按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The voice was Miss Power's； and so plainly enough was the
figure as soon as he examined it。 Her back was towards him；
and either because the room was only lighted in two places； or
because she was absorbed in her own concerns； she seemed to be
unconscious of any one's presence on the scene except the
banker and herself。 The former called back the clerk； and two
other porters having been summoned they disappeared to get
whatever she required。
Somerset； somewhat excited； sat wondering what could have
brought Paula to London at this juncture； and was in some
doubt if the occasion were a suitable one for revealing
himself； her errand to her banker being possibly of a very
private nature。 Nothing helped him to a decision。 Paula
never once turned her head； and the progress of time was
marked only by the murmurs of the two lawyers； and the
ceaseless clash of gold and rattle of scales from the outer
room； where the busy heads of cashiers could be seen through
the partition moving about under the globes of the gas…lamps。
Footsteps were heard upon the cellar…steps； and the three men
previously sent below staggered from the doorway； bearing a
huge safe which nearly broke them down。 Somerset knew that
his father's box； or boxes； could boast of no such dimensions；
and he was not surprised to see the chest deposited in front
of Miss Power。 When the immense accumulation of dust had been
cleared off the lid； and the chest conveniently placed for
her； Somerset was attended to； his modest box being brought up
by one man unassisted； and without much expenditure of breath。
His interest in Paula was of so emotional a cast that his
attention to his own errand was of the most perfunctory kind。
She was close to a gas…standard； and the lawyers； whose seats
had intervened； having finished their business and gone away；
all her actions were visible to him。 While he was opening his
father's box the manager assisted Paula to unseal and unlock
hers； and he now saw her lift from it a morocco case； which
she placed on the table before her； and unfastened。 Out of it
she took a dazzling object that fell like a cascade over her
fingers。 It was a necklace of diamonds and pearls； apparently
of large size and many strands； though he was not near enough
to see distinctly。 When satisfied by her examination that she
had got the right article she shut it into its case。
The manager closed the chest for her； and when it was again
secured Paula arose； tossed the necklace into her hand…bag；
bowed to the manager； and was about to bid him good morning。
Thereupon he said with some hesitation： 'Pardon one question；
Miss Power。 Do you intend to take those jewels far？'
'Yes；' she said simply； 'to Stancy Castle。'
'You are going straight there？'
'I have one or two places to call at first。'
'I would suggest that you carry them in some other wayby
fastening them into the pocket of your dress； for instance。'
'But I am going to hold the bag in my hand and never once let
it go。'
The banker slightly shook his head。 'Suppose your carriage
gets overturned： you would let it go then。'
'Perhaps so。'
'Or if you saw a child under the wheels just as you were
stepping in； or if you accidentally stumbled in getting out；
or if there was a collision on the railwayyou might let it
go。'
'Yes； I see I was too careless。 I thank you。'
Paula removed the necklace from the bag； turned her back to
the manager； and spent several minutes in placing her treasure
in her bosom； pinning it and otherwise making it absolutely
secure。
'That's it；' said the grey…haired man of caution； with evident
satisfaction。 'There is not much danger now： you are not
travelling alone？'
Paula replied that she was not alone； and went to the door。
There was one moment during which Somerset might have
conveniently made his presence known； but the juxtaposition of
the bank…manager； and his own disarranged box of securities；
embarrassed him： the moment slipped by； and she was gone。
In the meantime he had mechanically unearthed the pedigree；
and； locking up his father's chest； Somerset also took his
departure at the heels of Paula。 He walked along the misty
street； so deeply musing as to be quite unconscious of the
direction of his walk。 What； he inquired of himself； could
she want that necklace for so suddenly？ He recollected a
remark of Dare's to the effect that her appearance on a
particular occasion at Stancy Castle had been magnificent by
reason of the jewels she wore； which proved that she had
retained a sufficient quantity of those valuables at the
castle for ordinary requirements。 What exceptional occasion；
then； was impending on which she wished to glorify herself
beyond all previous experience？ He could not guess。 He was
interrupted in these conjectures by a carriage nearly passing
over his toes at a crossing in Bond Street： looking up he saw
between the two windows of the vehicle the profile of a
thickly mantled bosom； on which a camellia rose and fell。 All
the remainder part of the lady's person was hidden； but he
remembered that flower of convenient season as one which had
figured in the bank parlour half…an…hour earlier to…day。
Somerset hastened after the carriage； and in a minute saw it
stop opposite a jeweller's shop。 Out came Paula； and then
another woman； in whom he recognized Mrs。 Birch； one of the
lady's maids at Stancy Castle。 The young man was at Paula's
side before she had crossed the pavement。
VI。
A quick arrested expression in her two sapphirine eyes；
accompanied by a little； a very little； blush which loitered
long； was all the outward disturbance that the sight of her
lover caused。 The habit of self…repression at any new
emotional impact was instinctive with her always。 Somerset
could not say more than a word； he looked his intense
solicitude； and Paula spoke。
She declared that this was an unexpected pleasure。 Had he
arranged to come on the tenth as she wished？ How strange that
they should meet thus！and yet not strangethe world was so
small。
Somerset said that he was coming on the very day she
mentionedthat the appointment gave him infinite
gratification； which was quite within the truth。
'Come into this shop with me；' said Paula； with good…humoured
authoritativeness。
They entered the shop and talked on while she made a small
purchase。 But not a word did Paula say of her sudden errand
to town。
'I am having an exciting morning；' she said。 'I am going from
here to catch the one…o'clock train to Markton。'
'It is important that you get there this afternoon； I
suppose？'
'Yes。 You know why？'
'Not at all。'
'The Hunt Ball。 It was fixed for the sixth； and this is the
sixth。 I thought they might have asked you。'
'No；' said Somerset； a trifle gloomily。 'No； I am not asked。
But it is a great task for youa long journey and a ball all
in one day。'
'Yes： Charlotte said that。 But I don't mind it。'
'You are glad you are going。 Are you glad？' he said softly。
Her air confessed more than her words。 'I am not so very glad
that I am going to the Hunt Ball；' she replied confidentially。
'Thanks for