Page:Marsh--The seen and the unseen.djvu/331

Rh "You might have been a bit longer, Teddy, if you'd dropped us a line to let us know that you were coming." " your eyes!" The pillar of the British Constitution used language which was not exactly ducal. "You'd better mind your p's and q's, my lad, or I'll give you what for, and no mistake." The lady interposed. She took the eyeglassed gentleman by the arm.

"Come away, Dick, and for gracious sake don't let's have a row out here." The Duke seemed struck by the lady's words.

"Come away with him, is it? That's good. You'll come with me, my girl, or by"

Mrs. Paynter and her daughter drove away before the conversation became too personal. They did without his Grace's escort, that great nobleman appearing to be "spoiling" for a fight upon the quay, all the passengers and all the loungers looking on.

"Mamma," observed Miss Paynter, as the vehicle began to rattle over the Boulogne cobbles, "I am not going to stay here. I am going straight to Paris."

"Nonsense!" The elder lady was slightly flushed. "Don't be absurd!" It was difficult to argue the question then and there.

"At any rate, mamma, you will please to understand that nothing will induce me to have any intercourse with that wretched man."

The mother said nothing—prudently.

"I don't believe that he is the Duke of Staines."

"As to that, nothing will be easier than to make inquiries. He would not be able to carry on that fraud long. Besides, I remember now quite well