"
Undine started, her face turning suddenly pale.
"I--what do you mean? Who are you?" she asked, as she peered at him with
straining eyes, seeking to pierce the clever disguise.
"Mephistopheles!" was the calm retort. Then, as if to turn the subject,
he continued lightly: "It is a fair scene, and a fabulous one."
Undine began to have a slight suspicion as to whom her companion might
be, and was far from comfortable in her mind. The hit at the river might
have been only a chance one; but this was doubtful, if Mephistopheles
turned out to be either Mortimer Shelton or Jasper Vermont, as she half
feared.
She strove to conceal her uneasiness.
"The best should be happy and satisfied to-night," she said; "it is a
great success."
"Yes, happy!" agreed the demon, nodding his horned head, "but not
satisfied. That will never be till he sees the marriage of his beloved
son----" He stopped short.
"With Lady Constance Tremaine," finished Lady Merivale, in a low voice,
from which all attempt at disguise had gone.
Mephistopheles nodded again.
"You have guessed aright, my lady," he said. "See! there they are
together.
Pages:
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253