The Works of E. Phillips Oppenheim (Volume 3); The Lost Ambassador (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1920 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXXIX THE UNEXPECTED The entrance to the Milan Court was small and uninv posing, compared with the entrance to the hotel proper. I"reached it to find some confusion reigning. A tall, graybearded man was talking anxiously to the hall-porter. Felicia, standing a little apart, was looking around with an air of bewilderment. My lady of the turquoises was standing by the side of the lift, with her arm drawn through her companion's. Lamartine no sooner saw the face of the man who was in conversation with the hall-porter than he sprang forward. "Your Excellency " he exclaimed. The ambassador turned quickly towards him. "Where is Delora?" he asked. "He was here but five seconds ago," Lamartine answered. "He must have left the door as you entered it " The man who was standing with my lady of the turquoises turned suddenly round. "Delora " he exclaimed. "That is my name I am Ferdinand Delora My brother Maurice was here a moment ago. You are Signor Vanhallon, are you not?" he continued. "You must remember me " The ambassador grasped him by the hand. "My dear Delora," he said, "of course I do What has been the meaning of all this mystery?" Lamartine stepped quickly forward. "Can't you see what it all means?" he exclaimed. "Ferdinand Delora here arrives in Paris on a secret mission to Engiaud. There, through some reason or through some cause, --who knows?--he falls ill. There comes to London Maurice Delora with some papers, playing his part. Maurice Delora was here a moment ago. His game is up and he is evidently gone. The one thing to be feared is that we are too late " The ambassador turned swiftly to the new Delora, who was looking from one to the other with the pained, halfvacant expression of a child. "Delora," he exclaimed, "how comes it that you have le...