You cannot trick me. I will go to the Prince
of Markeld--to Prince Ferdinand himself--"
"To whomever you please," interrupted Collins, "only go at once," and
he snatched open the door.
Tellier hesitated an instant, glanced at the other's face, and went.
And Collins, closing the door behind him, mopped the perspiration from
his forehead.
"Well done, my friend," he said; "exceedingly well done!"
And with that, he turned back to the inner room.
* * * * *
"Dad," began Susie Rushford, that evening, gently but firmly taking away
the paper over which her father was engaged, "I wish you would devote
that massive brain of yours to this Schloshold-Markheim muddle for a few
moments, and give me the benefit. It's quite beyond me, and I'm nearly
worried to death over it. I want your advice. Now, in the first place,
why should Lord Vernon play off sick? It seems such a little thing to
do."
"'Tall oaks from little acorns grow,'" quoted her father. "This little
thing may have big consequences."
"I didn't mean little that way," explained Susie. "I meant little in a
moral way."
"Well, my dear," said her father, reflectively, "everything is fair in
love, war, and diplomacy. Your diplomat, when he is busy at his trade,
seems to lose sight of fine moral distinctions.
Pages:
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160