"
Convicted of imaginary adventure with noble ladies, the Captain made his
retreat, muttering, back to the hotel. At lunch Denry related the exact
circumstances to a delighted table, and the exact circumstances soon
reached the Clutterbuck faction at the Metropole. On the following day
the Clutterbuck faction and Captain Deverax (now fully enlightened) left
Mont Pridoux for some paradise unknown. If murderous thoughts could
kill, Denry would have lain dead. But he survived to go with about half
the Beau-Site guests to the funicular station to wish the Clutterbucks a
pleasant journey. The Captain might have challenged him to a duel but a
haughty and icy ceremoniousness was deemed the best treatment for Denry.
"Never show a wound" must have been the Captain's motto.
The Beau-Site had scored effectively. And, now that its rival had lost
eleven clients by one single train, it beat the Metropole even in vulgar
numbers.
Denry had an embryo of a conscience somewhere, and Nellie's was fully
developed.
"Well," said Denry, in reply to Nellie's conscience, "it serves him
right for making me look a fool over that Geneva business.
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