Read Online The Saint-Germain Chronicles by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro - Free Book Online
Authors: Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
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glass,” Whittenfield pointed out.
“Ah, yes, the glass,” the sixth guest murmured.
“The Count escorted Sabrina back to his house where she had lived for almost three years, and as they walked, he inquired why it was that she had come. She admitted that she feared for him and did not want him to come to hurt. He told her that was highly unlikely, but did not explain further until she asked if it were an alchemical secret that protected him. Again he gave her an equivocal answer, saying that it was something of the sort. Before they entered his house, she confessed to him that she would not refuse him if he wished to pass what remained of the night with her. He told her that he was much moved by this, for women did not often make that request of him, which, in her journal, Sabrina finds amazing, for according to her the Count was a pleasing man, of middle height and compact body, with attractive, slightly irregular features, who was most fastidious about his person and somber in his elegance. Once in the house, the Count led her to the laboratory and lit a branch of candles, then opened a small red-lacquered cabinet which seemed to be of great age, and removed the glass. It was not in the frame it has now, as I believe I mentioned, but it was rimmed with silver. The Count gave this to Sabrina, telling her that when she could see the spider in the glass, he would come for her. She did not believe this, but he assured her there was the image of a jeweled spider set in the very center of the glass, and that when one stood directly in front of it, under special circumstances, it could be seen.”
“Very neat,” Dominick approved with a jeering toast of his glass. “I must try that myself, one day.”
“Did the poor woman believe that?” Lord Graveston demanded with a shake of his head. “And you have kept that worthless piece of glass?”
“There’s a bit more to it,” Whittenfield remarked. “Apparently that night, the Count did spend some time with Sabrina, and though she does not record what passed between them…”
“It’s not difficult to guess,” Hamworthy said with marked disapproval.
“I gather that it was not precisely what Sabrina expected. She mentions that the glass was put by the bed and lit with the branch of candles…”
“Really!” Twilford’s expression was livid with disapproval.
“Decadent foreigner!” Hamworthy ejaculated.
“And,” Whittenfield went on, giving them little attention, “Sabrina says in her journal that for one joyous, incomprehensible moment, she could see the spider—that it sat in a fine diamond web, a creature of ruby and garnet and tourmaline. And she was elated at the sight, though she says in a later entry that she does not expect to see it again. She left it to Cesily with the admonition that it be kept in the family as a great treasure.”
“A woman’s whim for a trinket!” Dominick scoffed.
“It may be. But, as you see, it is still in the family, and no one is willing to part with it. Serena had great faith in it, and she was not given to superstition. I remember her standing here, saying that if it had brought such good fortune to Sabrina that we would be fools to be rid of it. My mother wanted to put it away, but it never happened, and I admit that I’m so used to it that I would miss having it. And every now and again I stare at it, hoping to see the spider.”
“Oh, Charles,” Dominick sneered. “Did you see anything?” Everard asked. “Only my face. If there is a spider in it, only a man who casts no reflection could see it.” Whittenfield leaned forward and put his glass down.
“Do you mean that after sitting here for well nigh two hours, you have the effrontery to offer us nothing more than a third-rate ghost story?” Hamworthy demanded.
“Well, that
is
the story of the glass, as it’s put down in Sabrina’s journal. She returned to England and set herself up well, saying that she had been given a legacy that made this
“Ah, yes, the glass,” the sixth guest murmured.
“The Count escorted Sabrina back to his house where she had lived for almost three years, and as they walked, he inquired why it was that she had come. She admitted that she feared for him and did not want him to come to hurt. He told her that was highly unlikely, but did not explain further until she asked if it were an alchemical secret that protected him. Again he gave her an equivocal answer, saying that it was something of the sort. Before they entered his house, she confessed to him that she would not refuse him if he wished to pass what remained of the night with her. He told her that he was much moved by this, for women did not often make that request of him, which, in her journal, Sabrina finds amazing, for according to her the Count was a pleasing man, of middle height and compact body, with attractive, slightly irregular features, who was most fastidious about his person and somber in his elegance. Once in the house, the Count led her to the laboratory and lit a branch of candles, then opened a small red-lacquered cabinet which seemed to be of great age, and removed the glass. It was not in the frame it has now, as I believe I mentioned, but it was rimmed with silver. The Count gave this to Sabrina, telling her that when she could see the spider in the glass, he would come for her. She did not believe this, but he assured her there was the image of a jeweled spider set in the very center of the glass, and that when one stood directly in front of it, under special circumstances, it could be seen.”
“Very neat,” Dominick approved with a jeering toast of his glass. “I must try that myself, one day.”
“Did the poor woman believe that?” Lord Graveston demanded with a shake of his head. “And you have kept that worthless piece of glass?”
“There’s a bit more to it,” Whittenfield remarked. “Apparently that night, the Count did spend some time with Sabrina, and though she does not record what passed between them…”
“It’s not difficult to guess,” Hamworthy said with marked disapproval.
“I gather that it was not precisely what Sabrina expected. She mentions that the glass was put by the bed and lit with the branch of candles…”
“Really!” Twilford’s expression was livid with disapproval.
“Decadent foreigner!” Hamworthy ejaculated.
“And,” Whittenfield went on, giving them little attention, “Sabrina says in her journal that for one joyous, incomprehensible moment, she could see the spider—that it sat in a fine diamond web, a creature of ruby and garnet and tourmaline. And she was elated at the sight, though she says in a later entry that she does not expect to see it again. She left it to Cesily with the admonition that it be kept in the family as a great treasure.”
“A woman’s whim for a trinket!” Dominick scoffed.
“It may be. But, as you see, it is still in the family, and no one is willing to part with it. Serena had great faith in it, and she was not given to superstition. I remember her standing here, saying that if it had brought such good fortune to Sabrina that we would be fools to be rid of it. My mother wanted to put it away, but it never happened, and I admit that I’m so used to it that I would miss having it. And every now and again I stare at it, hoping to see the spider.”
“Oh, Charles,” Dominick sneered. “Did you see anything?” Everard asked. “Only my face. If there is a spider in it, only a man who casts no reflection could see it.” Whittenfield leaned forward and put his glass down.
“Do you mean that after sitting here for well nigh two hours, you have the effrontery to offer us nothing more than a third-rate ghost story?” Hamworthy demanded.
“Well, that
is
the story of the glass, as it’s put down in Sabrina’s journal. She returned to England and set herself up well, saying that she had been given a legacy that made this
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