She Fell Among Thieves Read Free Page B

lower, on either side, a curl of gold and silver declared her magnificent hair. Her nose and her mouth were very finely chiselled, and her skin might well have been envied by women one half her age: but though her face was lovely, it was not young, and I think that she made no attempt to conceal her years. But all this I noticed later. For the moment I could see nothing except her eyes. Large and grey and steady, these glowed like jewels in her head. Dignity, power and charm sat in that level gaze which, though it was not unkindly, yet gave the impression of looking into my heart. And then as I met that gaze, it slid into a stare…
    To save my life, I could not have looked away, but I know that I quailed in spirit, for now I seemed to be facing something that was not decent, but should have been draped – a bare personality, that had all the libertine’s daring and the brilliance of naked steel. And so I was, for though I did not know it, something that was not human was looking me down…something that learned in heaven to live in hell…a highly dangerous ‘make-up’. There were times when a fallen angel looked out of the steady, grey eyes of Vanity Fair.
    I bowed, and Vanity Fair inclined her head.
    ‘I understand,’ she said, ‘that you have a confession to make.’
    ‘That’s quite right,’ said I. ‘I’m sorry,’ and with that I told her my tale.
    ‘Why are you here?’ she said.
    ‘Partly to apologise,’ I said, ‘and partly to tell you your chauffeur was not to blame.’
    ‘How came you to be so careless?’
    ‘There you have me,’ said I. ‘I suppose for the moment I forgot the rule of the road. I can’t explain my action. I just went and asked for trouble, and trouble came.’
    Vanity Fair smiled.
    ‘And your chauffeur, too?’ she said. ‘Blind leading the blind?’
    ‘He isn’t a chauffeur,’ I said. ‘He’s a body-servant: if need be, he can handle the car and he keeps her clean.’
    ‘Sit down,’ said Vanity Fair. I took my seat. ‘And now please tell me the damage.’
    ‘Our wings were buckled,’ said I. ‘So much can be seen. But your chauffeur hit my wheel, and that means that both our front axles ought to come down. I’m very sorry,’ I added. ‘It’s at least a two-day job.’
    Vanity Fair shrugged her shoulders.
    ‘I’ve more than one car,’ she said, ‘but what about you?’
    ‘I shall go back to Perin,’ I said. ‘They’ll be able to do it there.’
    ‘Where were you bound for?’
    ‘I was making for Lally by way of the Col de Fer. But I can’t do a pass like that till I’ve had my steering down.’
    ‘Are you meeting friends at Lally?’
    ‘Oh, no,’ said I. ‘I’ve nothing much to do, so I’m wandering round.’
    ‘I don’t think you’ll care for Lally – unless you have come to see the nakedness of the land. Lally parades the truth that she’s seen better days. I always find that depressing. Where were you going from there?’
    ‘I don’t know. I had thought about Spain.’
    Vanity Fair inspected a shapely hand.
    ‘You were very careless,’ she said. ‘My chauffeur – my nice, new chauffeur might have been spoiled.’
    ‘I’m afraid that’s true,’ said I.
    ‘I think you should be punished for that. Jezreel is extremely dull: I think you might well be confined here for two or three days – until your car has been mended. What do you think?’
    ‘I–’
    ‘Your fellow-prisoners will be my daughter and her fiancé, a most unattractive pair, my secretary and my chaplain, neither of whom has a brain, and myself, who was presented at Court before you were born.’
    I got to my feet and bowed.
    ‘Madam,’ I said, ‘you put a premium upon crime.’
    Vanity Fair laughed.
    ‘Wait till you’ve served your sentence. I tell you, Jezreel is dull.’ She touched a bell by her side. ‘I’ve six men in all in the garage: if your wing is sent to Perin, I should think they might manage between them to take your axle down.’
    The butler