May 27, 2025 • 24 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 fifteen 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 fifteen.
(00:21):
The fortune teller Manners did not go to his hotel
when he left Lida. He walked for miles. He was happy,
he was proud, he was wretched, he was ashamed. He
believed in little Pavoya. He doubted her. There would not
have been room for the volcano of his feelings between
four walls. That moment when he had held her in
(00:44):
his arms had been the most wonderful, if not the greatest,
in his life. But it had been only a moment.
Her surrender for a few seconds had seemed to him
then the most exquisite thing in the world, the childlike
longing for a man's chivalrous protection in the heart of
a woman who had known little chivalry. In an instant,
she had drawn herself gently away, and he had not
(01:06):
held her. He had wished Lida to know that if
he did not understand everything, at least he understood why
she had crept into his arms for that brief breathing space,
and that he would take no advantage of her yielding.
He had armored himself with an almost exaggerated friendliness. Afterward,
and for a while they had talked, not at all
(01:28):
of themselves, but of Juliet and Pat. They tried to
form some theory which might account for the disappearance of
the pearls from the locked safe, whose combination was known
to only two persons, the replacing of the parcel there
sealed with fresh seals. They had striven to implicate Markov
in the affair, but all their deductions stumbled against the
(01:51):
same blank wall. In the end, it seemed impossible that
Markov could even have entered the house, much less have
got into the study or opened the safe. Lida did
not know how Pat had obtained the money to help
her out with the payment to Markov. It had not
seemed strange to her that he should have it. Looking back,
it seemed strange now. Yet it was incredible that he
(02:13):
should have juggled with the packet and risked losing his
wife's respect by palming off false pearls on her in
order to get money for another woman. Incredible, and yet
Lida said, like one in a dream, that he was
the only person who could have done the thing except herself.
I know I didn't do it, and yes, I know
(02:33):
he didn't do it, she cried to Jack. So again
and again they came through darkness to that blank wall,
and at last, deadly tired in body and brain, Lida
sent Manners away. He was all exultation at first. The
glamor and perfume of her ran through his themes. She
was noble, magnificent. It was great of this glowing creature
(02:57):
to trust him so generously to tell her life story,
putting herself in his power in a way for the
sake of Claerremenav's happiness. It was fine of her to
say he might repeat all to Juliet, who Litta must
know detested and distrusted her with the obstinacy of a spoiled,
jealous child, to say that, if necessary, a detective might
(03:18):
be trusted with her secrets. But as the chill of
the Knight iced his veins, Jack's mood changed, Juliet's point
of view suddenly showed itself sharply to his eyes. It
was as if she had come from round the corner
of the last street he had passed to walk with him.
Had Lydda told him the story for Clermonov's sake and Juliette's,
(03:39):
why not for her own? In the daring wish to
make a friend at court? Would that not be more
like her, more like the woman she was supposed to be.
She knew that he had seen her go into the
fair house, that he must have guessed she was hidden
in the study, that he was Juliette's cousin and would
naturally be inclined to work for Juliette's interests. Would it
(04:01):
not be a bold and clever stroke to win him
to her side if it were some other man, not himself,
whose prejudices had been thus broken down in an hour
by a woman's eyes and voice. Wouldn't he pity the
poor idiot who believed that he alone fathomed the depths
of her smile, Lydda practically admitted that she had fooled
(04:22):
many men, some of them had doubtless known far more
about women than he knew. Why she must have been
laughing at him all through He had been a child
in her hands. Lies that were half truths could be
welded into a fabric hard to break down, No doubt
there were true details in that life story of Pavoya,
(04:42):
but how many true ones? And was it fine of
her to consent that he should tell Juliet and, if necessary,
a detective. Wasn't that just what she'd worked up to
and wanted. Wasn't she purposely turning suspicion toward Pat when
she said, as if dazed, that only he or she
could have changed the pearls? Jack heard himself again, warmly
(05:05):
promising that they too should work together, that they'd drag
up the mystery by the roots, and that Juliet should
beg her pardon. A spider's dainty web of opal gauze
glittering with dew must look a fairy palace to a big,
blundering blue bottle. Did such a man as mark Off
from Petrograd even exist? Dawn flowed like a pale river
(05:28):
through the canyons of the New York streets. When Manner's
walk ended at his own hotel, he felt as if
he had been through a battle, a battle that he
hadn't won. But a cold splash and then dead sleep
for an hour braced him physically. He woke with a start,
as if somebody had knocked, yet no one was at
the door. The thought of food disgusted him. Hot, strong,
(05:50):
black coffee, however, was refreshing. It was early still, yet
he was sure that Juliet would be awake and called
her up, learning at once that she had no news. Yes,
he had things to tell, he answered her eager question.
Not news exactly, but important. Before going to her, however,
(06:11):
he intended to see the detective they'd talked about, a
man named Henry Sanders used to be in the police
Sharp Chap had the nickname of Hawkeye. Harry retired, but
got bored with doing nothing and started as a private detective.
