Charles Rex

  CHAPTER III

  L'OISEAU BLEU

  Bunny surpassed himself that afternoon. Wherever he went, success seemedto follow, and shouts of applause reached him from all quarters.

  "That young fellow is a positive genius," commented General Melrose, whohad a keen eye for the game. "He ought to be in the Service. Why isn'the, Mrs. Bolton?"

  "He wasn't considered strong enough," Maud said. "It was a greatdisappointment to him. You see, he spent the whole of his childhood onhis back with spine trouble. And when that was put right he outgrew hisstrength."

  "Ah! I remember now. You used to wheel the poor little beggar about in along chair. Well, he's rather different now from what he was in thosedays. Not much the matter with him, is there?"

  "Nothing now," Maud said.

  "What does he do with himself?" asked the General, surveying the distantfigure at that moment galloping in a far corner of the field.

  "He is agent on Lord Saltash's estate at Burchester," his daughter said,suddenly entering the conversation. "He was telling me about it atluncheon. He and Lord Saltash are friends."

  "Ah! To be sure!" General Melrose's look suddenly came to Maud and shefelt herself colour a little.

  "He is an old friend of the family," she said. "We live not far from theCastle. My husband owns the Graydown Stables."

  "Oh, I know that," the General said courteously. "I know your husband,Mrs. Bolton, and I am proud to know him. What I did not know until to-daywas that he was your husband. I never heard of your marriage."

  "We have been married for eight years," she said with a smile.

  "It must be at least ten since I saw you last," he said. "This girl ofmine--Sheila--must have been at school in those days. You never met her?"

  Maud turned to the girl. "I don't think we have ever met before," shesaid. "Is this your first visit to Fairharbour?"

  "My first visit, yes." Sheila leaned forward. She was a pretty girl oftwo-and-twenty with a quantity of soft dark hair and grey eyes that helda friendly smile. "We don't go to the sea much in the summer as a rule.We get so much of it in the winter. Dad always winters in the South. Itonly seems a few weeks since we came back from Valrosa."

  Maud was conscious of an abrupt jerk from Toby on her other side, and shelaid a hand on her arm with the kindly intention of drawing her into theconversation. But the next instant feeling tension under her hand, sheturned to look at her, and was surprised to see that Toby was staring outacross the field with wide, strained eyes. She looked so white that Maudhad a moment of sharp anxiety.

  "Is anything the matter, dear?" she whispered.

  An odd little tremor went through Toby. She spoke with an effort. "Ithought he was off his pony that time, didn't you?"

  She kept her eyes upon Bunny who was coming back triumphant.

  Maud smiled. "Oh, I don't think there is much danger of that. MissMelrose was talking about Valrosa. You were there too last winter,weren't you?"

  The colour mounted in Toby's face. She turned almost defiantly. "Just fora day or two. I was at school at Geneva. I went there to join my father."

  "I was at school at Geneva a few years ago," said Sheila Melrose. "Youdidn't go to Mademoiselle Denise, I suppose?"

  "No," said Toby briefly. "Madame Beaumonde."

  "I never heard of her," said Sheila. "It must have been after I left."

  Toby nodded. "I wasn't there long. I've never been anywhere long. ButI've left school now, and I'm going to do as I like."

  "A very wise resolution!" commented a laughing voice behind her. "It'sone of the guiding principles of my life."

  All the party turned, Toby with a quick exclamation muffled at birth.Saltash, attired in a white yachting suit and looking more than usuallydistinguished in his own fantastic fashion, stood with his hand on theback of Toby's chair.

  "Quite a gathering of old friends!" he declared, smiling impartially uponall.

  General Melrose stretched a welcoming hand to him. "Hullo, Saltash! Whereon earth have you sprung from? Or are you fallen straight out of theskies?"

  "Like Lucifer, son of the morning!" laughed Saltash. "Well, I haven'tsprung and I haven't fallen. I have simply arrived."

  Toby was on her feet. "Come and sit down!" she said in a low voice.

  He shook his head. "No, no, _ma cherie_. I will stand behind you. MissMelrose, my humble regards to you. Is the black mark still against myname?"

  Sheila looked at him with a touch of _hauteur_ that somehow melted into asmile. She had learnt her lesson at Valrosa, and there was nothing to addthereto. This man was never in earnest, and he had never intended herto think him so.

  "I banned you as bold and bad long ago," she said. "I don't remember thatyou have done anything to change the impression."

  He laughed lightly, enigmatically. "Nothing in your presence, I fear. TheFates have always been sportive so far as I was concerned. But really I'mnot such a bad sort now-a-days, am I, Mrs. Bolton?"

  Maud smiled upon him. "Not so bad, I think. But please don't ask me to beyour sponsor! I really couldn't play the part."

  "Ask me!" said Toby suddenly, with flushed face up-raised. "He saved mylife when _The Night Moth_ went down, when most men would only havebothered to save their own."

  "What a libel!" laughed Saltash. "Don't you know I only hung on to youbecause you had a life-belt on!"

  "Oh, naturally!" said the General. "That would be your motive. I wassorry to hear about _The Night Moth_, but you had a lucky escape."

  "I always escape somehow," remarked Saltash complacently. "_The NightMoth_ wanted new engines too, that's one consolation. I've just boughtanother," he added, suddenly touching Toby's shoulder. "Your daddy isquite pleased with her. We've just come round from London in her."

  "Oh, have you?" Eagerly Toby's eyes came up to his, "What is she like?What are you going to call her?"

  "She isn't christened yet. I'm going to hold a reception on board, andMaud shall perform the ceremony. I'm calling her _The Blue Moon_--unlessyou can suggest something better." Saltash's restless look went to Maud."I wanted to call her after you," he said lightly, "But I was afraid Jakemight object."

  "I think _The Blue Moon_ is much more suitable," she answered. "Is she asrare as she sounds?"

  "She's rather a fine article," he made answer. "You must come and seeher--come and cruise in her if you will. She's only just off the slips. Iwas lucky to get her. She skims along like a bird."

  "Why not call her _The Blue Bird_?" suggested Sheila.

  He shook his head with his odd grimace. "That is a thing I can never hopeto possess, Miss Melrose. The blue moon may occur once in my life if I amexceptionally virtuous, but the blue bird never. I have ceased to hopefor it." His glance flashed beyond her. "Young Bunny is distinguishinghimself to-day. That was a fine effort."

  Everyone was clapping except Toby who was staring before her with herhands in her lap. Her blue eyes were very wide open, but they did notseem to be watching the game.

  "It will fly to you, _cherie_," suddenly whispered a voice in her ear."It is already upon the wing."

  A little tremor went through her, but she did not turn her head. Onlyafter a moment she slipped a hand behind her through the back of herchair.

  Wiry fingers closed upon it, gripped it, let it go. "When it comesto you, hold it fast!" came the rapid whisper. _"Il ne vient pas deuxfois--l'oiseau bleu."_

  Toby's lip trembled. She bit it desperately. Her look was strained. Shedid not attempt to speak.

  "It is the gift of the gods, _cherie_." The words came softly at hershoulder, but they pierced her. "We do not cast their gifts away. Theycome--too seldom."

  She made a quick movement; it was almost convulsive, like the start ofone suddenly awakened. A hard breath went through her, and then she waslaughing, laughing and clapping with the rest, her eyes upon the boyish,triumphant figure in front of her. When the applause died away, Saltashhad departed, abruptly as was his wont. And though they saw him in thedistance several times, he did
not return that afternoon.