Had she acted merely from a desire to see justice done and
wickedness punished? Or was it the desire of adventure? Or was it,
perhaps, the desire to be of service to His Serene Highness Prince
Aribert? 'It is no fault of mine that you are in this fix,' Jules
continued. 'I didn't bring you into it. You brought yourself into it.
You and your father - you have been moving along at a pace which
is rather too rapid.'
'That remains to be seen,' she put in coldly.
'It does,' he admitted. 'And I repeat that I can't help admiring you -
that is, when you aren't interfering with my private affairs. That is
a proceeding which I have never tolerated from anyone - not even
from a millionaire, nor even from a beautiful woman.' He bowed. 'I
will tell you what I propose to do. I propose to escort you to a
place of safety, and to keep you there till my operations are
concluded, and the possibility of interference entirely removed.
You spoke just now of murder. What a crude notion that was of
yours! It is only the amateur who practises murder - '
'What about Reginald Dimmock?' she interjected quickly.
He paused gravely.
'Reginald Dimmock,' he repeated. 'I had imagined his was a case of
heart disease. Let me send you up some more chocolate. I'm sure
you're hungry.'
'I will starve before I touch your food,' she said.
'Gallant creature!' he murmured, and his eyes roved over her face.
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