“Monsieur,” said M. Stefanovics, returning, and addressing Mansfield with a judicial air, “we wish to know whether your master has any ulterior object in this extraordinary proceeding?”
“Really,” replied Mansfield, with extreme innocence, “I can’t say.”
“But does he entertain any hopes—any designs——”
“If you will be so good as to ask me a plain question, monsieur, I will try to give you a plain answer.”
“Then is he hoping to resume his old position with her Majesty?”
“May I ask what that was?”
“He was privately betrothed to her.”
“If it was private, how is it that you know anything about it?”
Confusion kept M. Stefanovics silent for a moment. “Madame Stefanovics was in the secret,” he said at last, “and when the affair terminated, she revealed the whole thing to me, in her indignation against Count Mortimer.”
“You and your wife are a pair of chatterboxes!” cried General Banics suddenly, in a fury of indignation. “No secrets are safe with you.”