"
"If I can arrange," Mr. de Valentin continued, with some eagerness, "that
she should not have left!"
I hesitated for a moment.
"Mr. de Valentin," I said, "I cannot conceive what cause for
embarrassment could arise from my presence in Lenox at the same time as
yourself. I do not ask you to tell me your secrets; but, in the absence
of some more valid reason for staying away, I shall certainly not break
my present engagement."
There was a silence between us for several moments. Mr. de Valentin was
fingering his cigarette case nervously.
"I am perhaps asking too much of a stranger, Mr. Courage," he said. "The
matter is of the deepest importance to me, or I would not have troubled
you. Supposing Miss Van Hoyt should herself fix the date of your visit,
and engage to be there?"
"That," I answered, "would, of course, be sufficient for me."
Mr. de Valentin rose from his seat.
"We will leave it like that then," he said. "I must apologize, Mr.
Courage, for having troubled you with my private affairs, and wish you
good-night!"
We separated a few moments later, and I went down to my state-room.
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