Blindfold. A novel

Front matter

BLIXDFOLD. BLINDFOLD. JI ilooes. 11 V FLORENCE MARRYAT, AUTHOR OF "LOVE'S CONFLICT," " MT SISTER THE ACTRESS," "MOUNT EDEN," "A CROWN OF SHAME," ETC, ETC. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. III. LONDON: F. V. WHITE & CO., 31, SOUTHAMPTON STREET, STRAND, W.C. 1890. [All riuhts reserved.'] PRINTED BY KELLY AND CO., MIDDLE MILL, KINGSTON-ON-THAHES ; AND DATE STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS, W.C. CONTENTS. CnAP. PAGE I. — Reaching the Climax .... 1 II. — Determination to part .... .32 III. — Dorrian's Dream . . . . .62 IV. — Reaping the Whirlwind .... 93 V. — Sweet Bells jangled ..... 123 VI. — The Apparition ..... 153 VII. — The End and the Beginning . , , . BLINDFOLD. POPULAR JMEW JMOVELS. Xoir r.eadij, in One Vol., the Seventh Edition of ARMY SOCIETY; or, Life in a Garrison Town. By JOHN STRANGJS Winter, Author of "Booties' Baby."

Cloth gilt, 6s.; also picture boards, 2s. Also noir readii, in cloth gilt, 2s. Gd. each. GARRISON GOSSIP, Gathered in Blankbampton. By JOHN Strange Winter. Also picture boards, 2s. A SIEGE BABY. By the same AUTHOR. Also picture boards, 2s. BEAUTIFUL JIM. By the same Author. Also picture boards, 2s. MRS. BOB. By the same AUTHOR. BY WOMAN'S WIT. By Mrs. ALEXANDER, Author of "The Wooing O't." Also picture boards, 2s. MONA'S CHOICE. By the same Author. Also picture boards, 2s. A LIFE INTEREST. By the same AUTHOR. KILLED IN THE OPEN. By Mrs. EDWARD KENNARD. Also picture boards, 2s. THE GIRL IN THE BROWN HABIT. A Sporting Novel. By the same AUTHOR. Also picture boards, 2*. A REAL GOOD THING. By the same Author. Also picture boards, 2s. A CRACK COUNTY'. By the same Author. Also picture boards, 2s. STRAIGHT AS A DIE.

By the same AUTnOR. Also picture boards, 2s. OUR FRIENDS IN THE HUNTING FIELD. By the same AUTHOR. LANDING A PRIZE. Bv the same AUTHOR. TWILIGHT TALES. Bv the same AUTHOR. Illustrated. IN A GRASS COUNTRY. By Mrs. H. LOVETT-Cajieko.n. Also picture boards, 2*. A DEVOUT LOVER. By the same Author. Also picture boards, 2s. THE COST OF A LIE. By the same AUTHOR. Also picture boards, 2s. THIS WICKED WORLD. By the same AUTHOR. A LOST WIFE. Bv the same AUTHOR. THE OUTSIDER. Bv HAWLEY SMART. Also picture boards, 2s. THE MASTER OF RATHKELLY. By the same AUTHOR. LONG ODDS. By the same AUTHOR. SHE CAME BETWEEN. By Mrs. ALEXANDER FRASER. DAUGHTERS OF BELGRAVIA. Bv the same AUTHOR. THE CRUSADE OF THE "EXCELSIOR." By BRET HARTE. Also picture boards, 2s. DREAM FACES. By THE HON. Mrs. FETHERSTONHACCH. THE HONBLE.

Chapter I. Reaching The Climax

Neither Lord nor Lady Sedgeley would have been pleased, at any other time, to have Count Adrastikoff forced upon them as a guest ; but Olga's strange condition had alarmed them, and they were curious to see what effect her brother's arrival would have upon it. As soon as he entered the hall Lord Sedgeley met him almost cor dially. " I am thankful you have come," he said ; " Mrs. Dorrian appears very ill to me, but John would not hear of callinp; in a doctor until you had seen her." " He did right," replied Adrastikoff as he vol. itt. BLINDFOLD. quietly divested himself of his hat and over coat ; " I am used to my sister's little ail ments, and know how to treat them. I started as soon as ever I received the tele gram ; but I trust it will only prove a pass ing inconvenience. Will you conduct me to her side ?

