‘No? Ah, then it is a mere coincidence. Hardly likely to be anything more.’
Having wreaked some of her vengeance upon Belassis, Miss Marjory was able to turn her attention to the foreigner, who had now recovered from his momentary confusion.
It was he who opened the conversation, and he seemed inclined to be aggressive.
‘Madame has done me the honour to doubt my word. Will Madame tell me her reason? Is it merely because I understand English, although I cannot speak it with any fluency? Surely there are many in a like case.’
‘I dare say there are; but I have other reasons for what I said,’ answered Miss Marjory boldly, on the ‘nothing-venture, nothing-have’ principle, going a good deal farther than she had any warrant. ‘I know more about you than you think.’
A look of uneasiness flitted across the young man’s face, which his bland smile did not disguise.
‘Madame is mysterious. May I not hear what it is that you have learned of me?’
‘I’m not sure that you may,’ answered Miss Marjory, wondering how far she had better go.
‘My curiosity is burning,’ he went on in a low eager tone. ‘Madame is cruel to make accusations which she will not substantiate.’
Miss Marjory looked at him sharply.