Davis complied impatiently, and returned the book to his pocket.
“I hope you are satisfied,” he said.
The baron nodded good-naturedly and lighted another cigarette.
“Yes—you are very good to humour me. Perhaps I may seem bourgeois,” he went on to Selden, “but it annoys me to have debts of that sort hanging over us, for they are the most embarrassing of all. I know that many people call us adventurers, robbers, and other hard names. They say we never pay our debts. It is a lie. I admit,” he added, with a smile, “that sometimes our money does not hold out and our creditors have to wait, but they expect that, and place it in the bill. In the end they are always paid.” He paused and glanced at his watch. “One o’clock! I must be getting back to Nice. You will come with me, my prince?”
“No,” said the prince; “I will return later with M. Davis.”
“But I want to try my luck first,” said Davis, and rose to his feet, evidently glad of an excuse to get away. “I also have an inspiration.”
“I hope it may be a good one,” said Danilo, and rose too. “I will come with you and see. Good night, M. Selden. I hope to meet you again.”
“You’ll be sure to hear from my sister!” said Davis, and the two hurried away like boys released from school.
The baron watched them with a look between a smile and a frown; then he settled back into his chair, apparently in no hurry to start for home.
“Is it that you know the sister of M. Davis?” he asked casually.