She took him at his word though half against her will. He guided her up the branching staircase to the gallery above, bringing her finally to a tall oak door at the further end.
"Here is your chamber of sleep, Juliette! Now will you make me a promise?"
She left his supporting arm with an effort. "Well, what is it?"
"That you will go to bed in the proper and correct way and sleep till further notice," he said. "You can't go for ever, believe me. And you need it."
He was looking at her with a softness of persuasion that sat so oddly on his mischievous monkey-face that in spite of herself, with quivering lips, she smiled.
"You're very good, Charles Rex," she said. "I wonder how much longer you will manage to keep it up."
He bowed low. "Just as long as I have your exemplary example before me," he said. "Who knows? We may both fling our caps over the windmill before we have done."
She shook her head, made as if she would enter the room, but paused. "You will take care of Columbus?" she said.
"Every care," he promised. "If I fail to bring him back to you intact you will never see my face again."
She had opened the door behind her, but still she paused. "Charles!"