“He seems to be as uncommonly proficient in the one as he is deficient in the other,”—then looked at her questioningly; “but seriously, Elise, what happened?—if you care to tell me.”
“The Duke of Lotzen found me alone in the japonica walk.”
The Princess struck her hands together angrily.
“Lotzen! oh, Lotzen!” she exclaimed; “some day—did Moore come on him there? If he did, the some-day is already here.”
“Fortunately, no, since I escaped unharmed.”
“Unfortunately, you mean—it saved to the world another scoundrel.”
“And Ralph would be a fugitive in disgrace,” said Mlle. d’Essoldé.
“With the Lion and a Brigadier’s commission as a punishment,” the Regent answered.
“He wanted to go back, and it was I that kept him.”
“It’s a misfortune—more than a misfortune; it’s almost a calamity—my dear Elise, if ever again your Colonel get so proper an excuse to kill that devil, pray don’t intervene.”
“I’m sorry—very sorry, I’m almost criminally stupid.”
“Nonsense, dear,” said the Princess; “there will be other chances—meanwhile, what happened?... Bit him! Oh, delightful, delightful!”
“Disgusting, I should call it, now—I did it in the frenzy to be free. I shall never forget the horrible thing.”
“Nor will he—you’ve marked him for life—the pity is it wasn’t his face.—Go on; what happened then?”...
“The nasty brute,” said Dehra, when she had heard the last detail—“and save for the punishment you yourself administered, he, for the time, must go scatheless; you cannot permit such a story to go through the Court and the Clubs; and you may be quite sure he won’t tell it.” She struck her hands together vehemently. “Lotzen! oh Lotzen!—Some day, Elise, your lover or mine is going to be granted the blessed privilege of putting a sword through his vile heart.” She sprang up. “Come, dear, you need diversion—we will ride; and if I can get the Archduke, we’ll take your Colonel, too.” She went to the telephone.... “Is that you, Armand?”—when the recall bell rang.... “This is Dehra—Elise and I are off for a ride; if you can go with us, I’ll have Moore go, too.... Bother your important appointment; break it.... You can’t?... We can be back by four o’clock.... Have matters to see to; will they occupy all the afternoon?... They will?... And you need Moore, also?—all right, take him—what is your appointment?... Can’t tell me over telephone?... Tell me to-night—well, I suppose I can wait—come for dinner.... Yes, stupid.... Good-bye, dear.”