Leah, with flattened ears, so to speak, professed ignorance. She did not intend to criticise until fully aware of facts. A shake of her head conveyed the denial and brought forth one bitter word.
"Liar!"
The Duchess glanced towards the door, remembering that the servants had not yet retired and might be within earshot.
"Would you mind speaking in a lower tone?" she suggested between her teeth, for the insult struck home.
"Sit down," ordered Katinka, imperiously.
"I prefer to stand," retorted her antagonist, fighting for the inch.
Mademoiselle Aksakoff advanced one step and her eyes probed those of the Duchess. Without words the situation was adjusted, and in Leah's favour, for the Russian suddenly sat down with a quick, indrawn breath. By that action the woman who had done the wrong knew that she was the stronger of the two, and a tyrannical instinct to bully the weak rose hotly in her breast.
"What do you mean by coming at this late hour and misbehaving?" she demanded harshly.
"You know well what I mean."
"Pardon me, I never profess to understand the vagaries of a madwoman."