“It is mine, I tell you. I left it with Freddy Huffe. I am quite certain. I should know it anywhere.”
She found herself facing Mrs Solano and another woman. They had been standing just outside the door, apparently watching the dancing. Loree saw at once that the rencontre could no longer be avoided. Mrs Solano addressed herself directly to young Dalkeith.
“Will you introduce me to this lady, George,” she said pleasantly. Dalkeith, rather taken aback and annoyed, could hardly do otherwise than her bidding, but he performed the ceremony without wasting much grace.
“Mrs Temple, this is Mrs Solano,” he said, adding crisply—“of whom I have been telling you.”
“Oh, have you, George?” remarked Mrs Solano with a good-natured laugh. “That’s very kind of you, I’m sure. Well, you can run away now and play.”
George walked off, very cross, and Loree felt desperately alone and frightened, for Mrs Solano’s friend remained, and she felt somehow that they were two to one. Whatever she felt within, however, she managed to show no outward trace of discomposure. There was a tinge of haughtiness in the glance of enquiry she levelled at Mrs Solano.
“I hope you won’t be offended with me, Mrs Temple,” said that lady courteously enough. “But I’ve been all the evening admiring the necklace you are wearing. Would you mind telling me how it came into your possession?”
Loree’s heart was ice, but so in terrified self-defence was her manner.
“It is a little curious of you to ask me such a question,” she said coldly. “Perhaps you will explain—”
“Ah! I see you are offended,” answered the other with the utmost good nature, but behind her pleasant manner was still that strong determination Loree had recognised from the first. “Really you mustn’t be. It is only that the necklace reminds me very much of one I once possessed.” Suddenly she darted out a question: “Was it a gift?” Loree stepped away slightly and got her back to the wall in body as well as in spirit. People were dancing again. The verandah was deserted except for the little group of three and another woman, approaching in the distance.