Still, she put that out of her mind now. She was going to have a very pleasant evening, and by this time tomorrow she would be far away from the heat and dust and bustle3 of London. In her mind's eye she could see the yacht sliding over the water. She could see the moon shining on the waves, and turning their-crests to molten silver.
The big house was crowded to its utmost capacity, for Lady Ringmar was one of the most prominent of society women, and invitations to her entertainments were eagerly sought after. The rooms were filled. At the end of the long corridor Vera caught a peep of the garden, all aglow4 with points of flame from the electric lights entwined about the trees and shrubs5.
An hour or so passed pleasantly enough; then, as the heat grew more intense Vera's mind turned to the garden. There were huge blocks of ice, looking deliciously cool, behind banks of ferns. The air hummed with the noise of electric fans, and yet the atmosphere was heavy and enervating6. Supper was a thing of the past, and Vera stood at the head of a flight of marble steps, which led to the garden. She was quite alone. She was looking for Walter, whom she had not seen for some little time. She turned with a smile as someone murmured her name. She saw that it was Ravenspur's friend, Sir James Seton, who was standing7 by her side.
"So you are all alone," he said. "What are those young men thinking about? It was very different in my day."
Vera smiled somewhat faintly. She had every respect for Sir James. He was kindly8 disposed enough, but in the eyes of youth he was regarded as something of a bore. There was no help for it when he suggested a turn in the garden.
"Certainly," Vera murmured; "only I don't want to walk far. I have enjoyed my first season in town immensely, but I am beginning to long for the fresh air in the country again."
"Quite right," Sir James agreed; "just the same with me. Why people box themselves up in London during the most beautiful months in the year I can't imagine. They talk about England being a decadent9 country! A man wants a real stamina10 to struggle through the three months which we call the season. Some of these men are a perfect marvel11 to me. Take Ravenspur, for example. That man works as hard as any man in England. He is here, there, and everywhere, and yet he finds plenty of time for this sort of thing, too. If there is anybody I envy, it is Ravenspur."
"I am sure you have no need to envy anybody," Vera laughed. "Besides, in many ways you are very like him. Most people see a strong resemblance between you two."
Sir James chuckled12 as if well pleased with the compliment.
"Do you really think so?" he asked eagerly. "Well, I suppose what everybody says is bound to be true. At the same time, these resemblances are not always desirable. For instance, look what happened to me only the other day."
"And what was that?" Vera asked.
"Don't you know? It was the last time I dined with your guardian13. Didn't they tell you about it? It reminded me of the days when I was a soldier--quite an adventure, too, I assure you. I was coming up Cheyne Row, more or less in the darkness, when a man darted14 out of the shadows, and attacked me. I had some difficulty in beating him off. I don't know whether the man was mad or not, but his intentions were quite serious."
"Really!" Vera exclaimed, with widely opened eyes. "And what became of the man? Was he locked up?"
"Oh, he got away before I could do anything. Still, it was very unpleasant while it lasted, I assure you."
"It must have been," Vera said thoughtfully. "But, my dear Sir James, I don't quite understand what this adventure has to do with your likeness15 to Lord Ravenspur."
"Oh, well, I had almost forgotten that. You see, when the fellow rushed at me, he addressed me as Ravenspur, just as the hero of the melodrama16 addresses the villain17 when he is caught in the last act. There is not the slightest doubt that I was mistaken for your guardian. Indeed, as soon as the man realised his mistake, he drew off at once. I am rather surprised they did not tell you."
Vera was listening uneasily enough now. In the ordinary course of events she would have heard all about that mysterious occurrence. Why had they kept the knowledge from her? As she sat there thinking the matter over, she began in her mind to piece events together. So this sudden flight from London was dictated18 by personal fear on the part of Lord Ravenspur. He wanted to get away from this relentless19 foe20. There was no other way to safeguard himself than by this yachting cruise. And hitherto Vera had never detected in her guardian the slightest sign of nervousness or fear. This foe, then, must be a man of extraordinary determination and tenacity21 of purpose.