" " I believe they have carried her up to her own room, but this lady, Miss Ormonde, will show you the way. But will you not take a little refreshment after your journey ? " "No, no — milles remercimens ! I will see my poor Olga first and attend to myself afterwards. Ah, miladi," continued Adrasti koff as Lady Sedgeley appeared in the hall, " I am very sorry you should have been obliged to summon me on so sad an errand, but the Countess Olga is very delicate and very sensitive, and this is the first time in her hfe she has been called upon to part with me. Perhaps it has been a little too much for her — that is all." " I can hardly think Mrs. Dorrian's attack can be due to parting from you, Count," replied her ladyship, " for she was as cheerful as possible during dinner-time, and this illness came on without any warning.

It looks much more like catalepsy or hysteria to me. And I sincerely hope it is not constitutional with her, or I am afraid John has a lot of trouble before him " Paul Adrastikoff smiled to himself. " You are very kind, chere miladi, but I will prove you to be mistaken. My presence is all that is required, I think, to bring my sister to herself again. Is this the way — up these stairs and to the right ? I thank you," and with a grave bow the count went on his way, accompanied bj* Lady Sedgeley. " I wonder if he has brought any medicine with him, or what he is going to do to her ? " whispered Grace to her brother-in law. " Nothing, my dear, nothing. He professes to be very wise, but as soon as he sees the condition his sister is in, he will send ofl for the doctor. It's a fit of some sort, there's 31—2 BLINDFOLD. no doubt about it.

Ah, here is Ellen back again." " He won't let me stay. He will have no one there but John. I consider it quite indecent there should not be a female present," exclaimed Lady Sedgeley indignantly. " Never mind, my dear ; if he can manage by himself so much the better. But where are you going to put him? He will have to stay here the night, you know." " The night ! The week, in all probability," returned his wife. " We cannot tell him to go back again, and he is just the sort of low-bred creature who would refuse to take a hint. And there are the Robertsons and the Hargreaves coming to dinner to-morrow. It is most annoying." " Well, it's no good fretting over it. I suppose the count started without his dinner as he said he would be glad of some refreshment by-and-by. You had better order Edwardes to lay a tra)* in the dining-room for him."

" Very well. Come along, Grace ; it's of no use standing about here," and the party dispersed as she spoke. Meanwhile, Paul Adrastikoff had entered his sister's apartment. She was lying on the bed, where her husband had laid her, white and unconscious, without having given the slightest sign of sense or motion. John was standing by her side, watching her anxiously. The entrance of his brother in-law made him look up, but he did not greet him with anything like welcome. " Look here," he said, pointing to his wife, when the door had closed upon Lady Sedgeley, " what is this ? " Paul elevated his eyebrows as if he were taken completely by surprise. " Ah, my poor sister! Is it possible? "he exclaimed. " Do you know, mon cher, I was almost afraid of this when you took her from me, but I did not like to say too much.

It might have seemed like wishing to intrude myself on this happy family party. Yet I could not help thinking of one I love so BLINDFOLD. dearly, and malheureusement my influence has followed and overcome her. Had I been present I could have prevented the catas trophe." "And do you mean to tell me you could not have prevented it, being absent ? " de manded Jack Dorrian sternly. Adrastikoff smiled deprecatingly. " Mon cher ! Should I have permitted it had I dreamt of such a thing ? To spoil the pleasure of my pretty sister ? Ah, no. She would tell you that is the last thing Paul has ever done for her. But this trance has lasted long enough. Please to shade that lamp. Place it behind the curtain — so, and I will wake her." As he spoke he took the hand of the unconscious woman in his and made a few passes across her eyes.

