"Oh, I only mean that you were first with Sir Robert, then with Mr. Medland, and now with Sir Robert again! And presently with Mr. Medland again, I suppose?"
"She doesn't appreciate the political reasons," began Lady Eynesford, with troubled brow and smiling lips; but Coxon, frowning angrily, broke in,
"Not the last, I promise you, anyhow, Miss Derosne."
"What, you think he's finally beaten then?"
"That's not the question. Beaten or not, he is discredited, and no respectable man would act with him."
"We needn't discuss—" began Lady Eynesford again, but this time Alicia was the interrupter. She spoke in a cold, hard way, very unlike her own.
"If he won, you would all be at his feet."
Coxon was justified in being angry at her almost savage scorn of him; regardless of anything except his wrong, he struck back the sharpest blow he could.
"I know some people are very ready to be at his feet," he said, with a sneering smile.