“I will, I will.”
At that moment, a maid came to the door, with Funkelstein’s card for Miss
Cameron.
“Very well,” said Margaret; “ask him to wait. I will tell Miss Cameron.
She may wish to send him a message. You may go.”
She told Euphra that the count was in the house. Euphra showed no
surprise, no fear, no annoyance.
“Will you see him for me, Margaret, if you don’t mind; and tell him from
me, that I defy him; that I do not hate him, only because I despise and
forget him; that I challenge him to do his worst.”
She had forgotten all about the ring. But Margaret had not.
“I will,” said she, and left the room.
On her way down, she went into the drawing-room, and rang the bell.
“Send Mr. Irwan to me here, please. It is for Miss Cameron.”
The man went, but presently returned, saying that the butler had just
stepped out.
“Very well. You will do just as well. When the gentleman leaves who is
calling now, you must follow him. Take a cab, if necessary, and follow him
everywhere, till you find where he stops for the night. Watch the place,
and send me word where you are. But don’t let him know. Put on plain
clothes, please, as fast as you can.”
“Yes, Miss, directly.”
The servants all called Margaret, Miss.
She lingered yet a little, to give the man time. She was not at all
satisfied with her plan, but she could think of nothing better. Happily,
it was not necessary. Irwan had run as fast as his old legs would carry
him to the Golden Staff. Hugh received the news with delight. His heart
seemed to leap into his throat, and he felt just as he did, when,
deer-stalking for the first time, he tried to take aim at a great red
stag.
“I shall wait for him outside the door. We must have no noise in the
house. He is a thief, or worse, Irwan.”
“Good gracious! And there’s the plate all laid out for dinner on the
sideboard!” exclaimed Irwan, and hurried off faster than he had come.
But Hugh was standing at the door long before Irwan got up to it. Had
Margaret known who was watching outside, it would have been a wonderful
relief to her.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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