“Unless?”
“Carmona keeps his indoors until he's arranged to have yours politely deported.”
“I can't be got rid of in an hour.”
“You could to-morrow.”
“I'm afraid you can,” sighed the Cherub, “and that, though I shall do my best, I may be powerless to help you.”
“What if it were known that he saved the King yesterday?” Pilar asked her father.
[pg 266] “The King is going away to-morrow. You know, he's off to England in a few days. Besides, the incident to-day will be hushed up. The King will know, of course, and a few others; but it will be kept out of the papers,—anyhow, until they've got their hands on both the men concerned.”
“I've still got to-night,” I said, “and it's not eleven yet. I hoped that in the confusion Monica had given her mother and Carmona the slip, and that if I waited here I might find her again. I thought she might try to get back to the chapel where we had our talk, trusting that I'd look for her there. But she didn't come, and I searched everywhere in vain before I tried watching the crowd pass through the Court of Oranges. Now, I'm certain that Carmona or Lady Vale-Avon must have pounced upon her while I was surrounded, and forced her away. No doubt they're at home long ago. Why shouldn't I appeal to the English consul, and say that the Duke of Carmona's detaining an English girl in his house against her will?”
“No use,” said the Cherub. “She's under age, and she's with her mother, who's visiting the Duchess.”
“Then I'll go to Carmona's door and make such a row that they'll be obliged to let me in.”