" Shall we have a little private seance be fore I call her back again ? " he said play fully. " If you have anj* questions to ask her, mon frere, now is the time to do it." But Jack was in no humour for jesting. " No, no ! " he replied angrily ; " bring her back again as quickly as you can, and let's have none of your foolery. I hate the very name of it." Thus apostrophized, the count thought it better to proceed at once to business. " Olga," he called sharply, " Olga, wake up. Come back again. I order you to do so." He kept his gaze fixed on her as he spoke, and John Dorrian saw, with some degree of jealousy, his wife's eyes open and her breast heave, in answer to her brother's command, when his passionate entreaties and kisses had not had the slightest effect upon her. It made him experience almost a revulsion of feeling, and when Olga sat up by herself, and with a long-drawn sigh came back to earth, instead of clasping her in his arms, or even expressing his satisfaction at her recover}*, Jack retreated to the other end of the room and left her entirely to the machinations of her brother.

BLINDFOLD. "Stand up," said Adrastikoff; "that is right. Now go to the mirror and arrange your hair and dress, for you are coming downstairs with me. Where have you been all this time, Olga?" " I do not know, Paul. I can hardly remember." " You must remember. I tell you to do so." " Ah, at the hotel, I think, and in a rail way train. Have I then travelled twice down to Glendeath in one day ? " " It would seem so. But do you not see your husband ? You have caused him some anxiety." Olga glanced to where Jack sat gloomily brooding over the occurrence, but clung fast to her brother all the while. " Have I ? But I was with you, Paul. And now that you have come back to me, you will not go away again, will you ? You must not go away." " I do not know. That has yet to be decided. But if I go, you must not come after me, Olga."

" How can I help it ? " she said in a piteous voice. " You hear, mon ami," remarked Adrastikoff to Jack. " 0, yes, I hear," replied the other in an irritable voice. " And now what shall we do next ? " inquired Paul pleasantly. " You had better take your sister down stairs and show them how admirably you have cured her fainting fit," said Jack. " And you, you will accompany us." " Not just yet, thank you. I am afraid the general inquiries will place me in an unpleasant predicament and I'm not good at lying. Perhaps you are." '* Come, come, mon cher. You must not allow this little accident to ruffle your temper. Remember that you knew the whole state of the case beforehand." " I am perfectly aware of it, and I don't want to argue the matter with you. Take Olga downstairs and let my people see that she has recovered.

You and I will settle BLINDFOLD. our part of the business together by-andby." " Will we," thought Adrastikoff to himself, as with his sister hanging on his arm, and smiling up in his face in the confiding manner she always assumed on coming out of a trance, he descended to the drawing room. As soon as the women caught sight of Olga recovered from her attack, they were naturally full of congratulation and sympathy, and were astonished to find she had so little traces of her illness left. "You must be a marvellous doctor, Count," exclaimed Lady Sedgeley suspiciously ; " what is the medicine that 3*ou use ? " " Ah, miladi, that is my secret, though indeed it is a very simple one. My sister's attack was only on the nerves. She grieved foolishly (did you not, Olga ?) at parting with me this morning, and the remedy lay in my presence.

Ah, miladi, I see you smiling to yourself. In this country you cannot comprehend the strong home-ties that unite the simpler-minded people of Poland. There we are all reared, one family at the mother's knee, and seldom think of parting until death. Olga ai d I do not understand how brothers and sisters can ever live separate. But I have scolded her well for her weakness and she has promised me not to repeat it." " Will you come into the dining-room ? " inquired his host ; " you will find some refreshment laid for you there." Adrastikoff gazed at his sister for a moment as if he could not leave her, and then turned beseeching eyes on Lady Sedgeley. " And after supper, ah, miladi, will you think me too bold if I crave your leave to remain here till to-morrow morning? The Countess Olga is hardly herself again and I so dread a relapse.

Yet if it should be an inconvenience " " Don't mention it," said Lady Sedgeley coldly ; " we expected you to remain for to-night and your room is prepared for you." But when Adrastikoff, all bows and smiles at having gained his object, had left them, BLINDFOLD. and Olga had crept after him to the dining room, her ladyship gave the rest of the party what is vulgarly termed " a bit of her mind." " It strikes me very forcibly,1' she said, " that this is what you would term ' a plant,' Sedgeley. I don't believe a single word about their extreme family affection and all that rubbish. Whoever heard before of a woman lying unconscious for two or three hours because she had parted from her brother for a few days ? It's a glaring imposition, and I should like to know what mystery it covers. Where's your brother John?

