"And a party?" he enquired.
"No," she replied. "I really did not want to come. Mr. Draconmeyer had promised Monsieur Pericot, the director here, to come and bring Mrs. Draconmeyer. At the last moment, however, she was not well enough, and he almost insisted upon my taking her place."
"Is it necessary to explain?" Hunterleys asked quietly. "You know very well how I regard this friendship of yours."
"I am sorry," she said. "If I had known that we were likely to meet—well, I would not have come here to-night."
"You were at least considerate," he remarked bitterly. "May I be permitted to compliment you upon your toilette?"
"As you pay for my frocks," she answered, "there is certainly no reason why you shouldn't admire them."
He bit his lip. There was a certain challenge in her expression which made him, for a moment, feel weak. She was a very beautiful woman and she was looking her best. He spoke quickly on another subject.
"Are you still," he asked, "troubled by the attentions of the person you spoke to me about?"
"I am still watched," she replied drily.
"I have made some enquiries," Hunterleys continued, "and I have come to the conclusion that you are right."