If the faintest gleam of mirth came into the other’s eyes Delia missed its point.
“Oh, I’m not proud of it, I assure you. If he had been impudent only to me I wouldn’t have touched him, for he was no match for me. If it had been any other girl I should have thought I had given the poor devil too much, but it being Yvonne Haldane he insulted it seemed as if he couldn’t have enough.”
“I most heartily agree,” said Delia, and again that curious gleam passed across Wagram’s face.
“Would you like to see a secret chamber?” he said.
“Wouldn’t I? Is it a real secret chamber, opening with a sliding panel, and all that sort of thing?”
“You shall see.”
He led the way to a high gallery in an unused part of the house, a trifle gloomy by reason of the few and narrow windows that lighted it from one side. The old Squire had left them early in the investigation, declaring that he did not feel equal to going up and down so many stairs. The girl’s nerves were athrill with the delightful air of mystery suggested by the surroundings.
“You haven’t asked as to the family ghosts yet,” he said, “and it seems strange.”
“Strange? Why?”
“Because you are the first within my knowledge to be shown over the house who has not asked about them long before this. Were you keeping it till we got down again?”