Leonard stopped short, shaking his fist in Ralph’s face.

“Behold the myrmidon!” said Ralph, laughing again. “Jumping up like a Jack-in-the-box!”

Beside himself, the man foamed at the mouth and cried: “We shall meet again, my lad—we shall meet again—and if it isn’t for a hundred years——”

“You also reckon in centuries—like your mistress,” said Ralph.

“Go,” said Josephine, pushing Leonard towards the door. “Go. You will bring back the carriage.”

They exchanged a few words quickly, in a language Ralph did not understand; and the man went.

Then she turned to Ralph and said in a bitter voice: “And now?”

“Now?”

“Yes. What do you intend to do?”

“My intentions are perfectly honorable—angelic in fact——”