The Slave of Silence

Book Excerpt: ...congratulate you upon----""No, no," Beatrice cried quickly. "Please don't. Perhaps if you tell me your name I may be in a position to help you to find anybody you may chance----"The stranger shook her head as she stood in the doorway. Her voice was low and sweet as she replied."It does not in the least matter," she said. "You can call me the Slave of the Bond."CHAPTER IIThe guests had assembled at length, the dinner was in full swing. It would have been hard for any onlooker to have guessed that so much misery and heart-burning were there. Sir Charles, smiling, gay, debonair, chatted with his guests as if quite forgetful of the silent watchers by the railings outside. He might have been a rich man as he surveyed the tables and ordered the waiters about. True, somebody else would eventually pay for the dinner, but that detracted nothing from the host's enjoyment. Beatrice had a fixed smile to her face...