"Well, whatever you may hear," he said, "trust entirely to me."
She smiled approvingly, and went off in search of Cleopatra.
Lord Henry joined the others. He was certainly very much relieved to hear that Mrs. Delarayne had been told nothing. Did that mean that Cleopatra also had been told nothing? He noticed, however, that as soon as he came up to the group consisting of Miss Mallowcoid, Denis, Sir Joseph, and Guy, their conversation stopped.
"Who's going rabbit-shooting?" he demanded.
"We all are!" cried Mrs. Tribe, coming towards him from another part of the terrace; "isn't it fun?"
Mrs. Tribe was the only member of the party, besides Leonetta, who was still perfectly affable to him, but even in her eyes, he thought he saw the suggestion of strained good cheer.
"May I come?" he asked.
"Of course!" cried Leonetta.
"I shall want you for a minute or two, remember, Denis," Sir Joseph observed. "Mrs. Delarayne has told you, I think."
"Yes, sir," said Denis.