douglas, suitcase in hand, ran across seventeenth street in time to catch a georgetown car. as he paid the conductor he heard his name called and, glancing down the half empty car, saw captain chisholm seated at the farther end and beckoning to him. he made his way down the center aisle and joined the englishman.
“can you dine with me, douglas?” asked chisholm, making room for him on the narrow seat.
“ask me some other time, old man, i am dining with colonel thornton to-night.”
“then suppose we make it monday night at the metropolitan club?”
“thanks, i will. at what hour?”
“eight o’clock. i was sorry to miss you when you called this afternoon, douglas.”
“how did you know i had been to see you, chis]holm?” in surprise. “the telephone girl told me you were out.”
“i stopped for a moment at the rochambeau and found your card in my letter box. i am on my way to the embassy now. washington seems to agree with you, douglas,” eying his companion with interest. “i never saw you looking better.”
“happiness is a great health restorer,” laughed douglas.
“happiness?” chisholm tugged at his fair mustache. “hum!” he looked carefully around. they had that end of the car to themselves. “heard the news?”
“what news?”
“about the japanese ambassador?”
“no.”
“he has been recalled.”
“for what reason?”
“not given out,” shortly. “he called at the white house and state department, presented his papers and left this morning.” chisholm looked douglas squarely in the face. “can’t give a poor blasted englishman a point on the situation, i suppose?”
douglas smiled with his lips, but his eyes were grave. “i would if i could—but i can’t. the ambassador’s sudden departure is as great a surprise to me as to you.”
chisholm leaned forward and touched the electric button as the car approached n street. “i’ll look you up to-morrow, douglas. ta-ta, old chap,” and he hurried out of the car.
douglas settled back on his seat and pondered over the information chisholm had given him. what did the ambassador’s abrupt departure portend? was it but another of those puzzling coincidences which seemed to follow in the wake of senator carew’s murder, or was it the culmination of an intrigue which would end in war?
the spring day was drawing to a close as douglas left the car in georgetown and walked toward “thornton’s nest.” the old place had not altered since he had seen it last, twelve years before, even the beautiful old garden appeared as usual, the same box hedge, the envy of the neighboring landowners, separated the sidewalk from the well-kept private grounds. the large, old-fashioned mansion stood back some distance in its own grounds. the bricks had been brought from philadelphia by sloop, and the fanlight over the front door had been imported from england in the days prior to the revolutionary war. the huge columns supporting the arched roof shone white in the gathering darkness. douglas turned in at the gate and ran lightly up the few stone steps leading to the portico and rang the bell. he had hardly removed his hand from the button when the hall door was opened and an old darky confronted him on the threshold.
“cum right in, marse douglas, i’se mighty glad ter see yo’ ag’in, suh.”
“nicodemus, is that you?” shaking the old man’s hand. “i haven’t seen you since you chased me off the grounds for stealing apples. how’s sophy?”
“only tol’able, thank ye, suh; she’s got a misery in her back. want ter go to yo’ room, suh?”
“no; i’ll just leave my hat and overcoat here.”
“yessir; let me take yo’ bag, suh; i’ll tote it upstairs. my!” as douglas stepped forward so that the hall light fell full on him, “how yo’ do favor yo’ pa, the ole cunnel.”
douglas laughed. “thanks. have the ladies come yet?”
“yessir. dey’s upstairs makin’ demselves comfo’able. cunnel thornton will be down direckly. yo’ jes’ walk inter de pawlar.”
douglas strolled over to the large hall mirror and inspected his tie with care; he had been in a hurry when getting into his evening clothes at the albany, and the tie had proved troublesome. he readjusted it with care, felt in his vest pocket for a small box, then turned and surveyed his surroundings. a coach and four might have driven through the broad hall which ran the length of the house. at the end of the hall two broad circular staircases led to a wide landing, from which branched the two flights of steps leading to the first bedroom floor. doors leading to the drawing-room, library, billiard, and dining rooms opened on the right and left of the hall.
remembering that the drawing-room was to the left of the entrance, douglas entered the open hall door and walked over to the mantelpiece to see the time by the tall marble clock.
“aren’t you going to speak to me?” asked a voice behind him, and douglas sprang around with an exclamation of delight. eleanor was seated on a chair by one of the windows, and its high back, which was partly turned to the hall door, had concealed her from view.
“my darling!” douglas kissed the winsome face rapturously. “nicodemus told me you had arrived, but that you were upstairs, otherwise i should have come in at once; i begrudge the time i wasted in the hall.”
“i hurried and came down ahead of the others, hoping that you would get here early; i particularly wanted to see you, douglas.”
“did you?” in mock surprise. “i’ve been wanting to see you ever since i left you this morning. the time has dragged since then.”
she slipped her hand in his. “it’s just this, douglas,” her softly modulated voice had a trace of nervousness: “i want to ask you to keep our engagement a secret”—his face fell—“just a few days,” hastily. “i want to get accustomed to it before telling the family”—she blushed divinely. “it’s such a precious secret.”
douglas took her face between his hands and pressed a passionate kiss on her lips. “your wish is my law,” he said gravely. “i was disappointed for the moment, because i am anxious to have the whole world know my happiness. i brought you this”—pulling a small square box from his vest pocket and laying it in her outstretched hand.
with a low cry of pleasure she pulled off the wrapping paper and opened the box. the light from the lamp on the table near her chair was reflected back from a superb ruby in a diamond setting. the box slipped from her nervous fingers and rolled on the floor.
“oh, get it quick, douglas, i didn’t mean to be so clumsy.”
douglas reached under the table, where the box had rolled, and picked it up. “it’s all right, my dearest; don’t look so worried; the ring isn’t injured, for it is still in the box, see——” he held it before her eyes. “give me your left hand, dear;” eleanor shrank slightly away from him, but douglas was intent in removing the ring from the box and did not notice her agitation. “it is very becoming to your hand,” slipping it on the third finger, “the deep crimson shows off the whiteness of your skin.”
“it’s just lovely.” eleanor drew a long breath, then raised her head and kissed him tenderly. “thanks, dear heart, for so beautiful a present. but i am afraid if i wear it to-night our engagement will be a secret no longer.”
“that’s true!” exclaimed douglas, his voice betraying his disappointment. “put it back in the box”—holding it out to her.
“i’ll do no such thing”—indignantly. “take it off, douglas, and give it to me”; he did so, and she slipped the ring inside the bodice of her low-cut evening gown. “tell me, dearest, how did you happen to select a ruby?”
