service to you in a matter of which I know nothing,” she said, not attempting to keep the suspicion out of her voice.
“I only desired to make sure, madam, that the Duke was not at home. Having obtained that assurance from the fountain-head, pray permit me to withdraw,” was the nervously spoken reply, punctuated by an awkward bow and the commencement of a hurried retreat. But the visitor had only taken three steps down the long vista of the room when the door was flung open, and Prince announced, with the air of one who springs a surprise:
“His Grace the Duke!”
Beaumanoir was very pale, but he advanced without hesitation, meeting Sibyl’s interrogator half-way up the room. Startled as she was by her cousin’s unexpected appearance, the girl intuitively rose and went forward, vaguely conscious of a desire to hear if the man repeated the same tale.
“Well, sir?” said the Duke, curtly.
Sybil hardly knew whether or no she was relieved when, word for word, the man repeated the reason he had just given her for his call. Watching her cousin’s face, she saw the pallor yield to a flush of evident annoyance.
[93]
