"Your Excellency overwhelms me," she replied. "I'm positively trembling
with apprehension lest I fail to--" she dropped into English--"make
good."
He laughed lightly. "You will make good!" he replied, also in English,
"Pray proceed."
And Mrs. Clephane told him the whole story, from the time she met Madame
Durrand on the steamer to the present moment--omitting only the
immaterial personal portions occurring between Harleston and herself,
and the fact that his taxi had escorted hers until she was at the
Embassy.
Her narrative was punctuated throughout by the Marquis's constant
exclamations of wonder or interest; but further than exclaiming, in the
nervous French way, he made no interruption.
And on the whole, she told her story well; at first she was a little
nervous, which made her somewhat at a loss for words; yet that soon
passed, and her tale flowed along with delightful ease.
"Now you have been a wonderfully gracious listener, your Excellency,"
she ended, "ask whatever questions you wish in regard to the matter; I
shall be only too glad to answer if I am able."
"Madame's narrative has been most detailed and most satisfactory," the
Marquis answered. "But let me ask you to explain, if you can, why Madame
Durrand has not made a written report of this matter to the Embassy?"
"I have no idea--unless she is ill.
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