May 27, 2025 • 19 mins
On the eve of the high-society wedding between the lovely Juliet Phayre and the enigmatic Duke of Claremanagh, Emmy West pays a visit, eager to catch a glimpse of the legendary Tsarina pearls, jewels meant only for the eyes of the Duchess. When Juliet confesses shes never laid eyes on them, Emmys surprising admission that she has seen them once sets off a series of questions. Considering the last duchess passed away many years ago, who could have possibly worn them? Who is this mysterious Lyda Pavoya? And most importantly, who exactly is the man Juliet is about to marry?
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Chapter thirteen of The Great Pearl Secret. This is a
LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
The Great Pearl Secret by Charles Norris Williamson, Chapter thirteen.
A woman's eyes, Mademoiselle Pavoya. This is Captain John Manners,
(00:24):
just back from France, a cousin of the Duchess of Clermenont's,
said the manager who was introducing Jack. Little Pavoya lifted
her drooping head a little, only a little, and fixed
upon Manners a pair of dark eyes. Pair of dark eyes.
Simple words and a simple act. There are many women
in the world with dark eyes, and many had looked
(00:45):
at John Manners. But these eyes of the Polish woman,
as they gave that upward look from under heavy lashes,
Manners felt himself a traitor. He had heard all sorts
of stories about Lita Pavoya. He had got an impression
that she was a tigress woman, and then the dancing
that he had seen her do was wild and barbaric.
But tonight she was a swan. Her eyes were dark,
(01:07):
but not black or even brown. They were perhaps a
very deep greenish gray and extraordinarily luminous. Yes, that was
the word luminous. Brilliant would be too hard. There was
a mysterious moonlight sort of luminescence between the black fringes
of the white lids and the whole face, pale, delicate
(01:28):
with pointy chin, was mysterious, as only Polish or Russian
faces are. Why does she look at me so, Jack thought?
It was almost as if she guessed because he was
Juliette's cousin, why he had asked for this introduction. He
could not believe that she, who had met so many people,
could recognize the man in evening dress as the officer
(01:48):
in khaki she had seen at the fair doorstep. They
were in a room at the theater where Mademoiselle Pavoye
received privileged persons, a plainly furnished room, mostly gray except
for masses of flowers, and it suited her better than
a background of fantastic color. Perhaps it was this grayness
which made her stand out so vividly and seem of
(02:10):
such vital, thrilling importance. She was extremely quiet in manner,
and her voice was low, Yet her quietness was disturbing,
like that of a summer night, when lightning may leap
from a clear sky. Manners was struck dumb by her.
Something had flashed from her eyes to his with that
first look. It did not say merely, I am a woman,
(02:30):
You are a man. It said, or seemed to say,
you are thee man. I am thee woman. We had
to meet, and now what? He tried to think that
this was a trick of hers, which she used on
every male worthy of her steel. But he could not
believe it to be so. Her perfume, that perfume of
(02:50):
an eastern garden by moonlight, had gone to his head.
No woman had ever produced such an effect upon him.
Though they had exchanged but a few words, and those
not memorable. Yet he was not humiliated by his own surrender.
In spite of all reason, he was convinced that she
had been stirred by him, as he by her. The
(03:13):
meeting was between Pavoya's dances, and she had not many
minutes to spare. Her manager had impressed upon Manners that
the few she gave were an immense concession. There was
no hope of prolonging them. Her call came, she had
to go again. Eyes met with that shock to the nerves. Suddenly,
(03:34):
Lyda held out her hand to Jack. Clasping it, Electricity
flashed up his arm and stabbed at his heart. He
felt her start slightly, and his breath quickened. For Juliet's
sake and the promise he had made, it was Manner's
duty to take instant advantage of his luck with Pavoya,
But he was not thinking about Juliet or the promise.
(03:56):
He was neither remorseful nor triumphant. All thought of or
wanted as they talked in snatches was to hold this woman,
not to let her go till he had arranged to
meet her again. He must meet her again, He must
know what she really was, what they were to be
in each other's lives. But he could not ask permission
(04:16):
to call. He was stupidly tongue tied and could not
put words together as he would have wished. Would you
care to have supper with me at my house tonight,
she asked, not taking her hand from his. The invitation
was so unexpected that Jack could hardly believe it had
been given, Yet he heard himself answering, yes, I should
(04:37):
be delighted. I am glad, she said in her perfect
English with the pretty accent that was part of her charm.
