Her eyes wandered round in search of one face, and when her glance encountered that of Signor Pagliadini, something like a magnetic attraction seemed to draw the two into an isolated corner.
Mrs. Belassis was furious. The last link which bound her to a peaceable policy was now snapped asunder, and she was eager to declare war at all hazards. She was still greatly in the dark as to how the onslaught could be made; but she knew that her nephew could be attacked with advantage in some quarter or other, and that the Italian knew better than she did how to plan the campaign. Desperation gave her boldness.
‘Monsieur,’ she began, in a vigorous whisper, ‘does it not seem to you time to put an end to this game?’
‘High time!’ he answered gloomily.
‘If we do not bestir ourselves,’ continued she, feeling her way so as to lead him as far as possible to commit himself, ‘things will have got beyond our power. We must not let them go too far.’
A very sombre light glowed in the handsome eyes of the stranger.
‘I agree entirely with Madame.’
She looked eagerly at him.
‘Are you prepared, then, to act?’
After a momentary hesitation, he answered: