Part 38 (1/2)
”You may use either Gilmore or von Dreschler as you please. Names are of small account after what has happened here.”
”Where is Madame d'Artelle?”
”She has done that which might be expected of her in a crisis like this--run away. She is probably across the frontier now.”
”But I have just had a letter from her begging me to come here at once; written evidently in great agitation.”
”There are enough hours in a night to allow of many short letters being written. She was intensely agitated when she fled!”
”_You_ seem to be cool enough.”
”My nerves are of a different order from hers. Besides, _I_ have nothing to fear in all this.”
”How is it that you are here at all?”
”I am not Madame d'Artelle, and therefore not accountable for my actions or movements to you.”
”You left Pesth yesterday--when did you return?”
”If you consult a time table you can see at what hours the trains reach the city, and can judge for yourself which I was likely to be in.”
”You can answer me or not, as you please,” he said angrily; ”but you will have to account for your presence here.”
”Why?” and I looked at him meaningly. He pa.s.sed the question off with a shrug of the shoulders.
”That is your first mistake, Count Gustav. You must keep your temper better than that, or it will betray you.”
He affected to laugh; but there was no laughter in his eyes.
”Well, if Madame was only fooling me with her letter I suppose I may as well go again,” he said lightly.
”You know that you have no thought of going. Why are you afraid to put the questions which are so close to your lips?”
I was getting my thrusts well home each time, and was goading him to anger, as well as starting his fears of me.
”Why was that letter written?”
”Because of what has happened here.”
”What has happened?”
”Yes, that is one of the questions. I can tell you.” I paused and added slowly: ”The man you sent here came to do the work you planned.”
He bit his lip hard, and his hands gripped the back of the chair behind which he stood. ”You delight in mysteries, I know,” he sneered.
”Your sneer does not hide the effect of my news, Count Gustav. You know there is no mystery in that for you--and there is none for me.
Put your second question.”
”What do you mean? I don't understand you.”