moment an electric globe suddenly flared into life about their heads, and the door in the wall swung open disclosing a sallow-faced manservant in dark livery.
âMr Simon Aron?â inquired De Richleau, but the man was already motioning them to enter, so they followed him up a short covered path and the door in the wall clanged behind them.
The vestibule of the house was dimly lit, but Rex, who never wore a coat or hat in the evening, noticed that two sets of outdoor apparel lay, neatly folded, on a long console table as the silent footman relieved De Richleau of his wraps. Evidently, Simon had other visitors.
âMaybe Mr Aronâs in conference and wonât want to be disturbed,â he said to the sallow-faced servant with a sudden feeling of guilt at their intrusion.Perhaps, after all, their fears for Simon were quite groundless and his neglect only due to a prolonged period of intense activity on the markets, but the man only bowed and led them across the hall.
âThe fellowâs a mute,â whispered the Duke. âDeaf and dumb Iâm certain.â As he spoke the servant flung open a couple of large double doors and stood waiting for them to enter.
A long, narrow room, opening into a wide salon, stretched before them. Both were decorated in the lavish magnificence of the Louis Seize period, but for the moment the dazzling brilliance of the lighting prevented them taking in the details of the parquet floors, the crystal mirrors, the gilded furniture and beautifully wrought tapestries.
Rex was the first to recover and with a quick intake of breath he clutched De Richleauâs arm. âBy Jove sheâs here!â he muttered almost inaudibly, his eyes riveted on a tall, graceful girl who stood some yards away at the entrance of the salon talking to Simon.
Three times in the last eighteen months he had chanced upon that strange, wise, beautiful face, with the deep eyes beneath heavy lids that seemed so full of secrets, and gave the lovely face a curiously ageless look.
He had seen her first in a restaurant in Budapest; months later again, in a traffic jam when his car was wedged beside hers in New York; and then, strangely enough, riding along a road with three men, in the countryside around Buenos Aires. How extraordinary that he should find her here, and what luck.
De Richleauâs glance was riveted upon their friend. With an abrupt movement, Simon turned towards them. For a second he seemed completely at a loss, his full, sensual mouth hung open to twice its normal extent and his receding jaw almost disappeared behind his white tie. His dark eyes were filled with amazement and something suspiciously like fear, but he recovered almost instantly and his old smile flashed out as he came forward to greet them.
âMy dear Simon,â the Dukeâs voice was a silken purr, âhow can we apolgise for breaking in on you like this?â
âSure, we hadnât a notion you were throwing a party,â boomed Rex, his glance following the girl who had moved off to join another woman and three men who were talking together in the inner room.
âBut Iâm delighted,â murmured Simon genially. âDelighted to see you both. Only got a few friends. Meeting of a little society I belong to, thatâs all.â
âThen we couldnât dream of interrupting you, could we Rex?â De Richleau demurred with well-assumed innocence.
âWhy, certainly not, we wouldnât even have come in if that servant of yours hadnât taken us for some other folks youâre expecting.â But despite their apparent unwillingness to intrude, neither of the two made any gesture of withdrawal and, mentally, De Richleau gave Simon full marks for the way in which he accepted their obviously unwelcome presence.
âIâm most terribly sorry about dinner tonight,â he was proclaiming earnestly. âMeant to rest for my bridge, I simply have to these days, to
âMr Simon Aron?â inquired De Richleau, but the man was already motioning them to enter, so they followed him up a short covered path and the door in the wall clanged behind them.
The vestibule of the house was dimly lit, but Rex, who never wore a coat or hat in the evening, noticed that two sets of outdoor apparel lay, neatly folded, on a long console table as the silent footman relieved De Richleau of his wraps. Evidently, Simon had other visitors.
âMaybe Mr Aronâs in conference and wonât want to be disturbed,â he said to the sallow-faced servant with a sudden feeling of guilt at their intrusion.Perhaps, after all, their fears for Simon were quite groundless and his neglect only due to a prolonged period of intense activity on the markets, but the man only bowed and led them across the hall.
âThe fellowâs a mute,â whispered the Duke. âDeaf and dumb Iâm certain.â As he spoke the servant flung open a couple of large double doors and stood waiting for them to enter.
A long, narrow room, opening into a wide salon, stretched before them. Both were decorated in the lavish magnificence of the Louis Seize period, but for the moment the dazzling brilliance of the lighting prevented them taking in the details of the parquet floors, the crystal mirrors, the gilded furniture and beautifully wrought tapestries.
Rex was the first to recover and with a quick intake of breath he clutched De Richleauâs arm. âBy Jove sheâs here!â he muttered almost inaudibly, his eyes riveted on a tall, graceful girl who stood some yards away at the entrance of the salon talking to Simon.
Three times in the last eighteen months he had chanced upon that strange, wise, beautiful face, with the deep eyes beneath heavy lids that seemed so full of secrets, and gave the lovely face a curiously ageless look.
He had seen her first in a restaurant in Budapest; months later again, in a traffic jam when his car was wedged beside hers in New York; and then, strangely enough, riding along a road with three men, in the countryside around Buenos Aires. How extraordinary that he should find her here, and what luck.
De Richleauâs glance was riveted upon their friend. With an abrupt movement, Simon turned towards them. For a second he seemed completely at a loss, his full, sensual mouth hung open to twice its normal extent and his receding jaw almost disappeared behind his white tie. His dark eyes were filled with amazement and something suspiciously like fear, but he recovered almost instantly and his old smile flashed out as he came forward to greet them.
âMy dear Simon,â the Dukeâs voice was a silken purr, âhow can we apolgise for breaking in on you like this?â
âSure, we hadnât a notion you were throwing a party,â boomed Rex, his glance following the girl who had moved off to join another woman and three men who were talking together in the inner room.
âBut Iâm delighted,â murmured Simon genially. âDelighted to see you both. Only got a few friends. Meeting of a little society I belong to, thatâs all.â
âThen we couldnât dream of interrupting you, could we Rex?â De Richleau demurred with well-assumed innocence.
âWhy, certainly not, we wouldnât even have come in if that servant of yours hadnât taken us for some other folks youâre expecting.â But despite their apparent unwillingness to intrude, neither of the two made any gesture of withdrawal and, mentally, De Richleau gave Simon full marks for the way in which he accepted their obviously unwelcome presence.
âIâm most terribly sorry about dinner tonight,â he was proclaiming earnestly. âMeant to rest for my bridge, I simply have to these days, to