the familyhistory?Butno, of coursenot,weweretoobusyintheolddaysenjoyinglifetotroubletotalkofsuchthings!Well, it isratherstrange in the lastgenerationthingsverynearly came to an end andJohnhasbuilt it allup again.You areinterestedinheredity?

Naturallywhatis

the

story?

Our mutual greatgrandfather was a tremendous personage inNorthSomersettheplaceArdayre isthere.Myfatherwasthesonoftheyoungerson,whohadjustenoughtodohimdecentlyatEton,andenablehim toscrapealong in theoldregimentwithaponyortwotoplaywith.MymotherwasaWillowbrook,asyouknow,anda considerable heiress, that is how I come out all right,but untilJohns father,SirJames, squandered things, theheadof the family

wasalways

very

rich

and

full

of

landand

awfully

set

on

the

dignity of his race. They had turned the cult of it into regularreligion.

Thefatherofthismanmadeagaspillage,thenwell?

Yes,hewasarotteraharkbacktohismothersrelations;shewasaCranmotethey ruin anyblood theymixwith. I amglad that Icomefromthegenerationbefore.

DenzilhelpedhimselftoaRussiansalad,andwentonleisurely.HefortunatelymarriedLadyMarydelaPaulewhowasasaint,andsoJohnseemstohaverighted,andtakesafterher.Shediedquiteearly,


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shehadhad enough ofSirJames, I expect,hehadgambled awayeverythinghecouldlayhandsupon.PoorJohnwasbroughtupwithatutorathome,forsomereasonhardluckonaman.Hewasonly

aboutthirteen

when

she

died

and

at

seventeen

went

straight

into

the

city.Hewasdeterminedtomakeafortune,ithasalwaysbeensaid,and redeem the mortgages on Ardayrevery splendid of him,wasntit?

Yeswell all this is not out of the ordinary linewhat comesnext?

Denzillaughedhewasnotagoodraconteur.

The poor ladywas no sooner dead than the oldboymarried aBulgarian snake charmer, whom he had picked up inConstantinople!YoumaywellsmileforVerisschenzkohadraisedhis eyebrows in awhimsicalwaythis did sound such a highlycolouredincident!

Itwasanunusual sortof thing todo, Iadmit,but the talegrowsmore luridstill,whenI tellyou thatfivemonthsafter thewedding

sheproduced

ason

by

the

Lord

knows

who,

one

of

her

own

tribe

probably,andoldSirJameswassoinfatuatedwithherthatheneverprotested, andpresentlywhenhe andJohnquarrelled likehellhepretendedthelittlebrutewashisownchildjusttospiteJohn.

VerisschenzkosCalmuckeyesnarrowed.

Anddoes thisresultof the fusionofsnakecharmers figure in thefamilyhistory?IbelieveIhavemethimhisnameisFerdinand,isit

not,and

he

is,

or

was,

in

some

business

in

Constantinople?

That is thecreaturehewasbroughtupatArdayreas thoughheweretheheir,andpoorJohnturnedoutofthings.HecametoEtonthreeyearsbeforeIleft,buteventheretheycouldnotturnhimintotheoutsidesemblanceofagentleman. I loathed the little toad,andhe loathedmeand the sickeningpart of the thing is that ifJohndoesnothaveason,by theEnglish lawofentailFerdinandcomesintoArdayre,andwillbetheheadofthefamily.OldSirJamesdied

aboutfive

years

ago,

always

protesting

this

bastard

was

his

own

child, though every oneknew itwas a lie.However,by that timeJohnhadmadeenoughinthecitytoredeemArdayretwiceover.Hehad tremendous luckafter theSouthAfricanWar, sohecame into


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possessionand livestherenow ingreatstateIdoreallyhopethathewillhaveason.

You,too,

have

the

instinct

of

the

family,

thenthis

pride

in

itsinceitcannotbenefityoueitherway.

Ibelieve it isborn inus,and thoughIhaveneverseenArdayre,Ishould hate this mongrel to have it. I was brought up with atremendousreverenceforit,evenasasecondcousin.

Well,thenewLadyArdayrelooksyoungenoughandofahealthtohavetensons!

Yes,Denzilacquiescedinatentativetone.

Not so?Verisschenzko glancedup surprised, and then gavehisattention to thewaiterwhohadbrought someBurgundy andwaspouringitoutintohisglass.

Notsoyouwouldsay?

Idont

know,

Ihave

never

seen

herbut

in

the

family

it

is

whispered thatJohnpoordevilhehadanaccidenthunting twoorthreeyearsago.However,itmaynotanyofitbetruehere,letusdrinktotheArdayreson!

To theArdayre son! andVerisschenzko filled his friends glasswiththedecantedwineandtheybothdranktogether.

Yourcousin is likeyou,he saidpresently.A fatiguing likeness,

butthe

same

height

and

makeand

voicestrange

things

these

family reproductions of an exact type. I have no family, as youknowweareof thepeople,arisenby trade to riches.Could Igobeyondmyimmediateparents,couldIknowcousinsandunclesandbrothers,shouldIfindthissamepeculiarstampoffamilyamongusall?Whoknows?Ithinknot.

Isupposethereissomethinginit.MyfatherhastoldmethatinthepicturegalleryatArdayretheyareaslikeastwopinsthewholeway

down.

Theconcentrationupon the ideacauses it.Inpeoplerisen likemyfather andmyself,we only resemble a groupa nation; if I have


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childrentheywillresembleme.Itisstrengthinthebeginningwhenan individual risesbeyond thegroup,whichproducesa type.Onesays English to look at you, and then, if one knows, one says

Ardayreat

once;

one

gets

as

far

as

Calmuck

with

me,

that

is

all,

butinyearstocomeitwillhavedevelopedintoVerisschenzko.

Howyoustudy things,Stepan;youarealwaysputtingnew ideasintomyheadwheneverIseeyou.Lifewouldbejustaroutine,forallthe joy of sport, if one did not think. I am going to finish mysoldiering thisautumnandstand forParliament. Itseemswasteoftimenow,withnowars inprospect, sticking to it; Iwantavasterfield.

You think there canbe nowars in prospectno?Well,who canprophesy?TherearecloudsintheSoutheast,butforthemomentwewillnotspeculateaboutthemandtheymayaffectmycountryandnot yours.And so youwill settle down andbecome a reputablemember of Parliament? Then, as Denzil would have spokenperhaps upon the subject of war clouds, Verisschenzko hastilycontinued:

Willyou

dine

to

morrow

night

at

the

Ritz

to

meet

your

cousin

and

hiswife?Theyarehonouringme.

IwishIcould,butIamoffinthemorning.Whatisshelike?

Verisschenzkopaidparticular attention to the selection of a quail,andthenheanswered:

She is of the same type as the family, Denzil,that is, a good

skeletonbonesin

the

right

place,

firm

white

flesh,

colouring

as

yourswell bred, balanced, unawakened as yet. Was she arelation?

Yes,Ibelievesoacousinofagenerationevenbeforemine.IwishIcouldhavedined, Iwouldawfully like tohavemet them; I shallhave tomake a chance inEngland. It is stupidnot toknow onesown family,but our fathers quarrelled andwe have never had achanceofmendingthebreak.

Theywereat theRussianEmbassy lastnight; the throngadmiredLadyArdayreverymuch.


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Andwhatareyoudoing inParis,Stepan?The lastIheardofyou,youwereonyouryachtintheBlackSea.

Iwas

cruising

near

countries

whose

internal

affairs

interest

me

for

themoment.IreturnedtomyappartementinParistoseeafriendofmine,StanislassBoleskihealsohasalovelywife.Look,shehasjustcomeinwithhim.Sheisinthedevilofatemperobserveher.IfIsitback,thepillarhidesmeIdonotwishthemtoseemeyet.

Denzilglanceddown theroom; twopeoplewere taking theirseatsbythewall.ThemaskwasoffHariettaBoleskisfaceforthemoment;itlookedsillywithitsraisedeyebrowsandwasfullofilltemperand

spite.The

husband

had

an

air

of

extreme

worry

on

his

clever,

intellectual face, but that he was solicitous to gratify his wifescaprices,anycasualobservercouldhaveperceived.

Youmean thewomanwith thewonderful cigrettesshe is goodlooking, isntshe? Iwonderwho it isshehascaughtsightofnow,though?Lookat theeagernesswhichhascome intohereyesyoucanseeherinthemirrorifyouwantto.

ButVerisschenzko

had

missed

nothing,

and

he

bent

forward

to

endeavour to identify the person upon whomMadame Boleskisgazehadturned.Therewasnothingtodistinguishanyindividualthe companywere of several nationsGerman andAustrian andBalkanandRussianscatteredabouthereandthereamongtheFrenchandAmericanhabitues.TheonlyplanwouldbetocontinuetowatchHariettabut although he did this throughout the dinner, not aflickerofhereyelidsgavehimanyfurtherclue.

