“Tell him to come at once.”
The man had no sooner set eyes upon the card than he gave a slight start, glanced oddly at Wilfrid, and withdrew without a word.
“Oho, my uncle,” thought Wilfrid, who had observed this little by-play, “why did you give a written message, when an oral one would have sufficed? There is something on that card you do not wish me to see. Very good! Forewarned is forearmed.”
After a brief interval there came a tapping at the door.
“Wait a moment, Williams,” cried Lord St. Helens. “Stay outside till I call.”
“Williams? Why, I thought it was Mulgrave you sent for?” said Wilfrid in mock surprise.
Ignoring this question, the Ambassador said with a stern air:—
“I am to take it, then, that you have quite made up your mind to fight this duel?”
“Certainly.”
“Well, I have made up my mind that you shall not.”