"Now what is your ideal society, Miss Lorimer?"
"A society not of class, caste, or family—but of picked individuals."
"I think we tend more and more towards such a society, at least in London," said Lord Watergate; then added, "You are a democrat, Miss Lorimer."
"And you are an optimist, Lord Watergate."
"Oh, I'm quite unformulated. But let us leave off this mutual recrimination for the present; and perhaps you can tell me who is the lady talking to Sidney Darrell."
Lord Watergate's attention had been suddenly caught by Phyllis; Gertrude noted that he was looking at her with all his eyes.
"That is one of my sisters," she said.
He turned towards her with a start; there was a note of constraint in his tones as he said—
"She is very beautiful."
What was there in his voice, in his face, that suddenly brought before Gertrude's vision the image of the dead woman, her golden hair, and haggard beauty?