Picture Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

18 PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY The man in the livery took hold of the straps that hung the instrument from Giuseppe's shoulders. "Don't — don't! It is my livelihood!" Giuseppe shouted in Italian, but the servant did not understand, and took the organ away. When Giuseppe turned pleadingly to ward Lord Lumley. the latter was holding a piece of pad paper with some writing on, to him. "Take this paper to the address stated," Lord Lumley said, always speaking in Italian, "and if your record is good you'll have a post there tomorrow." That evening. Lady Lumley was late for dinner. She found her husband poring over foreign documents in the smoking room, as usual. "You never care how I dress for dinner any more, do you?" she asked rather petulantly. "Or how late you are, for to-night you're particularly late," Lord Lumley replied, as he slipped his papers into a portfolio. "I am always very busy. But I make time to dress promptly for dinner." He stood before her, very serious, very self-contained, very handsome in his correct English way. "We have no guests," she stated in explanation. "Except ourselves — why not be hospitable each to the other?" "But, my dear, you're so immersed in all this foreign work ! I can't help you. I only interrupt you. And so I'm taking up an interest in something I'm sure you'll be proud of." "You mean literature, I suppose?" Lady Lumley's mouth quivered in secret fright. But she said blithely: "I didn't think you knew I cared about anything so serious." "Oh, it's not serious to have Signor d'Orelli, the popular Italian novelist, now writing in English, dedicate a novel to Lady Lumley for her birthday," replied her husband sarcastically. ''Now,' my dear old Mummy, as they all call you at the foreign office, ho^. did you ever find that out?" she thrc her arms round him, and said close t his ear : "I only found it out mysel to-day." "The mummies in the British Mu seum." Lord Lumley responded, gentl.j disengaging her arms, "hear everythinj lively and curious people say abou] them. They never make any comment but their eyes and ears are still there.' "You've found out about the book I'm sure," said Lady Lumley tartly, "through that old toady, the Earl 01 Ensworth. who pays to have his stupid novels published by Signor d'Orelli'ifirm. They beg Signor d'Orelli to write for them." "Perhaps D'Orelli has drawn upon them in advance," Lord Lumley returned quietly. "By the waj-, here's your gold mesh bag. You dropped it in the gutter to-day as you were leaving the house. It was returned at once, 'no reward — no questions asked.' " "I don't know what you mean," Lady Lumley said, with sudden fire in her eyes. "You act like a brute. I'm alone enough, but even then I shall prefer to have dinner in my room." "And I can go to the club. However, you forget, Lady Lumley," he retorted, with authority, "that you are late for dinner, have made me late, and are not going to make the servants wait any longer. Let us dine, and talk of the weather."' "Very well." responded Lady Lumley in her most charming, frigid manner. They dined, and talked only for appearance' sake when the servants were present at the barren feast of plenty. Two days later. Lord Lumley was called to Italy on secret government business of the highest importance. He needed a valet to be trusted. He had his own. But further he needed a valet who could be trusted in Italian. He found him in Giuseppe, who had been taken on as a substitute waiter at the club to which Lord Lumley gave him the line of recommendation. That night he pointed out on maps to Giuseppe the part of Italy to which his business called him. At first the Italian protested against any trip to his native land, and only after long argument was he persuaded to accompany Lord Lumley as a trusted valet. At length, however, it was settled, and they made preparations for an early departure.