Denzilwas

interestedhe

felt

something

beyond

what

appeared

on

thesurfacewastakingplace,sohewaitedforhisfriendtospeak.

Verisschenzkowas silent for a little, and then he casually gave aresume of the character and place of Madame Boleski and herhusband,agooddealmorebaldlyexpressed,butinsubstancemuchthesameashehadgiven toAmaryllisat theRussianEmbassy thenightbefore.

Hespoke

lightly,

but

his

yellow

green

eyes

were

keen.

Look at her wellshe is capable of mischief. Her extremestupidityonly thebrain of a rodent or a goatmakes hermore


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difficulttomanipulatethanthecleverestdiplomat,becauseyoucanneverbesurewhether theblankwantofunderstandingwhichshedisplaysisrealorsimulated.Sheisaperfectactress,butveryoftenis

quitenatural.

Most

women

are

either

posing

all

the

time,

or

not

at

all.Hariettasmimingonlycomesintoactionforselfpreservation,orpersonalgain,andthenitisofsuchasuperbqualitythatsheleavesevenmeI,whoamnopoordivinerconfusedastowhethersheistellingalieorthetruth.

Whatanexceptionalcharacter!Denzilwasthrilled.

Anabsenceofallmoral sense ishergreatpower,Verisschenzko

continued,while

he

watched

her

narrowly,

because

she

never

has

any of the prickings of conscience which even most roguesexperience at times, and so draws no demagnetising nervousuncertaincurrents.Ifitwerenotforaninsatiableextravagance,anda capricious fancy fordifferentjewels, shewouldbe impossible todealwith.Shehasinformation,obtainedfromwhatsourceIdonotasyetknow,whichisofvitalimportancetome.Wereitnotforthat,onecouldsimplyenjoyherasamistressandtakedelightinstudyingheridiosyncrasies.

Shehaslovers?

Hashadmany;herrolenowisthatofagreatladyandsoallisofarespectability!Sheissostupidthatifthatinstinctofselfpreservationwerenotsocompleteastobelikeadivineguide,shewouldcommitbetisesallthetime.Asitis,whenshetakesaloveritishiddenwiththecunningofafox.

Whodid

you

say

the

first

husband

was?

AGermanofthenameofVonWendelheusedtobeatherwithastick, it is saidso naturally such a nature adored him. I did notmeetheruntilshehadgotridofhimandhehaddisappeared.Shewouldsacrificeanyonewhostoodinherway.

Your friend, the present husband, looks pretty epuiseone feelssorryforthepoorman.

Then, as ever, at the mention of the debacle of Stanislass,Verisschenzkoseyesfilledwithafiercelight.


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ShehascrushedthehopeofPolandforthat,indeed,onedayshemustpay.

ButIthought

you

Russians

did

not

greatly

love

the

Poles?

Denzil

remarked.

Enlightened Russians can see beyond their old prejudicesandStanislasswasalifetimefriend.OnedayanewdawnwillcomeforourNorthernworld.

Hiseyesgrewdreamyforaninstant,andthenresumedtheirwatchofHarietta.Denzillookedathimanddidnotspeakforawhile.He

hadalways

been

drawn

to

Stepan,

from

acouple

of

terms

at

Oxford

before the Russianwas sent down for amad freak, and did notreturn.Hewassuchamixtureofidealismandbrutalcommonsense,abrainsoalertandthewarmheartofagenerouschildcapableofevery frenzyandofevery sacrifice.Theyhadplannedgreat thingsfor their afterlivesbefore theonejoinedhis regiment, and learneddiscipline, and theotherwanderedovermany landsand as theysatthereintheCafedeParis,thethoughtsofbothwanderedbacktoold days gapping the encounters for sport inRussia and in India

between.

Theywere glorious times, Denzil,werent they? Verisschenzkosaidpresently,awarebythatwonderfullydelicatelyattunedfacultyofhisofwhathisfriendwasthinking.Wehadthoughttoconquerthesun,moonandstarsandwhoknows,perhapswewillyet!

Whoknows?Ifeelmyreallifeisonlyjustbeginning.Howoldarewe,Stepan?Twentynineyearsold!

Afterwards,astheywentout,theypassedtheBoleskisclose,andthetwo rose and spoke to Verisschenzko, with empressement. Heintroduced Captain Ardayre and they talked for a few minutes,HariettaBoleski all smiles and flattering cajoleriesnowand thentheysaidgoodnightandwentout.

But as Stepan passed, aman half hiddenbehind a pillar leanedforwardandlookedathim,andinhislightblueeyesthereburneda

jealoushate.

Ah,Gott inHimmel!hegrowled tohimself.It ishewhom shelovesnot the pigfoolwhowe gave her toone day I shall kill


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himandheraisedhisglassofRhinewineandmurmuredDerTag!

Thatevening

Sir

John

Ardayre

had

taken

his

bride

to

dine

in

the

Bois,andtheyweresittinglisteningtotheTziganesatArmenonville.Amaryllis was conscious that the evening lacked something. Thecircumstances were interestinga bride of ten days, and theenvironment so illuminatingand yet therewasJohn smoking anexpensivecigarandnotsayinganything!Shedidnotlikepeoplewhochatteredandshecouldeven imagineadelicioussilencewroughtwithmeaning.ButastolidrespectablesilencewithTziganesplayingmovingairsand theromanticbackgroundof thisParisoutofdoor

joyousnight

life,

surely

demanded

some

show

of

emotion!

Johnlovedhershesupposedofcoursehedidorheneverwouldhaveaskedher tomarryhim, richashewasandpooras shehadbeen.Shecouldnothelpgoingoveralltheiracquaintance;thedateofitsbeginningwasonlythreemonthsback!

Theyhadmetatacountryhouseandhadplayedgolftogether,andthen theyhadmetagainamonth lateratanotherhouse, inMarch,

butshe

could

not

remember

any

love

makingshe

could

not

remember any of thosewarm looks and those surreptitious handclasps when occasionwas propitious,which Elsie Goldmore hadtoldhermenweresoprodigalofindemonstratingwhentheyfellinlove. Indeed, shehad seenemotionupon the facesofquite twoorthreeyoungmen,forallhersecludedlifeandrestrictedmeans,sinceshehadlefttheschoolinDresden,whereaworldlymaidenaunthadpinched to sendher,Germanofficershad lookedather therewithinterestinthestreet,andtheclergymansthreesonsandtheSquires

two,when

she

returned

home.

Indeed,

Tom

Clarke

had

gone

further

than this!He had kissedher cheek coming out of thedoor in thedarkoneevening,andhadreceivedasevererebuffforhispains.

She had read quantities of novels, ancient andmodern. Sheknewthatlovewasawonderfulthing;sheknewalsothatmodernlifeanditsexigencieshadcreatedanewandfarmorematteroffactpointofviewabout itthan thatwhichwasobtained inmostbooks.Shedidnot expect much, and had indulged in none of those visions of

romanticbliss

which

girls

were

once

supposed

to

spend

their

time

in

constructing.Butshedidexpectsomething,andherewasnothingjustnothing!


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ThedayJohnhad askedher tomarryhimhehadnotbeenmuchmoved.Hehadputthequestiontohersimplyandcalmly,andshehadnotdreamedofrefusinghim.Itwasobviouslyherduty,andit

hadalways

been

her

intention

to

marry

well,

if

the

chance

came

her

way,andsoleaveanottoocongenialhome.

She had been to a few London balls with the maiden aunt, apersonage of some prestige and character. But invitations do notflowtoapennilessyoungwomanfromthecountry,nordopartnersflocktobepresented tostrangers in thosedays,andAmaryllishadspentmanyhumiliatinghours as awallflower andhadgrown tohateballs.Shewasnotexpansiveinherselfanddidnotmakefriends

easily,and

pretty

as

she

was,

as

agirl,

luck

did

not

come

her

way.

WhenshehadsaidYesinasmatteroffactavoiceastheproposalofmarriagehadbeenmadetoher,SirJohnhadreplied:Youareadear,andthathadseemedtoheramostordinaryremark.Hehadleanedovertheywereclimbingasteeppitchinsearchofafugitivegolfballand had taken her hand respectfully, and then he hadkissedher foreheadorherearsheforgotwhichnothingwhichmatteredmuch,orgaveheranythrill!

IhopeIshallmakeyouhappy,hehadadded.Iamadullsortofafellow,butIwilltry.

Thentheyhadtalkedoftheusualthingsthattheytalkedabout,themost everyday,and theyhad returned to thehouse, andby theevening every one knew of the engagement, and she wascongratulatedonall sides,andpettedby thehostess,and sheandJohnwere leftostentatiouslyalone inasmallerdrawingroomafter

dinner,and

there

was

not

agrain

of

excitement

in

the

whole

conventionalthing!

