Page:Hope-indiscretions of duchess.djvu/172

160 He lifted a hand and tugged at his mustache.

“You have, perhaps, been to the convent?” he hazarded.

“I have just come from there,” I rejoined.

“I am not an Englishman,” said he, curling the end of the mustache, “and I do not know how plain an intimation need be to discourage one of your resolute race. For my part, I should have thought that when a lady accepts the escort of one gentleman, it means that she does not desire that of another.”

He said this with a great air and an assumption of dignity that contrasted strongly with the unrestrained paroxysms of the night before. I take it that success—or what seems such—may transform a man as though it changed his very skin. But I was not skilled to cross swords with him in talk of that kind, so I put my hands in my pockets and leaned against the shutter and said bluntly:

“God knows what lies you told her, you see.”

His white face suddenly flushed; but he held himself in and retorted with a sneer:

“A disabled right arm gives a man fine courage.”

“Nonsense!” said I. “I can aim as well with my left;” and that indeed was not very far from the truth. And I went on: “Is she here?”

“Mme. and Mlle. Delhasse are both here, under my escort.”

“I should like to see Mlle. Delhasse,” I observed.

He answered me in low tones, but with the