Rose turned quickly and seized Quin's arm.
"Don't tell anybody about this, please," she implored. "I've had my lesson—the beast!"
"What did he do?" demanded Quin, longing for an excuse to annihilate Phipps.
"It wasn't so much what he did—it was what he said. But you've got to promise not to give me away, Quin. You mustn't let on that I was out to-night."
"But Cass is on to it. He's waiting there in the hall now."
She caught her breath sharply.
"Does he know who I was with?"
"Not yet."
"Then he mustn't. It would spoil everything for Papa Claude and the play; and, besides, Cass is so excitable. I haven't done anything wrong, Quin! I was just out for a little fun, and that contemptible puppy thought——"
"I wish to God I'd cracked his bean!" said Quin fervently.