“Absolutely. The idea was puerile.” Never was a lie uttered more unflinchingly like truth.
“And the promise wrung from Princess Theophanis had no effect whatever in obtaining her husband’s release?”
“How could it? Admiral Essiter will hardly imagine that we should traffic with an affectionate wife for the life of her husband at the price of a piece of paper?”
“I could hardly credit it. Then this document is quite valueless?” The Admiral spoke casually, but he had produced a match-box from somewhere, and as he spoke he lighted the paper he held. He saw, if neither of the others did, Prince Soudaroff’s involuntary start forward, instantly checked, to snatch it from destruction. “I think,” he went on, in a business-like tone, as he crushed the last flaming corner, “that it would be as well to have a record of the facts, signed by all of us, for reference in case of need. The lady Prince Soudaroff has mentioned might try to repeat her game on some future occasion. Otherwise, of course, I must safeguard the interests of Prince Theophanis by laying the whole affair before my colleagues, but I should prefer to keep the matter between ourselves.”
“I should prefer it infinitely,” said Prince Soudaroff—on this occasion, probably, with truth.
“Is Colonel Wylie acquainted with the facts?” asked the Admiral of Maurice. “Yes? Then he might act as secretary.”
“I will fetch him,” said Maurice, and Wylie was called, and wrote out a very uncompromising, if not wholly literal, history of the case. When Prince Soudaroff had signed it and taken his leave, the Admiral laughed.
“If Colonel Wylie would be good enough to make another copy, to be laid up in the Theophanis family archives,—which in view of the uncertainty of life in these regions had better be represented by the Bank of England,—I should feel more at ease,” he said. “Otherwise, if the Magniloquent shared the fate of the Maine one night, you would be as badly off as ever.”
Wylie set to work on the copy, and Zoe remained to help him, while Maurice escorted the Admiral to his carriage. When he returned to the verandah, Eirene was awaiting him at the top of the steps.
“Am I to go, Maurice?” she asked him.