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Page 22
"It is most good of you to come," he said, while he indicated a
big arm-chair for his visitor to sit in--he did not offer to shake
hands. "It was certainly my duty to have called upon you, my only
apology for getting you to ascend here is that the subject I wish
to converse with you is too serious for both of us to admit of
interruptions."
"Indeed," said Mr. Medlicott, pompously--growing more surprised
each moment. "And may I ask the nature of your trouble?"
Count Roumovski did not change his position by the mantelpiece and
he kept still as a bronze statue as he spoke in a courteous tone:
"It is not a trouble at all," he began, gravely, "on the contrary,
it is a great joy and honor for me. I will state the facts
immediately. I understand that for a short while you have been
engaged to be married to Miss Stella Rawson, the niece of the
respected English clergyman, the Reverend Ebley--"
"Pardon me," interrupted Mr. Medlicott acidly, "but I do not see
how my private affairs can interest you, sir, I cannot--"
But the host in turn interrupted him.
"If you will be so good as to listen patiently, you will find that
this matter is of vital importance--may I proceed?"
Mr. Medlicott bowed; what more could he do? Count Roumovski went
on:
"I understand that Miss Rawson never showed very strong affection
for you or great desire for this union--so what I have to ask now
is, if you, as a gentleman, will release her from her promise to
you and set her free."
"Upon my word, sir, this is too much," Mr. Medlicott exclaimed,
starting to his feet, "by what authority do you say these
preposterous things? You were only introduced to Miss Rawson and
myself to-night. You must be mad!"
"No, I am quite sane. And I say them upon the best authority,"
Count Roumovski continued, "because I love Miss Rawson myself, and
I am deeply honored by believing that in return she loves me--not
you at all. Therefore, it is common sense to ask you to release
her, and let her be happy with the person she prefers--is it not
so?"
Eustace Medlicott had grown white with anger and astonishment as
he listened, and now broke in hotly, forgetful of his intoning
voice or anything but his outraged dignity.
"When have you had the opportunity to try and undermine the faith
of my betrothed, may I ask? Supposing you are saying this
seriously and not as some ill-timed jest."
Count Roumovski lifted his eyebrows a little and looked almost
with pity at his adversary. "We are not talking in the heroic
manner," he replied, unmoved by the other's taunt, "we are, I
presume, two fairly intelligent men discussing this affair
together--there has been no question of undermining. Miss Rawson
and myself found we understood each other very soon after we first
met. Surely, you must realize, sir, that love cannot be commanded,
it will not come or go at one's bidding. These ridiculous bonds of
convention, holding to a promise given when the spirit to keep it
is no longer there, can ruin people's lives."
Mr. Medlicott drew himself up, he was not quite so tall as the
Russian, but of no mean height, and his intense, ascetic face,
emaciated to extreme leanness, now reddened with passion, while
the veins stood out upon his high, narrow forehead. He was always
very irritable when crossed, and his obstinate nature was strongly
combative.
"You forget, sir," he said angrily, "you are insulting my honor."
"Not the least in the world--you do not understand the point,"
Count Roumovski returned calmly. "Listen for a minute--and I will
explain. If Miss Rawson were already your wife I should be, and
you would have the right to try and kill me, did your calling
permit of that satisfaction of gentlemen, because there is a
psychological and physiological reason involved in that case,
producing the instinct in man which he is not perhaps conscious
of, that he wishes to be sure his wife's legitimate offspring are
his own--out of this instinct, civilization has built up the idea
of a man's honor--which you can see has a basic principle of sense
and justice."
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