“Do you mean to say you are going to wear—”
Esmeralda smiled coldly.
“What you see,” she said. “Barker, get Lady Ada what she wants. I am going down now.”
But she paused outside and went into her boudoir by the outer door. Barker began hunting for the piece of ribbon Lady Ada required.
“I know I have a scrap or two like it somewhere, my lady,” she said; “and I’ve seen it lately, but I can’t think where. The marchioness used to wear a dress something of that color, and there were ribbons on it; but it was a long while ago, before she was married. It must be in one of the boxes that came from Grosvenor Square.”
She went to a box and began turning out the things hurriedly.
“Oh, never mind,” said Lady Ada; but she knelt down beside the litter and hunted with her. As she did so, she saw a sheet of note-paper; it was evidently an old letter, and was creased as if it had been carried about. She picked it up and glanced at it mechanically; then her face flushed, and she looked sharply at Barker, but Barker’s back was turned to her. She slid the letter into her pocket.
“Never mind, Barker,” she said; “I can’t wait any longer. I’ll wear another dress. Shall I help you put the things back?”
“Oh, no, my lady,” said Barker; “don’t trouble. They are only old things, some of those that the marchioness had when she first came to England. I can tumble them in anyhow now and set them straight afterward.”
Lady Ada went to her room, and sent her maid away on some errand, locked the door, and took the letter from her pocket.