1910-05-21

Page

צת:

LADY COLIN CAMPBELL.

Ruport Worgrave sauntered into his dressing room at the Romantic Theatra sud with the habit that is second nature to some men who nerer forget that the ore of the public is upon them, threw himself with studied grace into an easy chair and lit a cigarette at the match im

dresser. offered by his obsequions mediately

The dresser had formerly been in the service of a member of the aristocracy, a fact he wisely never let Wargrave forget, for he knew it added to his value in the eyes of his master, specially when the latter had visitors in his dressing-room. He now picked up a heap of lottors and presented thom on asilversalvor to Wargrave, who reclined gracefully in bis easy chair like an Oriental potentate, blowing smoke-rings which ho watche with half-closed eyes. Wargrave had seen the letters as soon as he entered the room, bat be considered it beneath his dignity to show anything like curiosity, or vulgar baile before his dresser; so he waited, lost in a reverie, antil the man presented them.

*Your letters, mind, I beg your pardan - your letters, sir!"

This was one of Harding's ways of reminding his ranater that he was steeped in a more aristocratic atmosphere and had diffenlty in getting accustomed to a commoner air.

Wargrave protended to give a slight start, as if he had beon interrupted in a flight into the empyrean, and with a sigh he took the letters off the salver, He turned them over in his Carefully manicured fingers, those beautiful fingers which with their slender length and habit of undue and meaningless gestionlation, man's vanity and shallowness to anyone with an observant eye who had the smallest acquaintance with the science of Desbarolles.

gave

away

the

secret of

the

coronetød missivos und Peterious sender of

who showed such superb sconi for all conventionalities. If his answer to her amazing invitation was to takathe shape of his wearing her flowers on the stage that orening, it was evident she would be in the house; and at this thought Rupert Wargrave turned impatiently to his dresser and wanted to know it ba" was going to keep him waiting all night?

THE HONGKONG DAILI PRESS, SATURDAY, MAY 21st, 1918,

It is

ssion ages ago, if I wore not the laziest beggar on earth at much things. The laugh is yours; but confers; each ous of you would are obeyed auch a summons as that of

ty, directness about it which were quite * Hurry de Harding 1 Yon to worsa than ? ■**” 75% your trick, gentleman;?; he exolsimed. diferent to the soul outpourings, the expressmall to-night!" Unlucky? ...⠀⠀⠀⠀ Black Magic as he held out his hand, to his hosts. “I did sions of wild odmiration which usually chory What fools people were with their super not know what I was going to Bad in Room actorised the femina lotters he received. The stitions! Magic-well, yes! The magic of but if it contains pens and ink and paper, directness of the luvilation, the expression en golden hair and dreamy blus eyes or por choquea which should have been in your I shall for once not be too lazy to sign four bons camarades," the latent defence of the haps black hair and oyms of tawny grom--- signaturo "Quand Memo, all stimulated War Dash it!-it's a nuisance not to know at grave's curiosity to the highest degree. He least the colouring of the woman). "Oh turned to the tirano paper parcel and found sdn it, Harding! you've let that collarstal dip buttonhole raadlo of some curious flame down my back It's gone inside the jarses coloured flower, with which he was not acquainted, man! no are looking for it on the floor! Tannd Mème! but which he supposed to be some rare orchid. down my back, I I tell you!" Who could be this

best to draw a veil over other

The supper served in No. 9, at the Oak Tree incidents which accompanied the transforms that evening is still quoted in the annals of that tion of the hero of the romantic drama into famous ostablishment as the choicest comming- Rupert Wargrove. Esquire, the immaonlate ling of viande and wines over produced by the gentleman in srening dress with the little knotenisine and cellar which stand unequalled in the of orchids flaming in his buttonhole; but at last opinion of every gourmet in Europe; and it the task was accomplished, and Harding for serred also as the christening-feast of the new ones shaken out of his aristocratic calm, was Syndicats which was then formed by four koon left pate and perspiriar standing like a modern financial men to run Rapert Wergrave and the Marine in the ruins of Carthage, among torn Romantic Theatre on the splendid lines which shirts, crampled tios, stage costumes, brushes have brought fame and fortune to all,concerned. The Company of the Romantic Theatre that that had Bown unexpectedly across the room, evening had in ons sense what the Americans cracked colderesu pots and what may be termed calf the time of their lives." To begin with, general wrecksgo. The artistic temperament for the test time on record, Wargrave wus is subject at times, I am told, to what are tanned ready before the postsin went up, though he nerve storms" which apparently only differ had not to make his entrance till half-way from a cyclone in that they have no centre of Grongh the first act. Ho, the lofty and cala and Raport had gone forth upboras, like indifferent soignour, who usually posed as if god, on a whirlwind of his own making. the component parts of the audience word beneath his notice when he was on the stage, was soon to apply his superior optie to the holo in the curtain, just as if he were the leading lady who wished to ascertain if her different admirers were in their accustomed places. Wargrave looked round the houso, trying rainly to gitosa who and which could

