The carriage passed over an uneven stretch of pave. Unpleasantly jolted, the Marquis said angrily: "Upon my word! Do you like to have your name bandied about? Your affairs made the subject of bets?"
"I don't care," replied Barbara indifferently. "No, I think I like it."
"You're shameless! Who told you this?"
"Harry."
"I might have known it! Pretty news to recount to his sister!"
"Oh lord, why shouldn't he?" said Lady Vidal. "You'll be a bigger fool than I take you for, Bab, if you let Lavisse slip through your fingers."
"I don't let them slip," retorted Barbara. "I drop them. I daresay I shall drop him too."
"Be careful he doesn't drop you!" said her ladyship. The carriage had drawn up before one of the large houses in the Rue Ducale, facing the Park. As the footman opened the door, Barbara murmured: "Oh no, do you think he will? That would be interesting."
Her sister-in-law forbore to answer this, but, alighting from the carriage, passed into the house. Barbara followed her, but paused only to say goodnight before picking up her candle and going upstairs to her bedroom.
She had not, however, seen the last of Lady Vidal, who came tapping on her door half an hour later, and entered with the air of one who proposed to remain some while. Barbara was seated before the mirror, her flaming head rising out of the foam of sea-green gauze which constituted her dressing-gown. "Oh, what the deuce, Gussie?" she said.