Perhaps you don't know where I live. I have taken
a house furnished missus Lloyd Jackson's house on Park Avenue.
You have been there. Supper will be at twelve till
then she was gone by Jingo, you've made a hit,
(04:58):
my boy, chuckled manager. It was all jack could do
to detach himself from thoughts of Lida and go about
Juliette's business between ten forty and midnight. For the first
time in his life, the prospect of seeing Juliette was
distasteful to him. He didn't want to see her because
she would ask him about Lida Pavoya, and in his
(05:19):
present mood, there was nothing he would hate worse than
discussing the Polish girl with his cousin. But he was
as sorry for Juliette as ever and just as anxious
to help her. Desperately against the grain, he took a
taxi and drove to the fair House, which he found
brilliantly lighted. The huge front looked so gay that for
a moment he hoped Pat had come back. But he
(05:41):
asked for the Duke and was told gravely by Togo
that his grace was not at home. The Duchess, however,
was expecting Captain Manners. Juliette was waiting not in her
boudoir but in the Chinese room, which her father had loved.
She no longer wore the dressing gown she had put
on when nursing her headge in the afternoon, but was
dazzling in some flame colored film over shot gold and
(06:05):
purple tissue. You've had good news, Jack exclaimed at the
sight of her. No, I've had none, whatever, she said,
if possible, things are worse. I know why you thought
something good had happened, all the lights in this dress.
But if you are a woman, you'd understand. I've realized
that there's a fight in front of me. I want
(06:25):
it to be a silent battle. I don't wish people
to know I'm fighting at all till I see what
the end's likely to be. I do understand. Jack said,
you're a brave girl, and I believe the end will
be all right. He hurried on to talk about pat
and thus put off the bad moment when she would
question him about Pavoya, as nothing had been heard of
(06:46):
the missing one, and Juliette seemed now even more anxious
than angry. Jack decided to confess, having telephoned to all
the hospitals, it was good news. He insisted that these
enquiries had drawn blank, and he did his best as
comforter by saying that Pat had probably gone off in
a huff. People who loved each other flew into ragers
more easily than those who didn't care. Men of Patt's
(07:09):
temperament didn't lie down quietly to be trampled on by
their wives. He'd write soon, or send word somehow when
his first fury had exploded, or at worst, he would
communicate with the bank, even if he didn't turn up
for work there. Meanwhile, however, Jack admitted that they mustn't
let things slide and merely hope for the best. Would
(07:30):
Juliet like to have a detective engaged, a private one,
of course, quietly, to make inquiries in the very unlikely
case that something queer had happened. Yes, I was going
to suggest that, Juliet said, in a hard, bright voice
which kept back tears. What about that detective you spoke of,
the one who was with Pat and de Fascal in
(07:50):
the club, Jack hesitated, well, I think we'd better get
a chap of our own. You see, possibly he was
Pat's man engage for the pearl business. He mightn't be
able to work for us with a whole heart. I
know what you mean, Juliet, caught Manners up. Pat's man
may know where Pat really is and lead us off
(08:10):
the track instead of on to it. It's just possible.
Jack had to agree, would you believe it? The girl
veered abruptly to a new subject. Two reporters have called
to interview me about the Inner Circle stuff. Impudent beasts.
