Fred M. White

“ Still, so long as Cora graciously inclined to palmy seclusion and tender confidence, it mattered little. Abdul was annoyed presently to find it supper-time.
He begged for another few minutes, but Cora was obdurate.
“I am mortal,” she said, flashing her teeth in a brilliant smile, “and you are insatiable. Come! I will give you a little time afterwards, and perhaps——”
Abdul understood, or thought he did, which came to the same thing. The honied treasure of the scarlet lips might yet be his. As for the supper, it was a mere frittering away of golden moments. Cora chattered idly, Abdul listening. ”

“ O, yes, Abdul had it at last. He promised to aid and abet Cora in a delightful escapade. She was going alone and incognito on Thursday to a fancy dress ball at Covent Garden. Abdul had received minute instructions as to what she was going to wear. She would go unmasked, and then——
A look from the luminous eyes filled the hiatus. Would Abdul try and be there? Might dogs defile the grave of his revered grandmother if he failed. To put it plainly, no lunatic on the right side of Bedlam was ever more helplessly lost in love than Abdul at that moment. ”

“ The evening appointed, Gryde called round at the hotel for his friend. Several times already had he been in the Prince’s private room. He knew where the precious robe lay concealed and how jealously it was guarded by Abdul Agiz’ suite. The latter received Gryde with effusion.
“You promised to tell me something about a certain charming lady,” he said.
“O, yes—about Mrs. Coventry. She is not a widow, as you seem to imagine. Her husband is a distinguished Oriental scholar and diplomatist who is now on his way home from the East; indeed, he may arrive at any time. ”

“ Gryde said calmly. “The imitation is too marvellous for anyone but an expert. Abdul will return home to be bowstrung in consequence of the failure of his mission, and the robe will be placed in the treasury for perhaps the next century to come. And, after all, the trick was a very simple one.”
“But the triumph of the Persian Government in the recovery of——”
“There will be no triumph. The Oriental nature is not like ours. The mere possession of the thing will suffice, without boasting of it. There is a deal of miserly secretiveness in your Eastern type of man.” ”

“ Perhaps those liquid black eyes were formed for colour, and Cora had commenced life in unmentionable purlieus.
As to the rest, it is not wise, perhaps, to inquire too closely. On the score of finance Lord Lyndon could have spoken with authority had he chosen to do so. Lyndon was rich, a diplomat, and a speaker of parts. Also he was popularly supposed to hold the first place in Cora’s affections. The luxury was a costly one, but the friendship of the most fascinating woman in London is not to be obtained by constancy and five farthings. ”

“ Gryde rose and lighted a cigarette. The ghost of a smile flickered about his lips. Cora liked to see him smile; it was, she said, the only assurance she had that he was human.
“The name,” she repeated imperiously, “the name?”
“Abdul Agiz,” Gryde said drily. “Good-night, fair charmer.”
CHAPTER II.
The weakest part of a man’s armour is the strongest, otherwise ordinary mortals would lack the gratifying knowledge that even great men are guilty of doing foolish things. ”

“ As you are aware, the same was a present from the Sultan in honour of the Diamond Jubilee, forwarded by a special retinue and all the rest of it. Under existing circumstances a certain gracious Lady declines to receive the gift. ”