Part 24 (1/2)
He wanted to speak to her, but had no desire that De Froilette should be a third at the interview
”I aed to you, monsieur,” he said to his co Captain Ellerey's whereabouts just noill be of ie toour aderous”
”Ah, I have ad time,” De Froilette answered ”The commercial interests I have in this country force me to keep pace with its politics I am not an expert, and it is sometimes very difficult”
”I can quite believe it,” said the A, however, wonderfully incredulous ”I do not fancy I have ever heard in which direction your commercial interests lie”
”Timber, my lord”
”A profitable business”
”I hope so in the future At present there is too --”
”In that I think you are mistaken, monsieur”
”No, h the same channel I shall learn where Captain Ellerey is”
”A spy, monsieur?”
”He would be hurt to hear himself called so He is a servant of mine, interested in my business, and a valuable fellow He has known Captain Ellerey's movements for months past, and even noarrant, is at his heels You shall hear from me, my lord, the moment he returns”
”A thousand thanks, ation
And the value of the neill depend on the state of the timber trade,”
he added to hihtened Monsieur De Froilette; I wonder what it is”
Joining the little crowd round the Countess Mavrodin, he entered into the conversation with the heartiness of a man who hasn't a care in the world; and one by one the others withdrew, it was so evident that the A better
Lord Cloverton could doubtless tell her the truth, and although she did not for one ht she could probably draw it froe she already possessed
”My horses are getting rather restive, they have been standing so long
Will you drive with ot in beside her
”One seldom sees you in the Bois,” she said
”No I will be honest I sometimes sleep in the afternoon, Countess”
”And to-day?” she queried, with a laugh ”To-day business brought me
I hoped to see you”
”Surely you flatterbusiness-like?”
”I a are as dried wood stacked ready for burning, and a torch is already in the midst of it Until now the torch has beenthe wood no time to catch; but now I fear the flame is held steadily