CHAPTER III
DIANA
Diana Von Taer can not be called a type. She was individual.Aristocratic to her finger tips, she was unlike all other aristocrats.An admitted queen of society, her subjects were few and indifferent. Shepossessed ancient lineage, was highly accomplished, had been born to thepurple, as the saying is; but none of these things conspired to make herthe curious creature she was.
As we make her acquaintance she is twenty-three years of age--and lookseighteen. She is tall and slender and carries her handsome form withexquisite grace. Diana is never abrupt; her voice is ever modulated tosoft, even tones; she rises from a chair or couch with the lithe,sinuous motion of a serpent uncoiling.
Her face, critically regarded, is not so admirable as her form. Thefeatures are a trifle too elongated, and their delicacy is marred by anose a bit broad and unshapely and a mouth with thin lips primly set.Her dark eyes might be magnificent if wide open: but through the narrowslits of their lids, half hidden by long curling lashes, the eyes peerat you with a cold, watchful, intent gaze that carries a certain uncannyand disconcerting fascination.
Yet the girl is essentially feminine. If you refrain from meeting thatdiscomfiting gaze--and her familiars have learned to avoid it--Dianaimpresses you as being graceful, dainty and possessed of charmingmanners. Her taste in dress is perfect. She converses fluently on manytopics. It is her custom to rise at ten o'clock, whatever time she mayhave retired the night before; to read until luncheon; to devote theremainder of her day to the requirements of society.
Eligible young men of admitted social standing call upon Diana at suchintervals as the proprieties require. They chatter "small talk" and arecareful to address her with deference. With an exception to be referredto later these young men have no more thought of "flirting" with MissVon Taer than they would with the statue of the goddess, her namesake.Her dinner parties and entertainments are very successful. She isgreatly admired, _per se_, but has no intimate friends.
When her mother died, some years before, an aunt had come to live withDiana, and now posed as her chaperon. Mrs. Cameron was a stolid,corpulent lady, with a countenance perpetually placid and an habitualaversion to displaying intellect. Her presence in the establishment,although necessary, was frankly ignored. Fortunately she never obtrudedherself.
Hedrik Von Taer was passionately devoted to his daughter. He alone,perhaps, of all the world, thoroughly understood her and appreciated hertalents. She may have frightened him at times, but that only added tohis admiration. In return Diana displayed a calm, but affectionateregard for her father.
Often after dinner these two would pass an hour together in a corner ofthe drawing-room, where the cold gray eyes of the man met the intent,half-veiled glance of the girl with perfect understanding. They talkedof many things, including business. Hedrik had no secrets from hisdaughter. The desperate condition of his finances, when he had beencaught in a "corner" on wheat and nearly crushed, had not dismayed herin the least. It was she who had counseled him to appeal to JohnMerrick, since the name and fame of the eccentric millionaire werefamiliar to her as to him.
He related to Diana his interview with Mr. Merrick on his return home.He was saved. The three hundred thousand were now in the bank to hiscredit and he could weather the coming storm easily--perhaps withprofit. In a tone half amused, half serious, he told her of the littlemillionaire's desire to secure _entree_ into good society for his threenieces.
Diana laughed with her lips; her eyes never laughed. Then she took inher hand the paper containing the addresses of the three girls andregarded it thoughtfully.
"It is a curious request, _mon pere_," she said, in her soft, eventones; "but one we cannot diplomatically disregard. Provided, however--"
"Yes, Diana;" as she paused.
"Provided these prospective _debutantes_ are not wholly impossible."
"I realize that," returned her father. "John Merrick is a great power inthe city. He has been useful to me, and may be again. I have this chanceto win him. But the man is very common clay, despite his wealth, and histhree nieces are likely to be made of the same material. Should theyprove impossible you cannot well descend to introducing them to ourset."
"I am not certain of that, sir," said the girl, with a pretty shrug. "Myposition is too secure to be jeopardized by any error of this sort. Ibelieve I may introduce these girls without risk. I shall not vouch forthem too strongly, and after their debut they must stand or fall ontheir own merits."
"It is something a Von Taer has never yet done," remarked the man,gravely.
"To commercialize his social position? But, father dear, the age is fastcommercializing everything. I think our especial set is as yetcomparatively free from contamination by the 'lately rich'; but evenamong us money has glossed many offenses that a generation ago wouldhave meant social ostracism."
He nodded.
"That is true, Diana."
"Life with me is a bit dull, as well. Everlasting routine, howeveradmirable, is tiresome. I scent amusement in this adventure, which Ihave decided to undertake. With your permission I will see these girlsand quickly decide their fate. Should they prove not too dreadfully_outre_ you may look to see them my especial _proteges_."
"I leave all to your discretion, Diana," returned Von Taer, with a sigh."If, in the end, some of the more particular venture to reproach them."
"It will not matter," interrupted the daughter, lightly, as her darkeyes narrowed to a hair's breadth. "Any who dares reproach Diana VonTaer will afford her interesting occupation. And to offset that remotecontingency we shall permanently enslave the powerful John Merrick. Iunderstand he is hard as nails in financial matters; but to us the manhas disclosed his one weakness--ambition to promote his three nieces.Since we have discovered this vulnerable point, let us take advantage ofit. I am satisfied the loan of three hundred thousand was but alure--and how cleverly the man gauged us!"
Von Taer scowled.
"Get your wraps, Diana. The carriage is waiting, and we are due at Mrs.Doldringham's crush."