Therewas always a shadow, too, inJohnsblue eyes.Hewas themostreservedcreatureinthisworld,shesupposed.Thatmightbeallverywell,butwhatwas the good ofbeing so reservedwith thewomanyou likedwell enough tomakeyourwife, if itmadeyouneverabletogetbeyondtalkingongeneralsubjects!

Thisshe

had

asked

herself

many

times

and

had

determined

to

break

down the reserve. But John never changed and he was alwaysconsiderateandpoliteandperfectlyatease.Hewould talkquietlyandwith commonsense towhoever hewasplacednext, andvery


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seldomalookofinterestflickeredinhiseyes.Indeed,AmaryllishadneverseenhimreallyinteresteduntilhespokeofArdayrethenhisveryvoicealtered.

Hespokeofhishomeoftentoherduringtheirengagement,andshegrew to know that itwas something sacred to him, and that theFamilyand itshonour,and its traditions,meantmore tohim thananyindividualpersoncouldeverdo.

Shealmostbecamejealousofitall.

Hertrousseauwasquitenicethemaidenaunthadseentothat.Her

niecehad

done

well

and

she

did

not

grudge

her

pinchings.

AmaryllisfelttriumphantasshewalkeduptheaisleofSt.Georges,HanoverSquare,onthearmofascapegracesailoruncleshewouldnotallowherstepfathertogiveheraway.

Everyonewassopleasedabout thewedding!AnArdayremarriedto anArdayre!Goodblood onboth sides and everything suitableandrichandprosperous,andjustas itshouldbe!And therestood

herhandsome,

stolid

bridegroom,

serenely

calmand

the

white

flowers, and the Bishopand her silver brocade trainand thepages, and the bridesmaids. Oh! yes, a wedding was a mostagreeablething!

Andcould shehavepenetrated into the thoughtsofJohnArdayre,thisistheprayershewouldhaveheard,asheknelttherebesideheratthealtarrails:Oh,God,keeptheaxefromfallingyet,givemeason.

Themostcuriousemotionsofexcitementroseinherwhentheywentoffinthesmartnewautomobileenrouteforthatinevitablecountryhouselentby thebridegroomsuncle,theEarlde laPaule,for thefirstdaysofthehoneymoon.

Thisparticularmansionwasontheriver,onlytwohoursdrivefromher auntsCharles Streetdoor.Now that shewas hiswife, surelyJohnwouldbegin tomake love toher, real love,kisses, claspings,

andwhat

not.

For

Elsie

Goldmore

had

presumed

upon

their

schoolgirlfriendshipandbeenquiteexplicateintheselastdays,andin any case Amaryllis was not a miss of the Victorian era. Thefeminineworld has grown too unrefined in the expression of its


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private affairs and too indiscreet for any maiden to remain inignorancenow.

Itis

true

John

did

kiss

her

once

or

twice,

but

there

was

no

real

warmthintheembrace,andwhen,afteranexcellentdinnerherheartbegan tobeatwithwondermentand excitement, sheaskedherselfwhat itmeant.Then,allconfused,shemurmuredsomethingaboutGoodnight,andretiredtothemagnificentstatesuitealone.

When she had left himJohnArdayre drank down a full glass ofBenedictineandfollowedherupthestairs,buttherewasnoloversexaltation,butananguishalmostofdespairinhiseyes.

Amaryllis thoughtof thatnightandofothernights sinceas shesatthereatArmenonville,intheluminoussensuousdusk.

Sothiswasbeingmarried!Well,itwasnotmuchofajoyandwhy,whydidJohnsitsilentthere?Why?

Surely this is not how the Russianwould have satthat strangeRussian!


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CHAPTERIII

It was nearing sunset in the gardenbelow the Trocadero. A tall

Germanofficer

waited

impatiently

not

far

from

the

bronze

of

afierce

bull inasecludedcornerunder the trees;hewasplainlyanofficeralthough he was clothed in mufti of English make. He was asingularlyhandsomecreature in spiteofhis toowidehips.A fine,sensual,brutalmale.

Hesworeinhisownlanguage,andthen,throughthegloriouslight,awoman came towardshim. Shewore anunremarkable overcoatandathickveil.

Hans! she exclaimed delightedly, and then went on in fluentGermanwithastrongAmericanaccent.

He looked round to be sure that they were alone, and then heclaspedher inhisarms.Heheldherso tightly that shepanted forbreath;hekissedheruntilherlipswerebruised,andhemurmuredgutturalwordsofendearmentthatsoundedlikeananimalsgrowl.

Thewoman

answered

him

in

like

manner.

It

was

as

though

two

brutebeastshadmet.

Thenpresently they satupon a seat and talked in low tones.Thewomanprotestedanddeclaimed;themangrumbledanddemanded.An envelopepassedbetween them, andmore crude caresses, andbeforetheypartedthemanagainheldherincloseembracebitingthelobeofherearuntilshegavealittlescream.

Yesifthere

was

time

she

gasped

huskily.

I

should

adore

you

likethisbuthereinthegardensOh!domindmyhat!

Thenhe lethergotheyhad arranged a futuremeeting.And leftalone,hesatdownuponthebenchagainandlaughedaloud.

Thewomanalmostrantotheroadatthebottomandjumpedintoawaitingtaxi,andonceinsideshebroughtoutagoldcasewithmirrorandpowderpuff,andredgreasesforherlips.

Mygoodness!Icantsaythatsamosquito!andsheexaminedherear. How tiresome and imprudent of Hans! But Jingo, it wasgood!ifthereonlyhadbeentime


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Then she, too, laughed as she powdered her face, andwhen shealighted at the door of theHotel duRhin, nomarks remained ofconflictexceptthetelltaleear.

Butonencounteringhermaid,shewascarryingherminutePekinesedoginherarmsandwasbeatinghimwell.

Regardez,Marie!lavilainebetemamorduloreil!

Tiens!commentedtheaffrontedMarie,whoadoredFouChou.EtlecherpetitchiendeMadameestsidoux!

*****

StanislassBoleskiwasporingoveravoluminousbundleofpaperswhen hiswife, clad in a diaphanouswrap, came into his sittingroom.Theyhad apalatial suite at theRhin.The affairs ofPolandwerenotprosperingashehadhoped,andthesepapersrequiredhissupremeattentiontherewasGermanintriguegoingonsomewhereunderneath.HelongedforHariettassympathywhichshehadbeensoprodigal inbestowingbefore shehad securedherdivorce from

thatbrute

of

aTeutonic

husband,

whom

she

hated

so

much.

Now

shehardlyever listened,andyawned inhisfacewhenhespokeofPolandandhishighaims.Buthemustmakeallowancesforhershewas suchachildof impulse, so lovely, so fascinating!Andhere inParis,admiredasshewas,howcouldhewonderatherdistraction!

Stanislass!my old Stannie, she cooed in his ear, what am I towear tonightfor theMontivacchiniball?Youwillwantmetolookmybest,Iknow,andIjustlovetopleaseyou.

Hewasallattentionatonce,pushingthedocumentsasideassheputherarmsaroundhisneckandpulledhisbeard, then shedrewhisheadback tokiss thepartwhere thehairwasgrowing thinon thetophereyesfixedonthepapers.

Youdontwanttobotherwiththosetiresomeoldthingsanymore;goandgetintoyourdressinggown,andcometomyroomandtalkwhile Iampolishingmynails,wecanhavehalfanhourbefore I

mustdress.

Ill

wait

for

you

hereI

must

be

petted

to

night,

Iam

tiredandcross.


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StanislassBoleski rosewithalacrity.Shehadnotbeenkind tohimfordaysfretfulandcapriciousand impossible toplease.Hemustnotlosethischanceifitcouldonlyhavebeenwhenhewasnotso

busybut

Runalong,do!shecommanded,tappingherfoot.

Andputting thepapershastily in adrawerwitha spring lock,hewentgladlyfromtheroom.

Herwholeaspect changed; she litacigaretteandhummeda tune,whileshefingeredakeywhichdangledfromherbracelet.

NooneeclipsedMadameBoleski in thatdistinguishedcrowd lateron.Herclingingsilverbrocade,andtheoneredroseattheedgeoftheextremedecolletage,were simply theperfectionofart.Shedidnotweargloves,andonherbeautifullymanicuredhandssheworenoringsexceptamagnificentrubyontheleftlittlefinger.Itwashercaprice to refuse an alliance. Wedding rings! she had said toStanislass.Bosh!theyspoilthelook.Sometimesit ischictohaveagoodjewelononefinger,sometimesonanother,buttobetieddown

tothat

band

of

homely

gold!

Never!

Stanislasshadarguedinthoseearlydaysheseldomarguednow.

My love!hecried,assheburstuponhis infatuatedvision,whenreadyfortheball,letmeadmireyou!

Sheturnedabout;sheknewthatshewasperfection.

Herhusband

kissed

her

fingers,

and

then

he

caught

sight

of

the

ruby

ring.Heexaminedit.

