BY
E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM
AUTHOR OF "THE OTHER ROMILLY"
"THE BLACK WATCHER," ETC.
HODDER AND STOUGHTON
LIMITED LONDON1920
Contents
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VII
The Infidelity of Jack Lovejoy
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER IX
The Vengeance of Rosa Letchowiski
CHAPTER X
A queer, unexpected streak of sunshine, whichby some miracle had found its way through apall of clouds and a low-hanging mist, suddenlyfell as though exhausted across the asphaltpath of the Embankment Gardens. A tall,gaunt young man, who had been seated withfolded arms in the corner of one of the seats,stared at it as though bewildered. His eyessuddenly met those of a young lady in deepblack, who was gazing about her in similarstupefaction. Almost at once, and with perfectspontaneity, she smiled upon him.
"But it is astonishing, this!" she exclaimed."Sunshine in London—in January!"
The young man was a little confused. Hewas very diffident, and such lack ofconventionality on the part of a perfect strangersurprised him.
"It is unusual," he admitted.
"It is a thing which I have never seen," shewent on, dropping voice a little and glancingtowards a bath-chair close at hand, in which anelderly and very delicate-looking old gentlemanwas muffled up in furs and apparently asleep."It is something, even, for which I had notdared to hope. We seem so far here fromeverything that is bright and beautiful andcheerful."
Aaron Rodd, who was a shy and awkwardbeing, felt unexpectedly at his ease. He waseven anxious for further conversation. Hehad a rather long, pale face, with deep-set eyesand rugged features. He was soberly, evensombrely dressed in dismal black. He had theair of a recluse. Perhaps that was why theyoung lady smiled upon him with such confidence.
"You are not English?" he ventured.
She shook her head.
"What we are now, alas!" she sighed,glancing towards the bath-chair, "I scarcelyknow, for we have no country. Like every oneelse in such a plight, we come to England."
"It is your father who sleeps there?" heenquired.
"It is my grandfather," she told him."Together—he and I and my brother—wehave passed through terrible times.