"Why not?"
"I cannot talk easily in a carriage," he answered, with a glance which I understood to mean that he had strong reasons he preferred not to explain.
I said no more until we reached his house and he took me into his library.
"I cannot give you more than one minute, and therefore cannot wait to hear your story. I have pressing matters that will keep me all the afternoon."
"I have no clothes, your Excellency," I cried, with a little affectation of dismay.
"Which means you wish to go out in order to carry on the scheme with which your busy little brains are full. You cannot go out, Christabel—I have said that you will remain here. Understand that, please." He spoke almost sternly; but the twinkle came into his eyes as he turned away and added: "As for your clothes, I had thought of that difficulty, and I told that American servant of yours to call here this afternoon on the chance that you might need him."
I laughed and was running out of the room, saying I would go and find the girls and tell them I had come to spend the rest of the day with them, when I stopped and went back to him. "I haven't thanked you," I said.
"It is not to me that any thanks are due—but the Stars and Stripes. They gave us the mate."
"But it was you who made the move; and it is you I thank."
"The game is not finished yet, Christabel. We'll wait for that."