Ihadnotseenthisrubybefore,heexclaimedinasurprisedvoice,andIthoughtIknewallyourjewelcase!

Sheheldoutherhandwhileherbig, stupid,appealinghazel eyesexpressedchildishinnocence.

NoIdput

it

away,

it

was

of

other

daysbut

Ido

love

rubies,

and

soIgotitouttonight,itgoeswithmyrose!


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Hehadperceivedthis.Hadhenotbecomeeducatedinthesubtletiesofawomansapparel?Forwasitnothisdutyoften,andhispleasuresometimes, tohave toassistather toilet,and to listen forhours to

discussionsof

garments,

and

if

they

could

suit

or

not.

He

was

even

accustomednow towaiting in thehotsalons in theRuede laPaix,whilethesestatelyperfectionswerebeingessayed.Buttherubyringworriedhim.Whyhad she askedhim togiveherjust such a oneonly last month, if she already possessed its fellow?... He hadrefusedbecauseher extravagancehadgrown fantastic,buthehadmeant tocede later.Everypleasureof the senseshealwayshad tosecurebybribes.

Ido

not

understand

why?

he

began,

but

she

put

her

hand

over

hismouthandthenkissedhimvoluptuouslybeforesheturnedandshrillycriedtoMarietobringhererminecloak.

Themaidseyeswereroundandsullenwithresentment;shehadnotforgottenthebeatingofFouChou!AsfortheearofMadame!shesaid,claspingthetinydogtoherheart,asshewatchedhermistressgo towards the lift from the sittingroom,as for thatmauditeear,thyteethareinnocent,myangel!ButIwishthathewhoisguiltyhad

bittenit

off!

Then

she

laughed

disdainfully.

Andlookattheoldfool!Hedreamsofnothing!Andifhedreamed,hewouldnotbelievesuchinsensesaremen!

Meanwhile theBoleskishadarrivedat thehoteloftheDuchessediMontivacchini, that richand ravishingAmericanItalian,whogavethemostsplendidandexclusiveentertainmentsinParis.So,too,hadarrivedSirJohnandLadyArdayre,broughton from thedinnerat

theRitz

by

Verisschenzko.

DenzilhadleftthatmorningforEngland,orhewouldhavehadthedisagreeableexperienceofmeetinghissoidisantcousin,towhomhehad applied the epithet toad. For Ferdinand Ardayre had justreachedthegaycityfromConstantinople,andhadalsocometotheballwithafriendintheTurkishEmbassy.

He happened tobe standing at the doorwhen the Boleskiswere

announced,and

his

light

eyes

devoured

Hariettashe

seemed

to

himtheidealofthingsfeminineandheimmediatelytookstepstobepresented.Assurancewasoneofhisstrongestcards.Hewasafairmanwith the fairness of a Turk not Europeanand there was


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somethingmeanand chetive inhis regard.Hewouldhave lookedoverdressed and unEnglish in a London ballroom, but in thatcosmopolitan company he was unremarkable. He had been his

mothersidol

and

Sir

James

had

left

him

everything

he

could

scrape

fromhishighlymortgagedproperty.But certain tastesofhisownmadeaContinental lifemorecongenial tohim,andhehadchosenearly to enter a financial house which took him to the East andConstantinople.Hewasabouttwentysevenyearsoldatthisperiodandwas consideredby himself and a number ofwomen tobe acreatureofsuperlativecharm.

Theoneburningbitterness inhisspiritwas theknowledge thatSir

JohnArdayre

had

never

recognised

him

as

abrother.

During

Sir

James lifetime therehadbeen silenceupon thematter, sinceJohnhadno legal reason fordenying the relationship,but oncehehadbecomemasterofArdayrehehadletitbeknownthatherefusedtobelieveFerdinandtobehisfathersson.Ontherareoccasionswhenhe had to be mentioned, John called him the mongrel andFerdinand was aware of this. A silent, intense hatred filled hisbeingmore than sharedbyhismotherwho,until thedayofherdeath, two years before, had always plotted vengeancewithout

beingable

to

accomplish

anything.

Either

mother

or

son

would

willingly havemurderedJohn if a suitable and safemethod hadpresenteditself.AndnowtoknowthatJohnhadmarriedabeautifulfaroffcousinandmighthavechildren,andsoforeverprecludethepossibilityofhisFerdinandsown inheritanceofArdayrewasafurtherincentivetohate!IfonlysomemeanscouldbediscoveredtoremoveJohn,and soon!ButwhileFerdinand thought these things,watchinghissocalledbrotherfromacrosstheroom,heknewthathewas impotent.Poisonsanddaggerswerenotweaponswhichcould

beemployed

in

civilised

Paris

in

the

twentieth

century!

If

they

wouldonlycometoConstantinople!

Amaryllis Ardayre had never seen a Paris ball before. She wasenchanted.Thesumptuous,loftyrooms,withtheirperfectLouisXVgiltboiseries,themarvellousclothesofthewomen, thegaiety in theair!Shewasaccustomed to thenewweirddances inEngland,buthadnotseenthemperformedasshenowsawthem.

Thisorgie

of

mad

people

is

awonderful

sight,

Verisschenzko

said,

ashestoodbyherside.Parishaslostallgoodtasteandsenseofthefitnessof things.Look! thewomenwhoare themostexpert in thewriggleofthetangoaremostlyoverfortyyearsold!Doyouseethat


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one in the skintight pink robe? She is a grandmother! All arepaintedallarefeverishallwouldbeyoung!ItiseverthuswhenacountryisontheeveofacataclysmitisadanceMacabre.

Amaryllisturned,startled,tolookathim,andshesawthathiseyeswerefullofmelancholy,andnotmockingastheyusuallywere.

AdanceMacabre!Youdonotapproveofthesetangoesthen?

Hegaveasmallshrugofhisshoulders,whichwashisonlyformofgesticulation.

Tangoesorone

stepsI

neither

approve

nor

disapprovedancing should all have itsmeaning, as the GreekOrchises had.

ThesedancestotheGreekswouldhavemeantonlyonethingIdonotknowiftheywouldhavewishedthistotakeplaceinpublic,theywereanaestheticandrefinedpeople,soIthinknot.WeRussiansarethe only socalled civilisednationwho arebrutal enough for that;butwearefarfrombeingcivilisedreally.Orgiesarenaturaltousthey arenot to the French or theEnglish. Savage sexdisplays forthese nations are an acquired taste, a proof of vicious decay, the

middlenote

of

the

end.

IlearnedthetangothisSpringitischarmingtodance,Amaryllisprotested.Shewasa littleuncomfortablethesubject,muchasshewas interested in the Russians downright views, she found wasdifficulttodiscuss.

Iamsureyoudidyoucountedtimeyoumovedyourcharmingform this way and thatand you had not the slightest idea of

anythingin

it

beyond

anxiety

to

keep

step

and

do

the

thing

well!

Yesisitnotso?

Amaryllislaughedthiswassotrue!

What an incredibly false sham it all is! hewenton. StartedbyniggersorMexicansforwhat itobviouslymeans,andbroughtherefor respectablemothers,andwives,andgirls toperform.Formeawoman loses all charm when she cheapens the great mystery

ceremoniesof

love


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Then you wont dance it with me? Amaryllis challengedsmilinglyshewouldnotlethimseethatshewascastdown.Idosowanttodance!

Hiseyesgrewfierce.

Ibegofyounot! Idesire tokeep thepicture Ihavemadeofyousincewemetlater I shalldance itmyselfwitha suitablepartner,butIdonotwantyoumixedwiththistarnishedherd.

Amaryllisansweredwithdignity:

IfIthought

of

it

as

you

do

Ishould

not

want

to

dance

it

at

all.

She

wasaggrievedthatherexpresseddesiremighthavemadehimholdher less highand you have taken all the bloom from mybutterflyswingIwillneverenjoydancingitagainletusgoandsitdown.

Hegaveherhisarmandtheymovedfromtheroom,comingalmostinto conflict with Madame Boleski and her partner, FerdinandArdayre,whosemovementswouldhavedonehonourtothelowest

niggerring.

Thereisyourfriend,MadameBoleskishedancesandsowell!

Harietta isanelementalas I toldyoubeforeit is right thatsheshouldexpressherselfso.Sheisverywellawareofwhatitallmeansanddelightsinit.ButlookatthatladywiththehairgoinggreyitistheMarquisedeSaintVrilliereofthebluestbloodinFranceandofa rigid respectability. Shemarried her seconddaughter lastweek.

Theyall

spend

their

days

at

the

tango

classes,

from

early

morning

till

darkmothersanddaughters,grandmothersanddemimondaines,RussianGrandDuchesses,AustrianPrincessesclaspedinthearmsofincrediblescumfromtheArgentine,halfcastesfromMexico,andfarceurs from New Yorkdecadent male things they would notreceiveintheirantechambersbeforethismadnesssetin!

