按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃She dances and loves； and； I presume； eats and sleeps。 For the past two years she has bewitched him〃…she pointed down the drive to where the royal coach was disappearing in the distance …〃and he has given her everything。
〃It was for her that the Duke of Bellarmine built the magnificent chalet of which I was telling you on Lake Lucerne。
You remember that Prince Dolansky shot himself 'for political reasons' in his Parisian palace？ But for Desiree he would be alive today。
She is a witch and a she…devil； and the most pletely fascinating woman in the world。〃
I smiled。
〃What a reputation！ And you say she is going to America？〃
〃Yes。 It is to be supposed that she has heard that every American is a king； and it is no wonder if she is tired of only one royal lover at a time。 And listen； Paul…〃
〃Well？〃
〃You…you must not meet her。 Oh； but you do not know her power！〃
I laughed and pressed her hand； assuring her that I had no intention of allowing myself to be bewitched by a she…devil； but as our carriage turned and started back down the long drive toward the hotel I found myself haunted by the white face and staring eyes of the young man in the royal coach。
I stayed two weeks longer in Madrid。 At the end of that time； finding myself pletely bored （for no woman can possibly be amusing for more than a month at a time）； I bade my friend au revoir and departed for the East。 But I found myself just too late for an archeological expedition into the heart of Egypt； and after a tiresome week or so in Cairo and Constantinople I again turned my face toward the west。
At Rome I met an old friend； one Pierre Janvour； in the French diplomatic service； and since I had nothing better to do I accepted his urgent invitation to join him on a vacation trip to Paris。
But the joys of Paris are absurd to a man of thirty…two who has seen the world and tasted it and judged it。 Still I found some amusement； Janvour had a pretty wife and a daughter eight years old； daintily beautiful； and I allowed myself to bee soaked in domestic sentiment。
I really found myself on the point of envying him； Mme。
Janvour was a most excellent housekeeper and manager。 Little Eugenie and I would often walk together in the public gardens； and now and then her mother would join us； and； as I say； I found myself on the point of envying my friend Janvour。
This diversion would have ended soon in any event； but it was brought to an abrupt termination by a cablegram from my New York lawyers； asking me to return to America at once。 Some rascality it was； on the part of the agent of my estate； which had alarmed them； the cablegram was bare of detail。 At any rate； I could not afford to disregard it； and arranged passage on a liner sailing from Cherbourg the following day。
My hostess gave me a farewell dinner； which heightened my regret at being forced to leave； and little Eugenie seemed really grieved at my departure。 It is pleasant to leave a wele behind you； that is really the only necessary axiom of the traveler。
Janvour took me to the railroad station； and even offered to acpany me to Cherbourg； but I refused to tear him away from his little paradise。
We stood on the platform arguing the matter； when I suddenly became aware of that indistinct flutter and bustle seen in public places at some unusual happening or the unexpected arrival of a great personage。
I turned and saw that which was worthy of the interest it had excited。
In the first place； the daintiest little electric brougham in the world； fragile and delicate as a toy…a fairy's chariot。
Then the fairy herself descended。 She cannot be described in detail。
I caught a glimpse of glorious golden hair； softly massive； gray…blue eyes shot with lightning； restless； devouring； implacable； indescribably beautiful； a skin wondrously fine； with the purity of marble and the warmth of velvet； nose and mouth rather too large； but perfectly formed and breathing the fire and power of love。 Really it was rather later that I saw all this； at the time there was but a confused impression of elegance and beauty and terrible power。
She passed from the brougham to her railway carriage supremely unconscious of the hundreds of eyes turned on her； and a general sigh of satisfaction and appreciation came from the throng as she disappeared within her partment。 I turned to Janvour。
〃Who is she？〃
〃What？〃 he exclaimed in surprise。 〃But my dear Lamar； not to know her argues one a barbarian。〃
〃Nevertheless； I do not know her。〃
〃Well； you will have an opportunity。 She is going to America； and； since she is on this train； she will； of course； take the same boat as yourself。 But； my friend； beware！〃
〃But who is she？〃
〃Desiree Le Mire。〃
Chapter II。
BEGINNING THE DANCE。
It developed； luckily for me； that my lawyers had allowed themselves to bee unduly excited over a trifle。 A discrepancy had been discovered in my agent's accounts； it was clearly established that he had been speculating； but the fellow's excessive modesty and moderation had saved me from any serious inconvenience or loss。
Some twenty thousand or so was the amount； and I did not even put myself to the trouble of recovering it。 I placed a friend of mine； a plodder and one of those chaps who are honest on account of lack of imagination； in the position thus vacated and sighed with mild relief。
My experiment with Harry had proved a plete success。 Left to the management of his own affairs； he had shown a wisdom and restraint none the less wele because unexpected。 He was glad to see me； and I was no less glad to see him。
There was little new in town。
Bob Garforth； having gambled away his entire patrimony； had shot and killed himself on the street； Mrs。 Ludworth had publicly defied gossip and smiled with favor on young Driscoll； the new director of the Metropolitan Museum had announced himself an enemy to tradition and a friend of progress； and Desiree Le Mire had consented to a two weeks' engagement at the Stuyvesant。
The French dancer was the favorite topic of discussion in all circles。
