"Then it is good, all right!"
"How soon—can you do this?"
"How soon can you get hold of the money?"
"To-morrow. Of course it's too late to-day."
"To-morrow then. Come here at this same time. Can you manage that?"
"I will manage it," Juliet said. She remembered that she had written to Nancy van Esten, meaning to attend the rehearsal. The letter wasn't posted yet, but she would send it, and go to the theatre for a few minutes. From there, she would come here to Madame Veno's. No one could think then that she had avoided meeting Lyda Pavoya, but if she had a pressing engagement to keep, it wouldn't be her fault if there were no time for introductions!
Besides, Jack Manners and Sanders were supposed to be coming to-morrow afternoon, to discuss some new detail in the Duke's study—what, Juliet didn't know. The rehearsal would give her an excuse for absence while they were there, and as it was to meet Lyda, Jack would be pleased to have her go.
"Remember, Madam, if you don't keep this business strictly to yourself, the Duke won't materialize," the man in the mask went on. "I assure you—not on my honour, because that's a minus quantity to you, but on your husband's—you can take my word for this. And furthermore, if you attempt to trick us you'll never have a chance again."
"If there were as little chance of your tricking me, as of my tricking you," Juliet exclaimed, "I should be happy."
"Be happy then!" retorted the man. "The thing's settled. I'm off. And I'll tell the Duke that you send him a good message."