“But why should there be anything of the kind? It is to me Maitland would come at once if there were such a matter in hand.”
“I'm not so sure of that; and I am sure that Raikes overheard provocation pass between them, and that the Commodore left this half an hour ago, merely telling Sally that he had forgotten some lease or law paper that he ought to have sent off by post.”
“If that be the case, there's nothing to be done.”
“How do you mean nothing to be done?”
“I mean, that as Maitland has not consulted me, I have no pretence to know anything about it.”
“But if you do know it, and if I tell it to you?”
“All that would not amount to such knowledge as I could avail myself of. Maitland is not a man with whom any one can take liberties, Alice.”
“What?” said she, haughtily, and as though she had but partly heard his speech.
“I said that no man takes liberties with Maitland.”
A very insolent laugh from Alice was the answer.