An unpleasant alternative, neatly defined! To disavow Mr. Le Frank or to use Mr. Le Frank—there was the case for Mrs. Gallilee’s consideration. She was incapable of pronouncing judgment; the mere effort of decision, after what she had suffered, fatigued and irritated her. “I can’t deny,” she said, with weary resignation, “that you have done me a service.”
He rose, and made a generous return for the confidence that had been placed in him—he repeated his magnificent bow, and sat down again.
“Our position towards each other seems too plain to be mistaken,” he proceeded. “Your niece’s letter—perfectly useless for the purpose with which I opened it—offers me a means of being even with Miss Carmina, and a chance of being useful to You. Shall I begin by keeping an eye on the young lady?”
“Is that said, Mr. Le Frank, out of devotion to me?”
“My devotion to you might wear out,” he answered audaciously. “You may trust my feeling towards your niece to last—I never forget an injury. Is it indiscreet to inquire how you mean to keep Miss Carmina from joining her lover in Quebec? Does a guardian’s authority extend to locking her up in her room?”
Mrs. Gallilee felt the underlying familiarity in these questions—elaborately concealed as it was under an assumption of respect.
“My niece is no longer in my house,” she answered coldly.
“Gone!” cried Mr. Le Frank.
She corrected the expression. “Removed,” she said, and dropped the subject there.
Mr. Le Frank took the subject up again. “Removed, I presume, under the care of her nurse?” he rejoined.