Had made a big success in the last few years,
absolutely to be trusted, silent as the grave and sharp
(06:33):
as a razor. Jack added that he knew the man personally,
and as he didn't wish to wait for office hours,
would ring Sanders up at his own house. He would
call there and tell the man something of the case
to save Juliette useless questions and answers. Then he hoped
they could both come round to see her. As it
turned out, however, Manners went alone to the fair house.
(06:56):
He had not seen Sanders, the detective to whom Jack
had vainly tried to phone the night before, had not
yet returned from the country where he had spent the
last few days. He had luckily left word that he
would be at his office by ten o'clock, and having
sent a request for an immediate appointment there, Jack was
ready for a talk with his cousin. It was hard
(07:18):
to put Lida Pavoya's case impersonally and impartially to Juliet.
As he framed the story in his own words, he
saw Lida again as he had seen her last night,
heard her sweet, vibrating voice with its delicious accent. The
glamor of the woman took possession of him once more.
He tried to be judicial, but he could be so
only in manner telling the tale. He was impressed with
(07:41):
the way detail after detail fitted itself into probability, and
as Juliette's face showed how the door of her mind
shut against Lida, his own opened. He had left Lida
and had become her judge. Juliet's silent antagonism made him
again lit A Pavoy's day. I don't believe one word.
(08:03):
Juliet flamed out when he had finished, Manners found himself
quite unreasonably angry, he who had walked the streets raging
against his own weakness for Pavoya. You wanted me to
get her story, he said, Well, I've got it, and
all you have to say is that it's a pack
of lies. I can do no more. Juliette felt stricken.
(08:26):
Do you mean you take it all as gospel truth yourself?
She challenged, It seems to me to hang together perfectly,
it would She's clever as a serpent. Jack frowned. You
don't seem pleased to have your own husband turned into
a hero instead of a villain. Color flew to Juliette's
(08:46):
pale cheeks. I don't need lit a pavoyant to do
that for me, then said Manners coolly. You make this distinction.
You believe the good part about pat and not the
good part about her. Broken to tears, Jack, she reproached him,
I might have known you've gone over absolutely to the enemy.
(09:08):
Jack was conscience stricken, for in a way it was true.
He tried to console the girl as he had consoled
her yesterday, and in the old days, when she was
a child, there was no enemy. He said, or at
all events, the enemy wasn't Mademoiselle Pavoya. It was essential
that they should at least seem to work in harmony.
Juliet must trust him, She must pull herself together and
(09:31):
be ready soon to see the detective. The duchess was
quieter when he had argued for a while, and patted
her shoulder and called her darling child. She dried her
tears and promised to be good. But when Jack had
gone to keep his appointment at Sander's office, her heart
was led. He's a pavoyous man now, she said to herself.
(09:54):
Having lit his permission to speak, and knowing Sanders to
be trustworthy, Manners kept nothing back. He began with a
brief outline of the history of the pearls and Pat's
business transaction with Man. This brought him to the arrival
of the messenger with the packet and its delivery. In
his own presence there for the first time, Sanders stopped
(10:15):
him and asked questions what had been Da Fascual's manner,
what the Duke's and Jack believed that his answers impressed
the detective favorably toward the Frenchman. It proved the messenger's
bonafides that he had insisted upon the opening of the
box in his presence. Besides, after the theft, it appeared
(10:35):
certain that the new seals had been made with the
Duke's ring, and before that could have happened, Manners had
seen day Fascual leave the house. Sanders would of course
wish to meet Da Fascal, but would prefer to talk
with the duchess first of all. Whether Mademoisellevoya's version of
her visit to the fair House and her acquaintance with
(10:56):
the Duke were true remained to be seen. Sanders had
never heard of markof but would take immediate steps, through
the aid of his best boys, to find out all
about the man if he existed. As for the Duke,
the detective didn't mind admitting to Jack as a friend,
not in an official capacity, that he didn't yet believe
there had been foul play. He wasn't sure that in
(11:18):
Claremenav's place, assuming his injured innocence, he wouldn't have gone
away to punish his wife. These spoiled heiresses are the
limit when they get going, he said. And this Duke
Chap's irish. I'm irish myself. We fellows can't sit still
even when the prettiest woman forgets the marquis of Queensberry's rules.
In a scrap it gets our goat. Jack was not
(11:40):
sure whether Juliet would prefer an outside opinion that Pat
had been kidnapped or had left her of his own
free will. But the girl's pale beauty bold Sanders over
at first sight. His prejudice against the spoiled heiress melted
like ice in morning sunlight, and his Irish heart, as
well as his trained discretion, kept back any word which
he thought might wound her. The assumption meant to be
(12:03):
comforting that with markof lay, the clue to the mystery was, however,
salt on an unhealed scar. For Juliet, she took it
instantly for granted that Sanders agreed with Jack in believing
Lyda Pavoya had told the truth. They're going the wrong
way to work, she thought bitterly, when the two men
had gone promising a report the moment. There should be
(12:24):
news of any sort the wrong way. If they find
out where Pat is, it will be just blundering by accident.
