I wonder that you should care to
prevaricate with me so idly.'
'I will confess so much,' said Mr. Romaine, 'if you call it
prevarication. The order in question emanated from the Count
himself. He does not wish to see you.'
'For which I must take the word of Mr. Daniel Romaine?' asked
Alain.
'In default of any better,' said Romaine.
There was an instantaneous convulsion in my cousin's face, and I
distinctly heard him gnash his teeth at this reply; but, to my
surprise, he resumed in tones of almost good humour:
'Come, Mr. Romaine, do not let us be petty!' He drew in a chair
and sat down. 'Understand you have stolen a march upon me. You
have introduced your soldier of Napoleon, and (how, I cannot
conceive) he has been apparently accepted with favour. I ask no
better proof than the funds with which I find him literally
surrounded--I presume in consequence of some extravagance of joy at
the first sight of so much money. The odds are so far in your
favour, but the match is not yet won. Questions will arise of
undue influence, of sequestration, and the like: I have my
witnesses ready. I tell it you cynically, for you cannot profit by
the knowledge; and, if the worst come to the worst, I have good
hopes of recovering my own and of ruining you.'
'You do what you please,' answered Romaine; 'but I give it you for
a piece of good advice, you had best do nothing in the matter.
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