Lucile nodded understandingly. Then, “Monsieur Charloix?” she questioned.
“Send him to me.” This last was very low.
CHAPTER XXIII
LUCILE TRIUMPHS
Lucile sped down the steps and into the waiting arms of her assembled family.
She was hugged and kissed and handed from one to the other in a very ecstasy of reunion, until Mr. Payton spoke, a trifle huskily.
“Perhaps,” said he, “perhaps it would be just as well to thank the young person who handed our runaway back to us,” and he glanced inquiringly in the direction of the chateau.
“No, no,” said Lucile, hurriedly. “You see, it——” She hesitated; then, throwing secrecy to the winds, she pushed Jessie and Evelyn ahead of her into the automobile, crying excitedly, “I can’t keep it in another minute; there’s no use trying—I can’t—I can’t——” and, turning from her astonished friends to her no less astonished father, she said, “Dad, if you’ll only get started for home, I’ll tell you all about it——”