Her Forbidden Knight Read Online Free PDF

classics on all occasions. Dougherty and Booth held down their chairs and talked philosophy.
    Since the day of Knowlton’s introduction, Sherman, who had always been barely tolerated by the others, had increased his attentions to Lila to a point where they were noticed by several of the others. But, as Driscoll said, they regarded him as harmless.
    Had Lila cared to speak she could have told them that which would have caused them to think differently; but she bore his troublesome attentions in silence. And if she had but known the depth of his treachery and the strength of his passion for her, she would have feared him, instead of merely despising him, and avoided many a poignant hour of sorrow and anxiety.
    But Sherman cleverly concealed his real nature and treacherous designs under an appearance of blunt frankness. It must be admitted that the others were easily deceived. But then what cause had they for suspicion? We learn of the presence of the deadly rattlesnake only when we hear his warning rattle, and Sherman, like the serpent, was waiting silently for the time to spring.
    It was Dumain who first noticed that Lila carried home the bouquet of roses on Saturday evening. These Frenchmen have an eye for such things. He watched and discovered that this compliment was paid on Saturdays only.
    Now Dumain was not exactly jealous. The mere fact that Lila exhibited a preference for Knowlton’s roses did not disturb him; but the question was, what had Knowlton done to bring about such a state of affairs? For it was evident to Dumain that Knowlton must have done or said something thus to have installed himself in the first place in Lila’s affections.
    Of course, Dumain was mistaken. A girl gives her heart not to a man’s actions or words, but to the man himself. Knowlton was innocent of any treachery to the Erring Knights. He was not to blame for the vagaries of Dan Cupid.
    But when, for the fourth Saturday in succession, he saw Lila carefully place the roses in a large paper bag and leave the hotel with the bag under her arm, he could contain himself no longer. He called to Knowlton, who was talking with the Venus at the cigar stand.
    Knowlton walked over to him in a secluded corner of the lobby.
    “I want to talk to you,” said Dumain.
    “Fire away!” said Knowlton.
    “It is about zee roses.”
    “Roses?”
    “Yes. Zee roses you gave to Miss Williams.”
    “What about them?”
    Dumain pointed toward Lila’s desk.
    “You see. Zee vase is empty.”
    “Why, so it is,” said Knowlton. “I wonder—that’s funny.”
    “Very funny.” said Dumain sarcastically. “Now, where are they?”
    “I have no idea.”
    “Do you mean to say you don’t know?”
    “I don’t know.”
    Dumain eyed him incredulously.
    “Well, zen, I tell you,” he said finally. “Miss Williams took zem home.”
    Knowlton seemed surprised.
    “Miss Williams took them home?” he repeated.
    “Yes.”
    “Well, they are hers, aren’t they? Hasn’t she a right to do as she pleases with them? Why do you trouble me about it?”
    “Because she pay zat compliment to no one but you,” said Dumain impressively.
    “What? How—only to me?”
    “She never take any roses home but yours. She does it now for—oh, a month. And what does zat mean? It means you’re a traitor. It means you’ve deceived us. It means you are trying to make zee impression on Mees Williams, and I am afraid you succeed.”
    Knowlton appeared to be touched. His face colored, and he seemed to be at a loss for words. Was it possible that this evidence of an interest in him on the part of Miss Williams found a corresponding thrill in his own breast?
    Suddenly he smiled—a smile of genuine amusement.
    “Dumain,” he said, “you fellows are the limit. You’re not only amusing—you’re extremely dense. I would be very happy indeed if I could believe that Miss Williams had singled me out for the distinction you mention; but the real cause of her seeming preference is