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Lovelace returned the bow with much flourish.
"Your Grace!"
"Dear me, Tracy!" cried Lavinia, advancing. "What an unexpected visit!"
"I trust I have not arrived at an inopportune moment, my dear?"
"Oh, no!" she assured him. "I am quite charmed to see you! But at suchan early hour--! I confess, it quite astonishes me!" She brought him toa chair, chattering like a child, and so innocent was his expression, sosmiling his attitude towards the Captain, that she imagined that hesuspected nothing, and had not noticed her blushes.
It was only when Lovelace had departed that she was undeceived. Then,when his Grace moved to a chair opposite her, she saw that he wasfrowning slightly.
"You--you are put out over something, Tracy?" she asked nervously.
The frown deepened.
"N-no. I am not 'put out.' I merely anticipate the sensation."
"I--I don't understand. What mean you?"
"At present, nothing."
"Tracy, please do not be mysterious! Are you like to be put out?"
"I trust not, Lavinia."
"But what annoys you?"
Instead of answering, he put a question:
"I hope you amused yourself well--last night, my dear sister?"
She flushed. Last night had been Lady Davenant's masquerade, to whichLord Robert had conducted her. She had danced almost exclusively withLovelace the whole evening, but as they were both masked, she was rathersurprised at the question.
"I enjoyed myself quite tolerably, thank you. You were there?"
"No, Lavinia, I was not there."
"Then how do you kn--" She stopped in confusion, biting her lips. For aninstant 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 gownwith 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 noindiscretion."
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.
