Before Constance could speak, Lord Prelice stepped forward with the domino over his arm, and spread it out. "This is the meaning of my being in your dressing-room, Mr. Rover," he said sharply and perfectly cool. "I found this behind some clothes in yonder cupboard."
"How dare you search into my private affairs?" cried Dolly, standing on tiptoe, and growing red.
"Is it not better that I should do so than the police, Mr. Rover?"
The little man looked genuinely puzzled. "The police? What do you mean by mentioning the police?"
"This dress, this domino, both are an imitation of the dress and domino which your wife wore at the ball. And the lady who was introduced by Agstone to make Shepworth insensible—if you remember the case—was arrayed in this way."
Instead of turning pale, Dolly became redder than ever, and turned like a snake on his wife. "You!" he said savagely, "you entered Shepworth's flat. You dared to——"
"I never was near the flat," said Constance, coming very close to him, and looking down contemptuously from her great height; "and if you dare to hint at such a thing I shall leave you for ever. I have put up with enough from you. Don't drive me too far."
"Mr. Rover has enough to do to defend himself without troubling you, Constance," said Prelice quietly.
Dolly started. "What do you mean?" he asked nervously.
"This sham dress was hidden in your cupboard."