[Illustration:  “THE ROCK OF MONACO".]

CHAPTER XXX

The Day of Suspense

“Will you make me believe that I am not sent for . . . ? 
Go to, go to, thou art a foolish fellow!”
—­SHAKESPEARE.

From Nice to Monte Carlo over the Upper Corniche, was for us a spin of less than two hours; and after that most beautiful drive in the world, we slowed down before the green-shaded loggia of the Royal, early in the afternoon.  The hotel was only just open for the season, and it was possible to have a choice of rooms.  Jack selected a glass-fronted suite, with a view more beautiful than any other in the extraordinary little principality: 

    “Magic casements
    Opening on the foam of perilous seas
    In faery lands forlorn.”

which were, respectively, the harbour, and the rock of Monaco (as old as Hercules), with its ancient towers dark against a sky of pearl.

I was given a peep into Molly’s salon, which appeared to be a sort of crystal palace, with its two window-walls curtained by trailing roses; and Jack kept me for a moment at the door.

“I suppose we shall meet for dinner about eight, won’t we, no matter what we may all choose to do meanwhile?” said he.

“Well—­er—­no,” I mumbled, feeling a little foolish.  “I have—­er—­a sort of engagement for to-night.  I think I mentioned it before.”

“What, to meet that missing Boy of yours?” asked Jack, in a chaffing tone, so tactlessly loud that it must have been distinctly audible to the ladies in the adjoining room, the door of which was open.  “Isn’t that rather a mad idea?  You were vaguely engaged to meet your pal, I believe you said, on the night after your arrival, at the Hotel de Paris, for dinner.  But considering the fact that, if you’d walked down as you then intended, instead of motoring, you would have been a fortnight on the way, isn’t it fantastic to expect that he’ll turn up?”

“Not quite as fantastic as you think,” I retorted, remembering the terms of the Boy’s letter, which had not been confided to Jack, in their exactness.  “Anyhow, I’m going on the off chance.”

“You apparently credit the youth with clairvoyance, my dear chap.  Supposing he has come down here, how could he know that you’d arrived?”

“I wired him from Digne, telegraphing to the Poste Restante at Monte Carlo, where he would certainly think of enquiring, if he took much interest in my movements.  In that message I made it very clear that I should expect him to stick to our bargain, and I have an impression that he will.”

“He may.  But, look here, my dear fellow,”—­Jack now had the decency to lower his voice,—­“have you no red blood in your veins?  Mercedes—­the real Mercedes—­nearly restored to health and spirits by her run with us through splendid air and scenery, is to unveil her charms this evening at dinner.  You have irreverently nicknamed her the Perpetual Mushroom.  To-night, you will see—­but you don’t deserve to be told what you will see, if you haven’t the curiosity to find out at the first opportunity for yourself.”