The newspapers were full of her and filled entire columns with lists of the kings； princes； and dukes who had been at her feet。
Bets were made on her nationality； the color of her eyes； the value of her pearls； the number of suicides she had caused…corresponding； in some sort； to the notches on the gun of a Western bad man。 Gowns and hats were named for her by the enterprising department stores。
It was announced that her engagement at the Stuyvesant would open in ten days； and when the box…office opened for the advance sale every seat for every performance was sold within a few hours。
In the mean time the great Le Mire kept herself secluded in her hotel。 She had appeared but once in the public dining…room； and on that occasion had nearly caused a riot； whereupon she had discreetly withdrawn。 She remained unseen while the town shouted itself hoarse。
I had not mentioned her name to Harry； nor had I heard him speak of her； until one evening about two weeks after my return。
We were at dinner and had been discussing some monplace subject； from which； by one of the freaks of association； the conversation veered and touched on classical dancing。
〃The Russians are preeminent；〃 said I； 〃because they possess both the inspiration…the fire…and the training。 In no other nation or school are the two so perfectly joined。 In the Turkish dancers there is perfect grace and freedom； but no life。 In Desiree Le Mire； for example； there is indeed life； but she has not had the necessary training。〃
〃What？ Le Mire！ Have you seen her？〃 cried Harry。
〃Not on the stage；〃 I answered； 〃but I crossed on the same ship with her； and she was kind enough to give me a great deal of her time。 She seems to understand perfectly her own artistic limitations； and I am taking her word for it。〃
But Harry was no longer interested in the subject of dancing。
I was besieged on the instant with a thousand questions。
Had I known Le Mire long？ What was she like？ Was it true that Prince Dolansky had shot himself in despair at losing her？
Was she beautiful？ How well did I know her？ Would I take him to see her？
And within half an hour the last question was repeated so many times and with such insistence that I finally consented and left Harry delighted beyond words。
My own experience with Desiree Le Mire had been anything but exciting。 The woman was interesting； there could be no doubt of that； but she possessed little attraction for me。 Her charms； on close inspection； were really quite too evident。
I require subtlety in a woman； and so far as I could discover Le Mire knew not the meaning of the word。 We had spent many hours during the trip across in pleasant panionship； she had done me the honor to tell me that she found my conversation amusing； and； after all； she was undeniably a pretty woman。 She had invited me with evident sincerity to call on her in New York； but I had not as yet taken advantage of the invitation。
I did not then think； and I do not now believe； that I acted foolishly when I took Harry to see her。 In any event； he would have seen her sooner or later； and since all temptations meet us at one time or another； it is best to have it out with them at as early a date as possible。 At the time； indeed； I gave the subject no thought whatever； but if I had I should not have hesitated。
We took tea with her the following afternoon in her apartment； and I must confess that I myself was more than a little impressed when I entered。 I realized then that on the ship nothing had been in her favor； she had been pletely out of her element； and she was not a good sailor。
Here all was different。 The stiffly ostentatious hotel rooms； by her own genius or that of her maid； had been transformed into something very nearly approaching perfection。 I was amazed at the excellent taste displayed in her furniture and its arrangement； for it was clear that these were no hotel properties。 Certainly a woman is at her best only when she is able to choose or create her own surroundings。
Harry was captivated； and I can scarcely blame him。 But the poor lad betrayed himself so frankly！ Though I suppose Le Mire was more or less accustomed to immediate surrender。
On that day； at least； she had reason to expect it。 She satisfied the eye； which is saying a great deal and is the highest praise possible for a woman's beauty； when you consider the full strength of the word。
She was radiant； adorable； irresistible； I had to own that my first impression of her had been far too weak。
We talked for an hour。 Harry had little to say as he sat devouring Le Mire with his eyes； and whenever she turned to him for an answer to a question or confirmation of an opinion he stammered and kept his posure with difficulty。 Never； I suppose； did woman have clearer evidence of her power； nor sweeter； for Harry was by no means a fool to be carried away by the first pretty face that came in his way。
She simply overwhelmed him； and I repeat that I do not wonder at it； for my own pulse was not exactly steady。 She asked us to dine with her。
I pleaded an engagement at the club and signed to Harry to do likewise； but he was pletely gone and paid no attention to me。
He accepted the invitation gratefully； with frank delight； and I left them together。
It was about ten o'clock when he came home that evening。 I was seated in the library and； hearing him enter the hall； called to him。
What a face was his！ His lips trembled with nervous feeling； his eyes glowed like the eyes of a madman。 I half started from my chair in amazement。
〃I have no time；〃 said he in answer to my invitation to join me with a bottle。 〃I have a letter or two to write； and…and I must get some sleep。〃
〃Did you just leave Le Mire？〃
〃Yes。〃
I looked at my watch。
〃What under the sun did you find to talk about？〃
〃Oh； anything…nothing。 I say； she's charming。〃
His essay at indifference was amusing。
〃You find her so？〃
〃Rather。〃
〃She seems to have taken a fancy to you。〃
Harry actually grew red。
〃Hardly；〃 he said； but there was hope in the word。
〃She is hardly your kind； Harry。 You know that。 You aren't going in for this sort of thing？〃
〃This sort…I don