AndyousayitisadanceMacabre?Tellmejustwhatyoumean.

Theyhad

reached

acomfortable

sofa

by

now

in

asalon

devoted

to

bridge,whichwasalmostempty,theplayers,soeagertotakepartinthedancing,thattheyhaddesertedeventhis,theirfavouritegame.


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Whenanationlosesallsenseofbalanceandbeliesthetraditionsofits whole history, and when masses of civilised individualsexperience this craze fordancing andmiming, and sex display, it

presagessome

great

upheavalsome

calamity.

It

was

thus

before

therevolutionof1793,andsinceitisaffectingEnglandandAmericaandallofEuropeitseems,thecataclysmwillbegreat.

Amaryllis shivered. You frighten me, she whispered. Do youmean some waror some earthquakeor some pestilence, orwhat?

Eventswillshow.Butletustalkofsomethingelse.Acousinofyour

husbands,who

is

avery

good

friend

of

mine,

was

here

yesterday.

Hewent toEngland today,youhavenotmethimyet, IbelieveDenzilArdayre?

Nobut I know all about himhe plays polo and is in theZingari.

HedoesotherthingshewillevendomoreIshallbecurioustohearwhatyou thinkofhim.Formehe is the typeofyourbest in

England.We

were

at

Oxford

together;

we

dreamed

dreams

there

and perhaps timewill realise some of them.Denzil is abeautifulEnglishman,butheisnotafool.

AsuddenilluminationseemedtocomeintoAmaryllisbrain;shefelthow limitedhadbeenallher thoughtsand standpoints in life.Shehadbeenwillingtodriftonwithoutspeculationastothegoaltobereached.Indeed,evennow,hadsheanydefinitegoal?ShelookedattheRussiansstrong,ruggedface,hisinscrutableeyesnarrowedand

gazingaheadof

what

was

he

thinking?

Not

stupid,

ordinary

thingsthatwascertain.

It is the second evening, amidst themost unlikely surroundings,that you have made me speculate about subjects which nevertroubled me before. Then you leave me unsatisfiedI want toknowdefinitelytoknow!

Searcherafterwisdom!andhesmiled.Noonecanteachanother

verymuch.

Enlightenment

must

come

from

within;

we

have

reached

abetterstagewhenwerealisethatweareunitsinsomevastschemeandresponsible for itsworking,andnotonlyatoms floatinghitherandthitherbychance.Mostpeoplehavethebrainsofgrasshoppers;


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they spring from subject to subject, their thoughtsareneverundercontrol. Their thoughts rule themit is not they who rule theirthoughts.

They were seated comfortably on their sofa, and Verisschenzkoleaningforwardfromhiscorner,lookedstraightintohereyes.

You control your thoughts? she asked. Can you really only letthemwanderwhereyouchoose?

They very seldom escape me, but I consciously allow themindulgences.

Suchas?

VisionsdaydreamswhichIknowoughtnottomaterialise.

Somethingdisturbedher inhis regard; itwasnoteasy tomeet, sofull ofmagnetic emanation.Amarylliswas conscious that she nolonger feltverycalmshe longed toknowWhathisdreamscouldbe.

YesbutifItoldyou,youwouldsendmeaway.

Itseemed thathecouldreadherdesire.Ishallordermyself tobegone presently, because the interest which you cause me to feelwouldinterferewithworkwhichIhavetodo.

Andyourdreams?Tellthemfirst?sheknewthatshewasplayingwithfire.

Helookeddownnow,andshesawthathewasnotgoingtogratifyhercuriosity.

MynoblestdreamisfortheregenerationofanationonthatIhaveorderedmythoughtstodwell.Fortheothers,thetimeisnotyetforme to tellyouof themitmaynevercome.Nowanswerme,haveyouyetseenyournewhome,Ardayre?

No,but

why

should

you

be

interested

in

that?

It

seems

strange

that

you, a Russian, should even know that there is such a place asArdayre!


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ContinueI know that it is a wonderful place, and that yourhusbandlovesitmorethanhislife.

Amaryllispouted

slightly.

Hedoesindeed!PerhapsIshallgrowtodosoalsowhenIknowit;itisthefamilycreed.SirJamesmylatefatherinlawwastheonlyexceptiontothisrule.

Youmustupholdtheideathen,andlivetodofinethings.

Iwill tryifonly then shepaused, she couldnot sayifonly

Johnwould

be

human

and

unfreeze

to

me,

and

love

me,

and

let

us

goontheroadtogetherhandinhand!

Itisquiteuselessforafamilymerelytocontinuefromgenerationtogenerationpilinguppossessions,andnarrowingitsinterests.Itmustdo thisfora time tobecomesolid,and then itshould takeavasterview,andbegintohelptheworld.Nearlyeverythingisspoiledinallcivilisationbecauseofthisinabilitytoseebeyondthenose,thispoorandpaltryoutlook.

People rave vaguely,Amaryllis argued, about ones duty andvastoutlooksand those things,but it isdifficult togetanyone togive concrete advicewhat would you advise me to do, forinstance?

Iwould advise you first tobegin asking yourself the reason ofeverything,eachday,sincePandorasboxhasbeenopenedforyouin any case. What caused this? What caused that? Search for

causestheneradicate

the

roots,

if

they

are

not

good,

do

not

waste

timeontryingtoamelioratetheresults!Determineastowhyyouareputintosuchandsuchaplace,andaccomplishwhatyoudiscovertobethedutyofthesituation.Buthowseriouswehavebecome!Iamnot a priest to give you guidanceI am a man fighting atremendously strongdesire to takeyou inmyarmsso come,wewillreturntotheballroom,andIwilldeliveryoutoyourhusband.

Amaryllisroseandstoodfacinghim,herheartwasbeatingfast.IfI

tryto

do

wellto

climb

the

straight

road

of

the

souls

advancement,

willyougivemecounselshouldIneeditbytheway?


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Yes,thisIwilldowhenIhavecompletecontrol,butforthemomentyouarecausingmeemotions,andIwishtokeepyouathingapartofthespirit.Hermitsandsaintssubduethefleshbyabstinenceand

fasting;they

then

become

useless

to

the

world.

A

man

can

only

lead

menwhile he remains aman,with amans passions, so that heshouldnot fight in thisbeyondhis strengthonlyhe shouldneversully thewrong thing.Come!Return to thehusbandand Ishallgoforawhiletohell.

And presently Amaryllis, standing safely with John, sawVerisschenzkodancingthemaddestonestepwithMadameBoleski,theirundulationsoutdoingallothersintheroom!


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CHAPTERIV

The day after the wonderful rejoicing which the homecoming of

Amaryllishad

been

the

occasion

of

at

Ardayre,

she

was

sitting

waiting forherhusband in that exquisite cedarparlourwhich ledfromherroom.

Theywouldbreakfast cosily there, shehad arranged, andnothingwaswantinginthesettingofalovescene.ThebrideworethemostalluringcapanddaintiestParisneglige,andher fairandpureskingleamedthroughthediaphanousstuff.

Howshe

longed

for

John

to

notice

it

all,

and

make

love

to

her!

She

hadapprehendedanumberofdelightfulpossibilitiesinParis,noneofwhichhadmaterialised,alas!inhercase.

Johnwas the same as everquiet,dignified,polite andunmoved.Shehadtakentoturningoutthelightbeforehecametoheratnight,tohidethedisappointmentandchagrinwhichshefeltmightshowinher eyes. Itwouldbe so humiliating if he should see this. Therewouldsoonbenothingleftforhertodobutpretendthatshewasas

coldas

he

was,

if

this

last

effort

of

froufrous

left

him

as

stolid

as

usual.

Shesmoothedoutthepalechiffondraperieswithatenderhand.Shegotupandlookedatherselfinthemirror.Itwasfortunatethatthereflectionof snowynoseand throat and chin, and thepinkvelvetcheeks,requirednoarttoperfectthem; itwasallnaturalandquitenice, she felt.What a bore it must be to have to touch up likeMadameBoleski!

Butwhatwasthemeaningofalltheimputationsshehadreadofinthose interesting French novels in Paris?the languors andlassitudesand tremorsofbreakfasting love!Therewasjust such ascene as this in one she had devoured on theboat.A dejeuner ofamantscertainlytheyhadnotbeenmarried,therewasthatwantofresemblance,butsurelythiscouldnotmatter?Forafortnight,threeweeks, a month, surely even a husband could be as a loverespeciallytoamistresswhotooksuchpainstopleasehiseye!

Would Elsie Goldmore spend such dull breakfasts when sheespousedHarryKahn?ElsieGoldmorewasaJewess,perhaps thatmade the difference, perhapsJewsweremore expansiveBut the


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people in thenovelswere notJews.Of course, though, theywereFrench, thatmustbe it! Could itbe that all Englishmen, to theirwives,werelikeJohn?Thisshemustpresentlyfindout.

