*CHAPTER XI.*
*BORROWED PLUMES.*
Frobisher's highly sensitive nature demanded a flower as a littlesomething to soothe his nerves. He passed into the conservatory wherethe Cardinal Moth was flaming overhead, he climbed like an over-dressedmonkey up the extending ladder, and broke off a spray of the blooms. Hepatted them gently as he fixed the cluster in the silk lapel of hiscoat. Hafid looked in and announced that the car was ready. Hafid'sface was white and set like that of a drug victim. Frobisher was at hismost brilliant and best as the car flashed away. Presently the scenechanged from the hot air and dusty glare of the streets, to green lawnsand old trees and the soft music of a band of some colour and doubtfulHungarian origin. But there was the clear flow and the throbbing melodyof it, and Frobisher's gloved hand beat gently to time. There werelittle knots of kaleidoscope colours, graceful and harmonious ingraceful shades and the emerald green for a background. Here, too, wasthe Duchess with a swift, pecky smile for each guest, as if she had beencarelessly wound up for the occasion, and something had gone wrong withthe spring.
Frobisher slipped in and out of the various groups with his hands behindhim. There were still certain people who seemed to be smellingsomething unpleasant as the wicked little baronet passed, but this onlyadded zest and piquancy to his studies. It was some time before hefound the object of his search--a study in yellow, and a large black hatnodding with graceful plumes. Something round her slim, white neckseemed to stream and dazzle, there was another flash of blue fire on herbreast.
Yet the diamonds did not seem in the least out of place on Mrs.Benstein. There was something hard and shaky about her beauty thatcalled for them--blue black hair drawn back in a wave from her forehead,a complexion like old ivory, and eyes suggestive of mystery. Frobisherthought of the serpent of old Nile as he looked at her critically.
A marvellously beautiful woman beyond all question, a woman without thefaintest suggestion of self-consciousness. Yet she was practicallyalone in that somewhat polyglot gathering, and she knew that most peoplethere were holding aloof from her. Frobisher strolled up in the mostnatural way in the world. He had had one or two dealings with Benstein,had dined with the man, in fact, but he had contrived not to see Mrs.Benstein in public till to-day. He dropped into a chair and began totalk.
"You feel any attraction to this kind of thing?" he asked.
"Well, not much," was the candid reply. "I came here out of curiosity.The Duchess would not have asked me, only that my husband is useful tothe Duke. So you have got a Cardinal Moth?"
Frobisher fairly gasped, though he dexterously recovered himself. Hesmiled into the dark, swimming eyes of his companion. Their strangemystery irritated as well as fascinated him.
"And what can you possibly know about the Cardinal Moth?" he asked.
"Well, I know a great many things. You see my father was a merchant inthe Orient, and my mother had some of the Parsee about her. Wegravitate to strange things. But I see you have the Cardinal Moth, and,what is more, I know where you got it from."
The last words came with a quick indrawing of the breath that faintlysuggested a hiss.
"Paul Lopez is by way of being a relation of mine," Mrs. Benstein wenton. "At one time we were engaged to be married. I was much annoyedwhen he changed his mind. Sir Clement, why do you choose to be soamiable to-day?"
The quick audacity of the question stirred Frobisher's admiration. Thiswoman was going to get on. With his fine instinct, Frobisher decided tobe frank. Frankness would pay here.
"Well, I am a great admirer of courage," he said. "I admire yoursplendid audacity in coming here in broad daylight wearing diamonds."
A wonderful smile filled the eyes of the listener.
"Why shouldn't I wear them if I like?" she demanded. "The stones arewonderfully becoming to me. And, after all, it is only a matter of whatthese chattering parrots here call fashion. See how they are allwatching me, imagine the things they are saying about me."
"And I am quite sure you do not mind in the least?"
"Not I. I must be doing something out of the common, something daringand original."
"It was anything but original, but certainly very daring, for one sobeautiful to marry a man as--er, mature, as Aaron Benstein," Frobishermurmured. It was an audacious speech, and Mrs. Benstein smiled. "Youmight have had a duke or even a popular actor."
"Well, you see, I was sick of being poor. It is not my fault that I wasborn an artist with a second-hand clothes shop in Hoxton for a home. Idon't look the part, do I? And Aaron came and fairly worshipped theground I stood on. Except for money, and the making of it, he isperfectly childish."
"Therefore he tells you all his secrets like the dutiful husband that heis?"
"Oh, yes. I find some of the secrets useful. There is the Countess ofCastlemanor yonder, who has stared at me in a way that would be vulgarin the common walk of life. And yet, if I went up and whispered a wordor two in her ear, she would gladly drive me home in her car."
Frobisher laughed silently. Here was a woman after his own heart--awoman who studied society and despised it. And Frobisher was going tomake use of her, as he made use of everybody, only this was going to beone of his finest efforts. Isa Benstein was no ordinary pawn in thegame.
"I should like to see you do it," he chuckled.
"What is the use? She is a poor creature, despite her title and hermarvellous taste in hats. Can't you give me a similar hold on LadyFrobisher? There would be some fun in humbling her."
Again Frobisher laughed. The splendid audacity of the woman fascinatedhim. The people he made use of as a rule were not amusing. And herewas a power. It pleased his vanity to know that he was bending a powerlike this to his will.