Its thwarted, wretchedness. The girl realized that it would be
worse than useless to make such protests to Sanders. He
was the detective, not she. Though he had complimented her
upon her smartness in the matter of the ring and
(12:45):
the magnifying glass, he would only pity and despise her
for jealousy and prejudice if she gave him the advice
she burned to give. And Jack, Jack was hopeless, He
was lost to her. She felt as miserably alone, as
if Jack had not promised to be her, and as
if he had not brought to her one of the
best private detectives in the land. She longed to strike
(13:06):
out on her own account, to be first in the
field and be able to say, to these men, see,
while you were wandering all round robin Hood's barn, I
found the place where the secret was buried and dug
it up. It was mostly about Pat that Juliet thought,
and his disappearance upon the pearls, she wasted little anxiety,
(13:27):
though she hated to think that Pavoya should have them.
She had cried out to Pat that she believed not
one word of the Dancer's story, and she had meant
it at the time. But brooding alone over the history
of Pavoya's years and the link between her and Pat.
Juliet found herself almost arbitrarily accepting certain details here and there. Yes,
that must have been the way those two first met.
(13:49):
Pat had told her that he had heard the call
of romance in Russia, his great great grandfather's romance, and
had left Oxford to spend the long vacation among those scenes.
How like Pat at nineteen to create a romance of
his own on the same spot. Her heart yearned to
Pat with the thought that he had helped Pavoya because
of charity, not love. In that case, he had told
(14:12):
the truth, or as much truth as his wife could
expect of a man where women were concerned. But certainly,
Juliet assured herself, Pavoya had loved Pat and moved heaven
and earth to compromise him. That was really why she
asked him to lend her the pearls. No doubt, she'd
begged for the real ones, and he'd lent her a copy.
(14:35):
She'd kept the wretched beads not because of some melodramatic
blackmail's stunt, but because she wished to wear them as
if they were real and get herself talked about with
Pat that he'd married, and having sent to France for
the true pearls for his wife, he couldn't leave the
false ones knocking about for Pavoya to play with. He'd
practically ordered the woman to return them, and, in revenge,
(14:57):
when an amazing chance came her way, Pavoya had somehow
stolen the genuine rope. Changing the contents of the packet.
It all seemed clearer and clearer to Juliet, and she
wondered that a man with such good brains as Jack
could be so easily deceived. In pride of her own
superior talent as a detective, the girl would have had
moments of triumphant joy had it not been for her
(15:19):
wearing anxiety about Pat. Days passed. Pat did not return
or write to Juliet or the bank, and no news
of importance was obtained for her by Sanders or Jack Markov.
The detective was unable to trace by name, though he
had got upon the track of a Russian who had
(15:40):
lately arrived in New York with some good introductions. His
description answered that given of Conrad Markoff by Mademoiselle Pavoya
Porce Halbin, who had figured at various New York clubs
and was now supposed to have sailed for France. Was
a person of inconspicuous appearance, So too was Markov. Many
Russians over forty are darkish, stoutish, big faced, blunt featured,
(16:03):
with beards turning gray. Juliet bravely kept up the fiction
with her friends that she and Pat were on the
best of terms. He was away on business for the bank.
He would soon return. That story about the pearls being
false was too silly for words. The reason she'd stopped
wearing them was because she had broken the string and
didn't want the responsibility of choosing the person to mend
(16:24):
it till Pat came back. The girl would have given
thousands of dollars for the privilege of sporting her oak,
and refused to see the many people whose devotion she
attributed to curiosity. But for the sake of the future
and her own pride's sake, she would not do that.
She went out a good deal, kept all her engagements,
and made new ones. Her nerves, however, revenged themselves upon
(16:48):
her mercilessly. Once she had hardly realized that she possessed
such things as nerves. Now they made themselves felt each
moment of the day and through hours of the long,
restless nights. Against his will, Sanders had consented to an
advertisement appearing in the personal column of several papers. Juliet
(17:08):
had pleaded that no one would know for whom it
was meant, and she would die if she couldn't put
it in. Consequently, curious eyes in many cities of the
United States were reading every day this appeal, Playboy American
Beauty believes in you and want you write or come
back if you would not break her heart. Who could
guess that the Duchess of Claremenav's pet name for the
(17:30):
duke was Playboy, and that he had sent her American
Beauty roses every day since they were engaged because it
was the name he had found sweetest, most appropriate for her.
Yet someone must have guessed, because in the Inner Circle,
a week after the sensational Pearl Whisper, the secret was
given away. No names were mentioned, yet none who knew
(17:52):
the Claremenaz could have avoided reading between the lines. It
was while Juliette sat with the paper in her hands, shamed, bewildered,
almost stunned, that a sealed envelope was brought on a
tray to her boudoir. Mechanically she opened it. Within was
a visiting card with something written upon it in pencil.
