"Yes, I know, because she is so maddening at bridge; and always adds up wrong, and argues; but she knows the Presidency, and every seamy tale for the last thirty years is at her finger-ends. Talk, including evil speaking, lying, and slandering—is her strong point. If you want to dig up an old divorce case, a racing scandal, a bankruptcy, go to Mrs. Fiske."
"I'm blessed if I do! Why do people stand her, and her tongue?"
"Because we are all afraid of her, shameful, miserable cowards! Of course, she ought to have been prosecuted for libel over and over again—but no one dares. On the contrary, we are all obsequiously civil and tremble before her, never knowing whose turn it may be next. And the awful part of it is, that her lies have always some foundation! For instance, if she were to see us sitting here together, talking secrets——"
"Well, what then?" demanded her companion brusquely.
"She might send an anonymous wire to Tom. How he would laugh! Ha! ha! ha!"
"I'm not going to laugh," declared Mallender with a flash in his eye, "that sort of woman, is like an infectious disease. She ought to be stuffed in a sack, and flung off the pier."
"Do please restrain your feelings," and Nancy lifted an appealing hand, "and I will say something wise. As your friend and confidante, I may assure you, that here in Madras, you will never get near your object—no, nor in Ooty. For you, it's nothing but play, play, play. I can see through Uncle's little plan; it is to keep you captive in Capua, ensnared by polo, golf—and other fascinations."
There was so much insinuation in the last three words, that Mallender coloured to his ears.
"You will find no opportunity to prosecute your search; so like Bacon's wise man, when you can't find opportunity—you must make it!"
"You are right," he answered with conviction, "I've agreed to this trip to Ooty, but when I've seen the place, I shall take a pull, and start on my own."