The Glittering Lights (Bantam Series No. 12) by Barbara Cartland Page B

well over here as they do in New York. I have often said to Lily—we make a splendid pair!”
    Cassandra smiled at him.
    There was no need for her to say much. He was clearly content with his own appreciation of himself, and once again he bent forward so that the audience could have a good look at him.
    Cassandra was glad when the curtain rose.
    The play was well-written, thoroughly dramatic and depicted a feud between two older members of a respected aristocratic family and a reconciliation brought about by the love of two younger ones.
    In the fourth Act Mrs. Langtry had to go on her knees and plead with her father to abandon his foolish schemes and save the old house.
    Here, almost to Cassandra’s surprise, Lily Langtry proved herself a quite moving actress and she certainly carried the sympathy of the audience with her.
    She was very touching when she cried:
    “Help us! Help us! You are our last and only hope. We give up everything—but save, oh save my brother Percy!”
    The applause rang out, the women in the audience wiped their eyes and there was curtain call after curtain call.
    A great number of bouquets were carried onto the stage. Lily held in her arms one of the yellow roses which Cassandra guessed had been given her by Freddy.
    After “God Save the Queen” Freddy hurried Cassandra back through the stage-door and they waited in the Dressing-Room, while Mrs. Langtry changed.
    She came from behind the curtains wearing a grey satin evening-gown which made her look like a goddess. There was a necklace of enormous diamonds around her neck and diamonds glittered in her ears and round her wrists.
    “Do I look all right?” she asked Freddy.
    Cassandra saw him draw in his breath before he answered:
    “You are more beautiful every time I look at you!”
    “Then let us go to the party,” Mrs. Langtry exclaimed gaily. “Everyone who matters in the theatre world will be there and I have no wish for any of them to eclipse me!”
    “No-one could do that!” Freddy said.
    He kissed her shoulder passionately as if they were alone and Cassandra was not watching and feeling somewhat embarrassed.
    She had sent her own carriage with Hannah to the flat she had rented in Bury Street.
    “I’m not going to that place,” Hannah said angrily.
    “Yes, you are!” Cassandra replied, “unless you wish me to come home alone in a hired cab, and goodness knows then what might happen to me!”
    There was nothing Hannah could do after that but agree.
    “Send the carriage away,” Cassandra told her. “We shall have to find a cab, but doubtless there is a night-porter who will get one for us.”
    She had also told Hannah to wait for half an hour after she had gone into the theatre before driving away. There had always been the chance that Mrs. Langtry would accept the present and make arrangements for her to meet the Duke some other night.
    Cassandra could only hope the meeting would not be too long delayed, but it seemed, she thought excitedly, as if everything was falling into place.
    It was just luck there was a theatrical party that evening and that Mrs. Langtry had been pleased with the present which she thought had been sent to her by Sir James.
    In Freddy Gebhard’s comfortable carriage, as they moved down the Strand, Cassandra said to herself:
    ‘This is where my play begins! The curtain is rising and I can only pray that I shall give a convincing performance.’

 
    CHAPTER FOUR
    Lord Carwen’s house was in Arlington Street and overlooked Green Park.
    It was extremely impressive with a porticoed front-door and iron railings dividing the short drive-in from the pavement.
    Cassandra entered behind Mrs. Langtry, and as she saw the brilliantly-lit chandeliers and the luxurious furniture which decorated the hall, she wondered a little apprehensively if there would be anyone at the party who would recognise her.
    As she followed in the wake of Lily Langtry, she could see them both reflected in huge, gilt-framed mirrors,