Manners lashed out. Of course you didn't receive them, Jack,
I did, said Juliet. I'll tell you why. Here in
(08:33):
the house. I've got more and more proof against Pat,
or against that woman. Jack winced, but she was not
looking at him. Her eyes were full of tears. Still,
I'm doing what you told me to do. I'm giving
him the benefit of the doubt. Besides, I've my pride
just as Pat has his. There's my father's name in
its way, that's as good as the name of Claremenat
(08:55):
or all the dukes in Britain. I came to this
room to night because Dad loved it so and I
felt as if he were here in spirit, helping me
to be strong. He was such a busy man, yet
he always had time for me. I can almost hear
his voice saying, steady Jewel, as he used to say
when I was in one of my wild moods. I
had those newspapermen brought to me here, and I said
(09:17):
to one what I said to the other. I admitted
that I'd seen the Inner Circle, and I suppose the
horrid rag meant to us, but I simply laughed at
the whole thing. I told them Pavoia came to see me,
something about her dance for the Armenians, you know, the
roof Garden show, Nancy Vanesten's getting up. I said, the
insinuation about the pearls was nonsense, that I'm an expert,
(09:40):
and that they're the realest things I ever saw. I
talked about Pat as if we too were the best
of friends, and mentioned just casually that he was away
for a few days. I was as nice as I
could be to the men, though I longed to kick them.
I'm sure they both went off to their horrid old
newspapers to write beautiful things about the family. Don't you
(10:02):
think I did right, perhaps, said Jack, if you don't
mind being a bit infra dig I don't mind anything,
Juliette choked. If only Pat comes back safely, and if
we can patch up some sort of life together, if
I don't have to break with him, then you've given
(10:22):
up those ideas you had this morning about divorce. No,
I haven't exactly given them up, but they seem far
off now. When I'm so afraid for Pat, I've thought
of a thousand things that might have happened to him.
Suppose he does love me really, and Pavoia is jealous,
she'd be capable of anything. She may have had him stabbed.
(10:44):
That reminds me you've met her, Yes, Well, what do
you want me to say? To tell me what she
was like? Of course? How you got on? What have
you got out of her? Jack felt suddenly antagonist to
juliet I was with Mademoiselle Pavoya about twenty minutes at most,
(11:05):
and her manager was there too. He said, I've got
nothing out of her. What did you expect? All the same?
You may take it for me, Juliette. You'll be a
big mistake if you imagine she has anything to do
with Pat's not showing up. I'm sure she hasn't. Oh
she's hypnotized you too, has, she snapped Juliette. Pat wanted
(11:27):
to make me believe she was a good woman. Come
with me into his study and I'll show you something.
Then perhaps you won't be so quick to defend her.
This was worse than Jack's fears. He couldn't refuse to
follow his cousin. From every one's point of view, that
would be poor policy. But he hated to go to
Pat's study. He did not wish to see anything Juliette
had to show him there. If it's a letter, I won't,
(11:50):
he began, when she cut him short. It isn't a letter.
After the scolding you gave me at the Lorn, I
wouldn't glance at the wildest love letter of Pavoya's, even
if she'd printed it so large I could read every
word across the room. I didn't give you a scolding.
Jack defended himself. I only said a man wouldn't do
what you did, or some such thing as that. Yes,
(12:12):
that's just what you did. Say. Juliette was unlocking the
door of Pat's study, of which she had the key.
I never knew you not to do what you wanted
to do because I or any one else scholded you.
How hard you are on me, Jack, She reproached him,
this is different, and I am different. I don't want
to do anything a man would think mean. I want
(12:35):
to be fair to Pat whatever happens. But about the pearls,
I can't be fair to him and Pavoya both. I'm
going to show you why not. As she spoke, she
went to Pat's desk, where things were wildly scattered, as
in his notorious carelessness he had left them. Jack Manner's
heart beat rather thickly as he remembered his last visit
(12:56):
to this room. How Da Fascal had come in, how
he Jack had sat on the club fender very conscious
during the scene which followed, that little Pavoya must be
hidden behind the curtains or the screen. How he had
advised Pat to do what Dai Fascal asked. How Pat
refused and showed the safe in the wall, which was
already opened. Here's his seal ring, Juliet was saying, I
(13:20):
found it lying on the desk. This is what I
brought you in to see. Now take the ring in
your hand, Please look at it closely and tell me
if you notice anything odd. As Jack took the ring,
he recalled that Pat had pulled it off his finger
and given it to day Fascal, telling the Frenchman to
compare it with the seals on the packet. Relieved that
for a moment, Juliet was letting Lida's name rest in peace,
(13:43):
he examined the ring. I see nothing peculiar, unless a
tiny bit of red stuff stuck in the corner of
the eye, he said. Ah, cried Juliet. I thought you'd
see that. What do you think the red stuff is?
