“To oblige that woman?”
“Yes; or, if I was unwilling to oblige her, then to protect myself.”
“To protect yourself? Against whom?”
“Against her telling every one in the hotel that she and I are in the same box.”
“She threatened that?”
“She left me the choice of telling it myself or of doing it for me.”
“The beast!”
There was a long silence. Lydia had seated herself on the sofa, beyond the radius of the lamp, and he leaned against the window. His next question surprised her.
“When did this happen? At what time, I mean?” She looked at him vaguely.
“I don’t know—after luncheon, I think. Yes, I remember; it must have been at about three o’clock.”