"Oh, dear, no," answered Nina, laughing. "Did it sound like that? I was thinking faster than I talked. I was wondering about her father—her real, own father, I mean. Not the diamond man—not Veynol."
But still he looked at her, a question showing through his eyes.
"Is—is he still alive?"
"You've been reading British Society," he charged.
"Was there something in that about him? I swear I haven't seen the nasty rag in years."
"I saw it," he said. "It purported to give the real reason for the breaking off of my engagement. But it wasn't true. What it said I'd never so much as heard."
"What did it say?"
"It slandered Rosamond's father. And I'll not add to the slander by repeating it."
"Oh!" exclaimed Nina. "Then you don't hate the whole family."
But Carleigh made no reply. He shrugged his shoulders and, leaning forward, gazed moodily for a moment at a depending golden globe a half-dozen yards away.