Might be sealing wax. That's just what it is. I
used a magnifying glass to make sure, which showed me
(14:03):
something else too, But I haven't quite come to that yet.
Pat never seals his letters with red wax. He dislikes
red things, you know yourself. He always uses gray blue wax.
He said. It reminded him of my eyes. You saw
the packet day Fascal brought from France. Yes, then you
know it was sealed with five red seals. I have
(14:24):
the box and wrappings upstairs. If you don't remember, I
do remember very well. You can guess what I'm driving at.
I suppose I can good now for the other thing,
the magnifying glass told me. But no, take it yourself.
There's a scratch across the eye on the ring. You
see it? Yes? Do you know who is supposed to
(14:47):
have sealed up the packet man? Of course, with a
duplicate ring Pat had made for him on purpose. Yes,
a duplicate. But would the scratch have been copied shows
on all five seals of the packet. I looked through
the magnifier. Juliet, you accuse Pat or Pavoya? I said,
(15:10):
it must lie between him and her. Jack did not answer.
At once. He saw the sinister importance of this discovery
which Juliet had made. His mind rushed back to yesterday.
Let A. Pavoy had been left alone in the study
for how long he did not know, but Pat had
given her a chance to get away. He had made
an excuse to show both men something in the Chinese
(15:30):
room next door. Then, when de Fascal pleaded an engagement,
Pat had rung for Togo to guide the frenchman out.
A little later, Jack also had gone what Pat had done.
After that, who could tell his own man, Nixon perhaps
or one of the other servants. Jack pushed the name
of Lida Pavoya violently out of his mind. He would
(15:52):
not ask himself what she knew about Pat's next movements
and about the Red Seals. When these thoughts had shot
through his head, bringing actual bodily pain, he drew a
long breath and forced himself to speak. Juliet was waiting.
It's very necessary to have a detective to tackle this business,
he said. I realize that fact more than ever now.
(16:15):
It's essential for Pat's own sake, if for no one else's,
A sharp chap may be able somehow or other to
pulverize this beastly theory you're forming, Juliet. He'll make tests
for fingerprints on the safe in the wall if there
are others besides Pats, of course, and little Pavoyas it's
not worthy of you to spring to such conclusions. Manners
(16:38):
broke out before he could control himself. He expected Juliet
to retort furiously, but she did not. She merely looked
piteous and young. Jack. She said, sadly, what am I
going to do if that woman takes you away from me?
As well as Pat? Nonsense, he bluffed. I hope I
shall show that she hasn't taken Pat or anything of yours.
(17:00):
You don't want her proved guilty. I suppose not unless
she is. But I'd rather it would be Pavoya than Pat.
And it seems as if it must be one or
the other. It seems so to you now. But wait,
Juliet looked at him anxiously. Can you think of any
one else to suspect? I haven't had much time to
(17:22):
think yet, said Jack. Tomorrow morning early, I'll get the
best private detective in town, one who won't talk. Meanwhile,
we must be patient. I suppose, of course, you've questioned
Nixon about his master. That was one of the first
things I did. Poor old Nick was almost bowled over
when I said I feared that something had happened to
his adored one. I didn't mention the pearls naturally, or
(17:46):
that I thought Pat might have disappeared of his own accord.
I watched Nick's face to see what he knew. I
don't think he has an idea where Pat has gone.
But Jack, he knows something, something wild horses wouldn't drag
out of him. I feel I have a it's about Pavoya.
I've an idea Nick has taken messages. Togo has been
(18:07):
bribed by her too, I'm sure, and he won't speak.
The woman is like Circe, with men of all sorts
and classes, but she has but to look at them
and turn them into beasts. The woman had looked at Jack,
but she had not turned him into a beast. He
had never felt less like a beast in his life
than he felt at this moment. Yet, Saint or Circe,
(18:30):
by some magic, she had won his loyalty. Wild horses
would not have dragged her secrets from Nixon, Juliette said,
and Jack believed she might be right. As for him,
he would have had his tongue cut out sooner than
tell his cousin that he was engaged to sup at
Lydda's house and it was almost time to go. What
excuse could he make for leaving juliet abruptly without hurting her.
