The Great Pearl Secret

								

inside middle pages of the "rag" were headed "Let's Whisper!" And at
the time of the Phayre-Claremanagh marriage, two months ago, the
choicest whispering had concerned the Duke's flirtation with Lyda
Pavoya.
"It is easier to break off a flirtation than an engagement, because you
can't be sued for breach of promise," was one mot of "The Whisperer,"
and it was intimated that the Duke had profited by this immunity when
he proposed to Miss Phayre.  "But what about the pearls?" was a
question which no one had forgotten, and for which everyone wanted an
answer.  Oh, yes, it would be a rich joke if Mrs. Van Esten proposed
Pavoya for a "star turn" at the Armenian charity entertainment!
"If it's true," said Nat, "Juliet couldn't very well refuse her consent
to have Pavoya.  That would make things worse.  As it is, none of us
could help noticing how she has kept the Duke away from every single
opera where Pavoya has danced.  Not once has he or she been in their
box on a Pavoya night.  But----"
The company hung on the word, as Nat drew in her breath, and paused for
effect.  Never were they to know, however, what revelation was to
follow that "but," for at this instant Mrs. Lowndes' butler announced
"The Duchess of Claremanagh," and left out the preface of "Her Grace."
His omission upset the hostess so much that she stammered over her
greeting, and forgot what she had read in a book called "English
Etiquette" about introducing a duchess.  Juliet Claremanagh was so
contrite for her own guilt, however, that she had no thought for
others' shortcomings.
"Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry to be late!  Do forgive me, everyone!" she
cried, like a penitent schoolgirl.  "I was kept so long at that
meeting, and then I had to dash home for a minute.  My husband had made
me promise.  You see, this is supposed to be a great day for me.  The
pearls--perhaps you've heard of them?--are due at last!"
"Perhaps" they had heard of the pearls!  The Duchess was forgiven at
once.  Introductions were hastily made.  As the party sat down, the
guest of honour pulling off her gloves, she went on with her excuses.
Evidently she was willing to talk of the pearls, so Nat ventured an
entering wedge.
"Emmy wrote me they had to be re-strung," she said.  "And that the most
skilled pearl-stringer in England wasn't demobilized, or something; so
you had to wait."  What Emmy had really written was, "This is the story
they're putting round." But it would be exciting to get Juliet's
answer, and watch Juliet's face.
The Duchess was somewhat paler than Juliet Phayre had been, for she and
the Duke had made a huge success in New York, and were in such request
that they kept appalling hours.  But she was rosier than she had ever
been as she replied that, yes, she had had to wait.  But at last the
pearls had been sent.  They were on the Britannia, in care of a
trusted person; and that person had "wirelessed" that he would be at