"And, now, for the plain speaking."
"Good," said I; "drive ahead; and make it as plain as you like."
"I'll do it," he said. "What I want to know is: First--do you intend
to try to displace me in the Line of Succession? And, second--are you
a suitor for the hand of the Princess Royal?"
It would have been impossible to hide my surprise, so I made no effort.
Surely, this man's methods were almost beyond comprehension!
"My dear Duke," I replied, "your questions are plain, and a plain
answer will do for both--it is none of your business."
He laughed. "By which I infer you decline to answer."
"Precisely!"
He tossed away his cigar and slowly lit another.
"Of course, Armand, that is your privilege; but, then, you must pardon
the further inference that to decline to answer is, really, to answer
in the affirmative."
"You are responsible for your inferences, not I," I replied curtly.
He leaned a bit forward. "Let us take up my first question," he said.
"Have you ever considered what you were likely to encounter if you
undertook to filch the Crown?"
"Filch?" I interrupted.
"Steal, then, if you prefer. I forgot we were to use plain terms."
"Very true," said I.
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