Part 40 (1/2)
He avoided the invitation of her eyes He was indeed still in the throes of his bewilderment
”But Sir John?” he exclaimed ”What made you marry him? What made you leave Paris without a word to any one? What e identities?”
”There is one answer to all those questions, Nigel,” she said, with a nervous little shudder ”It is a hateful story Come close to me, and let me hold your hand, dear I ae look in her face, the look of a frightened child
Ennison see He stood by her side, and he suffered her hands to rest in his
”You remember the man in Paris who used to follow me about--Meysey Hill they called him?”
He nodded
”Miserable bounder,” he murmured ”Turned out to be an impostor, too”
”He imposed on reat multi-millionaire He worried lish Eht it would be reat house in Paris, and more money than any other woman Afterwards we started for _dejeuner_ in a motor On the way he confessed He was not Meysey Hill, but an Englishman of business, and he had only a small income Every one took him for the millionaire, and he had lost his head about me I--well, I lostwheel of theout myself, and left him for dead on the road with the motor on top of hiht,” Ennison declared ”I think I can tell you soo on”
”Act two,” she continued ”Enter Sir John, very honest, very ht that Hill was dead, but I was frightened, and I wanted to get away froossip about us--about Anna the recluse, a paragon of virtue, and Annabel alias 'Alcide' a dancer at the _cafes chantants_, and concerning whom there were many stories which were false, and a fehich were true I--well, I borrowed Anna's na confederate Sir John followed me to London and married me To this day he and every one else thinks that he married Anna
”Act three Anna co from my husband, the ravely disapproves of her as 'Alcide' She tries every way of earning a living and fails Then she goes to a dra will persuade him that she is not 'Alcide'
He believes that she denies it sie with Sir John, whoht,' she wants to keep her identity secret He forces an engagement upon her She never calls herself 'Alcide' It is the Press who find her out She is the ie of what I was like, and she has a better voice Then enter Mr Hill again--alive He ain who stands between o on,” Ennison interrupted ”I believe that I can give you great news Tell e ceremony”
”It was behind the Place de Vendome, on the other side from the Ritz”
”I knew it,” Ennison exclaimed ”Cheer up, Annabel You were never married at all That place was closed by the police last uard or other of an English way, but the whole thing was a fraud”
”Then I was never married to him at all?” Annabel said
”Never--but, by Jove, you had a narrow escape,” Ennison exclaiin to see why you are here Think! Had you not better hurry back before Sir John discovers? You are his wife right enough
You can tell me the rest another time”
She shtly to his hands, ”is the most important of all You came to ht There was no one at ho ahen I saw that the door was open I decided to go in and wait
In her sitting-rooained ad for Anna But--he was cleverer than any of you He knew el 'At last,' he cried, 'I have found you!' He would listen to nothing He swore that I was his wife, and--I shot hi around me Shot hi at her curiously ”Is this true, Annabel? Is he dead?”
She nodded