“Did Mrs. Hawley-Crowles say so, Monsignor?” demanded the woman, leaning forward eagerly.
“Why, I believe I am not abusing her confidence when I say that she intimated as much,” he said, watching her closely and sparring now with better judgment. “She mentioned Mrs. Ames as New York’s fashionable society leader––”
“There is no such position as leader in New York society, Monsignor,” interrupted the Beaubien coldly. “There are sets and cliques, and Mrs. Ames happens to be prominent in the one which at present foolishly imagines it constitutes the upper stratum. Rot! And Mrs. Hawley-Crowles, with nothing but a tarnished name and a large bank account to recommend her, now wishes to break into that clique and attain social leadership, does she? How decidedly interesting!”
Then the woman’s eyes narrowed and grew hard. Leaning closer to the churchman, she rested the tip of her finger on his knee. “So, Monsignor,” she said, with cold precision, “this is Mrs. Hawley-Crowles’s method of renouncing the world, is it? Sublime! And she would use both you and me, eh? And you are her ambassador at the court of the Beaubien? Very well, then, she shall use us. But you and I will first make this compact, my dear Monsignor: Mrs. Hawley-Crowles shall be taken into the so-called ‘Ames set,’ and you shall cease importuning me to return to your Church, and what is more, shall promise to have no conversation on church matters with her ward, the young girl. If you do not agree to this, Monsignor, I shall set in motion forces that will make your return to New York quite 89 undesirable.” When she concluded, she looked long and steadily into his eyes.
Monsignor got slowly to his feet. “Madam!” he exclaimed in a hoarse whisper, “my astonishment––”
“There,” she said calmly, as she rose and took his hand, “please omit the dramatics, Monsignor. And now you must go, for to-night I entertain, and I have already given you more time than I intended. But, Monsignor, do you in future work with or against me? Are we to be friends or enemies?”
“Why, Madam,” he replied quickly, “we could never be the latter!”
“And you always respect the wishes of a friend, especially if she is a lady, do you not?”
“Always, Madam,” he returned after a moment’s hesitation, as he bowed low over her hand.
“Then, good-bye. And, Monsignor,” she added, when he reached the door, “I shall be pleased to attend the dedication of the Hawley-Crowles altar.”