The Black Moth

Lady Lavinia, on recognising his Grace, had dropped her partner's handand fled incontinent towards him.

"You, Tracy!" She clasped delighted hands on his arm.

"This is very touching," sneered Robert. "It only needs Andrew tocomplete the happy reunion. Pray excuse me!"

"With pleasure," replied the Duke gently, and bowed as if to a stranger.

"He grows tedious," he remarked, as soon as the Colonel was out ofearshot.

"Oh, Bob! I take no account of _him_! But, Tracy, how is it you havecome to-day? I thought--"

"My dear Lavinia, do I wear an air of mystery? I imagined you knew I waspromised to Dolly Cavendish to-night?"

"Yes, but--oh, what matters it? I am so charmed to see you again, dear!"

"You flatter me, Lavinia."

"And now that you have come, I want to hear why you ever went! Tracy,take me into the room behind us. I know 'tis empty."

"Very well, child, as you will." He held back the curtain for her andfollowed her into the deserted chamber.

"You want to know why I went?" he began, seating himself at her side. "Icounsel you, my dear, to cast your mind back to the spring--at Bath."

"Your _affaire_! Of course! So the lady proved unkind?"

"No. But I bungled it."

"_You_? Tell me at once!--at once!"

His Grace stretched out his leg and surveyed his shoe-buckle throughhalf-closed lids.

"I had arranged everything," he said, "and all would have been well butfor an interfering young jackanapes who chanced along the track and sawfit to espouse Madam Diana's cause." He paused. "He tripped me up bysome trick, and then--_que veux-tu_?"

"Who was it?"

"How should I know? At first he seemed familiar. At all events, he knewme. He may be dead by now. I hope he is."

"Gracious! Did you wound him?"

"I managed to fire at him, but he was too quick, and the bullet took himin the shoulder. It may, however, have been mortal."

"And so you went to Paris?"

"Ay. To forget her."

"And have you forgotten?"

"I have not. She is never out of my thoughts. I plan again."

His sister sighed.

"She is then more beautiful than the Pompadour?" she asked meaningly.

Tracy turned his head.

"The Pompadour?"

"Ay! We heard you contrived to amuse yourself in a pretty fashion,Tracy!"