The Day of Temptation. Le Queux William
lips parted, displaying her even rows of false teeth; as she moved, her dress of rich black silk rustled loudly; and as she placed her book upon the table with a slight sigh, the fine diamonds in her bony, claw-like hand sparkled with a thousand fires.
“Well, why have you come – at this hour, too?” she inquired with a haughtiness which she always assumed towards her servants and inferiors. She sat rigid, immovable; and Malvano, student of character that he was, saw plainly that she had braced herself for an effort.
“I asked you to come to me, and you have refused,” he said, folding his arms calmly and looking straight into her rouged and powdered face; “therefore I have come to you.”
“For what purpose? Surely we could have met at the Bonciani?”
“True, but it was imperative that I should see you to-night.”
“More complications – eh?”
“Yes,” he replied, “more complications – serious ones.”
“Serious!” her ladyship gasped, turning instantly pale. “Is the truth known?” she demanded quickly. “Tell me at once; don’t keep me in suspense.”
“Be patient for a moment, and I’ll explain my object in calling,” the Doctor said gravely. “Compose yourself, and listen.”
The Countess of Marshfield drew her skirts around her and moved uneasily in her chair. She was well known in London society, a woman whose eccentricities had for years afforded plenty of food for the gossips, and whose very name was synonymous with senile coquetry. Her age was fully sixty-five, yet like many other women of position, she delighted in the delusion that she was still young, attractive, and fascinating. Her attitude towards young marriageable men would have been nauseating were it not so absolutely ludicrous; and the way in which she manipulated her fan at night caused her to be ridiculed by all the exclusive set in which she moved.
The dead earl, many years her senior, had achieved brilliant success in the Army, and his name was inscribed upon the roll of England’s heroes. Ever since his death, twenty years ago, however, she had been notable on account of her foolish actions, her spasmodic generosity to various worthless institutions, her wild speculations in rotten companies, and her extraordinary eccentricities. As she sat waiting for her visitor to commence, her thin blue lips twitched nervously, and between her eyes was the deep furrow that appeared there whenever she was unduly agitated. But even then she could not resist the opportunity for coquetry, for, taking up her small ivory fan, she opened it, and, slowly waving it to and fro, glanced at him across it, her lips parted in a smile.
But of all men Malvano was one of the least susceptible to feminine blandishments, especially those of such a painfully ugly, artificial person as Lady Marshfield; therefore, heedless of her sudden change of manner towards him, he said bluntly —
“The police have already discovered some facts regarding Vittorina.”
“Of her past?” she cried, starting forward.
“No, of her death,” he answered.
“Have they discovered whether or not it was murder?” she inquired, her bejewelled hand trembling perceptibly.
“They have no doubt that it was murder,” he replied. “They accept the doctor’s theory, and, moreover, as you already know, the Italian Embassy in London are pressing the matter.”
“They suspect at the Embassy – eh?”
“Without doubt. It can scarcely come as a surprise that they are endeavouring to get at the truth. One thing, however, is in our favour; and that is, she cannot tell what she knew. If she were still alive, I’m confident the whole affair would have been exposed before this.”
“And you would have been under arrest.”
He raised his shoulders to his ears, exhibited his palms, grinned, but did not reply.
“How have you ascertained this about the police?” her ladyship continued.
“Arnoldo is acquainted with the King’s Messenger who carries dispatches between the Foreign Office and the British Ambassador in Italy. The messenger knows everything, but refuses to say much.”
“Knows everything!” she cried in alarm. “What do you mean? Has our secret really been divulged?”
“No,” answered he. “He is not aware of the true facts, but he knows how far the knowledge of Scotland Yard extends.”
“What’s his name?”
“Tristram. Captain Tristram.”
“Do you know him?”
“No.”
“Then don’t make his acquaintance,” the eccentric woman urged with darkening countenance. “He’s no doubt a dangerous friend.”
“But we may obtain from him some useful knowledge. You know the old saying about being forewarned.”
“Our warnings must come from Livorno,” she answered briefly.
“That will be impossible.”
“Why?”
“Gemma has unfortunately fallen in love.”
“Love! Bah! With whom?”
“With an Englishman,” he answered. “Arnoldo saw them together several times when in Livorno last week.”
“Who is he?”
“His name is Armytage – Charles Armytage. He – ”
“Charles Armytage!” her ladyship echoed, starting from her chair. “And he is in love with Gemma?”
“No doubt he is. He intends to marry her.”
“But they must never marry – never!” she cried quickly. “They must be parted immediately, or our secret will at once be out.”
“How? I don’t understand,” he said, with a puzzled expression. “Surely Gemma, of all persons, is still friendly disposed? She owes much to us.”
“Certainly,” Lady Marshfield answered. “But was she not present with Vittorina on that memorable night in Livorno? Did she not witness with her own eyes that which we witnessed?”
“Well, what of that? We have nothing to fear from her.”
“Alas! we have. A word from her would expose the whole affair,” the wizen-faced woman declared. “By some means or other we must part her from Armytage.”
“And by doing so you will at once make her your enemy.”
“No, your own enemy, Doctor Malvano,” she exclaimed, correcting him haughtily. “I am blameless in this matter.”
He looked straight into her dark, sunken eyes, and smiled grimly.
“It is surely best to preserve her friendship,” he urged. “We have enemies enough, in all conscience.”
“Reflect,” she answered quickly. “Reflect for a moment what exposure means to us. If Gemma marries Armytage, then our secret is no longer safe.”
“But surely she has no object to attain in denouncing us, especially as in doing so she must inevitably implicate herself,” he observed.
“No,” she said gravely, after a brief pause. “In this matter I have my own views. They must be parted, Filippo. Armytage has the strongest motive – the motive of a fierce and terrible vengeance – for revealing everything.”
“But why has Armytage any motive in denouncing us? You speak in enigmas.”
“The secret of his motive is mine alone,” the haggard-eyed woman answered. “Seek no explanation, for you can never gain knowledge of the truth until too late, when the whole affair is exposed. It is sufficient for me to tell you that he must be parted from Gemma.”
Her wizened face was bloodless and brown beneath its paint and powder, her blue lips were closed tight, and a hard expression showed itself at the corners of her cruel mouth.
“Then