"
"But with full purpose to resume it in a moment."
"After you had killed him? Very likely! Your sole thought would have
been to get away."
"And to take you with me," he added.
She laughed. "Nonsense, Duke; besides, I would not have gone."
"And the promenade?" he asked.
"With the Black Masque dead the promenade would have been no longer
necessary."
"Oh," said he: "I'm beginning to understand. You met me last night for
a particular purpose; and that, being frustrated by the duel, is the
reason for the appointment here this evening."
She was leaning idly back, and the fan had resumed its languid motions.
"Your Highness has stated it with charming exactness," she said.
His face grew stern; and I saw the hand, that hung beside his chair,
clench sharply. Mrs. Spencer saw it, too.
"Don't be angry, Duke," she laughed. "Be grateful for the privilege it
gives you of being here to-night."
Lotzen got up sharply and took a step toward the door.
"Going, Your Highness?" asked that softly-caressing voice.
He swung around. "No, I'm not going," he said--and sat down. "A man
would be a fool to leave you just because you treated him heartlessly."
This time, she lit the cigarette, voluntarily, and, leaning over, put
it between his lips.
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