Part 26 (2/2)
”Perhaps!” he echoed ”But you mean to sell them?”
She smiled faintly
”Perhaps I h that I stole theed his line of attack
”To-morroill have you arrested for theft”
”No,” she demurred ”You have no proof--no witness The papers will _never_ be found unless I choose Besides, you dare not have me arrested: you know this is not a police emaliciously fro to her and she could afford to s another weapon ”Will you sell ive you your price”
”I will _never_ sell them to you,” she said, still with inflexible deterain, please It would be a waste of tiaely, ”I fancied I held the key of the situation in my hands, and I am no further on I am deeper, in fact, for I know that Mizzi is here and I do not knohy Ah!” he cried suddenly, deterood and all ”You have won to-night, I allow--I have no hold on you tothat you have done for me--one suspicion that your presence here has made almost a certainty--one resolution of a doubt that I can thank you for, however painfully--”
”And that is?” she asked with polite interest
”This I have coaame none the less, and I have been a dupe I aht are the same person What do you say to that?”
Mizzi did not so much as flicker an eyelash She looked at him with a lazy amusement
”_Herr Gott!_” she said with a scorn that seared his unbelief forever
”If you think that you will think anything Miss Arkwright and Miss Blair the same!” and she went off into an uncontrollable peal
Lionel would have dearly liked to shake her, but in the low that she had won a Pyrrhic victory ”She won't tell ht deliriously, ”but she has convincedat all events!”
and he, too, began to laugh so infectiously that Mizzi stared in aood friends, and it was in an excellent huratulations!” he said courteously ”You have beaten e, unfortunately, and I do not see that any good purpose would be served by keeping you here all night If I did, I would do so without hesitation But I warn you that I shall ask Miss Arkwright to-morrow for an explanation of your presence”
”I hope she will give you one,” said Mizzi, rising with twinkling eyes
”Thank you, Mr Mortienerous, but I felt sure you would be sensible”
He laughed good-hu with a de of a trial to Saint Anthony He fitted the key, turned it, and opened the door with a little bow The boas never perfectly finished, for fraures of his hostess and Mrs Wetherby They had evidently been on the point of knocking, for Miss Arkwright's right hand was raised in the air: the projected knock had assu--or a curse
Mizzi fell back in unaffected horror Lionel, the sport of fortune, was past surprise He only stood and waited
”_Mizzi!_” said Miss Arkwright--one can not think of her as Winifred in such a deplorable situation: she radiated outraged respectability
”_Mizzi!_”
The unhappy innocent was al dissyllables and Miss Wetherby's damnatory mien she was crushed Lionel felt really sorry for her ”It is not my fault, entleman trepanned me I am innocent Is it not so, Mr Mortimer?”
”She speaks the truth,” said Lionel calmly ”I kidnaped her and locked her in I suppose that sounds unlikely, but it is a fact: I alone a? If so, I aht silenced hiesture Her looks were serpents, her attitude was a virgin horror of man She pointed imperiously to the corridor ”Go!” she hissed (yes--yes: ”hissed” isinto the darkness For a irl had disappeared she turned again to Lionel ”Now, sir, be good enough to give me your key”