Why didn't he come down with his wife? Or is it part of the plot that he should remain upstairs ? " "Now, my dear Ellen, don't let your imagination run away with your good sense. John is smoking in the garden. I saw the light of his cigar in the rhododendron walk just now. What the lady s illness is due to, of course I can't say ; but she is evidently well again now, and we couldn't have done less than put her brother up for the night." " For the night," echoed his wife contemp tuously ; " are you really so simple, Sedgeley, as to imagine that this count (or whatever he may call himself) will go back to town before the Dorrians do ? He's a fixture for the week. I feel it to my finger nails. And I believe the fainting fit was only a sham to get him down here." " Oh, Ellen, don't speak so hardly of Olga," exclaimed Grace Ormonde, who had taken a great fancy for Jack's wife.

" I feel sure, in the first place, that she would never play so mean a trick upon us, and in the second, that no woman could feign uncon sciousness for such a length of time. Think what you choose of the brother (I don't like his looks any more than you do), but don't accuse Olga of fraud." " That's right, Grace. Always defend the absent," said Lord Sedgeley, on whom Olga's pretty face had not failed to have its effect. " 0, of course, Mrs. John Dorrian must BLINDFOLD. needs be perfection in Grace's eyes. Her name would be sufficient to insure her that," observed Lady Sedgeley tartly. The tears rushed to Grace's eyes, but she answered boldly : " Yes, Ellen, you are right. The fact that she bears a name which / once hoped to bear, and which must always be dear to me, is enough to make me think the very best of her that I can."

But at this juncture the re-entrance of the brother and sister put an end to the conversation, and soon after they separated for the night. It was late before Jack Dorrian sought the apartment of his wife. He had purposely kept out of the way to avoid another interview with Paul Adrastikoff, and he felt reluctant even to meet Olga until he was convinced how much she had had to do with encouraging the mysterious influence that bound her to her brother. The events of the evening had greatly annoyed him. Olga was his wife, but she would never seem entirely his own whilst this other man held such a fatal power over her. Sometimes he believed that she hated and feared the influence of mesmerism and would aid her husband in every way to break her chains. But when he saw her clinging to Adrastikoff and gazing up into his face as if he were all the world to her — when he watched the distress in her countenance if forcibly separated from her tormentor even for a few minutes — and witnessed her joj* at their reunion, his heart sank and he feared that she loved Paul far better than she did him.

He knew too little of the fatal effects of magnetism on the subject, to see that Olga's symptoms were very ordinary ones and entirely beyond her own control. In fact Adrastikoff had been accustomed to mesmerize her for so many years past, that he had got her mind com pletely under subjection to his own, and when he willed her to do a certain action, she had no capability of resisting his demands. But the angry husband only saw two things — that his brother-in-law continued to mesmerize his wife against his express wishes, and his BLINDFOLD. 16 wife continued to deliver herself up to the influence. And he determined that, at all risks and hazards, whether to Olga's health or Paul's friendship, he would put a stop to it. But there were several reasons why he should not speak to Adrastikoff on the sub ject until they had left Glendeath.

A quarrel between them might lead to a dis closure of the nature of his wife's illness, of which he was most anxious the Sedgeleys should gain no suspicion, and he thought it more than probable that what he had to say to his brother-in-law would cause some unpleasantness. He did not therefore utter a word of complaint to Olga, and the next morning he kept as much as possible out of Adrastikoff's way. He was surprised to see the count appear at luncheon, but concluded that Lady Sedgeley had asked him to remain until the afternoon, and as the house did not belong to Jack he told himself it was no concern of his. At dinner time, however, Adrastikoff turned up again, dressed in a faultless suit of evening clothes, and smiling blandly as though he were Venfant gdte de la maison. " Jack," said Olga, in her soft voice as they were dressing for dinner, " do you know that Lady Sedgeley has a party to-night ?

