The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 95: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

BY RIGHT OF SWORD. oS No reply. I glanced at her in the gloomy light in the cab and saw the profile set hard and immobile, with the lips pressed closely together. ‘Storm signals out,’’ thought I. ‘‘T was saying I thanked you. You acted with rare discretion and did me a great service.”’ Not a word. ‘‘Vou were not so silent just now,’’ I hazarded. “‘T was acting—with discretion.’’? She repeated my word with that relish and enjoyment which a well regulated mind always feels about a telling sarcasm. ‘‘ And what sort of discretion is this?’’ I retorted, laughing. She was silent again. ‘*T have a good'deal to tell you in explanation.’’ ‘‘T have no wish to hear anything, thank you,’’ she interposed. ‘‘I can trust your discretion ’’—much emphasis again on the word—‘‘ as completely as youcan mine. I am glad to have been of wse to youand Madame Tueski.’’ She threw the word ‘‘ use’’ at me as if it had been a bomb to be exploded in my face. 3 ‘¢ What have I done that’s wrong? I’m very sorry,’’ I said. ‘“‘T beg you not to apologize. You never used to, and as you appear to be slipping back into your old habits, it would be out of character to apolo- gize—to me. Iam only tobe used.’’ ‘*T don’t understand you.’’ There was a moment’s silence, and then she could contain her indignation no longer and burst out with the cause of it. ‘Why didn’t you send me home immediately you returned? You could surely have give me your servant as an escort. Then you would have spared me the shame and humiliation waiting during your private mterchange of confidences with that woman.”’ At that instant we stopped at her house. ‘* Please do not come in tonight,’’ she said. ‘‘ I have had to keep certain things waiting here while I was being of wse to you, and was sitting alone in your rooms ; and I have now very much to do.’’ ‘‘T am sorry to trouble you, but Iam coming in. This thing must be cleared up at once ;’’ and I followed my very angry sister into the house. She led the way to a small drawing room, and turning to me said coldly : ‘‘T am ready to hear what you wish to say.”’ I had been thinking quickly during the interval, and now changed my point of attack. . ‘“T have a very serious thing to say. You gave me your promise ‘‘T would rather you would not remind me of any promises,’’ she inter- rupted. ‘This was said deliberately, but then she broke through her cold formality, and with a little stamp of her foot finished angrily: ‘‘I won’t keep them. I won’t be reminded of them. ‘Things are altered—altogether altered.’’ ‘What I was going to say is——’’ I began, when she broke in again. ‘*T won’t hear it. I don’t want to hear any more. I wish you’d go.’’ ») Eomichook (S@)