At this moment Mrs. Delarayne reappeared. She looked a trifle anxious and motioned to Lord Henry to join her.
"Well?" he enquired.
"I'm afraid she must have gone home," she said. "She can't be found."
"Can't be found?" cried Lord Henry, with a note of deep alarm in his voice. Could she possibly have been among those who that morning had returned to help find the bangle, and he had not seen her, though she had seen him?
"Oh, I shouldn't worry," continued Mrs. Delarayne. "She's gone home, that's all. Don't look so dreadfully concerned!"
"Do you really think so?" he enquired. He felt uneasy notwithstanding. The coincidence, if it were a coincidence, was singular in the extreme. And yet he could not believe that Denis had told her, and Vanessa and Tribe had surely not had time to do so. He had seen them ascend the steps of the terrace. Besides,—why should they? Nevertheless, the predicament was an awkward one. He had counted on speaking to Cleopatra directly after lunch.
"Would you mind if I went to 'The Fastness'?" he asked.
"Certainly not. Go by all means," Mrs. Delarayne rejoined. "But is it as urgent as all that?"
"It's very urgent," said Lord Henry.
She scrutinised him for a moment in silence. She had always had a dark presentiment that her daughters would come between her and this man.