Now a woman in tears, when the tears were not caused by his own actions, was Harry's opportunity. He had ways of comforting which were as unscrupulous as they generally proved effective, and so with affectionate tenderness he took Kate's hand and held it impressively, calling her "dear." He spoke soothing words, smoothed her hair, and kissed her flushed cheeks and eyes. It was all very pleasant to Kate's hurt pride. She let Harry comfort her, and pet her a while, and at last he said: "Now tell me all about it, dear. I saw Lord Spafford trail dejectedly away from here looking like death, and I come here and find my lady in a fine fury. What has happened? If I mistake not the insufferable cad has got badly hurt, but it seems to have ruffled the lady also."
This helped. It was something to feel that David was suffering. She wanted him to suffer. He had brought shame and humiliation upon her. She never realized that the thing that shamed her was that he thought her better than she was.
"He is offensively good. I hate him!" she remarked as a kitten might who had got hurt at playing with a mouse in a trap.
The man's face grew bland with satisfaction.
"Not so good, my lady, but that he has been making love to you, if I mistake not, and he with a wife at home." The words were said quietly, but there was more of a question in them than the tone conveyed. The man wished to have evidence against his enemy.
Kate colored uneasily and drooped her lashes.
Harry studied her face keenly, and then went on cautiously: "If his wife were not your sister I should say that one might punish him well through her."
Kate cast him a hard, scrutinizing look.
"You have some score against him yourself," she said with conviction.
"Perhaps I have, my lady. Perhaps I too hate him. He is offensively good, you know."
There was silence in the room for a full minute while the devil worked in both hearts.
"What did you mean by saying one might punish him through his wife? He does not love his wife."
"Are you sure?"
"Quite sure."
"Perhaps he loves some one else, my lady."
"He does." She said it proudly.
"Perhaps he loves you, my lady." He said it softly like the suggestion from another world. The lady was silent, but he needed no other answer.