Meanwhileshewouldtryoh,trysohardtoenticehimtobelovelytoher!Hewasherownhusband; therewasabsolutelynoharm indoing this.Andhowglorious itwouldbe to turnhim intoa lover!Here in thisperfectlydivineoldhouse!Johnwas sogoodlooking,too,andhadthemostattractivedeepvoice,butheavens!thematteroffactnessofeverythingabouthim!

Howlongwoulditallgoon?

John came in presently with The Times under his arm. He wasimmaculatelydressed inablue serge suit.Amaryllishadhoped tosee him in that subduedly gorgeous dressing gown she hadpersuadedhimtoorderatCharvetsduringtheirfirstdays.Itwouldhavebeensosuitableandintimateandloverlike.Butno!therewasthebluesergesuitandTheTimes.

Ashadowfelluponhermood.Herownpinkchiffonsalmostseemed

outof

place!

John glanced at them, and at the glowing, living, deliciousbit ofyoungwomanhoodwhichtheyadorned.Hesawtherebelliousripecherryofamouth,and thewarm,soft tenderness in thegreyeyes,and thenhequickly lookedoutof thewindowhisownblueonesexpressionless,but the handwhich held the newspaper clenchedratherhard.

AmntIapet!

cooed

Amaryllis,

deliberately

subduing

the

chill

of

her first disappointment. Dearest, see I have kept this last andloveliestsetofgarmentsforthemorningofourhomecomingandforyou!andshecreptclose tohimand laidhercheekagainsthischeek.

Heencircledherwithhisarmandkissedhercalmly.

You lookmostbeautiful,darling,he said.But then,youalways

do,and

your

frills

are

perfection.

Now

Ithink

we

ought

to

have

breakfast;itismostawfullylate.

Shesatdowninherplaceandshefeltstupidtearsriseinhereyes.


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Shepouredout the teaandbutteredherselfsome toast,whileJohnwasapparentlybusyatasidetablewheredweltthehotdishes.

Heselected

the

daintiest

piece

of

sole

for

her,

and

handed

her

the

plate.

Iamnothungry,sheprotested,keepitforyourself.

Hedidnotpress thematter,but tookhisplace andbegan to talkquietlyupon thenewsof thedayinacomposed fashionbetweenglancesatTheTimesandmouthfulsofsole.

Amarylliscontrolled

herself.

She

was

too

proud

and

too

just

to

make

a foolish scene. If this was Johns way and her little effort atenticementwasa failure, shemustputupwith it.Marriagewasalotteryshehadalwaysheard,anditmightbeherlucktohavedrawna blank. So she choked down the rising emotion and answeredbrightly,showing interest inherhusbandsremarksandsheevenmanaged toeatsomeomelette,andwhen thebusinessofbreakfastwasquiteovershewenttothewindowandJohnfollowedherthere.

Theview

which

met

their

eyes

was

exquisite.

Beyondtheperfectstatelygarden,withitsquaintclippedyewsandmassesofspring flowersandvelvet lawns, therestretched thevastparkwith itssplendidoaksandbrowsingdeer.Itwasapossessionwhichanymancouldfeelproudtoown.

Johnslippedhisarmroundherwaistanddrewhertohim.

Amaryllis,he

said,

and

his

voice

vibrated,

to

day

Iam

going

to

showyoueverythingIlovehereatArdayrebecauseIwantyoutolove itall,too.Youareofthefamily,so itmustmeansomethingtoyou,dear.

Amarylliskindledwithreawakeninghope.

Indeed,itwillmeaneverythingtome,John.

Hekissed

her

forehead

and

murmured

something

about

her

dressingquickly,and thathewouldwaitforher there in thecedarroom.Andwhenshereturned inaboutaquarterofanhour in theneatestcountryclothes,heplacedherhandonhisarmand ledher


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down the great stairs and on through the hall into the picturegallery.

Itwas

awonderful

place

of

green

silk

and

chestnut

wainscoting,

and

allthewallsofitshundredfeetoflengthwerehungwithcanvasesofvalueportraits principally of thoseArdayreswho had gone on.FaceafterfacelookeddownonAmaryllisofthesametypeasJohnsandherownthebrownhairandeyesofgreyorblue.Somewerealittle fairer, some a little darker, but all unmistakably stampedArdayre.

Johnpointedouteach individual toher,whileshehung fondlyon

hisarm,

from

some

doubtful

crude

fourteenth

century

wooden

panelsofJohnsandDenzils,on toBenedict ina furredHenryVII.gown.Then cameHenrys andDenzils inElizabethan armour andpuffedwhitesatin,andthroughStuartandCommonwealthtoStuartagain,andsotoWilliamandMarynumbersofBenedicts,andlastlytopowderedGeorgianJamesandRegencyDenzilsandJohns.Andthe name Amaryllis recurredmore than once in stately dame ordamsel,calledafterthatfairAmaryllisofElizabethsdayswhohadbeenmaidofhonourtothevirginQueen,andhadsonnetswrittento

hernut

brown

locks

by

the

gallants

of

her

time.

Howlittlethewomentheymarriedseemtohavealteredthetype!theyounglivingAmaryllisexclaimed,whentheycamenearlytotheend.ItgoesonArdayre,Ardayre,Ardayre,eversincetheveryfirstone.Oh!John,ifweeverhaveasonheoughttobeevenmoresoyouand Ibeingof the sameblood and then shehesitated andblushedcrimson.Thiswasthefirsttimeshehadeverspokenofsuchathing.

Johnheldherarmverytightlytohissideforasecond,andhisvoicewasuncertainasheanswered:

Amaryllis,thatistheprofounddesireofmyheart,thatweshouldhaveason.

A strange feelingof exaltation cameoverAmaryllis,halfinnocent,whollyignorantasshewas.

ShehadbeenstupidFrenchnovelswereallnonsense.Marriagesinreal lifewerealways like thisofcourse theymustbesinceJohnsaidplainlyandwithsuchdeepfeeling thathisprofoundestdesire


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wasthattheyshouldhaveason!Thatmeantthatshewouldsurelyhaveone.Thiswasperfectlyglorious,and itmustsimplybe thosesillybooks and ElsieGoldmores too uxorious imaginationwhich

hadgiven

her

some

ridiculously

romantic

exaggerated

ideas

of

what

lovehourswouldbe.Shewouldnowbecontentedandneverworryagain.Shenestledclosertoherhusbandandlookedupathimwitheyessweetandfond,thebrown,curlylasheswetwithtenderdew.

Oh!darling,when,whendoyouthinkweshallhaveason?

Then,forthefirsttimeintheirlives,JohnArdayreclaspedherinhisarmspassionatelyandheldhertohisheart.

Ah,God,hewhisperedhoarsely,ashekissedherfreshyounglips.Prayforthat,Amaryllisprayforthat,myown.

Thenherestrainedhimselfanddrewherontothefourlastpicturesat the end of the room. They were of his grandfather andgrandmother,andhisfatherandmother.Andthentherewasablankspace,and thebrightercolourof thedamaskshowed thatacanvashadbeenremoved.

Whohungthere,John?

Theaccursedsnakecharmerwomanwhommyfatherdisgracedthefamilywithbybringinghome.Shewashiswifeby the law,andaFrenchman painted her. It was a fine picture with the bastardFerdinandinherarmstheproofofourshame.Ihadittakendownandburntthedaytheplacewasmine.

Amarylliswas

receiving

surprises

to

dayJohns

face

was

full

of

emotion, his eyeswere sparklingwith hate as he spoke.How hemustloveeverythingconnectedwithhishome,anditshonour,anditsnamehecouldnotbesoverycoldafterall!

ShethoughtoftheRussianswordsaboutafamilytheuselessnessofitsgoingonforgenerations,pilinguppossessionsandnarrowingitsinterests.Whathadtheaimsbeenofallthesehandsomemen?Sheknewtheearlierhistoryalittle,foreventhoughshewasofadistant

branchthey

had

been

proud

of

the

connection,

and

treasured

the

traditionsbelonging to it. But thesewerejust dry facts of historywhichsheknew,sonowsheasked:


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John,whatdidanyofthemdo?Didtheyaccomplishgreatdeeds?

Hetookherbacktothebeginningagainandbegantotellherofthe

achievementsof

each

one.

There

would

be

three

perhaps,

one

after

another,whohadfilledhighpostsintheState,andindeedhadbeenworthyof thename.Thenwould comeoneor twoquietploddingones,whoseemedtohavedonelittlebutsitstillandholdon.

ThenDenzilArdayre,knightofElizabeths time,pleasedAmaryllismostofallthough therehadbeengreatersoldiers,andmoreablepoliticians than he later on, culminating in Sir John Ardayre ofGeorgeIV.days,whohadhammeredagainstpocketboroughsand

corruptionuntil

he

died

an

old

man,

the

hour

the

Reform

Bill

swept

asideabusesandtheroadtofreedomwaswon.

