"I have enough of this," he cried angrily. "Go and do as you please! Take your silly feminine revenge, and much good may it do you! I have no more time to waste."
He caught up his hat, and left the room.
Passing the foot of the staircase, he saw someone descending. It was May. Involuntarily he stopped; the girl's gesture of alarm, bidding him be off, was disregarded. He waved to her, and she joined him.
"I've seen them both. It's all right. Keep up your courage!"
"Go! Go!" whispered May in fright. "Someone will see us."
"At lunch!"
He pressed her hand, smiled like a general in the thick of battle, and hurried away. Scarcely had he vanished through the portal, when Constance, issuing from the library, encountered Miss Tomalin. May uttered an unnaturally suave "good-morning!" The other looked her in the eye, and said in a voice of satisfaction:
"Mr. Lashmar has just been here. Didn't you see him?"
"Mr. Lashmar?—No."
Gazing full at the confused face, Constance smiled, and passed on.