"Of Four Ways, Texas?"
Still she made no response.
"A big bent chap with white eyes"—his voice had recovered its flippancy—"and hands that hang like a 'rang-a-tang?"
She recognized the description.
"So I ran away—do you mind if I consult a friend? You'll admit that this is a crisis in my affairs?"
She affected not to hear him and strolled to the other side of the garden.
"Hank!" She heard his voice and another responding from the house. "Hank," said the muffled voice of the duke. "I ran away with Mrs. Slewer—Big Bill's wife."
"Eh?"
"I ran away with Mrs. Bill, and Bill is naturally annoyed, so Bill is looking me up—in fact Bill——"
She could not catch the rest; she thought she heard Hank make a reference to "hell," but she hoped she was mistaken.