“Lucy!” he exclaimed, in a tone of deep and bitter vexation.
“Aha, Leon!” said the woman, with a smile. “You thought you would give me the slip. You didn't know what a watch I was keeping over you.”
At this Leon regarded her in gloomy silence, while the expression of deep vexation remained unchanged on his face.
The woman who had thus followed him was certainly not one who ought to inspire any thing like vexation. Her face was beautiful in outline and expression. Her eyes were dark and animated, her tone and manner indicated good-breeding and refinement, though these were somewhat more vivacious than is common with English ladies.
“I don't see what brought you here,” said Leon at last.
“I might say the same of you, mon cher,” replied the lady, “but I have a faint idea, and I have no desire to give you too much liberty.”
“It's some more of your confounded jealousy,” said Leon, angrily. “My business here is a very delicate one indeed. I may have to do it incognito, and it may ruin all if I have any one here who knows me.”
“Incognito?” said the lady. “That will be charming; and if so, who can help you better than I? I can be your mother, or your grandmother, or your business partner, or any thing. You ought to have insisted on my accompanying you.”
The light tone of raillery in which this was spoken did not in any way mollify the chagrin of the other, who still looked at her with a frown, and as she ended, growled out,
“I don't see how you got on my track, confound it!”