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Page 32
Fortunately, she met no one on the stairs except one astonished
page, and arrived in the outer corridor breathless with excitement
and emotion.
Count Roumovski saw her through the door of the hall, and hastened
to meet her.
"There is not a moment to be lost," she said, as he got to her
side.
"Go to the place you went before under the trees," he whispered
hurriedly in return. "The automobile is there, and I will follow
presently." So she went.
Her knees would hardly support her, she trembled so, until she was
safe in the big blue motor, which moved off at once. For an awful
moment a hideous sense of terror overcame her, making her cold.
What lay in front of her? What new fate?--and then joy and life
came back. She was going to freedom and love-away from Exminster
and dreary duties--away from Eustace Medlicott, for ever! For, of
course, her uncle and aunt would come round in time, and they
could be happy again with her some day.
When Mrs. Ebley had collected her scattered senses and followed
down the passage only to find Stella out of sight, she was obliged
to retrace her steps and rejoin her husband and Mr. Medlicott, who
were awaiting her at the lift on the other side, the restaurant
end, which was the one they were accustomed to descend by.
"She ran away from me, Erasmus!" the agitated lady cried, "passed
me without a word, and I suppose has gone down the stairs--if we
hasten in the lift we shall catch her yet."
But as they frantically rang the bell and the lift boy did not
come, Eustace Medlicott, with a most unsaintly exclamation,
hastened off by that staircase and arrived in the hall to see the
hated Russian calmly smoking his cigarette and reading an English
paper.
He advanced upon him regardless of the numbers of people beginning
to assemble for tea.
"What have you done with Miss Rawson?" he asked furiously. "She
has this moment run away from her aunt."
"I have nothing to converse with you about," Count Roumovski
returned, with mild surprise. "And, as I see it is four o'clock, I
must wish you a good-day, as I have an appointment," with which he
rose quietly before the other could prevent him, and crossed the
broad path of carpet which separates the groups of chairs, and
there was seen to enter into earnest conversation with a Russian-
looking individual who had just entered.
The Reverend Mr. Medlicott was nonplussed, and hurried into the
front vestibule, where he made rapid inquiries of the hall-porter.
Yes--the young lady, he believed, had walked out of the hotel not
two minutes before. Monsieur would overtake her certainly, if he
hastened. And the frantic young man rushed from the door, through
the porte cochere, and so to the street, but all he saw in the far
distance was a retreating large, blue automobile--and this
conveyed among all the rest of the traffic no impression whatever.
To search for Stella was hopeless; the only thing to do was to
return to the Ebleys, and with them go to the Embassy. There they
could, perhaps, get advice and help how to communicate with the
police.
But what an ignominious position for a Bishop's junior chaplain to
be placed in, a humiliation in every way!
CHAPTER VII
When Stella found the automobile drawing up at a strange hotel's
doors her tremors broke out afresh, until she saw the face of
Ivan, who, with the porter, came forward to meet her, saying
respectfully in French, would mademoiselle be pleased to mount
directly to the rooms reserved for the Princess Urazov? And soon,
without anyone questioning her, she found herself being taken up
in the lift, and finally ushered into a charming sitting-room full
of flowers.
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