"I am angry with myself to think of what I have lost," he said. "Mydear Mrs. Benstein, it can all be arranged without annoyance to the ladywho does me the honour to rule my household. I will bring my wife to youpresently, and she shall ask you to her fancy dance next week."
"That will doubtless be a great pleasure to Lady Frobisher," Mrs.Benstein smiled. "I shall like her, but I shall like Miss Lyne a greatdeal better. And if you try to force her to marry that detestablelittle Arnott I shall do my best to spoil your hand."
Frobisher's teeth flashed in one of his uneasy grins. He felt like aman who has discovered a new volcano quite unexpectedly. What anamazing lot this woman knew, to be sure; what an extraordinaryfascination she must exercise over her doting husband. He followed herglance now to a distant seat under a tree where Angela and HaroldDenvers were talking together.
"Would you like to match your wits against mine at that stake?" heasked.
Mrs. Benstein declined the challenge. She was only a woman after all,she declared.
"I like the look of the girl," she said thoughtfully. "She's honest andtrue. And he's a man all through. Now go and bring Lady Frobisher tome, and we will talk prettily together, and she shall show me how muchit is possible for a society woman to hate another woman without showingit. You want to make use of me or some subtle purpose, but it suits mymood for the present to comply."
Frobisher went off chuckling to himself. The creature was absolutelycharming, so clever and subtle. But she was neither subtle nor cleverenough to see his game, Frobisher flattered himself. In a profoundstate of boredom Lady Frobisher was nibbling a tepid strawberry dippedin soppy cream. She was tired to death, she said, and wanted to gohome.
"It's a tonic you need," Frobisher said, with one of his quick grins."Come along, and have your mental shower-bath. I'm going to introduceMrs. Benstein to you."
Lady Frobisher rose stiffly. Her little white teeth were clenchedpassionately. But she made no protest. Under the eyes of fashionableLondon she crossed over to the place where Mrs. Benstein was seated.She knew perfectly well that her action would be the theme of generalconversation at a hundred dinner-tables to-night, but she moved alongnow as i
f she were sweeping the primrose path of conventionality withher lace gown. There was some little seed of consolation in the factthat Mrs. Benstein made no attempt to shake hands. On the whole, shewas perhaps the coolest and most collected of the two.
"My wife very much desires to make your acquaintance," Frobisher said inhis smoothest manner. "Didn't you say something about a fancy-dressball, Norah?"
Lady Frobisher was understood to murmur something that suggestedpleasure and a wish fulfilled. She was not quite sure whether she hadproffered the invitation or not, but it was a small matter, as Frobisherwas not likely to permit the card to be omitted.
"It is very good of you, and I shall come with pleasure," Mrs. Bensteinsaid. "I am not sure, but I fancy that society is going to amuse me.Of course, it is all a matter of time, though I could have pushed my wayhere before. You see, the Duchess asked me here of her own volition.My dear Lady Frobisher, do you see how Lady Castlemanor is glaring atyou? Yes, I will do it. I will go and dine with that lady as honouredguest on Monday night. And you shall come and see my triumph."
Lady Frobisher turned feebly to her husband for support, but he was toofrankly enjoying the performance to interfere. Here was a new farce, anew source of amusement.
"You will be a success," he predicted. "You must come to the dance as'diamonds' or something of that kind. You would carry off any amount ofjewels, and nothing becomes you better. You see we are already becomingthe centre of attraction."
People were passing by with studied inattention. A great society damepaused and put up her glasses. In anybody else the stare would havebeen rude. The great lady's face flushed crimson with anger, much as ifher own cook had been found masquerading in that select assembly. Shetook a step forward, paused, and then walked hurriedly away. Frobisherturned away to hide the mirth that he found difficult to control. Hehad come here practically on business, therefore the unexpected pleasurewas all the more enjoyable. With a bow and a smile Lady Frobisherturned and took her husband's arm.
"Well, I suppose you are satisfied now," she said, with a fierceindrawing of her breath. "With your saturnine cleverness, perhaps youwill tell me why the Marchioness behaved so strangely."
"The thing is obvious," Frobisher chuckled. "Benstein is a money-lenderin a big way, old plate and jewels, and all that sort of thing. Andhe's got all her ladyship's diamonds. Probably takes the best of themhome and shows his wife. Being weak and doting, she has them to playwith. And Mrs. Benstein is wearing the old lady's collar and star thisafternoon. And people say there's no comedy in society!"
Lady Frobisher turned away mortified and cut to the quick. And this wasthe class of woman that she had actually asked to her dance, one of thegreat social functions of the season! Frobisher threw himself into adeck-chair and gave way to his own amused thoughts.
"Clever fellow, Lopez," he chuckled. "On the whole, he earned thatcheque. But I don't quite see what he meant by saying that Mrs.Benstein--by gad, I've got it! Lopez, you are a genius! It's any moneythat my grip on the Shan is in Benstein's house, and she can get it."
Frobisher rose and strolled back to Mrs. Benstein's side. It would havebeen impossible to guess from his face of the fiendish elation thatburnt within him.
"I've been thinking over that jewel idea I gave you," he said. "Are youdisposed towards it?"
"Yes," Mrs. Benstein said, thoughtfully. "I am very favourably disposedtowards it indeed."
"Then wear rubies," Frobisher urged. "Rubies will suit you splendidly.I have the greatest fancy to see you decked out in rubies. If you canget hold of some large ones. I'll come round and have tea with youto-morrow, and we can discuss the matter thoroughly."
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