His eyes were half-closed; she could not detect the narrowness of his scrutiny.
"No," she answered. "I shall certainly speak to Olga. It wouldn't be right—it wouldn't be fair—not to do so." Her look was suddenly appealing. "There is a free-masonry among women as well as men," she said. "We must keep faith with one another at least."
Hunt-Goring closed his eyes completely, and smiled a placid smile. "Dear
Mrs. Musgrave," he said, "you are a true woman."
And she did not hear the note of exultation below the lazy appreciation of his words.
CHAPTER XV
THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME
Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
"Hullo!" murmured Max's voice behind her. "Here's a dear old friend!"
Max's hand gently pushed her forward, and in an instant she had mastered her astonishment. She met the dear old friend with heightened colour indeed, but with no other sign of agitation. He smiled upon her, upon Max, upon Nick, with equal geniality.
"Quite a gathering of old friends!" he remarked.