The Song of the Siren

I felt an immense relief. So that was what they believed.

“I called at the house ... at Eyot Abbass. You remember I was not very far off ...at the Fiddlers Rest. ... And they were all talking about it. About you and the child ... I had to come here and see if it was true ... to see you again....”

“You are in great danger.”

He shook his head. “I have long had Jacobite sympathies,” he said. “They know it.

I am welcome here. They want everyone they can get. I am in no danger, Carlotta.

I came to see you....”

“You must not come here, you know.”

“You are with him. They say you are Lady Hessenfield.”

“It is easier that way.”

“But your husband ... ?”

“Did you see him?”

“Yes. He was very sad. He was talking of coming over here. But that is impossible ... only Jacobites are welcome.”

“Did you tell them you were coming?”

“No. They would know where my sympathies lie. I had to be secret about it. I slipped away. But I have friends over here so ... I am all right.”

I sighed. Then I said: “You mustn’t come here again, Matt.

That... incident... it is all over. It was a momentary madness ... do you understand?”

“On your part, yes,” he said. “For me it is my most precious memory.”

“Oh, no, Matt.”

“It is no use, Carlotta. I don’t want to hurt you, or embarrass you in any way. I just want to see you sometimes ... to be near you. I promise you ... I swear it... that I will never mention that time. If I could just be here ... see you sometimes ... it’s all I ask. I just want to know that you are here. You are so beautiful.

More than that. You are an enchantress. Carlotta, you owe me this. Let me come here sometimes. Let me see you. Please.”

I said: “Well, I suppose if you are one of them and are working for them you will see Lord Hessenfield from time to time.”

“It is you I wish to see. And the child. She is so like you, Carlotta. I should like to see her too.”

“Where are you staying?”

“In the rue Saint Jacques. It was the best lodging I could get just now. I shall move later, I daresay. Carlotta, let me be your friend. Let me see you sometimes.”

“Matt, if you will promise me to forget all that ...”

“I can’t promise to forget,” he said fervently, “but I will promise never to mention it to you nor to anyone. If I can come here now and then ... see you from time to time ... that is all I ask.”

I said he might. I was shaken. He was gentle and adoring as ever, but there was so much of which I did not want to be reminded.

During the next few weeks Matt was a frequent caller at the house. He made a point of seeing Clarissa and they got on very well together. I thought he did it just to have an excuse for calling at the house; but it occurred to me that Mary Marton might believe that he was attracted by her.

It would be quite a likely assumption. He talked to her a good deal and they often took the child walking in the streets; the servants were beginning to smile about them and whisper of romance.

I was delighted but I did not believe he was really attracted by Mary. Whenever I was near him I was aware of the effect I had on him.

Hessenfield said that he was an enthusiastic worker and had brought some valuable information about the position of the Jacobites in England.

“He has been working well for us in England,” he said. “He was just waiting for the right moment to come over here.”

I was not so sure of his fervent views. I was vain enough to think that he had come to see me.

He kept to his bargain, though. He never mentioned that time we had spent together and I was glad that everyone thought he was interested in Mary Marton, although I did hope that Mary, who was a sweet and rather innocent girl, was not going to be hurt. Sometimes, though, I thought he really was fond of her. It was not necessary for them to spend quite so much time together.

Hessenfield was often at court. I knew there was some very big project afoot.

At night when we lay in bed together he would be less discreet than he was by day.

I knew that he was tense and uneasy.

He did tell me that this was going to be the most important venture so far.

“I know you are taking arms over to England,” I said.

“Did I tell you that? Then forget it, my dear.”

“You didn’t tell me where.”

“Nor shall I. The fewer who know the better. I know and two others-one of them the King. Even the men who are going do not know where yet. It is imperative that the secret is kept. It would be disastrous if it were betrayed.”

“Then I will ask you no more. Only this: You are not going .. ? really not going?”

“No. I shall send them off and then start preparing for the next.”

A few days later there were visitors at the hotel. They came ostensibly to pay a social call, but I knew it was not the case.

Hessenfield entertained them in his private study, which was on the first floor.

I did not disturb them and gave orders that the servants should not do so.