He leant back and watched her from under his lowered lids, while she leant her head on her hands, her intelligent face all puckered with thought.
Then she looked up suddenly.
"I'll do it," she said, with sharp decision.
Austin Ambrose's eyes flashed, then he smiled coolly.
"Of course you will. I can't think why you should hesitate. Why, my dear Lottie, no woman of spirit could sit down idly and see an old flame picked up by a mere nobody of a girl, a kind of servant——"
"That will do," she broke in, his words affecting her as he intended. "I've said I'll do it, and I will, let the consequences be what they may. But mind, you have promised to stand by me?"
"Certainly I will," he said, promptly, "and you shall have the engagement at the Coronet, as well as the satisfaction of feeling that you have saved Blair from ruining his life, and an old title from disgrace."
"Hang the title!" she exclaimed, carelessly, "it's Blair I'm thinking of. And—and when will you want me?"
"I can't tell you now," he said. "I may want you at any moment, so that you must hold yourself in readiness. I suppose you will dress the part carefully?"