(18:13):
For an instant, the girl's bruised brain could not find
the Comtesse de saint Ville in the index of her memory.
Then suddenly she saw the woman playing opposite her at
some bridge table. Yes, of course, little pavoyous friend, forgive
my calling uninvited. I hope you can see me. I
(18:35):
have something to say which may be important to you.
The woman whom Juliette vaguely disliked, had scribbled in French
under her name. Juliette thought for a minute, with a
card in her hand. It seemed pushing of this person
to come, and probably if she, juliet consented to see her,
she would regret the weakness. Still, the one really important
(18:58):
thing on earth was news of pat Madame de Santville
might know something. She might have quarreled with Pavoya and
be ready to give her away. Bring the lady up here,
the Duchess instructed Hugi. Presently the visitor was shown in,
and Juliette, rising to receive her, towered like a tall
young goddess over a small, smart creature painted to look
(19:20):
as pretty as she thought she ought to be. She'll
begin to speak of pavoya, Juliet thought, But she was mistaken.
I have come on a very queer errand were the
Countess's first words, spoken with much throaty rolling of ours.
Perhaps you will be angry. I made up my mind
only to day that it was my duty to call her.
(19:43):
Eyes darted to the inner circle, which Juliet had just
thrown aside, and quickly returned to a flower with which
she herself was playing. But Juliet read that sighed glance
to mean. After reading that paper to day, I decided,
when people tell it's a duty to say or do
something in particular, it's generally disagreeable. Juliette said dryly. Ah,
(20:08):
this is an exception. It is not disagreeable at all.
I hope it is only unusual, replied the Comtesse de Santville.
But I will not keep you in suspense. Have you
ever heard of a palmist and fortune teller named Madame Veno? Possibly,
I'm not sure, answered Juliette, surprised she is not, or rather,
(20:31):
she has not been fashionable, I think, explained the other
I have not lived long enough in New York to
know these things. I happened to hear of her through
a friend of mine. Yours also, is it not, miss
Billy Lounds? It was there I met you once, Missus
Lowndes knew I was interested in the psychic things, crystal gazing, palmistry.
(20:55):
She spoke of Madame Veno, who was supposed to be
only a manicurist, her real profession and is a secret.
It has to be. It seems that Madame Venaux is
in name. Several women have used, like one would say
a trade name, because they have hired the same rooms
or offices. And Madame Venou manicurist is on a door plate.
(21:15):
That is odd, is it not? But the first Madame
Venaud died or something. The present one is ah duchess.
She is Marvellau. She has told me things about myself,
but things only le bon Dieux o la Diabla had
in their knowledge. Naturally, I have been to her more
than once. Last time she looked through her crystal. I
(21:37):
do not know if that is forbidden by your law, Antoucas,
she does it. The pictures she saw must have been strange.
It seemed to frighten her. When I asked some questions,
she said, the vision was not for me, It was
for another. Why it came she could not tell unless
that person was in my thoughts. Then, Duchess, she spoke
(21:57):
your name. The picture was for you, you really, exclaimed Juliet.
She pretended to be amused. But the woman's tone was
meant to impress, and did impress the girl in spite
of herself. What did the picture represent? Madame Veno did
not mention, except that it concerned the Duke. She felt
(22:20):
it would be wrong to speak, if not to you alone.
She wished me to give you a message to say,
if you would come to her place, she would look
again in the crystal and tell you what she saw.
I did not like to call on you. I am
not long enough of your acquaintance. But to day, don't
be afraid to speak out what's in your thoughts, Juliet said,
(22:41):
with a painful smile. You have read the Inner Circle.
You think the disgusting whisperer is right that the advertisement
which people have been talking about is mine. Of course
that's all nonsense. Please tell everybody you meet who is
interested in my affairs, but probably you meant to be kind. Anyhow,
I think fortune tellers are great fun. I shall go
(23:02):
to this one some day soon, when I have time.
You'll give me the address. Parco's errance. Madame Venaux is
in the same building with that journal. De Blars replied
the contest. It goes without saying that they have no
connection one with the other. It is a mere accident.
Missus Lowndes has told me that the first woman of
(23:22):
that trade name Madame Venod, was really a manicurist, so
it was necessary to have an office and not be
in a private house in some quiet street I see,
said Juliette. I must thank you for coming. As Madame
knows my name, she must know a good deal about me,
so her pictures won't be as exciting as if I
went to her a stranger, but they may be amusing.
(23:45):
Her tone, though perfectly courteous, was meant to end the
interview Madame de Santville Rose. Juliette did the same and rang.
The moment she was alone. She ran to her bedroom
and commanded Simon, who was there to give her a
hat and coat. She had said she would go some
day to Madame Venand, but she was going now at once,
(24:08):
at once end of chapter fifteen,
Chapter fifteen 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 fifteen.