" Jack's ill-humour had somewhat evaporated by this time and he answered in his usual tone : "Yes, I heard something about it, but it need make no difference to me." " I don't agree with you. Come here." He walked into her room through the open door of communication, and saw her standing before her mirror robed in white, holding a button-hole of gardenias and jessamine in her hand. She had lost her distressed and wandering look again, and was smiling at him affectionately. " I made it for you myself," she said ; " let me fix it in your coat." She pinned it securely whilst he stood before her and kissed the white hand that was so busy for his adornment. " Ah, Olga," he sighed, " how happy we vol. in. BLINDFOLD. 18 could be if we were always alone and together." She gazed into his face with the sudden look of a hunted animal and said hurriedly : " Yes, yes, Jack.

That is what I should like — what I long for. Take me away with you — anywhere, anywhere so that we are alone and — and — free." " I will. I swear it," he exclaimed ener getically ; " we have money and we will at least be our own masters. Listen to me, Olga. I mean to offer Paul an allowance — so much a year — to keep awa}' from us. Will that please you ? Will you be glad to be rid of him ? " " Yres," she whispered fearfully ; " only don't say I knew of it or he might kill me . Promise not to tell him, Jack — promise — promise." " Don't shake like that, my darling. He has robbed you of all your nerve. I do promise faithfully. He shall know nothing from me, except my own determination to break off his influence over you. And now let us go down to the drawing-room, or we shall be late." He descended with his wife upon his arm.

The room was half full of strangers and the ceremony of introduction was necessarily prolonged. As Lady Sedgeley arrived at her least important guest, there was a ring of decided malice in her voice. " Mr. Robertson— Mrs. Dorrian. John, I believe you have met Mr. Robertson before, and he tells me you spent some days together during your late visit to Switzerland." For a moment Jack Dorrian only remem bered the fact. '* 0, yes, of course," he answered as he put out his hand. " How are you, Robertson ? We met at Lausanne, didn't we, and ." But here recollection poured in upon him like a flood, and he commenced to stammer and look confused. " Where did you go after you left me ? " he continued rapidly. " You talked of Paris, didn't you ? I suppose you had a ' high old time' there, eh?" 32—2 BLINDFOLD.

" Pretty well. I did Mabille, of course, and a lot of other places that I'd better not have * done,' and saw plenty of pretty women, but none that came up to La belle Faustine in my idea. Do you remember her, Jack ? Monsieur Paul's mesmeric subject. By Jove ! she did look lovely, that night, on the platform." Olga was standing next her husband as these words were spoken, and her eyes dilated and her features quivered as she listened to them. But Jack pressed her arm to keep her quiet, and then led her to a seat. " Silence" he muttered between his teeth ; " he knows nothing." But, for all that, he saw plainly enough that Robertson had recognized both Olga and Adrastikoff, and that further conceal ment of the truth would be simply a matter of time and circumstance. With the ex ception of himself, the dinner that followed passed pleasantly enough for all concerned, but Lady Sedgeley's sharp eyes were con stantlv roving from Mr. Robertson to Dorrian and the Adrastikoff's, to try and find out if the recognition between them was established.

As soon as the gentlemen appeared in the drawing-room after dinner, she drew the young man to one side. " Mr. Robertson," she said aloud, " come and sit by me on the sofa ; I want to talk to you about Paris. Were there any complaints of the drainage during your stay there ? I want to run over for a week or two, but you know it is not considered altogether healthy at this time of the year, and his lordship is so afraid of anything like cholera." And then when she had got him at some little distance from the rest, she whispered eagerly : " Do you recognise them ? Are they Mon sieur Paul and his pupil? Tell me quickly. I am dying to know." But Mr. Robertson did not care to be drawn into a family quarrel and would not answer decidedly. " Well, Lady Sedgeley, you ask a difficult BLINDFOLD. 22 question.

I only saw the persons you allude to, once, and then at a distance." "But you would know the woman again, surely ; and the man, you said, had a black beard." "Certainly. But many men have the same." "But she is really peculiar-looking. I heard you tell my brother-in-law that you had seen no one in Paris to compare with Faustine. She must have made an im pression on you ; it is impossible you should not know her again, after so short an interval." " Lady Sedgeley," said her companion, in a perplexed tone, " I wish you wouldn't press me for an opinion on the subject. I would rather not give it. I suppose Mr. Dorrian has told you all he wishes you to know concerning the antecedents of his wife and would only accuse me of meddling if I supplemented his information with sup positions of my own.

