Her face was dark with rage, but it was upon Sir John, descending in haste to meet his offended wife, that she turned the full batteries of her anger.
“You didn’t know the time, of course. Your watch has stopped. It is hard enough for me to keep my end up without you helping to make me look foolish!”
“My dear,” protested Maxell in a flurry, “I assure you——”
“You can spend your time with this sort of trash,” she indicated Timothy, and Timothy bowed, “but you keep me waiting like a tailor’s model at Sotheby’s, of all people in the world, when you know well enough——”
“My dear,” pleaded the lawyer wearily, “my watch has certainly stopped——”
“Ah! You make me tired. What are you doing with this fellow? Do you think I want reminding of movie days? Everybody knows this fellow—a cheap gambler, who’s been fired out of every studio in England. You allow your servants to insult me—and now I suppose you’ve brought this prize-fighter to keep me in my place,” and she pointed scornfully at the amused Timothy.
Half-way downstairs the girl stood watching the scene in silence, and it was only when he became conscious of her presence that Timothy began to feel a little uncomfortable.
“Well, good-bye, Sir John,” he said. “I’m sorry I intruded.”
“Wait,” said the woman. “John, this man has insulted me! I don’t know what he’s come for, but I suppose he wants something. He’s one of those shifty fellows that hang around studios begging for money to bet with. If you raise a hand to help him, why, I’m finished with you.”
“I assure you,” said Sir John in his most pompous manner, “that this young man has asked for nothing more than a letter of introduction. I have a duty——”