‘By George!’ cried Portland. ‘Well, then, there would be no use in my disguising the matter. She has been a horrid little flirt; but there’s no harm about her now. Understand that plainly.’
‘Then why did you tempt her to meet you here to-night? You must know what a rupture it would make between her and the earl if it became known?’
‘I shall take good care it does not get known. But I want to pay her out for her past conduct to me. She is the sort of lady that it is as well to keep the whip hand over.’
‘When you want to make money out of her husband. Yes; I understand perfectly. So you have not let poor Ilfracombe out of your clutches yet, Mr Portland. How much longer is he to be fleeced?’
‘You speak boldly, Miss Llewellyn; but, if I remember rightly, you always used to do so.’
‘In his cause, yes.’
‘And so you meant to steal my property, eh? and restore it to her ladyship?’
‘If it were possible. But I begin to be afraid you spoke the truth when you said the letters were not here. They are not in the dispatch-box, at all events. Oh, Mr Portland, if you have them, do give them to me.’
‘In order that your heartless little rival—the woman who has supplanted you with Ilfracombe—may go scot-free? What do you suppose she will do for you in return? What she has already done—persuaded her husband to leave Usk at once. They go to-morrow!’
Nell drew a long breath.