....

the fair Incognita of the letter and the mo-coloured orchids which were pinned on his stage-dress. It happened that there were quita a number of exceedingly good looking women in the stalls and boxes that rendig. (Wargravo never drasiat of raising his eyes to the dress circle for his coronetted The letters were nixed in quality if not correspondent)) and the actor's eyes passed them lacking in quantity. A fow on business re-all in review sucking for a sign which might garding his forthcoming production, which Wargrave road carefully, for he was no fool where his theatrical affairs were concerned; good many gushing latters from school girls and foolish women expressing ardent admiration and a roquest that be would autograph the various photographs of himself which they enclosed which Wargrave caerally did, as he know that it was an excellent form of advertisement in that world of women which rules the fortunes of the matinées; some notes of a still more intimate and ardout nature which the actor read with the satisfied ait of a cat lapping a Bauperful of cream; and a nice selection of Bills and Accounts Rendered. most of them strounously endorsed with very definite -demands for payment.

Wargave's delicate eyebrows draw themselves. together on reading same of the latter. He had like a good many people, au inherent and con- stitational dislike to paying bills. These cou stant demands for money were sordid and inartistic and grieved his ansthetic soul. He Liked exceedingly to stroll into some well-known shop and with a wave of the celebrated hands, order such and such articles to be sont to the theatre, where he had a suite of private rooms That was a beautiful and gracious uct, falling Like sunlight into the darkened shop and gladden- ing shop-keeper, grateful for such lofty conde acension; but to be exposted later ou to pay for those baubles, of which he had probably tired and given most away, deprived the whole thing of even the memory of a plea sure. What common souls these people have: How utterly incapable to understand and ap- the chilillike amplicity of the artistic

He looked at himself in the hand 'mirror

which he drow out of the pocket in his motor- car as he was being whirled to the Oak Tres: aud ho by no means regretted the whirlwind which had left Harding panting and bewildered, for he noticed how it had given an added inten- sity and light to his eyes, a fiery quiver to bis delicate nostrils, and the faintest possible tonch of colour to the dusky white pallor of his cheeks, which was one of his most potent attractious in the oyes of his feminine adorers He looked on bis long slim white hauds with the restless Bngers, and smiled spprovingly as he notlead that the nails were as polished as glass, and glit tered in the light of the electric roof-lamp. Hestretched himself luxuriously, enjoying the sudden calm after the excitement and storm at guide his intuitions. There was flat tall stately the theatre, and taking out a little bottle of de- looking woman with diamonds glittering in horicate scent (the car was supplied with many dark hair-the regal carriage of her head would more or less feminine accessories) dabbed some certainly be typical of a woman who considered on the studied intelessness of his hair. her own will or caprice the only law worth on "No! I don't think she will be disappaiotal," aidorlug, and who would view all convention he murmured with a sigh of satisfaction after a alities with disdain if they happened to cross final sarvey of himself in the mirror, as he put

or wain. Or that fluffy blonde with hair of both scent-bottle and mirror away. spun-gold through which a bine ribben was The car stopped at the side entrance of the threaded as in Romney portrait-there Oak Tree Restaurant, and Wargrave went up was mischiereus twinkle in her blue eyes the steps into the little vestibulo-the patrons that seemed to match the laughter ourling of the side-entrance of the Osk Tree were erid. twists of the delicate handwriting in that mad-outly quiet paople who disliked ostentation and dening letter. With man's natural vanity be the prasonos of a multitude of liveried mezials felt certain that the Incognits would piova The only person in the vestibule was an elder- young and good-looking, otherwise he wouldly man in a plain black livery sitting reading have considered the letter an impertinence. For one moment the horrid thought flashed through his brain, that perhaps it was the plot if same old har to outrap him into a tete-a-tete but this thought was kicked ou at once. There was a ring of consolons certainty in her own charms whicks parvaded the letter; and War grave's mind leapt back to the intuitive certainty that "Quand Mene was not only a beautiful woman, but a clever one, such as ons as he had dreamsthat had never yet encounter ed in the fu

the Petit Journal on a bench beside the lift, As Wargrave entered he stood up, bowed to the visitor and silently opened the lift door. War- grave passed in followed by the silout servitor and the lift ross quietly without any of the indooont haste that charactorises many of those modern aids to parpendicular location. Quietness was the note of the Oak Tree; it could have girea points on that score to its namesake in whose dusky shades His Majesty King Charles the Second had found safety from his enemies; and gossip went so far as to hint Needless to say he was fully determined to see that this modern Dak Tree's shades had shelter- the adventure through; and in the intervals ofed other exalted personages, not so much from speculation as to which of the good looking their enemies with their friends. The lift visitors to the theatro that night was the sphinx ascended two floors and stopped. The door was Qasa Meme, his irritated serves found pushed back, and as Wargrave stepped out he relief in Hading fault with everybody behind was met by another elderly servitor habited in the scenes, from the callboy to the leading lady, binek, who bowed and said Monsieur demande ?" to whom he whispered comminatory criticisms while he clasped her in his arms and showered

