For myself I am grateful to Sir Timothy. For a
few moments of this aching aftermath of life, I forgot."
Suddenly all the lights around the launch flamed out, the music
stopped. Sir Timothy came up on deck. On either side of him was
a man in ordinary dinner clothes. The babel of voices ceased.
Everyone was oppressed by some vague likeness. A breathless
silence ensued.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Sir Timothy said, and once more the smile
upon his lips assumed its most mocking curve, "let me introduce
you to the two artists who have given us to-night such a
realistic performance, Signor Guiseppe Elito and Signor Carlos
Marlini. I had the good fortune," he went on, "to witness this
very marvellous performance in a small music-hall at Palermo, and
I was able to induce the two actors to pay us a visit over here.
Steward, these gentlemen will take a glass of champagne."
The two Sicilians raised their glasses and bowed expectantly to
the little company. They received, however, a much greater
tribute to their performance than the applause which they had
been expecting. There reigned everywhere a deadly, stupefied
silence. Only a half-stifled sob broke from Lady Cynthia's lips
as she leaned over the rail, her face buried in her hands, her
whole frame shaking.
CHAPTER XXXVI
Francis and Margaret sat in the rose garden on the following
morning.
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