Vera could see it all more clearly now. She recollected22 the disturbance23 in the conservatory24 on the night of Sir James Seton's visit to Park Lane. She recollected with even more significant force the cries and the shattering of glass in the conservatory the previous evening. And why, for the first time in his life, had Lord Ravenspur caused the bloodhounds to be brought up from Hampshire? All these questions Vera asked herself, but she could think of no reply. In some vague way her woman's instinct told her that she was mixed up in the business. If so, it would never do for her to desert Lord Ravenspur at this critical moment. She would have to stay by him until the danger was past.
She sat there replying to the chattering25 remarks of her companion at random26, until even he saw how preoccupied27 she was.
"I am afraid you are not quite yourself tonight," he said.
"I am sure I beg your pardon," Vera murmured. "I am not quite myself. I wish you would do me a favour, Sir James. Would you mind finding Walter and sending him to me?"
Sir James trotted28 off obediently enough, and presently Walter came along. He looked somewhat warm and heated.
"I am sorry I couldn't find you before," he said. "We have been having a bit of fun in the drawing-room. It was rather a nuisance, too. What do you think happened? But you will never guess. One of the dogs got away and actually followed us here. I found three or four ladies held up by one of the brutes29 in a drawing-room. They were frightened to death, not knowing what a peaceful creature poor Bruno is in the ordinary way. I had to lead him away and tie him up to one of the trees in the shrubbery."
Vera smiled as she thought of the terror which the great hound would naturally inspire. No doubt he had managed to get away from Park Lane and had tracked them to Lady Ringmar's house.
"He will be quite quiet where he is," she said, "and we can take him with us when we go. I shall be glad to get away. I am longing30 to leave London behind me now."
Walter looked anxiously at his companion. He saw how pale and disturbed she was, how distressed31 her features were.
"What is the matter?" he asked tenderly.
"I was going to tell you," Vera replied. "I have had a considerable shock tonight. I have learnt something which you tried to conceal32 from me. Oh, I am not blaming you, because I am sure you only acted for the best, but I have just been having a conversation with Sir James Seton, and he was telling me all about the attack that was made on him the other night when he came to dine with us. I was dreadfully grieved to hear what he had to say."
"But, my dear girl," Walter protested, "really----"
"Oh, yes, I know. You are thinking about me now," Vera said. "But it is rather too late. That murderous attack was made upon Sir James Seton because the miscreant33 mistook him for Lord Ravenspur. There can be no doubt about it, because Sir James told me so. And when I heard that, other strange circumstances flashed into my mind. For instance, those two mysterious occurrences in the studio. Now, tell me honestly, Walter, is the danger really great?"
Walter hesitated a moment before he replied.
"I am very much afraid it is," he said presently. "It is all a question of time. And you must not regard Lord Ravenspur as a coward, because he is nothing of the kind. I am certain that he is acting34 in your very best interests----"
"Ah, I thought I was at the bottom of it somewhere," Vera cried, as Walter bit his lip. "I was absolutely convinced of it. Oh, I know I couldn't tell you why, except that my instinct warns me. But am I not to know, Walter? Am I to go on being treated as a child? You have both been very good to me, and the mere35 suggestion that I am a danger and a burden to you fills me with pain. Won't you take me into your confidence? I am no longer a child."
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1
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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wrench
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| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
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bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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aglow
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| adj.发亮的；发红的；adv.发亮地 | |
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shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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6
enervating
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| v.使衰弱，使失去活力( enervate的现在分词 ) | |
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7
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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8
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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decadent
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| adj.颓废的，衰落的，堕落的 | |
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stamina
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| n.体力；精力；耐力 | |
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marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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12
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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14
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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15
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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melodrama
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| n.音乐剧；情节剧 | |
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villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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tenacity
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| n.坚韧 | |
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recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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conservatory
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| n.温室，音乐学院；adj.保存性的，有保存力的 | |
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chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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miscreant
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| n.恶棍 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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