The Lady Paramount

  XVI

  "Own up--and name the day," said Miss Sandus, when she had heardSusanna's story. "There 's nothing left for you to do, my dear, but tomake a clean breast of it, and name the happy day."

  They were in the billiard-room, after luncheon. Miss Sandus wassipping coffee, while Susanna, cue in hand, more or less absentlyknocked about the balls. So that their remarks were punctuated by anerratic series of ivory _toc-tocs_.

  "I 'm afraid if I own up," she answered, "there won't be any happy day.He swore that no earthly consideration could induce him to make anysort of terms with my branch of the family. Those were his very words."

  _Toc_--she pocketed the red.

  "Fudge," pronounced Miss Sandus. "Capital words for eating. He 'llgobble, he 'll bolt 'em. Give him the chance. It's astonishing howbecoming it is to you young women to play billiards, how it brings outthe grace of your blessed figures. Say, 'I, even I, am your cousin.Do you still decline to marry her?'--and see what he 'll do. No,no--you want to take it a little more to the right and lower down.That's it." (_Toc-toc_--Susanna made a cannon.) "He 'll jump at you.I know the man. There 's no possible question of it. So I must bethinking of the gown I 'm to wear as bridesmaid."

  She laughed, and put down her cup.

  Susanna, trying for another cannon, fluked another pocket.

  "No," she said. "That would be to miss half the fun of the situation.The thing must be more dramatic. Besides, I want it to happen atSampaolo. I want him to go to Sampaolo. And I want to tempt him andtest him.

  "'Not so, said she, but I will see If there be any faith in man.'"

  she quoted (or misquoted?--I forget). "He shall go to Sampaolo and betempted. With his own eyes he shall behold the heritage of theValdeschi. Then he shall be approached by his cousin's friends,--bythe reluctant but obedient Commendatore Fregi, for example,--and sorelytempted. I 've got rather a subtle little scheme. I 'll explain it toyou later--he 'll be arriving at any moment now. He shall leave forSampaolo to-morrow morning. You and I will leave the morning after, ifyou please. Only, of course, he's to know nothing about that--he's tosuppose that we 're remaining here."

  She attempted a somewhat delicate stroke off the cushion, and achievedit.

  "Good shot," approved Miss Sandus. "But you are forgetting Mr. Willes.Mr. Willes will tell him."

  "No, I 've not forgotten Mr. Willes," said Susanna. "I should n't verymuch mind letting Mr. Willes into my confidence. But I think on thewhole I 'll make him take Mr. Willes with him."

  "You 're nothing if not arbitrary," Miss Sandus laughed.

  "I come of a line of tyrants," said Susanna. "And, anyhow, what's thegood of possessing power, if you 're not to exercise and enjoy it?"

  The clock on the mantelpiece began to strike three.

  "Mr. Craford," announced a servant.

  Miss Sandus fled from the room by a French window.

  Susanna returned her cue to the rack.