"Do not distress yourself, I pray. I have
dined at the club, and I have only come home to change. I am on my way to
a party. I would not have intruded if your maid had shown her usual
discretion."
Josephine ignored the insolent innuendo.
"You do not know my husband, I think, Mr. Wingate," she said,--"Mr. John
Wingate--Lord Dredlinton."
The newcomer's manner underwent a sudden change.
"What, John Wingate from New York?" he exclaimed.
Wingate assented briefly. Lord Dredlinton advanced at once with
outstretched hand. All the amiability which he could muster at a moment's
notice was diffused into his tone and manner.
"My dear sir," he said, "I am delighted to meet you. I have just been
dining with our mutual friend, Peter Phipps, and your name was the last
mentioned. I, in fact, accepted a commission to find you out and convey a
message from Phipps. There is a little matter in which you are both
indirectly interested which he wants to discuss."
Wingate had risen to his feet. By the side of the slighter man, his
height and appearance seemed almost imposing.
"To be quite frank with you, Lord Dredlinton," he said, as he returned
the newcomer's greeting without enthusiasm, "I cannot imagine any subject
in which I could share an interest with Mr. Phipps."
Lord Dredlinton was politely surprised.
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