Gaston smiled. "I knew him before Monseigneur did. I was born on the
estate of Monsieur le Comte de Saint Hubert, the father of Monsieur le
Vicomte. I and my twin brother Henri. We both went into Monsieur's le
Comte's training stables, and then after our time in the Cavalry Henri
became valet to Monsieur le Vicomte, and I came to Monseigneur."
Diana took off her hat and rubbed her forehead thoughtfully. Fifteen
years ago Ahmed must have been about twenty. Why should an Arab chief
of that age, or any age, indulge in such an anomaly as a French valet,
or for that matter why should a French valet attach himself to an Arab
Sheik and exile himself in the wilds of the desert? Whichever way she
turned, the mystery of the man she loved seemed to crop up. She started
arguing with herself in a circle--why should the Sheik have a European
servant or why should he not, until she gave it up in hopeless
confusion.
She turned to Gaston with the intention of asking further of the coming
visitor, and, keeping The Dancer as still as she could, sat looking at
the valet with great, questioning eyes, fanning her hot face with her
hat. Gaston, whose own horse stood like a rock, was frankly mopping his
forehead. Dianna decided against any more questions. Gaston would
naturally be hopelessly biased, having been born and brought up in the
shadow of the family, and after all she would rather judge for herself.
One inquiry only she permitted herself: "The family of Saint Hubert,
are they of the old or the new noblesse?"
"Of the old, Madame," replied Gaston quickly.
Diana coaxed her nervous mount close beside his steadier companion,
and, thrusting his bridle and her hat into Gaston's hands, slipped to
the ground and walked away a little distance to the top of a small
mound. She sat down on the summit with her back to the horses and her
arms clasped round her knees. All that the coming of this strange man
meant to her rushed suddenly over her. He was a man, obviously, who
moved in the world, her world, since he apparently travelled
extensively and his father was wealthy enough to run a racing stable as
a hobby and was a member of the dwindling class of ancienne
noblesse. It was characteristic of her that she put first what she
did. How could she bear to meet one of her own order in the position in
which she was? She who had been proud Diana Mayo and now--the mistress
of an Arab Sheik?