Sent

did they prove themselves by such isses on her marble brow. Ho bustled every ha praedad him along a passage, Warytare!

demands for money thought to him self the great Rupert Wargrave, who had been born into this Vale of Tears as Josiah ambush, oor but respectable little Noson the son of a poor

a suburb of Cardiff. Josiah's Formist

grocar in mother was a Welsh girl, and no doubt it was From her that her son had inherited his black hair, olive skin and dreamy poetic temperament and vanity; but the stout Little Nonconformist grocer's paternity was made manifest in the sharp business capacities of Josiah, alias Rupert Wargrave, which had helped to establish his professional position on a sacare basis quite a much as the dramatic and poetic gifts which came from bis Coltie ancestors on the mother's Bide.

von

Wargrave throw the offending bills aside the great dressing table with the noble gesture with which he spared crowns and similar baables when offered to him in the romantic dramas. wherein he had made his reputation

answer wanted, mlad-I mean, sir

"Room Number Nine, Monsieur,” he said to

"Room Number Nine," answered Wargrave, "Bien, Monstour; this way please," and as one indiscriminately until there was but one heard the lift door close behind him and the lift remark to be heard in the wings: "What's the lids down once more, He followed hle guide matter with the Boss to-night? Has the test one or two open doors which led into large of taffy been turned off at the main For banquetting rooms, at present empty, part closed the beautifal Rupert's appreciation of adula doors from behind which came the sound of the tion and praise, vulgarly known as "tafly, was no secret to his company. He was rory vood taras with each other, and then the voices and Iughter of a good many people on good" boss, however, as a rule, so long as Somtnelier stoppel. his undisputed right to the central

position in the limelight was never questioned; be paid Wargrave, as he threw open the door and stood good salaries, and was usually kindly and siderate to everyone in his theatre; and his side to let him pass.

Wargrave was company laughed among themselves at his emotional expectation that for one brief second genuiusly thrilled with childlike vanity and humoured it, and backed he stood will. Never, on the most crucial him up loyally on every occasion, recognising first night" had he been more profoundly the artistic genins and dramatic instinct which excited had brought fame to the Romantic Theatre mysterious note with its peculiar phrase

The vision onjured up by the and everyone interested, therein. Wargrave's legy and writing, the tiny gold coronet and. nervousness surprised himself as much as it dill the orchids, on top of which had coms the x- his Company.

"What's the matter with map" he said citement and triumph of the

Consciousness that of the evening, with the surpassed his own

con.

to himself as he sat in one seeno silently is record in dramatic at all this had mounted to Palo he said audibly with contempt, tening to the arguments of bis courtiers, the his head like strong wino, and for the moment and rising out of the depths of his chair play of emotion on his dark this face, and procended to divest himself of his oant within the watchful eyes under their half-elosed the man was litorally drunk with satisfied vanity wwaite and there was yet another satisfaction the aid of the watchful Harding. There was lide being one of his triumphe in the play. a knock at the door; and the drasser having With that curious dual quality of the actor's ing him behind the door which, opening inwards gone to see what was the interruption returned brain, his acting lost nothing of its concen him seeing into the room,

From the side of the long corridor, provented He pulled hiraselt with a note and something done up in white trated firm while he questioned himself on the tissue-paper which he laid before Wargrave. nerens irritation and impatience that pervaded Rupert Wargrave, to have an attack of stage- together it would never do for him, the adored his whole systona - with rerard to Quand right at such a moment-aven the Feri only It was handed in at the stage door to be Meme." "I have had dozens of letters from naited at the Gate of Paradise because it was Brought to you immediately. Harding women offering me assignations which I have hat against her, and here the door-oh! sweet- Fooked out of the tail of his eye, with a koon thrown in the firs and never thought twist thought was open to him. Drawing him. curiosity that he tried to hide under an air of about why should this one set my pulses self up to his fall height and throwing open his lofty indifference, at the large square white thrilling like a silly boy's at his first rendezvous envelope, addressed in an unmistakably feminine with bis mother's maid?" His thoughts fler to fur-lined coat so as to allow the fame-coloured hand to "Rupert Wargrave, Esquire, Bo the letter with its tiny ouronet, its beautiful signal in his buttonhole to be seen, he stepped mantic Theatre," which, as the actor turned it distinctive writing ending with the challenge of forward into the room, and as the door closed of softly and swiftly behind him he stopped so sud- over in his fingers, disclosed a small gold coronet the signature "Quand Mème." No! whoever stamped on the flap. A delicate perfume of the mysterious correspondent might be she was denly that he almost lost his balance.

