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As it so happened--though as yet the girls were ignorant of the fact--they had no need to be afraid of the Countess Saens for the present. She had been cleverly fooled by a trick, as Lechmere learnt directly he was out of the house after hearing the Countess read her wire to Hunt, of the 'Mercury.' Just for a moment Hunt had suspected the King of Asturia of a further act of treachery. But no sooner was he out of the house than Prince Peretori pounced upon him. There was a keen glitter in his eyes.
"Well?" he asked. "I left you in that place yonder with a purpose. Did my bait take?"