Esmeralda Part 17

"Yes," he said without hesitation, "I've seen him--he went through that door." He jerked his head in the direction of an arched doorway behind them and Esmeralda found time to give him a quick, wavering smile as she darted away, out through the door into the pa.s.sage beyond. It was quite empty, so was the entrance hall when she reached it, although she could see old Dent, the head porter, sitting in his little office. She ran across the polished floor, not caring about her foot, and stuck her head through the window, and he looked up at her with some impatience, for he was checking the racing results and hated to be disturbed.

"Mr. Bamstra," said Esmeralda desperately, 'have you seen him? "

He deliberated, looking at her over the tops of his gla.s.ses.

"Staff Nurse Jones well, fancy seeing you again! Mr. Bamstra? No, I can't say I've seen him." His eyes strayed back to his paper.

"Oh, Dent, please try to remember did he go out?"

He scratched his chin reflectively.

"Well now no; I'd have heard the door."

She just stopped herself in time from wringing her hands.

"Oh, you must help," she begged.

"Where would he go?"

And if he had gone she would never find him again, and he wouldn't come looking for her because he would suppose her to be happily reunited with the wretched Leslie. A flood of terror and misery welled up under the little bodice of her beautiful gown, spreading all over her, cutting short her breath. Supposing she never found him again?

"The consultants' room," said Dent at last.

"Maybe he's there it's nice and quiet after that din." He nodded his bald head in the direction of the ballroom.

"Oh, Dent, thank you!" cried Esmeralda, and flew across the hall and down a variety of pa.s.sages and without even waiting to knock, flung open the door of the consultants' room.

It was a large, rather gloomy apartment, furnished heavily with ma.s.sive armchairs and a great oblong table, ringed round with severe, highbacked chairs, the gathering place of the brains of the profession when they wished to deliberate amongst themselves.

There was only one reading lamp alight, on a small table in a further corner, and drawn up to it was an easy chair with Thimo sitting in it.

The fright and terror melted away in a great wave of relief; she shut the door with a bang.

"Thimo!" she cried loudly.

"Thimo!" and then impatiently: "Oh, how my wretched foot aches!" She paused to kick off her slippers as she raced across the thick Turkey carpet.

The lamplight shone on his face and she could see that he was smiling.

He spoke very quietly.

"Hullo, Esmeralda, I hoped you would come."

She stood uncertainly in her pretty gown, staring at him.

"You look so tired," she said at last.

"Waiting for you has been tiring work, my darling girl."

She took a step nearer, everything suddenly very clear in her head.

"Thimo, I've been such a fool--it isn't Leslie at all, you know, it's you.

Couldn't you have told me? " She waited for him to answer her and when he didn't, but just went on sitting there, his grey eyes intent on her face, she went on: " You went away and I wanted you. We were dancing--Leslie and I--and suddenly 1 couldn't bear it any longer. "

Her eyes flashed greenly in the soft light.

"Are you angry?" she asked.

"It would serve me right if you got up and walked away." She gave a gasp as he did get up and then he laughed softly at the look of utter fright on her face.

"I'll not do that, my dearest little love," he told her, and pulled her close, 'and when I walk away, you'll be walking with me. "

His arms tightened, sadly crus.h.i.+ng her silk and lace, but Esmeralda couldn't have cared less about that. She lifted her face to his to be kissed and kissed again, and when she had her breath back: "Thimo, the girl you're going to marry..."

"You, my darling."

"But, Thimo..." She stopped there because he was kissing her again, but presently he said: "I had to do it this way, dearest, how else would you have ever been sure? You had to discover it for yourself."

Her eyes sparkled with tears.

"But why didn't I know? I was happy when I was with you and you were always there when I wanted you, and when you weren't I felt lonely--and all I could think about was meeting Leslie again and seeing his face while he watched me dance..."

end.