Part 19 (1/2)

I wheeled round and peered into the darkness. Lady Angela's fingers clutched my arm. I could feel that she was trembling violently. It was Grooton whose figure loomed up almost immediately before us--Grooton, bareheaded and breathless. ”What is it?” I exclaimed quickly. ”I think, sir, that you had better return,” he panted.

He pointed over his shoulder towards the ”Brand,” and I understood. In a moment I was on my way thither, running as I had not done since my college days. I stumbled over antheaps, and more than once I set my foot in a rabbit hole, but somehow I kept my balance. As I neared the cottage I slackened my speed and proceeded more stealthily. I drew close to the window and peered in. Grooton had been right indeed to fetch me. The Prince was standing before my desk, with a bundle of papers in his hand. I threw open the door and entered the room. Swift though my movement had been, a second's difficulty with the catch had given the Prince his opportunity. He was back in his easy chair when I entered, reclining there with half-closed eyes. He looked up at me with well simulated surprise.

”You are soon back, Mr. Ducaine,” he remarked calmly. ”Did you forget something?”

”I forgot,” I answered, struggling to recover my breath, ”to lock up my desk.”

”An admirable precaution,” he admitted, watching as I gathered my papers together, ”especially if one has valuables. It is an exposed spot this, and very lonely.”

”I am curious,” I said, leaning against the table and facing him, ”I am curious to know which of my poor possessions can possibly be of interest or value to the Prince of Malors.”

The calm hauteur of his answering stare was excellently done. I had a glimpse now of the aristocrat.

”You speak in enigmas, young man,” he said. ”Kindly be more explicit.”

”My language can scarcely be more enigmatic than your actions,” I answered. ”I was fool enough to trust you and I left you here alone.

But you were not un.o.bserved, Prince. My servant, I am thankful to say, is faithful. It was he who summoned me back.”

”Indeed!” he murmured.

”I might add,” I continued, ”that I took the liberty of looking in through the side window there before entering.”

”If it amused you to do so, or to set your servant to spy upon me,” he said, ”I see no reason to object. But your meaning is still unexplained.”

”The onus of explanation,” I declared, ”appears to me to rest with you, Prince. I offered the hospitality of my room, presumably to a gentleman--not to a person who would seize that opportunity to examine my private papers.”

”You speak with a.s.surance, Mr. Ducaine.”

”The a.s.surance of knowledge,” I answered. ”I saw you at my desk from outside.”

”You should consult an oculist,” he declared. ”I have not left this chair. My foot is still too painful.”

”You lie well, Prince,” I answered, ”but not well enough.”

He looked at me thoughtfully.

”I am endeavouring,” he said, ”to accommodate myself to the customs of this wonderful country of yours. In France one sends one's seconds.

What do you do here to a man who calls you a liar?”

”We treat him,” I answered hotly, ”as the man deserves to be treated who abuses the hospitality of a stranger, and places himself in the position of a common thief.”

The Prince shrugged his shoulders lightly, and helped himself to one of my cigarettes.

”You are very young, Mr. Ducaine,” he said, looking at me thoughtfully.

”You have no doubt your career to make in the world. So, in a greater sense of the word, have I. I propose, if you will allow me, to be quite frank with you.”

”I have no wish for your confidences, Prince,” I answered. ”They cannot possibly concern or interest me.”

”Do not be too sure of that,” he said. ”Like all young men of your age, you jump too readily at conclusions. It is very possible that you and I may be of service to one another, and I may add that those who have been of service to the Prince of Malors have seldom had cause to regret it.”