"How do you know?"
"Gainsborough told me. He said he overheard an awful long confab between them at the St. James, two days ago, and Diplomacy said he'd write a letter to our hostess, sending his regrets."
"No such letter has been received."
"Probably he changed his mind,—but——"
"Then he'll make a clean breast of it to me, but I'm much obliged just the same, and I won't forget it."
"I'll see he owns up to it."
"You won't do anything of the sort, you'll bungle it, and there's an end of things."
"Have I generally bungled your affairs with Little Diplomacy?"
"No. You were a trump about that launch party. Now I mustn't keep you from her Ladyship—run along, and remember if I can be of any help—just call on me."
"You can be—and I want you to——"