The Lady Evelyn A Story of To-day   By: Max Pemberton (1863-1950)

[Frontispiece: "She was aware instantly that the strangers were speaking of her"]

THE LADY EVELYN

A Story of To day

By

MAX PEMBERTON

Author of "The Hundred Days," "Doctor Xavier," "A Gentleman's Gentleman," "A Puritan's Wife," Etc.

New York

CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY

Publishers

Copyright 1906 by Max Pemberton

Entered at Stationers' Hall

All rights reserved

CONTENTS

BOOK I. THE ESCAPADE.

CHAPTER

Prologue. The Face in the River I. A Telegram to Bukharest II. Etta Romney is Presented III. Success and Afterwards IV. Two Personalities V. The Letter VI. Strangers in the House VII. The Nonagenarian VIII. Lady Evelyn Returns IX. The Third Earl of Melbourne X. The Accident Upon the Road XI. A Race for Life XII. The Unspoken Accusation XIII. The Interview XIV. Inheritance XV. The Price of Salvation XVI. A Game of Golf

BOOK II. THE ENGLISHMAN.

XVII. Gavin Ord Begins His Work XVIII. A Duel over the Teacups XIX. From the Belfry Tower XX. Lovers XXI. Zallony's Son XXII. A Spy from Bukharest

BOOK III. THE LIGHT.

XXIII. Bukharest XXIV. The Price Of Wisdom XXV. The House Above the Torrent XXVI. Through a Woman's Heart XXVII. Etta Romney's Return XXVIII. The Impresario's Prayer XXIX. The Prisoners at Setchevo XXX. There is no News of Gavin Ord XXXI. The House at Hampstead XXXII. A Shot in the Hills XXXIII. Djala XXXIV. The Shadow of the River Epilogue. The Doctor Drinks a Toast

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

"She was aware instantly that the strangers were speaking of her" Frontispiece

"Oh, please let me go; your hands hurt me"

"As you came in folly, so shall you go "

"Evelyn, beloved, I am here as you wish"

[Illustration: (Facsimile Page of Manuscript from THE LADY EVELYN)]

THE LADY EVELYN

PROLOGUE

THE FACE IN THE RIVER

The porter did not know; the station master was not sure; but both were agreed that it was a "good step to the 'all" by which they signified the Derbyshire mansion of the third Earl of Melbourne.

"Might be you'd get a cab, might be you wouldn't," said the porter somewhat loftily for here was a passenger who had spoken of walking over: "that'll depend on Jacob Price and the beer he's drunk this night. Some nights he can drive a man and some nights he can't. I'm not here to speak for him more than any other."

The station master, who had been giving the whole weight of his intelligence to a brown paper parcel with no address upon it, here chimed in to ask a question in that patronizing manner peculiar to station masters.

"Did his lordship expect you, sir?" he asked with some emphasis; as though, had it been the case, he certainly should have been informed of it. The reply found him all civility.

"I should have been here by the train arriving at half past six," said Gavin Ord, the passenger in question "it is my fault, certainly. No doubt, they sent to meet me "

"The brown shay and a pair of 'osses stood in the yard more'n an hour," exclaimed the porter with just reproach. "I'll tell Mr. Jacob. He knows his betters when he sees him, drunk or sober "

"Thank you," said Gavin quietly, "but I will not put his knowledge to the proof. After all, it's only five miles, you say "

"And a public house at Moretown if the dust sticks in your throat. You'll do better walking than up alongside old Jacob at this time of night, sir "

"Had we known that his lordship expected a guest, we'd have answered for a carriage," added the station master, still apologetically.