"Precisely!"
He tossed away his cigar and slowly lit another.
"Of course, Armand, that is your privilege; but, then, you must pardon
the further inference that to decline to answer is, really, to answer
in the affirmative."
"You are responsible for your inferences, not I," I replied curtly.
He leaned a bit forward. "Let us take up my first question," he said.
"Have you ever considered what you were likely to encounter if you
undertook to filch the Crown?"
"Filch?" I interrupted.
"Steal, then, if you prefer. I forgot we were to use plain terms."
"Very true," said I. "Proceed."
"Do you think that I, who have been the Heir Presumptive since the
instant of my birth, almost, will calmly step aside and permit you to
take my place?"