|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 33
"Don't you think you are almost a little too daring?" Philippa
asked her favoured guest as he helped her afterwards to set out
a bridge table.
"One adapts one's methods to one's adversary," he murmured, with a
smile, "Your friend Captain Griffiths had only the very conventional
suspicions. The mention of a few good English names, acquaintance
with the ordinary English sports, is quite sufficient with a man
like that."
Helen and Griffiths were talking at the other end of the room.
Philippa raised her eyes to her companion's.
"You become more of a mystery than ever," she declared. "You are
making me even curious. Tell me really why you have paid us this
visit from the clouds?"
She was sorry almost as soon as she had asked the question. For a
moment the calm insouciance of his manner seemed to have departed.
His eyes glowed.
"In search of new things," he answered.
"Guns? Fortifications?"
"Neither."
A spirit of mischief possessed her. Lessingham's manner was baffling
and yet provocative. For a moment the political possibilities of
his presence faded away from her mind. She had an intense desire to
break through his reserve.
"Won't you tell me--why you came?"
"I could tell you more easily," he answered in a low tone, "why it
will be the most miserable day of my life when I leave."
She laughed at him with perfect heartiness.
"How delightful to be flirted with again!" she sighed. "And I
thought all German men were so heavy, and paid elaborate, underdone
compliments. Still, your secret, sir, please? That is what I want
to know."
"If you will have just a little patience!" he begged, leaning so
close to her that their heads almost touched, "I promise that I will
not leave this place before I tell it to you."
Philippa's eyes for the first time dropped before his. She knew
perfectly well what she ought to have done and she was singularly
indisposed to do it. It was a most piquant adventure, after all,
and it almost helped her to forget the trouble which had been
sitting so heavily in her heart. Still avoiding his eyes, she
called the others.
"We are quite ready for bridge," she announced.
They played four or five rubbers. Lessingham was by far the most
expert player, and he and Philippa in the end were the winners.
The two men stood together for a moment or two at the sideboard,
helping themselves to whisky and soda. Griffiths had become more
taciturn than ever, and even Philippa was forced to admit that the
latter part of the evening had scarcely been a success.
"Do you play club bridge in town, Mr. Lessingham?" Griffiths asked.
"Never," was the calm reply.
"You are head and shoulders above our class down here."
"Very good of you to say so," Lessingham replied courteously. "I
held good cards to-night."
"I wonder," Griffiths went on, dropping his voice a little and
keeping his eyes fixed upon his companion, "what the German
substitute for bridge is."
"I wonder," Lessingham echoed.
"As a nation," his questioner proceeded, "they probably don't waste
as much time on cards as we do."
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|