Ah good evening, Mr. We violets rose to Wargaro's mostrils as he stood

at the favo eniginatio air, and he was conscious of a ples

rose-shaded lamp, sant tingling sensation in his veins. I opened the envelope carefully and drew out the

I letter which also bore a tiny gold coronet in one corner, but no monogram or stamped address The writing was small yet full of character, the tails several of the letters curling up

of with a cerious suggestion of laughter, and it was undoubtedly written by a woman.

He read

sid

looking at the missive which somehow bore an original character and rare individualit ons of four men as he spoke and coming

"IL,

I bellove, you are as contemptuous of conventionality as this letter proves me to be shall we sup together en bons camarades to-night at the Oak Tree? I have long desired to know you better; but there is no romance, no glamour

not some stage-struck Abigail, but a person of

under the and before another hour had passed he would know the heart and renson of the mystery. And forward with outstretched had in welcome, How good of you to have got here so quickly! as he came down from his throne after listening was telling my friends we could hardly hope to to his courtiers and threw down his gauntlet for the mach-debated war which should decide the see you for a quarter of an hour yet-Let me introduce them--if you have not act personally fate of his people and either win or lose for him before, you probably know each other by name the woman he loved, Rupert Wargrave's fine Mr. Leonidas, Mr. Van Vart, Mr. Salstein" eyes blazed with suppressed excitement (at the thought of Room No. 9. at the Oak Tree Restaurant), while his audience, carried away by the magnetic splendour of his acting, the nobility of his gestures and the musical resonance of his voice, rose to their feet in their enthusiasm and applauded him to the echo.

The men bowed and smiled; Wargcare" "gazed at them slmost stupidly. The shock of surprise a his state of excitement and nervous tousion had been almost too much for him; and he could not pull bis wits together at ones. "I think there--must be some

Seems in Bae fettle to-night said men," he stammered. mistake, gentle-

in an ordinary introduction. Our souls would Jewish working as to another next to him never make acquaintance under the banal in the stalls -conditions of society.

If this invitation finds Yes, said the other, "isn't that what the farous in your eyes, wear the flowers. I am Septeh call fey and the Sou of

Oh! none at all-none at all!" said the first man breezily, "only a little joke. You ase; I and my friends have written to you so many that we thought we would send you at last a pressing letters without getting any answers,

too And we hope to have a written answer Never had there been such a triumph at the as

well!"

sending herewith-and as soon as the play is mudged his neighbour while both indulged in a letter which you would answer, and in person, over, drive to the nearest side-entrance of the low chuckle. Oak Tree, go up in the lift and ask for Room No. 9. I shall be there.

****Quand Memo."

Romantic Thestre, and when Wargrave, after While the genial man was talking, War- Rupert Wargrave's olive akiu flushed as answering repeated calls after the curtain had grave's faculties word returning rapidly. be read this amazing billet doux. As a popu- fallen on the last tableau, finally got away to Van Vart-Laynidas-Balstein F-Why those lar actor of undeniable talent and good looks, his dressing room, he was quivering all over were the names of his tailor, his-tobacconist, he was sccustomed to warmly-worded letters of with the excitement which he had to reprass till his jeweller; he had never seen the heads of admiration from feminine admirers, which he the play ended. The volleys of applause were the firms before, but he knew he owed them usually laughed at, and, after autographing the still sounding in his ears, and the man actually all heavy bills which were lying at this photographs of himself which they generally swelled with delight to think that the fair moment on his dressing table, unless Hand- enclosed, would leave on the dressing table for Incognita mus have heard them also, must have ing had put them as usual into the fire. Harding to re-address the photographs while he taken part in the triumph of the man she had Whatever faults and absurdities Wargravo was on the stage. He was far too vain and pre-locted to sammon to her side with an imperious was guilty of, there was some grit and som occupied with himself to be delicate-minded these which of itself betosened the certainty of mon-sense in him, once he was not blinded towards the silly females who wrote him those beauty and assured position. But he must not with vanity. He had behaved like a fool but gushing notes, and who would have been horror delar even now perhaps Quand Meme" he could still more or lese save the situation by strack if they know their panting missives were was waiting for him in the Room No. 9 taking the matter as a joke and not losing his left to the tender mancies of su actor's dresser. Who said that No. 9, was an unlucky number, temper. There was something irresistibly But the note he had in his hand struck whats number used in black magic, and far worse hoyish and charming in his laugh she threw seemed a different chord. There was a bror in its omen than the much-maligned thirteen off his costand same up to the table,

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