Yrou must really excuse me." " But I consider I have a right to know everything, whether Mr. Dorrian chooses to tell it to me, or not," replied Lady Sedgeley, who was nettled by his refusal, " However, I perfectly understand the tone of reticence you have adopted, Mr. Robert son. You do recognize these people and you know them to be the same you saw performing on the platform at Geneva, and I consider it perfectly disgraceful that John should have introduced them to his family." " Well, don't say I said so," responded Mr. Robertson, with an uneasy laugh. " And even if it is the truth, Lady Sedgeley, you see she is a countess in her own right, and may have as good blood in her veins as any of us." " Mr. Robertson, I am astonished at you," said her ladyship, " I little thought to hear your mother's son talking in so radical a manner.

Do you mean to tell me that under any circumstances a woman who has displayed herself on a public platform for BLINDFOLD. money, as a degrading example of hyp what-you -may-call-it ." " Hypnotism," interposed Mr. Robertson mildly. "Well, hypnotism (it little signifies what the word is ; it's the action that is so opposed to all the decencies of society). Do you mean to insult me by affirming that such a person (never mind by what name she may call herself) is a fit associate for me and my sister, Miss Ormonde ? " " Pray don't use such a word as ' insult,' Lady Sedgeley. It was the furthest possible thing from my imagination. But, to be honest, I foresee that this unfortunate dis covery may lead to some unpleasantness between you and Mr. Dorrian, and I don't want to be mixed up with it." " That is sufficient, Mr. Robertson ; you have told me all I wish to know, and we will drop the subject.

If you had been able to deny the personality of these people you would have done so gladly. I shall know now how to proceed." " Heaven help poor Dorrian," was Robert son's inmost thought, as he escaped from his tormentor, and went to improve his acquaintance with the unconscious Olga. Jack said nothing to his wife that night about Robertson having seen her in Geneva, and by the time they retired, Olga seemed to have forgotten the remark that had called forth her surprise. The next morning, as Jack descended somewhat late to the break fast parlour, he encountered Paul Adrastikoff on his way to the smoking room. "You here still?" he remarked, in an un complimentary tone of voice. "I do not understand you, mon cher," replied Adrastikoff. " For why should I not be here still ? " " Because you were never asked," said straightforward Jack.

" You were only sent for on account of Olga's condition, and I should have thought that common decency would have made you leave as soon as your presence was no longer re quired." BLINDFOLD. "And I should have thought that it was the business of your good sister, Miladi Sedgeley, to say such a thing to me — if it is necessary to be said," replied Adrastikoff. " No such thing. You don't understand our customs. Lady Sedgeley cannot tell you to leave her own house. She waits for you to take the initiative." " Then I am afraid she will wait," said Paul, with insolent coolness. Jack swore a big oath at him. " If you were any one but Olga's brother," he exclaimed, " I would knock you down for saying such a thing. I am perfectly well aware that Olga's condition was induced by you, on purpose to effect an entrance here, but if you think to take advantage of it beyond the limits of politeness, why, Olga and I will leave to-day, and you will be compelled to follow us."

" 0 ! yes, I shall follow you ; you may be sure of that," said Adrastikoff. " But not for ever, Paul. You have pretty nearly come to the end of your tether, and it's one that won't bear strain ing ; remember that." And, angrily pushing past him, Jack entered the breakfast-room. Here more worries awaited him. It was a custom of Lady Sedgeley's never to vacate the table till all the family had breakfasted, but it never improved her temper to have to wait long, and on this particular occasion she sat alone, behind the tea-urn, jingling her keys impatiently against the silver tray that held the tea-cups, and with a very sour expression on her countenance. Jack of course came in for several sarcastic remarks upon the lateness of the hour, and the fact of his wife taking her breakfast in bed, which Lady Sedgeley affirmed was a bad habit, that no one but an invalid should indulge in.