"Do not forget my invitation to the hunt," he said in his bad English. Once more I remarked the great contrast.
"We will be glad to see you soon again," said the Red Fox. His smile was positively warming. If he had been a victorious commander surveying the wreck his guns had wrought, he could not have appeared more genial.
I thanked them both and found my way to the open air with my illusions gone. How silently and swiftly had my house of cards come tumbling about my head. I thought of Solonika, and Nick's fingers coiling about an imaginary throat, and I was glad; oh, I was glad to find myself mistaken.
CHAPTER IX
THE KISS IN THE KING'S GARDEN
O, that a man might know
The end of this day's business, ere it come!
But it sufficeth that the day will end,
And then the end is known.
—Shakespeare: Julius Cæsar.
Nick and the General were not returned when I reached Framkor Castle, but they came puffing in for dinner on schedule time. Where they had been they did not divulge, nor did I question them, feeling that their rapid comings and goings had to do with the politics of Bharbazonia with which I was not concerned.
"Sorry to have run away from you, Dale," said Nick, "but needs must when the Devil drives." He jerked his head in the General's direction.
"Humph," grunted the General.
"What did you do with yourself all day?" asked Nick.