"No, Lavinia, I was not there."
"Then how do you kn-" She stopped in confusion, biting her lips. For an instant she caught a glimpse of his eyes, piercing and cold.
"How do I know?" smoothly finished his Grace "One hears things, Lavinia. Also-" he glanced round the room, "one sees things."
"I-I don't understand you!" she shot out, twisting the lace of her gown with restless, uneasy fingers.
"No? Must I then be more explicit?"
"Yes! Yes! I should be glad!"
"Then let me beg of you, my dear Lavinia, that you will commit no indiscretion."
Her cheeks flamed.
"You mean-"
"I mean that you have grown too friendly with Harold Lovelace."
"Well! What of it?"
His Grace put up his eye-glass, faintly astonished.
"What of it? Pray think a moment, Lavinia!"
"'Tis not likely that I shall be the one to disgrace the name, Tracy!"
"I sincerely hope not. I give you my word I should do all in my power to prevent any foolhardy action on your part. Pray do not forget it."
She sat silent, biting her lips.
"It is, my child, unwise to play with fire. Sooner or later one gets burnt. And remember that your gallant captain has not one half of Richard's wealth."
Up she sprang, kicking her skirts as she always did when angered.
"Money! money!-always money!" she cried. "I do not care one rap for it! And Richard is not wealthy!"
"Richard is heir to wealth," replied his Grace calmly. "And even an you are so impervious to its charms, I, my dear, am not. Richard is extremely useful to me. I beg you will not leave him for any such mad rake as Lovelace, who would be faithful to you for perhaps three months, certainly not longer."
"Tracy, I will not have you speak to me like this! How dare you insult me so? I have given you no cause! I did not say I had any desire to run away with him-and he would be faithful to me! He has been faithful all these years!"
His Grace smiled provokingly.
"My dear-!"
"Oh, I know there have been episodes-indiscretions. Do you think I count him the worse for that?"
"Evidently not."
"There has never been another serious love with him! I hate you!"
"You are overfree with your emotions, my dear. So you do indeed contemplate an elopement?"
"No, no, no! I do not! I am fond of Dicky!"
"Dear me!"
"Of course I shall not leave him!"
"Why then, I am satisfied," he answered, and rose to his feet. "I shall look to see Captain Lovelace more out of your company." He picked up his hat and cane and stood directly in front of her. One dead white hand, on which blazed a great ruby seal ring, took her little pointed chin in a firm clasp and tilted her head up until she was forced to meet his eyes. They held hers inexorably, scorchingly.