“We meet on the common ground of distrust,” she repeated after him. “So be it. I was not minded to have it so; but so be it. The common ground of distrust, say you! So be it. Mr. Carter, I must become willfully guilty of a grave breach of courtesy. I must tell you to your face that your presence here in my home is not congenial. I must ask you to leave it. I must inform you that your presence will not be tolerated here again.”
The detective stared at her in amazement.
He had not expected this; had not anticipated anything of the kind. Truly hers was a many-sided character.
While he stared, she smiled ironically upon him. Then she raised her two hands and clapped them together loudly.
Instantly in response to the signal, many who were in the conservatory came toward them, and two servants hastened forward also, as if the clapping of her hands were a well-known signal to them.
Juno did not speak again until many of her guests and the servants were quite near.
Then she turned and spoke again, directly to the detective.
“Mr. Carter,” she said, and there was no mistaking tone and air of offense which she managed to introduce into her voice and manner, “my servants will show you the way out. I believe that is all.”
With a gesture that was worthy of an offended queen, she turned away from him, while the guests who had been observers of the scene stood and stared. One of the two servants moved forward.
“This way if you please, sir,” he said. He had received his orders and he meant to execute them.