第7章

"Now, concerning what follows, I have, since then, entertained some doubts whether I behaved in all respects discreetly. You will allow that the position was a difficult one, but it is, Iadmit, very possible that my wisest course would have been to make an apology and turn tail as quickly as I could. Well, Ididn't. I thought that I owed the lady a full explanation.

Besides, I wanted a full explanation myself. Finally (oh, yes, I see you fellows grinning and winking), Mary was not there, and this young lady rather interested me. I decided that I would have five minutes' talk with her; then I would run back and find Mary.

"`I must beg a thousand pardons,' I began, `but I took you for somebody else.""`Oh, of course,' said she, with a shrug, `it's always that.'

"`You appear incredulous,' said I, rather offended.

"`Well, and if I am?' said she.

"My feelings were hurt. I produced Mary's second note.

"`If I can trust to your discretion, I'll prove what I say,' Iremarked in a nettled tone.

"`I shall be very curious to hear the proof, sir, and I will be most discreet,' she said. She was pouting, but her eyes danced.

Really, she looked very pretty--although, of course, I would not for a moment compare her with Lady Mary.

"`A lady,' said I, `was so kind as to tell me to seek her here this morning.'

"`Oh, as if I believed that!'

"I was piqued.

"`There's the proof,' I cried, flinging the note into her lap.

"She took it up, glanced at it, and gave a little shriek.

"`Where did you get this?'

"`Why, from the head waiter.'

"`Oh, the fool!' she cried. `It's mine.'

"`Yours? nonsense! He gave me that and another last night.'

"`Oh, the stupidity! They were for--they were not for you. They were for--someone who is to arrive.'

"I pointed at the signature and gasped, `M.! Do you sign M.?'

"`Yes; my name's--my name begins with M. Oh, if I'd only seen that waiter this morning! Oh, the idiot!'

"Then I believe I swore.

"`Madame,' said I, `I'm ruined! No harm is done to you--I'm a man of honor--but I'm ruined. On the strength of your wretched notes, madame, I've cut the girl I love best in the world--cut her dead--dead--dead!'

"`What? That young lady in the---- Oh, you thought they were from her? Oh, I see? How--how--oh, how very amusing!' And the heartless little wretch went off into another peal of laughter.

"`You pretended not to know her! Oh, dear! oh, dear!' and her laughter echoed among the trees again. `I saw her looking at you, and you ate on like a pig! Oh, dear! oh, dear!'

"`Stop laughing!' said I savagely.

"`Oh, I'm very sorry, but I can't. What a scrape you've go into!

Oh, me!' And she wiped her eyes (they were as blue as her cloak)with a delicate bit of a handkerchief.

"`You shan't laugh,' said I. `Who were your notes for?'

"`Somebody I expected. He hasn't come. The waiter took you for him, I suppose. I never thought of his being so stupid. Oh, what a brute she must have thought you!' And she began to laugh again.

"I had had enough of it. I hate being laughed at.

"`If you go on laughing,' said I, `I'll kiss you again.'

"The threat was a failure; she did not appear at all alarmed.

"`Not you!' she said, laughing worse than ever.