"They were to have started this week," said the Russian prince, "and there is to be quite a large party, I hear. A young American who was with them was called away suddenly last week, and, as the trip was arranged for his special amusement--by the Lady Jane, I was told--his departure upset the plans a trifle." Quentin and Savage, who had heard the remarks glanced at one another in surprise.
"I should enjoy being with them," said the former, warmly. "My friend, Mr. Savage, was invited, I think," he added, and Dickey studiously consulted the salad. He had not been invited and the announcement that the Saxondales were off for the north of England was news to him.
"Oh, certainly," exclaimed Ugo; "he was their guest. And the Lady Jane arranged it, you say, Kapolski? Draft horses could not have been strong enough to pull me away from London had she planned for my pleasure. You must discover the fault in him, my dear Quentin, and hold him to account for a very reprehensible act." Ugo knew that Dickey was listening, and the first point in a beautiful game was scored.
"Mr. Savage does not care for shooting," said Phil, flushing slightly. The Russian prince had been looking at him intently; a peculiar flash came into his eye when Quentin made the defensive remark.
"But there is game to be had without resorting to the gun," he said, smiling blandly.
"One doesn't have to go to a shooting box to bag it, though," said Sallaconi, mischievously.
"I think the hunter uses bow and arrow exclusively," added Ugo, and there was a general laugh, which sent a streak of red up Dickey's cheeks. If the Russian's news was true he had been purposely slighted by the Saxondales. And yet it was not altogether humiliation or wounded pride that brought the red to his cheek. He and the Lady Jane had quarrelled just before he left her, and while he hated her and she hated him and all that, still he did not care to hear her name bandied about by the wine sippers at this delectable table.
"What are they talking about?" asked the American millionaire of Dickey, his curiosity aroused by the laughter of a moment before.
"About as nasty as they can," growled Dickey. "That's their style, you know."
"Whew! You don't have much of an opinion of nobility. Beware of the prince," said the other, in a low tone.
