Fricker's name caught Lord Glentorly's ear; he glanced round. Mervyn still noticed nothing.
'I haven't seen them for a long while,' answered Trix in steady tones, her eyes defying him.
He waited a moment, then he went on, raising his voice a little.
'You must have heard from Fricker anyhow, if not from the ladies? He told me he'd written to you.'
Mervyn turned round sharply. Emerging from the enumeration of the strong points of his Chief and himself, he had become conscious that a man was talking to Trix and saying that some other man had written to her. He looked questioningly at Glentorly; that statesman seemed somewhat at a loss.
'Yes,' Chance went on, 'Fricker said he'd been in correspondence with you about that little venture you're in together. I hope it'll turn up trumps, though it's a bit of a risk in my opinion. But it's too bad to remind you of business here.'
Mervyn stepped forward suddenly.
'If you've any business with Mrs. Trevalla, perhaps she'll avail herself of my help,' he said; 'although hardly at the present moment or here.'
Beaufort Chance laughed. 'Dear me, no,' he answered. 'We've no business, have we, Mrs. Trevalla? I was only joking about a little flutter Mrs. Trevalla has on under the auspices of our common friend—Fricker, you know.'
'I have not the pleasure of knowing Mr. Fricker,' said Mervyn coldly.