The voice of James at the door produced a silence so profound that after a short pause he repeated his message in a louder tone. "Sir Geoffrey Beaudesert is below, my Lady, and wishes to see your ladyship most particularly." "You had better see him," said Peggie, in response to Prue’s startled and questioning glance. "I will see Sir Geoffrey," said Prue. "Tell him I will be down immediately." "Shall I come with you?" asked Peggie. "Oh, no, no. I can play my little comedy better to an audience of one; besides, _you_ know the truth!" she cried, and ran to the mirror to see if the battery of her charms was in order for the fray. Sir Geoffrey, his face set in a mechanical smile, met her with a deep bow and pressed a ceremonious kiss upon her extended hand. "Permit your slave to offer his humble congratulations, my dear Prudence," he said; "I hear that you have distinguished yourself with even more than your usual brilliancy." "You allude to the fortunate accident that enabled me to return the lost necklace to Her Majesty, I presume?" Prue replied, seating herself and negligently pointing with her fan to a sufficiently distant chair. "I assure you I deem myself most happy in rendering a service, which has been only too highly appreciated, but I can not lay claim to brilliancy, for I was but a passive instrument." "The brilliancy I refer to, dear Viscountess, was not so much the ’fortunate accident’ as the ready wit by which you turned so compromising an adventure to such good account," said Sir Geoffrey significantly. The challenge of his tone and words was unmistakable and Prue responded with more spirit than wisdom. "You must speak more plainly if you wish to be understood," she answered. "Compromising adventures, you know very well, are not rare in my experience—or yours"—she laughed rather maliciously—"but I seldom turn them to good account. Now, the accident that gave the queen’s necklace into my hands—" "Was the happy result of a little visit to Newgate," interposed Sir Geoffrey, with veiled insolence. "Why beat about the bush with me, dearest girl? I know who gave you the necklace—when he was warned, by you, of the danger of keeping it! and how it came about that he was lucky enough to escape before the soldiers arrived to arrest him." "What in the world are you talking about, Sir Geoffrey?" she cried, with rather over-acted bewilderment. "What is every one talking about to-day, but the madcap viscountess, who coaxed the highwayman out of the stolen necklace, and being caught in the trap that was limed for Robin Freemantle, circumvented the soldiers, cozened the Duchess of Marlborough and beguiled the Queen’s Majesty. Am I not right in congratulating you on such a brilliant series of achievements?"