Alexis Turnieff strode forward to the centre of the group. His face was white and drawn with concentrated passion.
“One moment——” he began; but by a gesture Juno stopped him.
“Not another word, Alexis,” she said sharply. “Your arm, if you please.” And then: “My servants will show this man the way out. Come.”
CHAPTER XXVIII.
A FIGHT IN THE STREET.
Nick Carter stopped at the corner just below the house to consider what had happened.
Unceremoniously he had been ejected from the home of the countess. Undeniably she had defied him, and she had managed to do it in the presence of many others among her guests. There was no doubt whatever that the affair would be the talk of the town by another day, and it would be surprising indeed if the whole thing were not a column long, or more in the morning papers.
The detective had been placed in many trying positions during the course of his experience, but never had he met with one which had been quite so original as this one.
Why had she done it, he asked himself as he stood there in thought, at the corner.