Howstrangeitseemsthatdifferentagesproducemoreaccentuatedstampsofbreedingthanothers,Amaryllissaid,even inthesamefamilieswherethebloodisallblue.Look,John!thatDenzilandtherest of theElizabethans are themost refined, aristocratic creaturesyou could imagine, in their little ruffs.Absolutely intellectual andcultivatedfacesandofoldraceandthencomesaJamesperiod,less

intelligent,more

round

featured.

And

aCavalier

one,

gay

and

gallant, aristocratic and chiselled also, but not nearly so cleverlooking as the Elizabethan. Thenwe get cadaverousWilliam andMaryones,theymightbelawyersorbusinessmen,notthatlookofgreat gentlemen, and theAnnes and the firstGeorges are reallybucolic!And then thatwonderfully refined, cultivated, intellectualfinishseems tocropup in the latereighteenthcenturyagain.Haveyou noticed this, John? You can see it in every collection ofminiaturesandportraitseveninthemuseums.

Johnrespondedinterestedly:

The Elizabethans were supremely cultivated gentlemennowonder that they look as theydoand their liveswere always intheirhandswhichgivesthemthatairofinsouciance.

When the history of the family achievements had been told herdowntoJohnsfather,shepaused,stillclingingtohisarm,andsaid:

Iamsogladthattheydidsplendidthings,arentyou?Andweshallnotdrifteither.YoumustteachmetobethemostperfectmistressofArdayre, and themost perfectwife for the greatest of them all


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becauseyourachievementisthefinest,John,tohavewonitallbackandredeemeditbytheworkofyourownbrain.

Hepressed

the

hand

on

his

arm.

Itwashardworkand thehome timeswereugly in thosedays,Amaryllis, though thegoalwasworth it, andnowwemust carryon....And thenhisreserveseemed to falluponhimagain,andhetook her through the other rooms, and kept to solid facts, andhistoricdescriptions,andhisbridehadcontinuouslytheimpressionthat he was mastering some emotion in himself, and that thisstoliditywasamask.

When lunch time came the usual relations of obvious andcommonplace goodfellowship had been fully restored betweenthem,andthatatmosphereofaloofnesswhichseemedimpossibletobanishenvelopedJohnoncemore.

Amaryllissighedbut itwastoosoontodespairshethought,afterthe hope ofJohnswords, andwith her serene temperament shedecidedtoleavethingsastheywereforthepresentandtrusttotime.

Butashermaidbrushedoutthesoftbrownhairthatnight,anunrestandlongingforsomethingcameoverheragainwhatsheknewnot,nor could have put into words. She let herself relive that onemoment when John had pressed herewith passion to his heart.Perhaps, perhaps that was the beginning of a change in himperhapspresently

Buttheclockinthelonggalleryhadchimedtwo,andtherewasyet

nosound

of

John

in

the

dressing

room

beyond.

Amaryllis lay in thegreat splendidgiltbed in thewarmdarkness,andatlasttearstrickleddownhercheeks.

Whatcouldkeephimsolongawayfromher?Whydidhenotcome?

ThelargeQueenAnnewindowswerewideopen,andsoftnoisesofthenight floated inwith thezephyrs.Thewhole air seemed filled

withwaiting

expectancy

for

something

tender

and

passionate

to

be.

Whatwas that?Stepsupon the terracemeasuredstepsand thensilence, and then adeep sigh. ItmustbeJohnout there alone!


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CHAPTERV

Here are the papers, Hans, but I think the whole thing stupid

nonsense.What

does

it

matter

to

any

one

what

Poland

wants?

What

a nuisance all these old boring political things are! They alwaysspoiledourhappinesssincethebeginningandnowifitwasntforthemwe could have a glorious time here together. Iwould lovemanaging tocomeout tomeetyouunderStanislassnose.NoneoftheothersIhaveeverhadareasgoodinthewayofaloverasyou.

ThemansworeinGermanunderhisbreath.

Ofalightness

always,

Harietta!

No

devouement,

no

patriotism....

ShouldIhaveagreedtothedivorce,lovingyourbodyasIdo,haditnotbeenaseriousmatter?ThepigdogwhonowownsyoumustbesuckeddryofinformationandthenIshalltakeyoubackagain.

AcunninglookcameintoMadameBoleskishazeleyes.ShehadnottheslightestintentionofpermittingthistogobacktoHans!Tothedifficultyofmakingbothendsmeet!Eventhoughhedidcauseeveryinchofherwellpreservedbody to tingle!Theyhad suggestedher

gettingthe

divorce

for

their

own

stupid

political

ends,

to

be

able

to

placeher in thearmsofStanislassBoleski,and there shemeant tostay!Itwas infinitelymoreagreeable tobeagrandedame inParis,andpresently inLondon, than tobe the spouseofHans inBerlin,where,whateverhissecretpowermightbewith theauthorities,hecouldgivehernogreatsocialposition;andsocialpositionwas thegoalofallHariettaBoleskisdesires!

Shecouldattractloversinanyclassoflifethathadneverbeenher

difficulty.Her

trouble

had

been

that

she

could

never

force

herself

intogoodAmerican society,evenafter shehadmarriedHans,andtheyhaddweltthereforayearormore.Herowncompatriotswouldhavenone ofher, and so shewanted triumph in other lands.Shehated torememberheryouthofhumiliation, tryingtoplayasocialgameon theearningsofanywork thatshecouldpickup,betweendiscreet outings withfriends who failed to suggest matrimony.Hans,onsomesecretmissiontoSanFrancisco,whereshehadgoneas companion to a friend, had seemed a veritable Godsend and

PrinceCharming,

when,

in

her

thirtieth

year,

he

actually

offered

legalmarriage, completely overcomeby her greatphysical charm.Butalthoughshe lovedHanswithwhateverofthatemotionsuchanaturecouldbecapableof,fiveyearsofhimandmoreorlessgenteel


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povertyhadbeenenough,andnowshewasfreeofthat,andcouldstillenjoysurreptitiouslythepleasureofhispassion,andreignasapersonagratawifeofoneof the richestmen inPolandat the same

time.That

those

in

authority

who

had

arranged

the

divorce

required

ofher certain tiresomeobligations in return for their services,wasoneofthoseannoyingpartsoflife!Shetooknottheslightestinterestin the affairs of any country.Nothing reallymattered to her,butherself.Herwhole forcewas concentratedupon thebetterment ofthepositionandphysicalpleasureofHariettaBoleski.

It was this instinct alone which had prompted her to acquire asmatteringofeducationandwith thequick,adaptive facultyofa

monkeyshe

had

been

able

to

use

this

to

its

utmost

limits,

as

well

as

herhistrionictalentnomeanonetogainherends.Shewasnowplaying theroleofa lady,andplaying itbrilliantlysheknewandhere was Hans back again, and suggesting that when she hadsecured all the information that he required from Stanislass sheshouldreturntohim!

Tralala!shesaidtoherself,thereintheroomattheHotelAstoria,whereshehadgonetomeethim,thinkthisifitpleasesyou!Itwill

keepyou

quiet

and

wont

hurt

me!

ForthemomentshewantedHanstheman,andwasdeterminedtowaste no further time on useless discussion. So she began herblandishments,takingprideinshowinghimherbeautifulgarments,and her string of big pearls; each thing exhibited between hervoluptuous kisses, until Hans grew intoxicated with desire, andbecameasclayinherhands.

Itis

not

thy

pig

dog

of

ahusband

Iwish

to

kill!

he

said,

after

one

hourhadgonebyininarticulatemurmurings.HimIdonotfearitis the Russian, Verisschenzko, who fills me with hatewe haveregardofhim,hedoesnotgounobserved,andifyouallurehimalsoamong therest,beyond the instructionswhichyouhad, then therewillbeunpleasantnessforyou,mylittlecatthyHanswilltwisthisbearsneck,andthinealso,ifneedbe!

Verisschenzko! laughedHarietta, why, I hardly know him; he

dontamount

to

arow

of

pins!

Hes

Stanislass

friendnot

mine.


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ThenshesmoothedbackHansratherfierce,fairmoustachefromhislips and kissed him againher ruby ring flashing in a ray ofsunlight.

Look! isntthisalovelyjewel,Hans!MyoldStanniegaveittomeonlysomedaysagoitismynewtoysee

Hansexaminedit:

Thouartacreatureofthedevil,Harietta,thereisnotoneofthyevilqualitiesofgreedandextortionwhichIdonotknow.Thou liest tomeandtoallmentheonlygoodthingintheeisthybodyandfor

thatall

men

let

thee

lie.

Hariettapouted.

Icantunderstandwhenyoutalklikethat,Hansitsallwarbash,aswesaidoutWest.Whatarequalities?Whatistherebutthebodyanyway?Greatsakes!thatsenoughforme,andthedevilisonlyinstorybooks to frighten childrenImjust like every otherwomanandIwanttohaveagoodtime.

