Read Online The Guinea Stamp by Alice Chetwynd Ley - Free Book Online

you to have two forms of address.”
    He raised his brows.
    “When you first spoke to me,” she continued, watching his expression closely, “it was in the manner of a country yokel. Now your voice has altered slightly: the accents are very nearly those of a gentleman.”
    He bowed, smiling ironically. “I always endeavour to conform to my company, madam.”
    “I can believe that. Delightful as it is to converse with one of your undoubted powers, Mr.—”
    She paused, and looked inquiringly at him. “I’m afraid you have the advantage of me in the matter of names.”
    “Call me Captain Jackson,” he answered, carelessly.
    “That is your name?”
    “Is Miss Lodge yours?”
    “Check!” she agreed, with a frosty smile. “As I was saying, Captain Jackson”—she gave the name a faint emphasis—“much as I enjoy your conversation, I feel that it is time to come to the point. Why were you lurking outside this window? And do not try to tell me again that you were seeking work, for I shall not believe you!”
    “That is a pity,” he said, mockingly. “But I wish you will employ some other word than ‘lurking’. It imparts a sinister quality to my actions which I promise you is unjust. Very well”—as she showed signs of impatience at this preamble—“I am coming to the point, I assure you. If you must know, I entered the grounds of this house in order to escape the unwelcome attention of someone who appeared unduly anxious to meet me.”
    “The parish constable, no doubt?”
    He smiled, showing strong white teeth. “Not on this occasion.”
    “Who, then?”
    The smile faded, and a look of regret came over his face.
    “There you have me, ma’am.”
    “Is that all?” she asked scornfully. “You cannot suppose that such a trumpery explanation will satisfy me! Sir George Lodge is a magistrate—as I make no doubt you already know! and I feel sure that he will be able to extract a more convincing story from you.”
    He regarded her thoughtfully for what seemed a long time.
    “Well?” she demanded at last, impatiently. “What have you to say? It must be to the purpose, mind!”
    “I can only ask you—beg you—not to disclose me to Sir George. This is not entirely for my own sake.”
    “Then for whose? I suppose you will now tell me that you have a wife and six starving children?”
    “I’m sorry to disappoint you: I am not married. In all seriousness, though—if you betray me, the harm you do will not be to myself alone, but to your country.”
    “To my—”
    She broke off, astounded. Then she laughed mirthlessly.
    “Oh, now you surpass your previous efforts! Very well, then, I am ready to be entertained—what is your latest story?”
    “I cannot blame you for being so incredulous, in view of the fact that, so far, I’ve been obliged to tell you a certain amount of untruths. But, if you reflect a little, you must see that I dare not trust anyone on so short an acquaintance. More particularly—”
    He broke off, knitting his brows. There was something about this proud, cold young lady which attracted him, and the attraction went deeper than her obvious good looks. There was an appeal of the spirit: he felt that, making allowance for their differences in situation, they were the same kind of people. For one unguarded moment, he was tempted to unburden himself to her. He realized at once the danger of such a course, and attempted a compromise.
    “More particularly—?” she queried, with a sideways mocking glance from her fine, expressive eyes.
    “Look here, the fact is that I dare not tell you the whole truth,” he admitted, candidly. “There are issues involved—”
    He broke off. “It would be too dangerous,” he finished, lamely.
    “That I can well believe!” she mocked. “No doubt it would serve to put you behind bars!”
    He made an impatient gesture. “My fate is of no account,” he said, speaking rapidly, “except in the bearing which it has on the fate of England. You