Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 3, 1924 — page 104: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

$94 ‘“ And you did not stay.” ‘No, sir; we did not stay.” ‘‘ Because you found another lady al- ready there?” ‘* Exactly, sir.” ‘Do you know how that lady came to be there?” ‘‘ We were told you sent for her, sir.” ‘“‘ And that caused you to go away again without seeing me?” ‘“‘ Naturally, sir. You would send for the person you wished to have with you.” ‘| suppose you think I am an unutter- able cad.” “Oh, no, sir. You are a king.” He winced palpably. It was a hideous speech to make, but I could not help my- self. I was torn with jealousy of Mme. Delsarte. He had sent for her, when he knew I was close at hand. He had sent for her without regard for prudence or decency. ‘* Now that I know your wishes,” he said quietly, ‘“ they shall be realized instantly. I will see that the breaking off of our en- gagement is announced. I will write to my men of business about the return of the loans I have had from you and the cancel- ling of the marriage settlements.” “Oh, no!” I put in quietly. ‘ Please don’t do any such thing. It doesn’t mat- ter. Iam only too glad—” I was pulled up sharp by his face. “I do not understand, milady. It was a business matter.” ‘Couldn’t you forget about it?” I was all excitement and disturbance. I knew he could never repay what I had al- ready advanced, quite apart from the set- tlements. I shrewdly imagined that he had raised sums on these same settlements. I knew that he would have to embarrass him- self for years to come—perhaps to ruin him- self—perhaps to ruin his country—just to pay me back sums that I could never miss. “T was right in thinking you did not understand me, milady,” he retorted. He was every inch a king. ‘“‘ One cannot accept loans, especially from a lady. Such things are purely business. They shall be repaid instantly.” I saw the light of deathless pride in his blue eyes. He chose to treat me as if I ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. were a money-lender. That was all I had ever meant to him. In his eyes I had never been anything but a millstone round his neck, a stupid rich young woman, who was either tongue-tied or a shrew. And indeed so I had shown myself. Suddenly I found myself beating an ig- nominious retreat. I couldn’t bear him to ruin himself on my account. I was more abject even than that. I couldn’t bear him to cut himself off from me. I tried to pic- ture the world without him. It was blank —a void. Better, a thousand times better, to be miserable and to be near him, to have some kind of a place in his life. If I could only be of use to him with my money, it was something. Happiness—that idea was at an end. It was a mad idea. His happiness was—Fay Delsarte. Betty Fane, the little dancing girl, had been nothing to him but a toy. He had not really loved her. She had passed pleasant hours for him—that was all. Perhaps Mme. Delsarte did not dance. But it was the beautiful moon-faced, in- scrutable woman he had summoned to his side. It was she who lived in the inner- most place in his heart. To cover my agitation I caught at and clung to the idea of business. I made my voice hard. “Forgive me, sir,” I said. ‘I do not agree. I was wrong. You have shown me my mistake. I have made a bargain. It is cowardly to back out of it. My father would be ashamed of me. If you are agree- able, we will leave things as they are.” ‘Why that?” he asked sharply. But I could see relief at the back of his eyes. And I realized what a terrible quan- dary he would have put himself in if I had persisted in breaking off our engage- ment. ‘T have told you I prefer to stick to my bargain. I was upset just now.” ‘You want to be a queen after all?” His voice was mocking. His words were as ugly as mine. I supposed he could not help himself any more than I could, We had to go back to those bitter, half re- sentful relations. It was not really our fault. We were exchanging goods. What he gave and what I gave was equal in the COMIC OO! (©