"My uncle will be down very soon," she said suddenly, "I don't think that you and he are quite——?" she left the Duke to finish the sentence.
He rose.
"We aren't—quite," he said.
"I shall probably see you again," she smiled. She was perfectly self-controlled, serenely mistress of herself and the situation. "Sir Harry has read your Open Letters—I think he was touched by your abasement," she said maliciously, and, I cannot help thinking, incautiously.
"Naturally," said the Duke calmly, "even an uncle has his feelings: to know that his niece has inspired——"
"Good-bye," she said hurriedly, "perhaps it would be better if you didn't see me again." She added inconsistently, "We are going on to Tangier to-morrow."
"By Algeciras or by Cadiz?" queried the Duke.
"By Algeciras and Gibraltar," said Alicia. "Good-bye."
She held out her hand nervously.
The Duke took it, and kissed her.