(00:21):
The fortune teller Manners did not go to his hotel
when he left Lida. He walked for miles. He was happy,
he was proud, he was wretched, he was ashamed. He
believed in little Pavoya. He doubted her. There would not
have been room for the volcano of his feelings between
four walls. That moment when he had held her in
(00:44):
his arms had been the most wonderful, if not the greatest,
in his life. But it had been only a moment.
Her surrender for a few seconds had seemed to him
then the most exquisite thing in the world, the childlike
longing for a man's chivalrous protection in the heart of
a woman who had known little chivalry. In an instant,
she had drawn herself gently away, and he had not
(01:06):
held her. He had wished Lida to know that if
he did not understand everything, at least he understood why
she had crept into his arms for that brief breathing space,
and that he would take no advantage of her yielding.
He had armored himself with an almost exaggerated friendliness. Afterward,
and for a while they had talked, not at all
(01:28):
of themselves, but of Juliet and Pat. They tried to
form some theory which might account for the disappearance of
the pearls from the locked safe, whose combination was known
to only two persons, the replacing of the parcel there
sealed with fresh seals. They had striven to implicate Markov
in the affair, but all their deductions stumbled against the
(01:51):
same blank wall. In the end, it seemed impossible that
Markov could even have entered the house, much less have
got into the study or opened the safe. Lida did
not know how Pat had obtained the money to help
her out with the payment to Markov. It had not
seemed strange to her that he should have it. Looking back,
it seemed strange now. Yet it was incredible that he
(02:13):
should have juggled with the packet and risked losing his
wife's respect by palming off false pearls on her in
order to get money for another woman. Incredible, and yet
Lida said, like one in a dream, that he was
the only person who could have done the thing except herself.
I know I didn't do it, and yes, I know
(02:33):
he didn't do it, she cried to Jack. So again
and again they came through darkness to that blank wall,
and at last, deadly tired in body and brain, Lida
sent Manners away. He was all exultation at first. The
glamor and perfume of her ran through his themes. She
was noble, magnificent. It was great of this glowing creature
(02:57):
to trust him so generously to tell her life story,
putting herself in his power in a way for the
sake of Claerremenav's happiness. It was fine of her to
say he might repeat all to Juliet, who Litta must
know detested and distrusted her with the obstinacy of a spoiled,
jealous child, to say that, if necessary, a detective might
(03:18):
be trusted with her secrets. But as the chill of
the Knight iced his veins, Jack's mood changed, Juliet's point
of view suddenly showed itself sharply to his eyes. It
was as if she had come from round the corner
of the last street he had passed to walk with him.
Had Lydda told him the story for Clermonov's sake and Juliette's,
(03:39):
why not for her own? In the daring wish to
make a friend at court? Would that not be more
like her, more like the woman she was supposed to be.
She knew that he had seen her go into the
fair house, that he must have guessed she was hidden
in the study, that he was Juliette's cousin and would
naturally be inclined to work for Juliette's interests. Would it
(04:01):
not be a bold and clever stroke to win him
to her side if it were some other man, not himself,
whose prejudices had been thus broken down in an hour
by a woman's eyes and voice. Wouldn't he pity the
poor idiot who believed that he alone fathomed the depths
of her smile, Lydda practically admitted that she had fooled
(04:22):
many men, some of them had doubtless known far more
about women than he knew. Why she must have been
laughing at him all through He had been a child
in her hands. Lies that were half truths could be
welded into a fabric hard to break down, No doubt
there were true details in that life story of Pavoya,
(04:42):
but how many true ones? And was it fine of
her to consent that he should tell Juliet and, if necessary,
a detective. Wasn't that just what she'd worked up to
and wanted. Wasn't she purposely turning suspicion toward Pat when
she said, as if dazed, that only he or she
could have changed the pearls? Jack heard himself again, warmly
(05:05):
promising that they too should work together, that they'd drag
up the mystery by the roots, and that Juliet should
beg her pardon. A spider's dainty web of opal gauze
glittering with dew must look a fairy palace to a big,
blundering blue bottle. Did such a man as mark Off
from Petrograd even exist? Dawn flowed like a pale river
(05:28):
through the canyons of the New York streets. When Manner's
walk ended at his own hotel, he felt as if
he had been through a battle, a battle that he
hadn't won. But a cold splash and then dead sleep
for an hour braced him physically. He woke with a start,
as if somebody had knocked, yet no one was at
the door. The thought of food disgusted him. Hot, strong,
(05:50):
black coffee, however, was refreshing. It was early still, yet
he was sure that Juliet would be awake and called
her up, learning at once that she had no news. Yes,
he had things to tell, he answered her eager question.
Not news exactly, but important. Before going to her, however,
(06:11):
he intended to see the detective they'd talked about, a
man named Henry Sanders used to be in the police
Sharp Chap had the nickname of Hawkeye. Harry retired, but
got bored with doing nothing and started as a private detective.
