"Nothing to do with you," was the surly reply.
"Good morning, Count Gustav," put in Colonel Katona, "Miss von Dreschler, may I not now go and admire your garden?"
"No, Colonel, not yet if you please." At the answer, his face clouded ominously. He glanced from me swiftly to Count Gustav, and back to me with dark suggestiveness.
James Perry came in then.
"Did Count Gustav give you any money this morning, James?"
"Yes, Miss Christabel."
"Give it to me." He handed me a bundle of notes and went out. I passed them on to Count Gustav. "You have made a mistake, Count. American servants are not to be found on the bargain counter."
"There is something here to be explained," said Colonel Katona, abruptly.
"Count Gustav was to have come to me at General von Erlanger's at twelve o'clock to-day; perhaps it might explain matters if he told us why he preferred to come here." I spoke very coldly.
He dropped his eyes to the ground, declining the challenge, and sat swinging his legs moodily in silence.