(18:54):
He would not hurt her for a great deal, but
he would hurt her if he must, rather than be late.
End of Chapter thirteen
Chapter thirteen of The Great Pearl Secret. This is a
LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
The Great Pearl Secret by Charles Norris Williamson, Chapter thirteen.
A woman's eyes, Mademoiselle Pavoya. This is Captain John Manners,
(00:24):
just back from France, a cousin of the Duchess of Clermenont's,
said the manager who was introducing Jack. Little Pavoya lifted
her drooping head a little, only a little, and fixed
upon Manners a pair of dark eyes. Pair of dark eyes.
Simple words and a simple act. There are many women
in the world with dark eyes, and many had looked
(00:45):
at John Manners. But these eyes of the Polish woman,
as they gave that upward look from under heavy lashes,
Manners felt himself a traitor. He had heard all sorts
of stories about Lita Pavoya. He had got an impression
that she was a tigress woman, and then the dancing
that he had seen her do was wild and barbaric.
But tonight she was a swan. Her eyes were dark,
(01:07):
but not black or even brown. They were perhaps a
very deep greenish gray and extraordinarily luminous. Yes, that was
the word luminous. Brilliant would be too hard. There was
a mysterious moonlight sort of luminescence between the black fringes
of the white lids and the whole face, pale, delicate
(01:28):
with pointy chin, was mysterious, as only Polish or Russian
faces are. Why does she look at me so, Jack thought?
It was almost as if she guessed because he was
Juliette's cousin, why he had asked for this introduction. He
could not believe that she, who had met so many people,
could recognize the man in evening dress as the officer
(01:48):
in khaki she had seen at the fair doorstep. They
were in a room at the theater where Mademoiselle Pavoye
received privileged persons, a plainly furnished room, mostly gray except
for masses of flowers, and it suited her better than
a background of fantastic color. Perhaps it was this grayness
which made her stand out so vividly and seem of
(02:10):
such vital, thrilling importance. She was extremely quiet in manner,
and her voice was low, Yet her quietness was disturbing,
like that of a summer night, when lightning may leap
from a clear sky. Manners was struck dumb by her.
Something had flashed from her eyes to his with that
first look. It did not say merely, I am a woman,
(02:30):
You are a man. It said, or seemed to say,
you are thee man. I am thee woman. We had
to meet, and now what? He tried to think that
this was a trick of hers, which she used on
every male worthy of her steel. But he could not
believe it to be so. Her perfume, that perfume of
(02:50):
an eastern garden by moonlight, had gone to his head.
No woman had ever produced such an effect upon him.
Though they had exchanged but a few words, and those
not memorable. Yet he was not humiliated by his own surrender.
In spite of all reason, he was convinced that she
had been stirred by him, as he by her. The
(03:13):
meeting was between Pavoya's dances, and she had not many
minutes to spare. Her manager had impressed upon Manners that
the few she gave were an immense concession. There was
no hope of prolonging them. Her call came, she had
to go again. Eyes met with that shock to the nerves. Suddenly,
(03:34):
Lyda held out her hand to Jack. Clasping it, Electricity
flashed up his arm and stabbed at his heart. He
felt her start slightly, and his breath quickened. For Juliet's
sake and the promise he had made, it was Manner's
duty to take instant advantage of his luck with Pavoya,
But he was not thinking about Juliet or the promise.
(03:56):
He was neither remorseful nor triumphant. All thought of or
wanted as they talked in snatches was to hold this woman,
not to let her go till he had arranged to
meet her again. He must meet her again, He must
know what she really was, what they were to be
in each other's lives. But he could not ask permission
(04:16):
to call. He was stupidly tongue tied and could not
put words together as he would have wished. Would you
care to have supper with me at my house tonight,
she asked, not taking her hand from his. The invitation
was so unexpected that Jack could hardly believe it had
been given, Yet he heard himself answering, yes, I should
(04:37):
be delighted. I am glad, she said in her perfect
English with the pretty accent that was part of her charm.
