"Sir!" he exclaimed. "You are insolent."
Tony looked across at him with perfect good temper.
"We are all insolent in England," he said. "It's the result of there being no duelling."
"Sir Antony is indulging his sense of humour," broke in Da Freitas with a dangerous suavity. "We can hardly insult his intelligence by suggesting that he is taking up this position seriously. Otherwise it might be necessary to remind him that in this great and admirable country of his there is such a thing as the Law."
"I have been told," said Tony, "that it is our supreme national achievement."
"It is at least effective," replied Da Freitas with some significance. "I understand that it takes a very definite view as to the detention of a minor from her legal guardian."
"There is only one trouble about the law in England," said Tony. "It's inclined to be slow in its operation."
Da Freitas' white teeth exhibited themselves in a smile.
"That," he observed, "is a universal weakness in legal systems, but fortunately there are ways and methods of overcoming it. In the present case, for instance, I fancy that a few words from me to your extremely courteous and obliging Foreign Office might have a very far-reaching effect."
"I am sure they would," said Tony cordially. "In fact I shouldn't be the least surprised if they reached as far as Livadia. It's extraordinary how news travels—especially interesting and romantic news of this sort."