Had made a big success in the last few years,
absolutely to be trusted, silent as the grave and sharp
(06:33):
as a razor. Jack added that he knew the man personally,
and as he didn't wish to wait for office hours,
would ring Sanders up at his own house. He would
call there and tell the man something of the case
to save Juliette useless questions and answers. Then he hoped
they could both come round to see her. As it
turned out, however, Manners went alone to the fair house.
(06:56):
He had not seen Sanders, the detective to whom Jack
had vainly tried to phone the night before, had not
yet returned from the country where he had spent the
last few days. He had luckily left word that he
would be at his office by ten o'clock, and having
sent a request for an immediate appointment there, Jack was
ready for a talk with his cousin. It was hard
(07:18):
to put Lida Pavoya's case impersonally and impartially to Juliet.
As he framed the story in his own words, he
saw Lida again as he had seen her last night,
heard her sweet, vibrating voice with its delicious accent. The
glamor of the woman took possession of him once more.
He tried to be judicial, but he could be so
only in manner telling the tale. He was impressed with
(07:41):
the way detail after detail fitted itself into probability, and
as Juliette's face showed how the door of her mind
shut against Lida, his own opened. He had left Lida
and had become her judge. Juliet's silent antagonism made him
again lit A Pavoy's day. I don't believe one word.
(08:03):
Juliet flamed out when he had finished, Manners found himself
quite unreasonably angry, he who had walked the streets raging
against his own weakness for Pavoya. You wanted me to
get her story, he said, Well, I've got it, and
all you have to say is that it's a pack
of lies. I can do no more. Juliette felt stricken.
(08:26):
Do you mean you take it all as gospel truth yourself?
She challenged, It seems to me to hang together perfectly,
it would She's clever as a serpent. Jack frowned. You
don't seem pleased to have your own husband turned into
a hero instead of a villain. Color flew to Juliette's
(08:46):
pale cheeks. I don't need lit a pavoyant to do
that for me, then said Manners coolly. You make this distinction.
You believe the good part about pat and not the
good part about her. Broken to tears, Jack, she reproached him,
I might have known you've gone over absolutely to the enemy.
(09:08):
Jack was conscience stricken, for in a way it was true.
He tried to console the girl as he had consoled
her yesterday, and in the old days, when she was
a child, there was no enemy. He said, or at
all events, the enemy wasn't Mademoiselle Pavoya. It was essential
that they should at least seem to work in harmony.
Juliet must trust him, She must pull herself together and
(09:31):
be ready soon to see the detective. The duchess was
quieter when he had argued for a while, and patted
her shoulder and called her darling child. She dried her
tears and promised to be good. But when Jack had
gone to keep his appointment at Sander's office, her heart
was led. He's a pavoyous man now, she said to herself.
(09:54):
Having lit his permission to speak, and knowing Sanders to
be trustworthy, Manners kept nothing back. He began with a
brief outline of the history of the pearls and Pat's
business transaction with Man. This brought him to the arrival
of the messenger with the packet and its delivery. In
his own presence there for the first time, Sanders stopped
(10:15):
him and asked questions what had been Da Fascual's manner,
what the Duke's and Jack believed that his answers impressed
the detective favorably toward the Frenchman. It proved the messenger's
bonafides that he had insisted upon the opening of the
box in his presence. Besides, after the theft, it appeared
(10:35):
certain that the new seals had been made with the
Duke's ring, and before that could have happened, Manners had
seen day Fascual leave the house. Sanders would of course
wish to meet Da Fascal, but would prefer to talk
with the duchess first of all. Whether Mademoisellevoya's version of
her visit to the fair House and her acquaintance with
(10:56):
the Duke were true remained to be seen. Sanders had
never heard of markof but would take immediate steps, through
the aid of his best boys, to find out all
about the man if he existed. As for the Duke,
the detective didn't mind admitting to Jack as a friend,
not in an official capacity, that he didn't yet believe
there had been foul play. He wasn't sure that in
(11:18):
Claremenav's place, assuming his injured innocence, he wouldn't have gone
away to punish his wife. These spoiled heiresses are the
limit when they get going, he said. And this Duke
Chap's irish. I'm irish myself. We fellows can't sit still
even when the prettiest woman forgets the marquis of Queensberry's rules.
In a scrap it gets our goat. Jack was not
(11:40):
sure whether Juliet would prefer an outside opinion that Pat
had been kidnapped or had left her of his own
free will. But the girl's pale beauty bold Sanders over
at first sight. His prejudice against the spoiled heiress melted
like ice in morning sunlight, and his Irish heart, as
well as his trained discretion, kept back any word which
he thought might wound her. The assumption meant to be
(12:03):
comforting that with markof lay, the clue to the mystery was, however,
salt on an unhealed scar. For Juliet, she took it
instantly for granted that Sanders agreed with Jack in believing
Lyda Pavoya had told the truth. They're going the wrong
way to work, she thought bitterly, when the two men
had gone promising a report the moment. There should be
(12:24):
news of any sort the wrong way. If they find
out where Pat is, it will be just blundering by accident.
