“Well, surely that is sufficient explanation,” she interrupted haughtily, recovering herself. His lids narrowed, and his speech became more incisive and more familiar, without the usual tinge of respect and kinship that, until now, had coloured his accents in converse with her.
“It would be, my dear cousin, but for the entrance of the constable, who gives quite a different version of the affair.”
This last piece of information took her off her guard completely. She flattened perceptibly.
“The constable! He came back? Oh dear—oh dear!”
Howard thought she was carrying the affair off very clumsily—quite like a butter-girl, without hereditary finesse.
“He came back—and recited, for Mrs. Witherby’s benefit, how he had seen the man on your verandah and fired; how you had run out and brought him in here and told this same constable that the man was your chauffeur. This was plainly—er—an—evasion, as you have no automobile. The Mr. Mills story does not explain the presence of the man on your verandah, at that hour of the morning; nor the supper for two; nor the fact that you are still in the gown you wore last evening, and therefore did not retire immediately after we all took leave, although you complained of fatigue and hurried me away on that account.” He paused to let these points sink in. Rosamond began to realize that matters were serious for her, but more so for the prince, who was now in double danger of discovery.
“With Roseborough within, and the Woodse-all-the-rest-of-it secret service outside Villa Rose, how can I save him from arrest?” her anxious thought ran. Howard, knowing naught of His Highness and his vagabond joys, saw that he had made a profound impression and he hastened to follow up his advantage.
“Now, I think I need not impress upon you, the necessity of finding some explanation to cover all these points before Mrs. Witherby returns, or she will spread a scandal that will ruin you. You know her as well as I do.”
She looked at him, growing consternation in her face.
“What can I do? His identity must be kept a secret at any cost. You have no idea of the sensation—the upheaval...!”