“There’s nothing to laugh at, dear.”
“Don’t cry, my Josine.”
He felt that her fear for him was genuine, and that in a fresh access of tenderness, she was forgetting their disagreement.
“Don’t go, dear,” she repeated. “I know Beaumagnan’s flat. Those ruffians will attack you; and there’s no chance of anyone being able to help you.”
“All the better, for in that case no one will be able to help them either,” he said calmly.
“You will make a joke of it, Ralph. Nevertheless——”
He squeezed her arm; and said in a reassuring tone: “Now, listen to me, Josine. I come into a colossal affair long after everyone else and find myself confronted by two powerful organizations, yours and Beaumagnan’s. Both of them, very naturally, refuse to welcome me, the third person to share the loot, so that either I’ve got to play a big game or remain negligible. Let me then deal with our enemy Beaumagnan as I’ve dealt with my little friend Josine. You must admit that I managed her fairly well and that I have more than one string to my bow.”
Once more he offended her. She drew her arm out of his; walked on side by side in silence.
In his heart of hearts he asked himself whether his most relentless foe was not this gentle, pretty lady, whom he so passionately loved and by whom he was loved so passionately.