"It seems a little difficult to begin, for there are some matters which are not easy even with a friend."
"I am sure if there is anything in which I can help you—"
"There is, Mr. Markham. I should not have dared to speak to you if I hadn't, unfortunately, found myself brought into an affair in which your name has been mentioned."
"My name?"
"Yes. Yours and Miss Challoner's."
He blanched and was immediately conscious that her small eyes were watching him keenly.
"Wh—what have you heard, Mrs. Hammond?" he blurted out.
"One moment, Mr. Markham. I don't want you to think that I am the kind of woman who seeks to pry into the affairs of other people. I don't. I abominate meddlers and will have nothing to say, even if after I tell you what my motives are, you refuse to answer my questions. But a great wrong has been done, an advantage taken of my hospitality. I speak of the theatricals which took place at my house in the country last month."
He stared at her blankly and she smiled.
"I forgot," she went on, "what a hermit you are. Of course you have not heard." She leaned over the tea table and took a slip of paper from under a tea dish. "I shall let you read this so that you may know in just what terms New York is speaking of you—of me—of us."