"Indeed! Then the title and the money attracted you."
"No. I was worried by my father into the position."
"I see. You love another."
"Yes." Claudia's eyes, from habit, wandered to a side table, on which stood a silver frame containing the photograph of Edwin.
With the swiftness and grace of a swallow Lady Wyke swooped to the other end of the room and took up the photograph. Then her face changed, and, a variety of emotions displayed themselves rapidly. Love, jealousy, fear, astonishment, and suspicion were all written plainly for Claudia to see. "Why, it's him!"
"It is Mr. Edwin Craver, to whom I am engaged."
"That's a lie!" cried Lady Wyke, and threw down the photograph to face The girl with a flushed face and hard eyes.
"Seeing that you do not know Mr. Craver, I do not see why you should speak in that way," was Claudia's dignified reply.
"I do know him. I say that the photograph is one of 'Him.' I call him that to myself, although until now I never heard his name," and she clenched her hands so tightly that one glove split.
The more angry Lady Wyke grew the cooler Claudia became, she had received two great shocks; one was when Lady Wyke announced who she was, and the other on hearing about the recognition of the photo. Danger was in the air and it was Claudia's nature to face danger calmly. "Where did you meet him?" she asked.