"Mr. Rangely," she said, "it is not my custom to bandy words, even with my equals. I have allowed you the freedom of my house because I was willing to help you in your desire to be useful to Father Frontford. You have taken advantage of my kindness to insult me. This seems to me sufficiently to explain the situation."
He stared at her a moment in evident amazement. Then he burst into hoarse laughter.
"My desire to be useful to Father Frontford!" he echoed. "That is the best yet! You know I cared nothing about your pottering old church politics except to please you."
"I see that I was deceived completely," she responded coldly.
She crossed the room and pressed an ivory button.
"Deceived!" he sneered. "It would take a clever man to deceive you."
She looked not at him, but beyond him. He turned, and saw a footman in the doorway.
"The gentleman wishes to be shown out, Forrester," said she.
She held the tips of her fingers to Rangely.
"Thank you so much for coming," she murmured in her most conventional manner.