Perhaps you don't know where I live. I have taken
a house furnished missus Lloyd Jackson's house on Park Avenue.
You have been there. Supper will be at twelve till
then she was gone by Jingo, you've made a hit,
(04:58):
my boy, chuckled manager. It was all jack could do
to detach himself from thoughts of Lida and go about
Juliette's business between ten forty and midnight. For the first
time in his life, the prospect of seeing Juliette was
distasteful to him. He didn't want to see her because
she would ask him about Lida Pavoya, and in his
(05:19):
present mood, there was nothing he would hate worse than
discussing the Polish girl with his cousin. But he was
as sorry for Juliette as ever and just as anxious
to help her. Desperately against the grain, he took a
taxi and drove to the fair House, which he found
brilliantly lighted. The huge front looked so gay that for
a moment he hoped Pat had come back. But he
(05:41):
asked for the Duke and was told gravely by Togo
that his grace was not at home. The Duchess, however,
was expecting Captain Manners. Juliette was waiting not in her
boudoir but in the Chinese room, which her father had loved.
She no longer wore the dressing gown she had put
on when nursing her headge in the afternoon, but was
dazzling in some flame colored film over shot gold and
(06:05):
purple tissue. You've had good news, Jack exclaimed at the
sight of her. No, I've had none, whatever, she said,
if possible, things are worse. I know why you thought
something good had happened, all the lights in this dress.
But if you are a woman, you'd understand. I've realized
that there's a fight in front of me. I want
(06:25):
it to be a silent battle. I don't wish people
to know I'm fighting at all till I see what
the end's likely to be. I do understand. Jack said,
you're a brave girl, and I believe the end will
be all right. He hurried on to talk about pat
and thus put off the bad moment when she would
question him about Pavoya, as nothing had been heard of
(06:46):
the missing one, and Juliette seemed now even more anxious
than angry. Jack decided to confess, having telephoned to all
the hospitals, it was good news. He insisted that these
enquiries had drawn blank, and he did his best as
comforter by saying that Pat had probably gone off in
a huff. People who loved each other flew into ragers
more easily than those who didn't care. Men of Patt's
(07:09):
temperament didn't lie down quietly to be trampled on by
their wives. He'd write soon, or send word somehow when
his first fury had exploded, or at worst, he would
communicate with the bank, even if he didn't turn up
for work there. Meanwhile, however, Jack admitted that they mustn't
let things slide and merely hope for the best. Would
(07:30):
Juliet like to have a detective engaged, a private one,
of course, quietly, to make inquiries in the very unlikely
case that something queer had happened. Yes, I was going
to suggest that, Juliet said, in a hard, bright voice
which kept back tears. What about that detective you spoke of,
the one who was with Pat and de Fascal in
(07:50):
the club, Jack hesitated, well, I think we'd better get
a chap of our own. You see, possibly he was
Pat's man engage for the pearl business. He mightn't be
able to work for us with a whole heart. I
know what you mean, Juliet, caught Manners up. Pat's man
may know where Pat really is and lead us off
(08:10):
the track instead of on to it. It's just possible.
Jack had to agree, would you believe it? The girl
veered abruptly to a new subject. Two reporters have called
to interview me about the Inner Circle stuff. Impudent beasts.
Manners lashed out. Of course you didn't receive them, Jack,
I did, said Juliet. I'll tell you why. Here in
(08:33):
the house. I've got more and more proof against Pat,
or against that woman. Jack winced, but she was not
looking at him. Her eyes were full of tears. Still,
I'm doing what you told me to do. I'm giving
him the benefit of the doubt. Besides, I've my pride
just as Pat has his. There's my father's name in
its way, that's as good as the name of Claremenat
(08:55):
or all the dukes in Britain. I came to this
room to night because Dad loved it so and I
felt as if he were here in spirit, helping me
to be strong. He was such a busy man, yet
he always had time for me. I can almost hear
his voice saying, steady Jewel, as he used to say
when I was in one of my wild moods. I
had those newspapermen brought to me here, and I said
(09:17):
to one what I said to the other. I admitted
that I'd seen the Inner Circle, and I suppose the
horrid rag meant to us, but I simply laughed at
the whole thing. I told them Pavoia came to see me,
something about her dance for the Armenians, you know, the
roof Garden show, Nancy Vanesten's getting up. I said, the
insinuation about the pearls was nonsense, that I'm an expert,
(09:40):
and that they're the realest things I ever saw. I
talked about Pat as if we too were the best
of friends, and mentioned just casually that he was away
for a few days. I was as nice as I
could be to the men, though I longed to kick them.
