The green curtains were drawn, and though twilight was falling out of doors the only lamp was a small green-shaded one on the table of the crystal. The man who stood facing the two women as they entered was in shadow, all except his hands, which showed white and large, crossed on folded arms.
It was an instant before Juliet realized that something more than shadow obscured the features. Then her piercing eyes made out that a layer of black crape was drawn across them as far up as the forehead, as far down as the mouth. Beneath this mask a beard protruded like a fringe, but Juliet told herself it might be false.
"Oh, you have masked yourself!" exclaimed Madame Veno. "He wasn't masked when I left him, Duchess!"
Juliet made no comment, though if the man and woman were in collusion it was probable that Madame lied.
"There's no objection to my being masked, I suppose?" said the man. "I have a right to protect myself."
"Does he speak rather like an Englishman, or do I imagine it?" Juliet wondered.
"I don't object," she said aloud. "I don't care who you are if you can give me news of my husband, and if—if you can bring him back to me."
"I can give you news now," the man replied. "And you can have him back to-morrow night if you choose."
"What are your conditions?" Juliet asked.
"One million dollars for the Duke and the pearls."