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Wingrave's face was expressionless, but his tone betrayed his incredulity. "A dancing class at Islington! Nonsense!" "Mind," the young man asserted, "it was her mistress who put her up to this! It was nothing to do with her. It was for her mistress's sake." "Do you know the mistress?" Wingrave asked. "No; I don't know her name even. Never heard it." "Your letter, then, was from the maid?"
"'My lord, he said, 'I have no questions to ask this witness! "Everyone staggered. Wingrave's few friends were horrified. After that there was, of course, no hope for him. He got fifteen years' penal servitude."
"Something terrible has happened. I heard through the telephone." The man dashed up the stairs by her side. Wingrave's suite was on the first floor, and they did not wait for the lift. The commissionaire put his finger on the bell of the outside door. She leaned forward, listening breathlessly. Inside all was silence except for the shrill clamor of the bell.
The shares in a company which everyone believed to be worthless stood at thirty dollars, and not a share was offered. A small pandemonium reigned in Wingrave's sitting room. The telephone rang all the time; the place was besieged with brokers. Then Wingrave showed his hand. He had bought these shares to hold; he did not intend to sell one.
They passed plenty of people who bowed, and many who glanced with wondering admiration at the beautiful girl who sat by Wingrave's side. Lady Ruth, who drive by quickly in a barouche, almost rose from her seat; the Marchioness, whose victoria they passed, had time to wave her hand and flash a quick, searching glance at Juliet, who returned it with her dark eyes filled with admiration.
"You are happy here?" "Perfectly!" "Then, for heaven's sake, forget all this folly," Wingrave said hardly. "London is no place for children. Miss Harrison can take you up for a month when you choose. You can go abroad if you want to. But for the rest " She rose suddenly, and sweeping across the office with one graceful movement, she leaned over Wingrave's chair.
The carriage had scarcely stopped when she sprang out and crossed the pavement in a few hasty steps. The tall commissionaire looked in amazement at her. She wore an opera cloak she was a bewildering vision of white satin and diamonds, and her eyes were terrible with the fear which was in her heart. She clutched him by the arm. "Come up with me to Mr. Wingrave's rooms," she exclaimed.
"On the telephone, at this time of night?" Lady Ruth exclaimed. "Ridiculous! They must send a message, whoever they are!" "Parkins told them so, your ladyship," the girl answered; "but they insisted that the matter was important. They would give no name, but said that they were speaking from Mr. Wingrave's rooms." Lady Ruth raised her eyebrows.
"I wish I had a millionaire in the family," she murmured. "All the same, I hate large parties. I am old-fashioned enough to think that two is a delightful number." Lady Ruth laid her hand upon Wingrave's arm. "A decided hint, Mr. Wingrave," she declared. "Come and let me introduce you to my sister. Our box is only a few yards off." Wingrave had just come in from an early gallop.
Someone most unfortunately happened to tell him that they had left the run together, and had been seen riding together towards White Lodge, which was the name of the house where these two young men lived. Lumley followed them. He rode into the stable yard, and found there Ruth's mare and Wingrave's covert hack, from which he had not changed when they had left the field.
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