"In every
country of the world, the animal world as well as the human
world, the male resents his female being taken from him.
Directly he ceases to resent it, he becomes degenerate. Surely
you must agree with me, Mr. Leddam?"
"It comes to this, then," Francis pronounced deliberately, "that
you stage-managed the whole affair."
Sir Timothy smiled.
"It is my belief, Mr. Ledsam," he said, "that you grow more and
more intelligent every hour."
Sir Timothy glanced presently at his thin gold watch and put it
back in his pocket regretfully.
"Alas!" he sighed, "I fear that I must tear myself away. I
particularly want to hear the last act of 'Louise.' The new
Frenchwoman sings, and my daughter is alone. You will excuse
me."
Francis nodded silently. His companion's careless words had
brought a sudden dazzling vision into his mind. Sir Timothy
scrawled his name at the foot of his bill.
"It is one of my axioms in life, Mr. Ledsam," he continued, "that
there is more pleasure to be derived from the society of one's
enemies than one's friends. If I thought you sufficiently
educated in the outside ways of the world to appreciate this, I
would ask if you cared to accompany me?"
Francis did not hesitate for a moment.
"Sir Timothy," he said, "I have the greatest detestation for you,
and I am firmly convinced that you represent all the things in
life abhorrent to me.
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