Before he could reply to her, the conversation was again interrupted. The machine had brought a Dowager Lady Rollox and an Honorable Edith Rollox to see his mistress.
The marchioness seized the occasion with the instinct of a match-maker.
“Come and help me to talk to these stupid people,” she breathed hurriedly in Despencer’s ear, as she rose and went to meet the newcomers. Despencer meekly obeyed.
The little piece of by-play between her mother and Despencer had not been lost on the Lady Victoria Mauleverer. As soon as she and Hammond were left together she inquired, with an air of doubt:
“Do you know anything about this Belle Yorke?”
Hammond roused himself with a start from his reflections.
“I? Belle Yorke? Yes, yes. I know something about her.”
“I hope there’s nothing wrong about her coming here?” pursued Victoria, with superb coolness. “She won’t do anything dreadful, will she?”
Hammond braced himself up.
“I have the honor of being a friend of Miss Yorke’s, and I respect her as much as any other lady of my acquaintance,” he said firmly.