'But you can't want to miss your Dictator?'
'My Dictator will probably not miss me,' the girl said in scornful tones which brought no comfort to the heart of Soame Rivers.
'You would be very sorry if he did not miss you,' Soame Rivers said blunderingly. Your cynical man of the world has his feelings and his angers.
'Very sorry!' Helena defiantly declared.
The Dictator came punctually at two—he was always punctual. To-to was friendly, but did not conduct him. He was shown at once into the dining-room, where luncheon was laid out. The room looked lonely to the Dictator. Helena was not there.
'My daughter is not coming down to luncheon,' Sir Rupert said.
'I am so sorry,' the Dictator said. 'Nothing serious, I hope?'
'Oh, no!—a cold, or something like that—she didn't tell me. She will be quite well, I hope, to-morrow. You see how To-to keeps her place.'
Ericson then saw that To-to was seated resolutely on the chair which Helena usually occupied at luncheon.
'But what is the use if she is not coming?' the Dictator suggested—not to disparage the intelligence of To-to, but only to find out, if he could, the motive of that undoubtedly sagacious animal's taking such a definite attitude.