第19部分(第1/7 页)

over　men。

〃That　is　settled；〃　she　said　softly；　and　gave　a　little　laugh。　〃And　now；　Dereek；　will　you　give　me　lunch？〃

〃No。〃

He　drew　in　his　breath　sharply　and　rose　to　his　feet。

〃I　am　sorry；　but　I　told　you　…　I　have　got　an　engagement。〃

〃You　are　lunching　with　someone　else？　Bah！　I　don't　believe　it。〃

〃I　am　lunching　with　that　lady　over　there。〃

He　crossed　abruptly　to　where　a　lady　in　white　had　just　e　up　the　steps。　He　addressed　her　a　little　breathlessly。

〃Miss　Grey；　will　you　…　will　you　have　lunch　with　me？　You　met　me　at　Lady　Tamplin's；　if　you　remember。〃

Katherine　looked　at　him　for　a　minute　or　so　with　those　thoughtful　grey　eyes　that　said　so　much。

〃Thank　you；〃　she　said；　after　a　moment's　pause；　〃I　should　like　to　very　much。〃

Chapter　19

AN　UNEXPECTED　VISITOR

The　te　de　la　Roche　had　just　finished　déjeuner；　consisting　of　an　omelette　fines　herbes；　an　entrec？te　Bearnaise；　and　a　Savarin　au　Rhum。　Wiping　his　fine　black　moustache　delicately　with　his　table　napkin；　the　te　rose　from　the　table。　He　passed　through　the　salon　of　the　villa；　noting　with　appreciation　the　few　objets　d'art　which　were　carelessly　scattered　about。　The　Louis　XV　snuff…box；　the　satin　shoe　worn　by　Marie　Antoite；　and　the　other　historic　trifles　were　part　of　the　te's　mise　en　scene。　They　were；　he　would　explain　to　his　fair　visitors；　heirlooms　in　his　family。　Passing　through　on　to　the　terrace；　the　te　looked　out　on　the　Mediterranean　with　an　unseeing　eye。　He　was　in　no　mood　for　appreciating　the　beauties　of　scenery。　A　fully　matured　scheme　had　been　rudely　brought　to　naught；　and　his　plans　had　to　be　cast　afresh。　Stretching　himself　out　in　a　basket　chair；　a　cigarette　held　between　his　white　fingers；　the　te　pondered　deeply。

Presently　Hippolyte；　his　man