Ainslee's Magazine, February 1913 — page 41: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE POINT OF VIEW arrived at from Miss Rawson’s admis- sions. “That dreadful foreigner must be told at once we refuse to have any com- munication with him, and Stella shall be kept locked in her room until we can leave Rome,’ Mrs. Ebley said sternly. “I could not have believed my own sister's child could have behaved so disgracefully.” “Dear, dear!’ said Canon Ebley. “But we must get at the facts of when she has been able to see this Russian. It is impossible that the present state of things could have arisen from merely last night at the embassy.” At this stage of the proceedings, it being a public room, Count Roumovski entered it serenely, and, coming toward the group, made a stiff bow to each in turn. : “I believe you have received my let- ter, sir,” he said, addressing Canon Eb- ley, ‘but as I have had no reply I ven- tured to present myself without fur- ther delay ss “We do not wish for any communi- cation from you,’ Eustace Medlicott hastened to announce before either of the others could speak. ‘I have in- formed Canon and Mrs. Ebley of your disgraceful conduct, and that is suff- cient. We shall discuss nothing fur- ther.” “IT was not addressing you, sir,” Count Roumovski returned mildly. “My business with you terminated last night.” And he turned his shoulders to the irate junior chaplain, and looked Canon Ebley straight in the face. “I am here to ask for the hand of your niece, Miss Rawson, as she is now free from other engagements, and, with her full consent, I desire to make her my wie.” “Come, Erasmus,” Mrs. Ebley said, with icy dignity, “let us go up to our apartment, and if this person annoys us further we can complain to the man- ager of the hotel.” Then, with an an- nihilating glance, she took her hus- band’s arm, and drew him toward the door. “As you will, madame.” And the Russian gentleman bowed with respect- 31 ful serenity. “It would have been more sensible to have taken my request other- wise, but it is, after all, quite immate- rial. I will wish you a good day.” And he bowed again as Canon Ebley and his outraged spouse sailed from the room, and, with an exclamation of suppressed fury, Eustace Medlicott fol- lowed in their wake. Then Count Roumovski laughed softly to himself, and, sitting down at a writing table, wrote a letter to his beloved. His whole plan of life was simple and direct. He had done what he considered was necessary in the af- fair; he had behaved with perfect open- ness and honor in his demand, and if these people could not see the thing from a common-sense point of view they were no longer to be considered; he would take the law into his own hands. When he had finished his note, he went straight up in the lift to the cor- ridor where was Stella’s room, and there saw in the distance her raging and discomfited late betrothed evidently keeping watch and ward. Count Rou- movski did not hesitate a second; he advanced to the door, and knocked firmly on the panel, slipping his letter through the little slide for such things before Mr. Medlicott could bound for- ward and prevent him. “A letter for you, mademoiselle, from me, Sasha Roumovski,” he said, in French, in a loud enough voice for the occupant of the room to hear. And then he stood still for a second, as both men heard Stella jump from her bed and rush to the door to take the missive before Martha, from the place at the window, could intercept it. “Do not dare to touch that, Martha!’ they heard her voice say haughtily ; and then she called out: ‘Sasha, I have it safe, and I will do exactly as you di- rect.” Count Roumovski looked at Eustace Medlicott, who stood as a spread eagle in front of the door, and then, smiling, went calmly on his way. The Reverend Mr. Medlicott shook with burning rage. He was being made to look ridiculous, and he was abso- CONMMUC Ook (E@)