“Odd, but not without the coin. He can afford to be odd,” replied that gentleman.
While these little things were said and done, Lawrence moved through the crowd and somehow found himself at the side of Amy Waring, who was talking with Fanny Newt.
“You young Napoleon,” said Lawrence to his niece as he joined them.
“What do you mean, you droll Uncle Lawrence?” demanded Fanny, her eyes glittering with inquiry.
“Where’s Mrs. Wurmser—I mean Mrs. Dinks?” continued Lawrence. “Why, when I saw you talking together a little while ago, I could think of nothing but the young Bonaparte and the old Wurmser.”
“You droll Uncle Lawrence, aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”
It was an astuter young Napoleon than Uncle Lawrence knew. Even then and there, in Mrs. Kingfisher’s ball-room, had Fanny Newt resolved how to carry her Mantua by a sudden coup.