"Permit me to ask you, Clara," continued Lord Winsleigh calmly, "if you,--as you say, know nothing about Violet Vere, why did you go to the Brilliant Theatre yesterday morning?"
She flashed an angry glance at him.
"Why? To secure a box for the new performance. Is there anything wonderful in that?"
Her husband remained unmoved. "May I see the voucher for this box?" he inquired.
"I've sent it to some friends," replied her ladyship haughtily. "Since when have you decided to become an inquisitor, my lord?"
"Lady Winsleigh," said Philip suddenly and eagerly, "will you swear to me that you have said or done nothing to make my Thelma leave me?"
"Oh, she has left you, has she?" and Lady Clara smiled maliciously. "I thought she would! Why don't you ask your dear friend, George Lorimer, about her? He is madly in love with her, as everybody knows,--she is probably the same with him!"
"Clara, Clara!" exclaimed Lord Winsleigh in accents of deep reproach. "Shame on you! Shame!"
Her ladyship laughed amusedly. "Please don't be tragic!" she said; "it's too ridiculous! Sir Philip has only himself to blame. Of course, Thelma knows about his frequent visits to the Brilliant Theatre. I told her all that Sir Francis said. Why should she be kept in the dark? I dare say she doesn't mind--she's very fond of Mr. Lorimer!"
Errington felt as though he must choke with fury. He forgot the presence of Lord Winsleigh--he forgot everything but his just indignation.
"My God!" he cried passionately. "You dare to speak so!--you!"
"Yes I!" she returned coolly, measuring him with a glance. "I dare! What have you to say against me?" She drew herself up imperiously.
Then turning to her husband, she said, "Have the goodness to take your excited friend away, my lord! I am going out--I have a great many engagements this morning--and I really cannot stop to discuss this absurd affair any longer! It isn't my fault that Sir Philip's excessive admiration for Miss Vere has become the subject of gossip--I don't blame him for it! He seems extremely ill-tempered about it; after all, 'ce n'est que la vérité qui blesse!'"
And she smiled maliciously.