The Duke looked at his watch. “Eight-twenty! The Savoy would be rather a rush for you.” He called across to Monsieur Ferdinand: “To the cottage!”
Five minutes later they stopped before the Duke’s small house in a lane adjoining the Heath.
“Monsieur Alphonse, here’s your opportunity. A nice little dinner in a quarter of an hour for mademoiselle and myself!”
“It shall be so, Monsieur le——”
“Quick, quick!” interrupted the Duke. “Excuse me one moment. Frank, show Miss Hordern in, and see to her wants. I must have a word with Ferdinand.”
Angela Hordern entered the little house full of a pleasurable anticipation. All was ready for them; fresh flowers bloomed everywhere; The Observer and The Referee lay on the table. She turned to Frank in a sudden surprise:
“He meant to come here all the time?”
“No, madam. But this is always kept ready by his Gra——,—by my master’s orders.”
“He must be very rich!”
“I am given to understand that the revenue has decreased slightly of late,” was Frank’s answer, given with admirable carelessness.