"If I may be allowed a suggestion," I said to Althea very gravely, "it might help matters if you were to meet Hagar Ziegler and arrange which marriage should take place first."
He all but swore at me for this. "You may think it a good subject for a jest, Herr Bastable; but Fräulein Althea and her father will find very little subject for laughter in it. If your decision is not made within three days, Fräulein, I will not answer for the consequences."
"Let me see, you named a week to Herr Ziegler, didn't you?" I said in the same tone of banter.
But Althea was alarmed by the threat. "Mr. Bastable!" she cried with a gesture of protest. It was a mistake. Von Felsen was quick to see the impression he had created, and the wisdom of not saying any more. If he was to win, it would be by playing on her fears.
"That is my last word," he said, as he turned to leave.
"But not Ziegler's," I retorted, as I shut the door behind him.
"I think I am frightened, Mr. Bastable," said Althea nervously. "Why did you provoke him so?"
"To make him take the buttons off the foils. But I am sorry you let him see that he had scared you. And there is less cause than ever now."
"Tell me."
"I have first to scold you. You did very wrong to go to the police about me and then give them that promise not to attempt to avoid arrest."