IhearthatyouaregoingtoLondonsoon,saidHans,droppingthetutoyageandgrowingbrutallysevere,toconquernewloversandtowearmoredresses?But thereyouwillbeofgreatuse tome.YourinstructionswillbeallreadyincypherbyTuesdaynight,whenyoumustmeetme atwhatever point is convenient to you, after nineoclockhere,perhaps?

HariettafrownedshehadotherviewsforTuesdaynight.

What shall Igainby coming,orbygoingonwith this spyingonStan? Im tired of it all; itbreaksmy head trying to take in yourhorridoldcypher.IdontthinkIlldoitanymore.

ThePrussiansfacegrewlividandhismouthsetlikeanironspring.He looked ather straightbetween the eyes, asa lion tamermighthavedone,andhetookacanefromwhereitlaidonabureaunear.

Untilyou

are

black

and

blue,

Iwill

beat

you,

woman,

he

said,

as

I

havedonebeforeifyoufailusinasinglethinganddonotthinkwearepowerless!Itshallbethatyouareexposedanddegraded,andsoloseyourgame.Nowtellme,willyougoon?


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Harietta crouched in fear,just animal, physical fearshe had feltthatstick,itwasanightmaretoher,asitmighthavebeentoachild.SheknewthatHanswouldkeephisword.Hisphysicalstrengthhad

beenone

of

the

things

she

had

adored

in

himbut

to

be

degraded

andexposed,aswellasbeaten,touchedhersensibilities,afterallthetroubleshehad taken tobecomea ladyof theworld!Thiswas toomuch.No!Tiresomeasalltheseoldpaperswere,shewouldhavetogo onbut since he threatened her shewould pay him out! TheRussian shouldhavepapersaswell!And so therewasgood inallthings,sincenowmaterialadvantagewouldcomefrombothsides.Was it not right that you looked to yourself, especially whenmenacedwithastick?

She laughed softly; thiswas humorous and she could appreciatesuchkindofhumour.

Hanscrushedherinhisarms.

Answer!heorderedgutturally.Answer,youfiend!

Hariettabecamecajolingnoonecouldhave lookedmorefrankor

simple,as

simple

as

she

looked

to

all

great

ladies

when

she

would

disarm themandwinherway.Shewould lookupat themgently,and ask their advice, and say that of course she was only anewcomerandveryignorant,notcleverlikethey!

Hans,darling,Iwasonlyjoking,amInotdevotedtoyourinterestsand always ready to serveyou and thehigherpowerswhomyouserve?Ofcourse,IwillcomeonTuesdaynightand,ofcourse,Iwillgoon.

She lether lip trembleandhereyes fillwith tears; theywerequiterealtears.Shefeltthehardshipofhavingtowearyherbrainwithanewcypher,andselfpityinflamesthelachrymoseglands.

Tobusinessthen,mein liebchenattendcarefullytoeveryword.InEnglandyoumustbe receivedbyRoyalty itself,andyoumustgointo the highest circles of the diplomatic and politicalworld. Themenareindiscreetthere;theytrusttheirwomenandtellthemsecret

things.It

is

the

women

you

must

please.

The

English

are

arace

of

fools;numbersarearistocratsinallclassesandthereforetoostupidto suspect craft,and thosewhoarenotare trying toappear tobe,and tooconceited touse theirwits.Youcanbeofenormoususe to


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ThePriceofThings

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our country,Harietta,mywife,andhewalkedupanddown theroom in his excitement, his hands claspedbehindhimhewouldhavebeenaveryhandsomemanbutforhistoowidehips.

Marietta looked at him out of the corner of her eye; she did notnotice this defect in him, for her hewas a splendidmale,with adelightful quality of savagery in lovewhich she had found in noother man except VerisschenzkoVerisschenzko! Her thoughtshesitatedwhentheycametohimVerisschenzkowasadorable,buthewasaman tobefearedmuchmore thanHans.Himshecouldalways cajole if she used passion enough, but she had theuncomfortable feeling that Verisschenzko gave way to her only

whenandbecausehe

wanted

to,

not

for

the

reason

that

she

had

conqueredhim.

Ofgreatuse toour country,Harietta,mywife,Hansmurmuredagain,clearinghisthroat.

Iamnotyourwife,myprettyHans!andsheraisedhereyebrows,and curled one corner of her upper lip. You gaveme up at thebiddingofthehighercommandIamyourmistressnowandthen,

whenIfeel

inclinedbut

Iam

Stanislass

wife.

Ilike

aman

better

whenIamhismistress;therearenotiresomeolddutiesalongwithit.

Hansgrowled,hehatedtorealisethis.

Youmustbemore carefulwithyour speech,Harietta.Whenyouget toEnglandyoumustnot say alongwith itafter thepains Ihave takenwithyourgrammar, too!You canuseAmericanisms if

theyare

apt,

and

even

aliteral

translation

of

another

languagebut

bad grammarcommon phrasespah! that is to give the showaway!

Hariettareddenedhervanitydislikedcriticism.

I takeverygood careofmy languagewhen it isnecessary in theworldIamconsideredtohavealovelyvoicebutwhenImwithyouIguessIcanenjoyaholidayitskindofarest to letyourself

go,her

pronunciation

lapsed

into

the

broadest

American,

just

to

irritatehim,andshestoodandlaughedinhisface.


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Hecaughther inhisarms.Sheneverfailed toappealtohissenses;shehadwonhimby that force and soheldhisbrutenature evenafterfiveyears.Thiswasalwaysthereasonofwhateversuccessshe

secured.A

man

had

no

smallest

doubt

as

to

why

he

was

drawn;

it

wasadirectappealtothemostprimitiveanimalnatureinhim.ThebirthofLoveiseverthusifwewouldanalyseittruly,butthespiritfortunately so wraps things in illusion that generally bothparticipants reallybelieve that themutual attraction isbecause ofhigher emotions of the mind, and so they are doomed todisappointmentwhenpassion is sated,unless themind fulfills theideal.Butiftherealityfailstomakegood,therefinedspiritturnsindisgust from the material, unconsciously resentful in that it has

suffereddeception.

With

Harietta

this

disappointment

could

never

occur, since she created no illusion that shewas appealing to themind at all, and so aman ifhewere attracted facednounknownquality,butwasawarethatitwasonlytheanimalinhimwhichwasdrawn, and if his senses were hismasters, not his servants, hervictorywascomplete.

Aftersomemorefiercecaresseshadcome toanendtherewasnodelicacyaboutHariettaHanscontinuedhisdiscourse.

There has come here to Paris a young man of the name ofArdayreFerdinandArdayrehe is slippery,buthe canbeof thegreatest value to us. See that youbecome friendsyou can reachhimthroughAbbaBey.Hehateshisbrotherwhoistheheadofthefamilyandhehateshisbrotherswifeforfamilyreasonswhichitisnot necessary to waste time in telling you. I knew him inConstantinople.UnderneathIbelievehehatestheEnglishthereisasluronhim.

Ihavealreadymethim,andHariettaseyessparkled.Ihate thewifealsoformyownreasonsyeshowcanIhelpyouwiththis?

It isFerdinandyoumustconcentrateon;Iamnotconcernedwiththebrotherorhiswife,except insofarashishatefor themcanbeused toouradvantage.Donotembarkupon this toplaygamesofyour own for your hateyou may be foolish then and upsetmatters.

Verywell. The two objects could go together,Harietta felt; sheneverwastedwords.Itwouldbeapleasureoneday,perhaps,tobeabletoinjurethatgirlwhomVerisschenzkocertainlyrespected,ifhe


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was not actually growing to love her.Harietta did not desire therespectofmen in theabstract; itcouldbeagreatborewhat theythoughtofherneverenteredherconsideration,sinceshewasonly

occupiedwith

her

own

pleasure

in

them

and

how

they

affected

herself.Respectwas oneof the adjunctsof agood socialposition;andofvaluemerely in thataspect.ButasVerisschenzko respectedno one else, as far as she knew, that must mean somethingannoyinglyimportant.

Sevenoclockstruck;shehadthoroughlyenjoyedbeingwithHans,he satisfiedher inmanyways,and itwasalsoa relaxation,as sheneednotact.But thejoysof the interviewwereovernow,andshe

hadothers

prepared

for

later

on,

and

must

go

back

to

the

Rhin

to

dress.SoshekissedHansandleft,havingarrangedtomeethimontheTuesday night here in his rooms, and having receivedpreciseinstructionsastothenatureofthe informationtobeobtainedfromFerdinandArdayre.

Lifewouldbeaparadiseifonlyitwerenotfortheseridiculousandtiresomepoliticalintrigues.Hariettahadnotasteforactualintrigue,its intricacieswereaweariness toher. If shecouldhavemarrieda

richman

in

the

beginning,

she

always

told

herself,

she

would

never

havemixedherselfupinanythingofthekind,andnow

the price of things

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