The Argosy — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

THE PHANTOM ARMY. 245 my one arnichair aud declaring that of all perfumes she adored most the smell of tobacco. As for old Benjamin, I heard him in my bed room laugh- ing like a child. And when Benjamin laughed the world looked black, indeed. ‘‘ Madame Gavarnie,’’ I exclaimed at last, accepting the worst, yet en- couraged not a little by her manner, which was that of one who had a woman’s heart and sympathy, ‘‘ Madame Gavarnie, I will not apologize for my rooms, but I wish that they were better for your sake. At least, let me offer you some tea as She put her hand upon my arm with a movement so gentle that all my shame passed in a moment. ‘‘ Are we not friends ?’’ she said. ‘‘Am I not ina friend’s house? Why speak of these things? I know your story, Captain Falconer—at least some of it. I have come here to know the rest. Oh, yes, I will take a cup of tea, and you shall talk to me while I drink it.’’ I called loudly for Benjamin to bring us tea, ‘‘ and, for God’s sake, in an uncracked cup,’’ I added sotto voce. When she was sipping it, her veil turned up about her French hat, and. the bright glow upon her handsome face, I wondered that I could have lived in London so long and never heard her name. ‘You have been expecting me to call upon you,’’ she exclaimed pres- ently, regarding me curiously with her great black eyes. ‘‘ never thought of it in that way, but I have thought of you a thousand times since first I saw you in the street.’’ J ‘‘ I was foolish,’’ she exclaimed quickly ; ‘‘ there was no need to be so silly. My brother is well again, now, and has forgotten the quarrel with his friend. We, Spaniards, you know, are quick in temper. But we do not remember as you English. You will keep my secret, Captain Falconer ?”’ I said to her that I would ; to myself I said that she could tell a lie with any woman in Kurope. ‘Then she continued : ‘‘ Are you not the second son of Sir Francis Falconer, who was some time at the embassy in Madrid? I seemed to know the name directly you uttered it. And the face—you have your father’s face. I was very young then, but I have never forgotten one who showed so many kindnesses to me.’’ She looked round the room as though she could not reconcile my apart- ment with her memories of the man. Tam glad that you remember my father,’’ I said ; ‘‘ you know, possibly, that he died four years ago at Belgrade. ‘The fortune which he left me has gone to the Jews. My other distinctions are notorious. I resigned my commission in the Tenth Hussars last Christmas, and was declared a bank- rupt three months ago. Believe me, Madame Gavarnie, I should make the | fortune of a curate who wanted an example of the vices.”’ She smiled at the thought, but was serious again when she answered ime. ‘And your own fortune—do you not think of that?” I rose from my chair and paced the room wearily. “Fools are those who do not succeed,’’ I said gloomily. ‘‘ Thirty seven millions there were in Carlyle’s time ; there are more today and I am one of Eomichook (S@)