Léonie at last released Mr. Comyn’s hand, which all this time she had been warmly clasping. “Do not quarrel, mes enfants. I find all this very hard to understand. Please explain to me, one of you!”
“They’re all mad, every one of ’em,” said Rupert with conviction. He had put up his glass again, and was observing his nephew’s attire through it. “Blister it, the boy can’t spend one week without being in a fresh broil! Swords, eh? Well, I’m not saying that ain’t better than those barbarous pistols of yours, but why in thunder you must be for ever fighting. — Where’s the corpse?”
“Never mind about that!” interrupted Léonie impatiently. “I will have all of this explained to me at once!” She turned once more to Mr. Comyn, who had by now pulled on his boots and was feeling more able to face her. She smiled engagingly at him. “My son is in a very bad temper and Juliana is not at all sensible, so I shall ask you to tell me what has happened.”
Mr. Comyn bowed. “I shall be happy to oblige you, ma’am. In fact, when your grace entered this room, I was about to make a communication of a private nature to his lordship.”
Vidal, who had gone over to the fireplace, and was staring down into the red embers, lifted his head. “What is it you have to say to me?”
“My lord, it is a communication I should have desired to impart to you alone, but if you wish I will speak now.”
“Tell me and be done with it,” said my lord curtly, and resumed his study of the fire.
Mr. Comyn bowed again. “Very well, sir. I must first inform your lordship that when I had the honour of making Miss Challoner’s acquaintance at the house of Mme. de Charbonne in Paris — ”
Léonie had sat down in the armchair, but started up again. “ Mon Dieu, the friend of Juliana! Why did I not perceive that that must be so?”
“Because if anyone spoke a word about aught save Dijon you would not listen,” said Rupert severely. “And that reminds me, Vidal: what in thunder brought you here? I’ve been puzzling over it all the way, and stap me if I can make it out.”