“It was under the name of Madame Rocada that she became known to me, in the first place, before I had the least idea she was your wife.”
Then Gerard looked up at last, eager, wondering.
“She was staying at a place at Epsom, a big place, called ‘The Briars,’ and receiving a great many visitors. In the evenings there was gambling carried on there—in fact it went on all night,” said Lord Clanfield. “I went there to see her, and she professed not to know all that occurred there.”
“She did know it though,” put in Geoffrey. “For when there was a row one night she knew all about it, knew exactly what had happened, and then cleared out for fear of being called upon to give awkward explanations.”
Gerard never said a word. He turned his head from the one speaker to the other, but forbore to interrupt by so much as an exclamation.
“Both Geoff and I got rooked there,” put in Edgar. “The first time it was by a fellow named Diggs——”
Then for the first time Gerard spoke.
“Diggs!” exclaimed he, speaking in a hoarse, low voice. “What Diggs?”
“Fellow named Durley Diggs. A Yankee and secretary to Reginald Candover, the great connoisseur.”
Gerard only nodded, and the viscount went on:—