Part 42 (1/2)
Then she came a few steps to meet him
”Mr Courtlaw, is it not,” she remarked, with lifted eyebrows ”Really it is very kind of you to have found me out”
He was bereft of words for apassed him on deftly to one of the later arrivals
”Lady Mackinnor,” she said, ”I am sure that you must have heard of Mr
David Courtlaw Permit me to make him known to you--Mr Courtlaw--Lady Mackinnor”
With a lided away, and Courtlaho had come with a mission which seemed to him to be one of life or death, was left to listen to the latest art jargon fro all the tist her guests, always gay, with a sly he admired her To hi parasite--sonificant He had pictured her, if indeed she had ever had the courage to do this thing, as sitting alone, convulsed with guilty fear, starting at her own shadow, a slave to constant terror And instead he found her playing the great lady, and playing it well She knew, or guessed his hed er He left his coe, and boldly intercepted his hostess as she roup to join another
”Can you spare e from your sister”
”Are you in a hurry,” she asked carelessly ”A lot of these people will be going presently”
”My ent,” he said firmly ”If you cannot listen to ed her shoulders and led him towards a small recess ”So you come from Anna, do you?” she re consciousness,” he said ”He will probably ht”
”That sounds very interesting,” she answered coolly ”Perhaps I should better be able to understand its significance if you would explain to ue Hill is”
”Your husband,” he answered bluntly
She did not wince She laughed a little contemptuously
”You and Anna,” she said, ”seem to have stue, pray return to her and say that the doings and sayings of Mr Montague Hill do not interest me in the least”
”Don't be foolish,” he said sharply ”You were seen to leave the flat, and your handkerchief was found there Very likely by this time the whole truth is known”
She s smile, but her words defied him
”What a beautifuland nodding your grave heads together Bah! She does not know me very well, and you--not at all Do have soo then”
Courtlaas dismissed As he passed out he saw in the hall a quietly dressedto one of the footmen He shi+vered and looked behind as he stepped into his hansom Had it come already?
_Chapter XXVII_
JOHN FERRINGHAM, GENTLEMAN
”Confess, htly, ”that you are bewildered”
Sir John smiled