Leicester looked around in astonishment at the assembled crowd of people of the very best sort, the guests of Howard Murpoint.
Where had the money come from?
He left his friend a few minutes after they had entered, and made his way toward the orchestra, where a splendid band was playing.
There, in the midst of a group of lords and ladies, he heard a smooth, serene voice he remembered only too well.
He turned suddenly and came face to face with Howard Murpoint.
For a moment he forgot that he was disguised, for the moment his face flushed, his hand clinched, his lip curled with scorn and contempt, but the next, as Howard Murpoint's eyes met his smilingly and unconsciously, he remembered all, and stepped aside.
In doing so he pressed rather heavily against a lady. With a low and hurried "Pardon me!" he turned and looked upon Violet Mildmay!
This time it was the blood left his cheek, and he staggered.
Violet thought that her long train had inconvenienced the tall old gentleman.
"I am very sorry; but the rooms are so crowded," she said, in her sweet, gentle voice.