Its thwarted, wretchedness. The girl realized that it would be
worse than useless to make such protests to Sanders. He
was the detective, not she. Though he had complimented her
upon her smartness in the matter of the ring and
(12:45):
the magnifying glass, he would only pity and despise her
for jealousy and prejudice if she gave him the advice
she burned to give. And Jack, Jack was hopeless, He
was lost to her. She felt as miserably alone, as
if Jack had not promised to be her, and as
if he had not brought to her one of the
best private detectives in the land. She longed to strike
(13:06):
out on her own account, to be first in the
field and be able to say, to these men, see,
while you were wandering all round robin Hood's barn, I
found the place where the secret was buried and dug
it up. It was mostly about Pat that Juliet thought,
and his disappearance upon the pearls, she wasted little anxiety,
(13:27):
though she hated to think that Pavoya should have them.
She had cried out to Pat that she believed not
one word of the Dancer's story, and she had meant
it at the time. But brooding alone over the history
of Pavoya's years and the link between her and Pat.
Juliet found herself almost arbitrarily accepting certain details here and there. Yes,
that must have been the way those two first met.
(13:49):
Pat had told her that he had heard the call
of romance in Russia, his great great grandfather's romance, and
had left Oxford to spend the long vacation among those scenes.
How like Pat at nineteen to create a romance of
his own on the same spot. Her heart yearned to
Pat with the thought that he had helped Pavoya because
of charity, not love. In that case, he had told
(14:12):
the truth, or as much truth as his wife could
expect of a man where women were concerned. But certainly,
Juliet assured herself, Pavoya had loved Pat and moved heaven
and earth to compromise him. That was really why she
asked him to lend her the pearls. No doubt, she'd
begged for the real ones, and he'd lent her a copy.
(14:35):
She'd kept the wretched beads not because of some melodramatic
blackmail's stunt, but because she wished to wear them as
if they were real and get herself talked about with
Pat that he'd married, and having sent to France for
the true pearls for his wife, he couldn't leave the
false ones knocking about for Pavoya to play with. He'd
practically ordered the woman to return them, and, in revenge,
(14:57):
when an amazing chance came her way, Pavoya had somehow
stolen the genuine rope. Changing the contents of the packet.
It all seemed clearer and clearer to Juliet, and she
wondered that a man with such good brains as Jack
could be so easily deceived. In pride of her own
superior talent as a detective, the girl would have had
moments of triumphant joy had it not been for her
(15:19):
wearing anxiety about Pat. Days passed. Pat did not return
or write to Juliet or the bank, and no news
of importance was obtained for her by Sanders or Jack Markov.
The detective was unable to trace by name, though he
had got upon the track of a Russian who had
(15:40):
lately arrived in New York with some good introductions. His
description answered that given of Conrad Markoff by Mademoiselle Pavoya
Porce Halbin, who had figured at various New York clubs
and was now supposed to have sailed for France. Was
a person of inconspicuous appearance, So too was Markov. Many
Russians over forty are darkish, stoutish, big faced, blunt featured,
(16:03):
with beards turning gray. Juliet bravely kept up the fiction
with her friends that she and Pat were on the
best of terms. He was away on business for the bank.
He would soon return. That story about the pearls being
false was too silly for words. The reason she'd stopped
wearing them was because she had broken the string and
didn't want the responsibility of choosing the person to mend
(16:24):
it till Pat came back. The girl would have given
thousands of dollars for the privilege of sporting her oak,
and refused to see the many people whose devotion she
attributed to curiosity. But for the sake of the future
and her own pride's sake, she would not do that.
She went out a good deal, kept all her engagements,
and made new ones. Her nerves, however, revenged themselves upon
(16:48):
her mercilessly. Once she had hardly realized that she possessed
such things as nerves. Now they made themselves felt each
moment of the day and through hours of the long,
restless nights. Against his will, Sanders had consented to an
advertisement appearing in the personal column of several papers. Juliet
(17:08):
had pleaded that no one would know for whom it
was meant, and she would die if she couldn't put
it in. Consequently, curious eyes in many cities of the
United States were reading every day this appeal, Playboy American
Beauty believes in you and want you write or come
back if you would not break her heart. Who could
guess that the Duchess of Claremenav's pet name for the
(17:30):
duke was Playboy, and that he had sent her American
Beauty roses every day since they were engaged because it
was the name he had found sweetest, most appropriate for her.
Yet someone must have guessed, because in the Inner Circle,
a week after the sensational Pearl Whisper, the secret was
given away. No names were mentioned, yet none who knew
(17:52):
the Claremenaz could have avoided reading between the lines. It
was while Juliette sat with the paper in her hands, shamed, bewildered,
almost stunned, that a sealed envelope was brought on a
tray to her boudoir. Mechanically she opened it. Within was
a visiting card with something written upon it in pencil.
