"Thank you," I replied, "but that debt was cancelled early this morning when its Princess saved me from assassination."
"Good Lord," Tommy cried, in despair, "he's spilled the beans! Jack, you bone-head, we——"
"Be quiet, sir," she commanded, turning beautifully pink and giving me ten thousand messages in a single look.
"Then come on," Tommy said, beginning to draw her away by the hand, "let's go off and think up another!"
"My boy Tommy," the professor sternly reproved him, "she is of royal blood!"
"You said something that time," he imperturbably replied. "Come on, Princess!" And laughingly she went with him.
"Pardieu," the old fellow pulled at his beard, "that sex is like a cyclone—the nearer I get the faster I am twisted! But just as her mother was at that age—yes, quite!" He sighed.
"Is she going back with you?" I asked, feeling a malicious joy in the question after the last look she gave me.
"Certainement, there is no other way! Thus far I have not tried to persuade her, but merely presented a few minor facts. Yes, she will go."
I confess that my malicious joy sank somewhat.