“Rather. Peck each other’s eyes out if they could. But this was a blackguard tale intended to compromise her with you. Of course there was a lot of talk about that carrying-off affair. Some wanted to make out she bolted from Albrevics. Shouldn’t blame her. He’s a beast. Hullo, there he is; and not so drunk as usual at this hour either. I should be careful of him, Bergwyn. He was abusing you to-day to a friend of mine. He’s seen us, I think, and is coming this way. Hang the fellow, what does he want to sit at the next table to us for?”
Not wishing a dispute in so public a place, I was careful not to look around as the Prince and a couple of friends took their places at the table next to us and began to laugh and jest loudly.
Nikolitch nodded to the Prince’s companions and we went on with our dinner, the talk drifting to our old experiences in the years when we had first known each other.
The Prince, as we could not fail to see, was drinking heavily, and I could tell from Nikolitch’s face that like myself he was beginning to expect trouble. Once or twice the man was ill-bred enough to whisper to his companions while pointing at me; and then all three would burst into laughter.
“Should we have our coffee inside?” said Nikolitch at length—we were dining in the open.
“Yes, if you like;” said I, and we both rose. As I did so I touched, quite unintentionally, the chair of the Prince. He had his wine-glass in his hand, and while pretending to move out of my way, he deliberately spilt the wine all over me.
“To the devil with your clumsiness,” he cried, angrily, as he jumped to his feet; “making me waste good liquor in that way. Oh, it’s the Yankee money-man, is it?” he added, with an oath and a sneer.
“I touched your chair quite accidentally and too slightly to have caused you to spill your wine.”
“That’s a lie. You did it on purpose,” he cried, loudly.
“Prince Albrevics!” exclaimed Nikolitch; while the two men with him got up looking very serious.