Instinctively he turned--and met a pair of eyes as hard and cold and gray as new steel.
"That," said he, "sounds like a threat." "And if it were, Monsieur, and if it were ?" "If it were, I should say that you had discovered that I know too much.
I suspected from the first; the picture merely confirmed my suspicions.
I see now that it was thoughtless in me not to have told my friend; but it is not too late." "And why, I ask, have I not suppressed you before this ?" "Till to-day, Madame, you had not given me your particular consideration." Then, as if the conversation was not interesting him, he returned to the berries.

"There's a fine one there.

It's a little high; but then!" He tiptoed, drew the branch from the wall, and snatched the luscious fruit.

"Ah!" "Monsieur, attend to me; the berries can wait." "Madame, the life of a good blackberry is short." "To begin with, you say that I did not show you consideration.

Few princes have been shown like consideration." "I was wrong.