One of my objects in coming to this
side is to consider whether I can find any reasonable means of attacking
the very disgraceful trust with which you and he are associated."
Lord Dredlinton remained entirely unruffled. He shrugged his shoulders
with an air of protest.
"You are a little severe, Mr. Wingate," he said, "but I promise you that
Phipps shall keep his temper and that I will not be drawn into a quarrel.
I am very pleased to see you here. My wife's friends are always mine.--If
you will excuse me, I will go and change my clothes now. I have been
inveigled into the last word of our present-day frivolities--a theatrical
supper party."
He turned away, with an enigmatic smile at his wife and a ceremonious
bow to Wingate, and closed the door behind him carefully. They heard his
retreating footsteps on the stairs; then Wingate resumed his seat by
Josephine's side.
"Do you mind?" he asked.
"Not a scrap," she replied. "Besides, it has given Henry such immense
pleasure. I am quite sure that he never believed it possible that I
should be found holding another man's hand. Or," she went on, with a
little grimace, "that any other man would want to hold it."
"It is possible," Wingate said deliberately, "that your husband may have
further surprises of that nature in store for him."
She laughed. "Is that a threat?"
"If you like to regard it as such.
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