“Must know I haven’t,” replied Freddy. “Cork-brained thing to do! Engaged to your cousin: don’t want her to be uncomfortable; don’t want any scandal either. What’s more, don’t wish you any harm.”
The Chevalier made him a mock bow, and began to pour out the wine. “I thank you! Well, and so I am a leg! I live, in fact, d’invention! I take risks, yes, but not, perhaps so great risks as some have thought. I will tell you, M. Standen, that if you had come to threaten me I would have snapped my fingers in your face, so! As I have snapped them in the face of your so-amiable cousin!”
“Which one?” enquired Freddy. “What I mean is, got a lot of cousins! Quite safe to snap your fingers in my cousin Dolphinton’s face, but if you mean my cousin Jack, which I fancy you do, silly thing to have done! Dangerous fellow to cross.”
“Be content! He will not expose me, for he dare not!”
“Might not do that,” agreed Freddy. “Wouldn’t lay a groat, though, against the chance of his doing you a mischief. Very seldom seen him queered on any suit. However, it ain’t any concern of mine.” He sipped his wine, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Come to think of it, might be able to put you in the way of serving Jack a back-handed turn,” he remarked.
The Chevalier shrugged his shoulders. “ A quoi sort de le faire? If I chose to do it, I would remain in England. I do not fear him, believe me! That he knows! It is a little amusing that he should have put himself to such pains to persuade me to return to my own country. It has been my intention to do so, since—several days. That gave me to laugh sous cape! Will he flatter himself I went away because he bade me? No, I think—but it matters nothing! Did you come to visit me to tell me to go, sir? Cela n’en vaut pas la peine! ”
“Came to tell you Miss Broughty’s in the devil of a fix,” said Freddy calmly.
The Chevalier had walked over to the window, but he turned swiftly at this. “You would say that Miss Broughty is in trouble?”
“That’s it,” nodded Freddy. “Run away from Hans Crescent. Not the thing, but can’t blame her. Never saw such a set of rum touches in my life as those relations of hers! What’s more,” he added, considering the matter dispassionately, “not a good part of the town. Wouldn’t like to live there myself.”
“For the love of God—!” cried the Chevalier impatiently. “What has happened to her? Where is she?”