Jean of the Lazy A(吉恩).pdf

The Kingdom of the Blind
The Kingdom of the
Blind
E. Phillips Oppenheim
1
The Kingdom of the Blind
CHAPTER I
Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and
with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests. There was the great
French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a
tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude
was correct. The popular wife of a great actor was discussing her
husband's latest play with a Minister who had the air of a school-
boy present at an illicit feast. A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair,
with grey-blue eyes and a wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was
talking to a famous musician. A little further in the background, a young
man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to
be rather impressive chaff with a petite but exceedingly good-looking girl.
Lady Anselman counted them twice, glanced at the clock and frowned.
"I can't remember whom we are waiting for!" she exclaimed a little
helplessly to the remaining guest, a somewhat tired-looking publisher who
stood by her side. "I am one short. I dare say it e to me in a
minute. You know every one, I suppose, Mr. Daniell?"
The publisher shook his head.
"I have met Lord Romsey and also Madame Selarne," he observed.
"For the rest, I was just thinking what a stranger I felt."
"The man who talks French so well," Lady Anselman told him,
dropping her voice a little, "is Surgeon-Major Thomson. He is inspector of
hospitals at the front, or something of the sort. The tall, fair girl--isn't she
pretty!--is Geraldine Conyers, daughter of Admiral Sir Seymour Conyers.
That's her brother, the sailor over there, talking to Olive Moreton; their
engagement was announced last week. Lady Patrick of course you know,
and Signor Scobel, and Adelaide Cunningham--you do know her, don't
you, Mr. Daniell? She is my dearest friend. How many do you make that?"
The