may as well have it on a grand scale. If you come back, madame, to annoy me, why then I shall know that I may as well go in for the entire cucumber, and act accordingly."
"You will shoot me?"
"I guess it will come to that. You are a woman of great discrimination. I shall remove you, and I can do it with a better grace after you have been away a bit. So you know what to expect. And now, as we have had this friendly chat, there is no reason why we should quarrel. Loo-cill, here's my hand."
She burst into a bitter laugh.
"Do you think I am going to take it? If by grasping it I could make it wither, I would seize it and hold it to my heart."
"Why, what have I done, madame?"
"Why, you have robbed me of my last chance. If you had stood by me I might have pulled through. Well, it will be pleasant reading to see a report of your death."
"I daresay it will," said the colonel, biting his lip until the blood came. "In the meantime you can read this. And now, madame, I have to bid you adoo."
And laying down a marked paper before her, he stalked away.
Lucille, left to herself, remained for some moments buried in the deepest thoughts. What should she do next? She had expected the
