"It was Lord Auchester who bought the ring?"
The jeweler smiled deprecatingly.
"Well, as you saw him, madam, it is no breach of confidence. It was his lordship." Then he looked toward Lady Eleanor, and, bowing, placed a chair for her.
Finetta rose; her face was still white, her full lips pale and trembling.
"I—I will come in again," she said, and moved toward the door; then she stopped, and swaying forward rather than stepping, leaned toward Lady Eleanor.
"I want to speak to you," she said abruptly and hoarsely.
Lady Eleanor shrank back and eyed her haughtily.
"I—I—" she began, but her voice seemed to fail her.
"You'd better not refuse, for—for your own sake!" said Finetta, hissed it, rather. "You—you know me——."
Lady Eleanor tried to look a denial, but the effort failed as the effort to speak had.