(18:13):
For an instant, the girl's bruised brain could not find
the Comtesse de saint Ville in the index of her memory.
Then suddenly she saw the woman playing opposite her at
some bridge table. Yes, of course, little pavoyous friend, forgive
my calling uninvited. I hope you can see me. I
(18:35):
have something to say which may be important to you.
The woman whom Juliette vaguely disliked, had scribbled in French
under her name. Juliette thought for a minute, with a
card in her hand. It seemed pushing of this person
to come, and probably if she, juliet consented to see her,
she would regret the weakness. Still, the one really important
(18:58):
thing on earth was news of pat Madame de Santville
might know something. She might have quarreled with Pavoya and
be ready to give her away. Bring the lady up here,
the Duchess instructed Hugi. Presently the visitor was shown in,
and Juliette, rising to receive her, towered like a tall
young goddess over a small, smart creature painted to look
(19:20):
as pretty as she thought she ought to be. She'll
begin to speak of pavoya, Juliet thought, But she was mistaken.
I have come on a very queer errand were the
Countess's first words, spoken with much throaty rolling of ours.
Perhaps you will be angry. I made up my mind
only to day that it was my duty to call her.
(19:43):
Eyes darted to the inner circle, which Juliet had just
thrown aside, and quickly returned to a flower with which
she herself was playing. But Juliet read that sighed glance
to mean. After reading that paper to day, I decided,
when people tell it's a duty to say or do
something in particular, it's generally disagreeable. Juliette said dryly. Ah,
(20:08):
this is an exception. It is not disagreeable at all.
I hope it is only unusual, replied the Comtesse de Santville.
But I will not keep you in suspense. Have you
ever heard of a palmist and fortune teller named Madame Veno? Possibly,
I'm not sure, answered Juliette, surprised she is not, or rather,
(20:31):
she has not been fashionable, I think, explained the other
I have not lived long enough in New York to
know these things. I happened to hear of her through
a friend of mine. Yours also, is it not, miss
Billy Lounds? It was there I met you once, Missus
Lowndes knew I was interested in the psychic things, crystal gazing, palmistry.
(20:55):
She spoke of Madame Veno, who was supposed to be
only a manicurist, her real profession and is a secret.
It has to be. It seems that Madame Venaux is
in name. Several women have used, like one would say
a trade name, because they have hired the same rooms
or offices. And Madame Venou manicurist is on a door plate.
(21:15):
That is odd, is it not? But the first Madame
Venaud died or something. The present one is ah duchess.
She is Marvellau. She has told me things about myself,
but things only le bon Dieux o la Diabla had
in their knowledge. Naturally, I have been to her more
than once. Last time she looked through her crystal. I
(21:37):
do not know if that is forbidden by your law, Antoucas,
she does it. The pictures she saw must have been strange.
It seemed to frighten her. When I asked some questions,
she said, the vision was not for me, It was
for another. Why it came she could not tell unless
that person was in my thoughts. Then, Duchess, she spoke
(21:57):
your name. The picture was for you, you really, exclaimed Juliet.
She pretended to be amused. But the woman's tone was
meant to impress, and did impress the girl in spite
of herself. What did the picture represent? Madame Veno did
not mention, except that it concerned the Duke. She felt
(22:20):
it would be wrong to speak, if not to you alone.
She wished me to give you a message to say,
if you would come to her place, she would look
again in the crystal and tell you what she saw.
I did not like to call on you. I am
not long enough of your acquaintance. But to day, don't
be afraid to speak out what's in your thoughts, Juliet said,
(22:41):
with a painful smile. You have read the Inner Circle.
You think the disgusting whisperer is right that the advertisement
which people have been talking about is mine. Of course
that's all nonsense. Please tell everybody you meet who is
interested in my affairs, but probably you meant to be kind. Anyhow,
I think fortune tellers are great fun. I shall go
(23:02):
to this one some day soon, when I have time.
You'll give me the address. Parco's errance. Madame Venaux is
in the same building with that journal. De Blars replied
the contest. It goes without saying that they have no
connection one with the other. It is a mere accident.
Missus Lowndes has told me that the first woman of
(23:22):
that trade name Madame Venod, was really a manicurist, so
it was necessary to have an office and not be
in a private house in some quiet street I see,
said Juliette. I must thank you for coming. As Madame
knows my name, she must know a good deal about me,
so her pictures won't be as exciting as if I
went to her a stranger, but they may be amusing.
(23:45):
Her tone, though perfectly courteous, was meant to end the
interview Madame de Santville Rose. Juliette did the same and rang.
The moment she was alone. She ran to her bedroom
and commanded Simon, who was there to give her a
hat and coat. She had said she would go some
day to Madame Venand, but she was going now at once,
(24:08):
at once end of chapter fifteen,
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