I'm sure they both went off to their horrid old
newspapers to write beautiful things about the family. Don't you
(10:02):
think I did right, perhaps, said Jack, if you don't
mind being a bit infra dig I don't mind anything,
Juliette choked. If only Pat comes back safely, and if
we can patch up some sort of life together, if
I don't have to break with him, then you've given
(10:22):
up those ideas you had this morning about divorce. No,
I haven't exactly given them up, but they seem far
off now. When I'm so afraid for Pat, I've thought
of a thousand things that might have happened to him.
Suppose he does love me really, and Pavoia is jealous,
she'd be capable of anything. She may have had him stabbed.
(10:44):
That reminds me you've met her, Yes, Well, what do
you want me to say? To tell me what she
was like? Of course? How you got on? What have
you got out of her? Jack felt suddenly antagonist to
juliet I was with Mademoiselle Pavoya about twenty minutes at most,
(11:05):
and her manager was there too. He said, I've got
nothing out of her. What did you expect? All the same?
You may take it for me, Juliette. You'll be a
big mistake if you imagine she has anything to do
with Pat's not showing up. I'm sure she hasn't. Oh
she's hypnotized you too, has, she snapped Juliette. Pat wanted
(11:27):
to make me believe she was a good woman. Come
with me into his study and I'll show you something.
Then perhaps you won't be so quick to defend her.
This was worse than Jack's fears. He couldn't refuse to
follow his cousin. From every one's point of view, that
would be poor policy. But he hated to go to
Pat's study. He did not wish to see anything Juliette
had to show him there. If it's a letter, I won't,
(11:50):
he began, when she cut him short. It isn't a letter.
After the scolding you gave me at the Lorn, I
wouldn't glance at the wildest love letter of Pavoya's, even
if she'd printed it so large I could read every
word across the room. I didn't give you a scolding.
Jack defended himself. I only said a man wouldn't do
what you did, or some such thing as that. Yes,
(12:12):
that's just what you did. Say. Juliette was unlocking the
door of Pat's study, of which she had the key.
I never knew you not to do what you wanted
to do because I or any one else scholded you.
How hard you are on me, Jack, She reproached him,
this is different, and I am different. I don't want
to do anything a man would think mean. I want
(12:35):
to be fair to Pat whatever happens. But about the pearls,
I can't be fair to him and Pavoya both. I'm
going to show you why not. As she spoke, she
went to Pat's desk, where things were wildly scattered, as
in his notorious carelessness he had left them. Jack Manner's
heart beat rather thickly as he remembered his last visit
(12:56):
to this room. How Da Fascal had come in, how
he Jack had sat on the club fender very conscious
during the scene which followed, that little Pavoya must be
hidden behind the curtains or the screen. How he had
advised Pat to do what Dai Fascal asked. How Pat
refused and showed the safe in the wall, which was
already opened. Here's his seal ring, Juliet was saying, I
(13:20):
found it lying on the desk. This is what I
brought you in to see. Now take the ring in
your hand, Please look at it closely and tell me
if you notice anything odd. As Jack took the ring,
he recalled that Pat had pulled it off his finger
and given it to day Fascal, telling the Frenchman to
compare it with the seals on the packet. Relieved that
for a moment, Juliet was letting Lida's name rest in peace,
(13:43):
he examined the ring. I see nothing peculiar, unless a
tiny bit of red stuff stuck in the corner of
the eye, he said. Ah, cried Juliet. I thought you'd
see that. What do you think the red stuff is?
Might be sealing wax. That's just what it is. I
used a magnifying glass to make sure, which showed me
(14:03):
something else too, But I haven't quite come to that yet.
