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"Not at all. I entertained myself by reading the papers. You may be interested to know that you have become famous, Miss Ransom."
"What do you mean?"
Carlton handed her a newspaper. "You are not familiar with this offensive publication, I daresay; only those of us who are brave enough to admit we enjoy scandal dare read it openly."
Maria
She took the newspaper with a fine display of fastidious distaste. "Are you telling me that my name appears in this – this -"
"Rag," Carlton supplied. "Not your name, no. But there is no doubt as to who is meant. See here."
He folded the paper back and indicated a column with the charming title of "Aristocratic Antics." The paragraph in question did not, in fact, mention names. It referred, in the most revoltingly coy terms, to "a lady of decal degree, known for her probings into spiritual matters" and "the young and beautiful handmaiden of the occult, reputed to be descended from a gentleman well known to the royal courts of Europe as well as the boudoirs of the noble ladies of London…"
For the second time Maria
"There is no violation of law when no names are mentioned. Besides, would you care to fan this nasty little flame of i
"Good heavens, no!"
"Most of his victims feel the same. As for the implication, surely you must have realized that evil minds would place that interpretation on the Duchess's kindness to an unknown young woman. There was considerable scandal regarding her relationship with Holmes. I need not add that there was no foundation for it -"
"You need not. I could never believe such a thing of her! Why, she thought of him as a son."
"As to that…" Carlton's eyebrows lifted. Then he shook his head and made a sour face. "Listen to me! Her Grace's feelings are none of my business, and her actions are beyond criticism. Oh, the devil with this; let us go out and let some fresh air blow the filth from our minds."
Maria
Carlton was also abstracted – and no wonder, Maria
Even more distressing was the thought that the Duchess might be pla
Eventually Carlton roused himself from his reverie and sought relief in baiting her.
"I wonder," he said guilelessly, "what has become of poor Pudenzia?"
"Who? Oh." Rallying, Maria
"Oh, yes, I had forgotten. A medium is not supposed to be conscious of remarks made by her control. That is the right word, is it not?"
"So I have been told."
"But I am afraid that poor girl has met with some unpleasant fate. She did not turn up at all last time, and on the previous occasion, when the Duchess called on her, you went into a fit before she had a chance to say more than a word or two. I wonder why."
"I have not the faintest idea."
"I wonder if the vicar's lecture could have had anything to do with it," Carlton mused.
"You had, I think, been impressed by that silly notion of demonic possession?"
"What on earth could that have to do -"
"Ah, well, no doubt I have got it all wrong." His eyes wide with assumed i
"Hypothetical!"
"Oh, purely hypothetical, I assure you. Imagine an amiable young woman who is asked, by someone she admires and respects, to produce a certain effect. With the best intentions in the world she obliges. But when another person whom she also admires and respects suggests that her actions might be wrong, even dangerous -"
"That is a ridiculous suggestion! How could I have invented such a name as Pudenzia, or concocted a history for her?"
"Such things are common in the spiritualist trade," Carlton replied. "Red Indians are the most popular controls, I admit, but any pathetic story -"
Maria
However, the day had one pleasant surprise in store for her. After she had tidied herself and changed, she went to the Duchess's room. And whom should she find, sitting by the bed, but Mr. St. John.
"We two have made it up, you see," the Duchess explained with a smile. "Mr. St. John very kindly called when he heard that I was taken ill, and we have had a pleasant talk. Now, my dear Maria
It must be recorded, to Maria
"I had hoped to take tea with you, ma'am, and perhaps write those letters we spoke of."
"You may come up later, my dear. Just now you can serve me best by doing as I ask."
"But first," St. John said, "let us pray."
It was a beautiful and very affecting prayer; Maria
Once outside the room the vicar heaved a deep sigh. Maria
"It was good of you to come," she said, tugging at the bellpull.
"I could do no less," was the reply, made in gloomy tones, and accompanied by an equally lugubrious look. "Her Grace has been an angel of kindness to the poor. If only… Oh, Miss Ransom, may I relieve an overburdened heart by speaking frankly?"
"Oh, sir," Maria
"Thank you. Thank you. I knew I could depend on your kindness. I do not know what -"
The parlormaid entered and Maria
"- what to do. I can do Her Grace no good unless I am in her confidence. Yet I ca