Nor could I wait till she chose to regain her composure.
Time was too precious to be wasted in any attempts to win her back to common sense, and without waiting for permission I crossed the room, rang the bell, and begged the waiter to summon the lady's maid.
She was a strongly built, matter-of-fact French woman, probably not easily disturbed; but she glanced apprehensively at her mistress, and turned a suspicious look on me.
"You had better see to your lady," I said sharply. "She has an attack of nerves. I've no doubt it will soon pass, but I'm afraid I have imparted some distressing news.
Be good enough to tell her when she recovers that I shall come back in half an hour, when I trust she will be ready to accompany me."
"What is this?" broke in Lady Henriette, suddenly interposing and evidently roused to deep interest in my words. "Accompany you?
Where, I should like to know?"
"Is that of much consequence?
You have entreated me not to leave you.
Well, we shall not part; I propose to take you away with me.
Do you object?
It was your own wish."
"I retract that.
I will not go with you; certainly not in the dark.
You must tell me first where you think of going, what you mean to do.
Is it likely that I should trust myself alone with an almost complete stranger—a man who has shown me so little consideration, who has been so unkind, so cruel, and who now wants to carry me off goodness knows where, because he is so obstinately determined that his is the right way to proceed."
"Lady Henriette," I said civilly but very coldly, and putting the drag on myself, for I confess she was trying me very hard, "let there be no misunderstanding between us.
Either you consent to my proposals absolutely and unhesitatingly, or I shall withdraw altogether from your service.
I have felt that I had a duty to Lady Claire, and I have been honestly anxious to discharge it, but by your present attitude I feel myself absolved from that duty.
I am not unwilling to accept responsibility, but only if I am allowed to act as I please."
"Oh, how like a man!
Of course you must have your own way, and every one else must give in to you," she cried with aggravating emphasis, giving me no credit for trying to choose the wisest course.
"I know I'm right," I urged, a little feebly perhaps, for I was nearly worn out by her prejudice and utterly illogical refusal to see how the land lay.
But I quickly recovered myself, and said quite peremptorily, "You shall have half an hour to make up your mind, not a minute more, Lady Henriette.
You shall give me my answer when I return.
I warn you that I shall bring a carriage in half an hour, and I strongly advise you to be ready to start with me.
Have everything packed, please, and the bill paid.
I will take no denial, remember that."
CHAPTER XXV.
I returned to my hotel vexed and irritated beyond measure by my passage at arms with Lady Henriette Standish, and hating the prospect of any further dealings with her.
I very cordially echoed her repeated cry for Lady Claire.
Matters would have been very different had her strong-minded sister been on the spot to use her influence and help us with her counsel.
What a contrast between the two women!
I was more and more drawn to the one, and more and more heartily despised the other.
With my mind full of the beautiful creature who had made me a willing captive to her charms, her gracious presence was recalled to me by a message from under her own hand. As I passed the threshold of my hotel, the hall porter gave me a telegram from Lady Claire.
It had come via London, but the office of origin was Marseilles.
"Reached so far, yesterday," it said. "One of them turned up this morning—have no fear—exchange not effected—shall remain here for the present—Hotel Terminus.
"Claire."
I read and re-read this passage with a delightful feeling that it brought me into touch with my love, and I may be permitted for seeing in it clear proof of her bright wit and intelligence.
She told me just exactly all that it was essential to know: of the pursuit, of the absence of pressing danger, of the abortive attempt to exchange babies, and where she was to be found.
Suppose that I had not met Lady Henriette, I was fully prepared for anything that might occur.
It was now barely 10 a.m., and the time intervening before the departure of the eastward bound express (three and a half hours) was none too much to carry out my intentions as to Lady Henriette.
I first of all ordered a covered landau to be harnessed as speedily as possible, and to be sent to await me in a side street near the Hotel Modena; then I summoned l'Echelle and bade him make all ready for the journey.
I also told him that I should be busily engaged that forenoon; but that as I might be obliged to run it very close for the train, he was to make all preparations, to take the tickets, and await me on the platform.
I had debated anxiously with myself how far I should betray the presence of Lady Henriette in Aix to l'Echelle, and decided that, although I had no particular reason to doubt him, I felt that it would be more prudent to keep the fact to myself.
For the same reason I kept him busily engaged in my bedroom packing, lest he should spy upon my movements.
There was still the fear that Falfani might be on the watch, but I had been assured by l'Echelle that the Blackadder party were so satisfied by the news he gave them that they left the business of shadowing almost entirely to him.
I was pretty sure that I reached the Hotel Modena unobserved.
I came upon the carriage by the way, and as I passed briefly desired the driver to follow me to the Hotel Modena.
Arriving there, I sent up my name, and followed it, a little unceremoniously, to Lady Henriette's sitting-room.