Pat never seals his letters with red wax. He dislikes
red things, you know yourself. He always uses gray blue wax.
He said. It reminded him of my eyes. You saw
the packet day Fascal brought from France. Yes, then you
know it was sealed with five red seals. I have
(14:24):
the box and wrappings upstairs. If you don't remember, I
do remember very well. You can guess what I'm driving at.
I suppose I can good now for the other thing,
the magnifying glass told me. But no, take it yourself.
There's a scratch across the eye on the ring. You
see it? Yes? Do you know who is supposed to
(14:47):
have sealed up the packet man? Of course, with a
duplicate ring Pat had made for him on purpose. Yes,
a duplicate. But would the scratch have been copied shows
on all five seals of the packet. I looked through
the magnifier. Juliet, you accuse Pat or Pavoya? I said,
(15:10):
it must lie between him and her. Jack did not answer.
At once. He saw the sinister importance of this discovery
which Juliet had made. His mind rushed back to yesterday.
Let A. Pavoy had been left alone in the study
for how long he did not know, but Pat had
given her a chance to get away. He had made
an excuse to show both men something in the Chinese
(15:30):
room next door. Then, when de Fascal pleaded an engagement,
Pat had rung for Togo to guide the frenchman out.
A little later, Jack also had gone what Pat had done.
After that, who could tell his own man, Nixon perhaps
or one of the other servants. Jack pushed the name
of Lida Pavoya violently out of his mind. He would
(15:52):
not ask himself what she knew about Pat's next movements
and about the Red Seals. When these thoughts had shot
through his head, bringing actual bodily pain, he drew a
long breath and forced himself to speak. Juliet was waiting.
It's very necessary to have a detective to tackle this business,
he said. I realize that fact more than ever now.
(16:15):
It's essential for Pat's own sake, if for no one else's,
A sharp chap may be able somehow or other to
pulverize this beastly theory you're forming, Juliet. He'll make tests
for fingerprints on the safe in the wall if there
are others besides Pats, of course, and little Pavoyas it's
not worthy of you to spring to such conclusions. Manners
(16:38):
broke out before he could control himself. He expected Juliet
to retort furiously, but she did not. She merely looked
piteous and young. Jack. She said, sadly, what am I
going to do if that woman takes you away from me?
As well as Pat? Nonsense, he bluffed. I hope I
shall show that she hasn't taken Pat or anything of yours.
(17:00):
You don't want her proved guilty. I suppose not unless
she is. But I'd rather it would be Pavoya than Pat.
And it seems as if it must be one or
the other. It seems so to you now. But wait,
Juliet looked at him anxiously. Can you think of any
one else to suspect? I haven't had much time to
(17:22):
think yet, said Jack. Tomorrow morning early, I'll get the
best private detective in town, one who won't talk. Meanwhile,
we must be patient. I suppose, of course, you've questioned
Nixon about his master. That was one of the first
things I did. Poor old Nick was almost bowled over
when I said I feared that something had happened to
his adored one. I didn't mention the pearls naturally, or
(17:46):
that I thought Pat might have disappeared of his own accord.
I watched Nick's face to see what he knew. I
don't think he has an idea where Pat has gone.
But Jack, he knows something, something wild horses wouldn't drag
out of him. I feel I have a it's about Pavoya.
I've an idea Nick has taken messages. Togo has been
(18:07):
bribed by her too, I'm sure, and he won't speak.
The woman is like Circe, with men of all sorts
and classes, but she has but to look at them
and turn them into beasts. The woman had looked at Jack,
but she had not turned him into a beast. He
had never felt less like a beast in his life
than he felt at this moment. Yet, Saint or Circe,
(18:30):
by some magic, she had won his loyalty. Wild horses
would not have dragged her secrets from Nixon, Juliette said,
and Jack believed she might be right. As for him,
he would have had his tongue cut out sooner than
tell his cousin that he was engaged to sup at
Lydda's house and it was almost time to go. What
excuse could he make for leaving juliet abruptly without hurting her.
(18:54):
He would not hurt her for a great deal, but
he would hurt her if he must, rather than be late.
End of Chapter thirteen
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