“Young man!” he exclaimed, solemnly; “this is the first time I have ever been accused—to my face—of falsehood! This nonsense! If you allude to the agreement—the perfectly legal agreement, which you signed, and which I hold—you will discover that it is anything but nonsense.”
“I’m delighted to hear it, of course,” said Percy Levant; “don’t be angry! Well, then, seeing that I am to give you ten thousand pounds as a fee for your assistance in procuring me a wife, I should like to know exactly how I am to manage it—I should like to know all about my wife’s property.”
“Your wife! How well it sounds!” chuckled Spenser Churchill; then his face grew suddenly suspicious. “By the way, my dear Percy, have you the marriage certificate? I am not of a suspicious nature. Heaven forbid! I am, indeed, too trustful and confiding; but I should like to see the certificate, my dear boy.”
“Certainly,” assented Percy Levant, cheerfully; “I’ll go and ask my wife for it. Indeed, she may as well be present——”
“No, no,” interrupted Spenser Churchill, putting out his hand. “Never mind; don’t trouble. The fact is—ahem!—there are some things which Mrs. Levant—Mrs. Levant!—had better not hear. And to tell you the truth, my dear fellow, your wife is a young lady I’m not over-anxious to meet. There’s something about her which makes me uncomfortable. I’ll—I’ll take a little more brandy, my dear Percy—a capital and useful spirit, if used in moderation. I have been recommended to take it by my medical man.”
Percy Levant rose to get the decanter. As he did so, the curtain parted and Lord Cecil Neville stood in the opening.
Percy Levant made a circuit so as to approach him.
“Remember our understanding, my lord, and wait!” he said, in a whisper.
Lord Cecil seemed to hesitate, his eyes fixed on Spenser Churchill suspiciously; then he dropped the curtain, which again concealed him.
“There you are! And now to business, Churchill.”