"Already," she said, "you are beginning to scent the delight of
the atmosphere. You are stiffening for the fight. Soon--"
"Ah, no! Don't say it," he whispered, taking her hand. "I shall
never forget. If the fight seems good to me it is because you are
the prize, and after all, you know, to fight for one's womenkind
is amongst the primeval instincts."
Lady Carey, who had been pacing the room restlessly, touching an
ornament here, looking at a picture there, came back to them and
stood before Mr. Sabin. She had caught his last words.
"Primeval instincts!" she exclaimed mockingly. "What do you know
about them, you of all men, a bundle of nerves and brains, with a
motor for a heart, and an automatic brake upon your passions? Upon
my word, I believe that I have solved the mystery of your perennial
youth. You have found a way of substituting machinery for the human
organ, and you are wound up to go for ever."
"You have found me out," he admitted. "Professor Penningram of
Chicago will supply you too with an outfit. Mention my name if you
like. It is a wonderful country America."
The Prince came over to them, fair and bland with no trace upon his
smooth features or in his half-jesting tone of any evil things.
"Souspennier," he said, holding out his hand, "welcome back once
more to your old place.
Pages:
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147