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There was no answer； because Sir Junius had gone。 I never saw him
again； for years ago the poor man died quite disgraced。 His passion
for semi…fraudulent speculations reasserted itself； and he became a
bankrupt in conditions which caused him to leave the country for
America； where he was killed in a railway accident while travelling as
an immigrant。 I have heard； however； that he was not asked to shoot at
Ragnall any more。
The cheque was passed to the credit of the Cottage Hospital； but not；
as I had requested； as a subscription from Sir Junius Fortescue。 A
couple of years later； indeed； I learned that this sum of money was
used to build a little room in that institution to accommodate sick
children； which room was named the Allan Quatermain ward。
Now； I have told this story of that December shoot because it was the
beginning of my long and close friendship with Ragnall。
When he found that Van Koop had gone away without saying good…bye；
Lord Ragnall made no remark。 Only he took my hand and shook it。
I have only to add that； although； except for the element of
competition which entered into it； I enjoyed this day's shooting very
much indeed； when I came to count up its cost I felt glad that I had
not been asked to any more such entertainments。 Here it is； taken from
an old note…book：
Cartridges； including those not used and given to Charles ￡4 0 0
Game License 3 0 0
Tip to Red Waistcoat （keeper） 2 0 0
Tip to Charles 0 10 0
Tip to man who helped Charles to find pheasant 0 5 0
Tip to man who collected pheasants behind me 0 10 0
…
￡10 5 0
…
Truly pheasant shooting in England is； or was； a sport for the rich！
CHAPTER III
MISS HOLMES
Two and a half hours passed by； most of which time I spent lying down
to rest and get rid of a headache caused by the continual； rapid
firing and the roar of the gale； or both； also in rubbing my shoulder
with ointment； for it was sore from the recoil of the guns。 Then
Scroope appeared； as； being unable to find my way about the long
passages of that great old castle； I had asked him to do； and we
descended together to the large drawing…room。
It was a splendid apartment； only used upon state occasions； lighted；
I should think； with at least two or three hundred wax candles； which
threw a soft glow over the panelled and pictured walls； the priceless
antique furniture； and the bejewelled ladies who were gathered there。
To my mind there never was and never will be any artificial light to
equal that of wax candles in sufficient quantity。 The company was
large； I think thirty sat down to dinner that night； which was given
to introduce Lord Ragnall's future wife to the neighbourhood； whereof
she was destined to be the leader。
Miss Manners； who was looking very happy and charming in her jewels
and fine clothes； joined us at once； and informed Scroope that 〃she〃
was just coming； the maid in the cloakroom had told her so。
〃Is she？〃 replied Scroope indifferently。 〃Well； so long as you have
come I don't care about anyone else。〃
Then he told her she was looking beautiful； and stared at her with
such affection that I fell back a step or two and contemplated a
picture of Judith vigorously engaged in cutting off the head of
Holofernes。
Presently the large door at the end of the room was thrown open and
the immaculate Savage； who was acting as a kind of master of the
ceremonies； announced in well…bred but penetrating tones； 〃Lady
Longden and the Honourable Miss Holmes。〃 I stared； like everybody
else； but for a while her ladyship filled my eye。 She was an ample
and； to my mind； rather awful…looking person； clad in black satinshe
was a widowand very large diamonds。 Her hair was white； her nose was
hooked； her dark eyes were penetrating； and she had a bad cold in her
head。 That was all I found time to notice about her； for suddenly her
daughter came into my line of vision。
Truly she was a lovely girl； or rather； young woman； for she must have
been two or three…and…twenty。 Not very tall； her proportions were
rounded and exquisite； and her movements as graceful as those of a
doe。 Altogether she was doe…like； especially in the fineness of her
lines and her large and liquid eyes。 She was a dark beauty； with rich
brown； waving hair； a clear olive complexion； a perfectly shaped mouth
and very red lips。 To me she looked more Italian or Spanish than
Anglo…Saxon； and I believe that； as a matter of fact； she had some
southern blood in her on her father's side。 She wore a dress of soft
rose colour； and her only ornaments were a string of pearls and a
single red camellia。 I could see but one blemish； if it were a
blemish； in her perfect person； and that was a curious white mark upon
her breast； which in its shape exactly resembled the crescent moon。
The face； however； impressed me with other than its physical
qualities。 It was bright； intelligent； sympathetic and； just now；
happy。 But I thought it more； I thought it mystical。 Something that
her mother said to her； probably about her dress； caused her smile to
vanish for a moment； and then； from beneath it as it were； appeared
this shadow of innate mysticism。 In a second it was gone and she was
laughing again； but I； who am accustomed to observe； had caught it；
perhaps alone of all that company。 Moreover； it reminded me of
something。
What was it？ Ah！ I knew。 A look that sometimes I had seen upon the
face of a certain Zulu lady named Mameena； especially at the moment of
her wonderful and tragic death。 The thought made me shiver a little； I
could not tell why； for certainly； I reflected； this high…placed and
fortunate English girl had nothing in common with that fate…driven
Child of Storm； whose dark and imperial spirit dwelt in the woman
called Mameena。 They were as far apart as Zululand is from Essex。 Yet
it was quite sure that both of them had touch with hidden things。
Lord Ragnall； looking more like a splendid Van Dyck than ever in his
evening dress； stepped forward to greet his fiancée and her mother
with a courtly bow； and I turned again to continue my contemplation of
the stalwart Judith and the very ugly head of Holofernes。 Presently I
was aware of a soft voicea very rich and thrilling voiceasking
quite close to me：
〃Which is he？ Oh！ you need not answer； dear。 I know him from the
description。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Lord Ragnall to Miss Holmesfor it was she〃you are
quite right。 I will introduce you to him presently。 But； love； whom do
you wish to take you in to dinner？ I can'tyour mother； you know； and
as there are no titles here to…nig