“Not unless he’s a regular flat, which we know he ain’t,” he replied. “Must know I wouldn’t do any such thing! Nice scandal to start in the family!”
“Would—would Jack?” she asked. “That is what I can’t help being afraid of! I—I fancy Jack may have a good reason for wishing Camille otherwhere.”
“Fellow tell you that too?” demanded Freddy. “Well, upon my soul!”
*’Is it true, Freddy?”’ asked. Kitry shyly.
“No use asking me. For one thing, dashed improper! and tor another, wouldn’t tell you, if I knew, which { don’t. Got something better to do than to pry into what don’t concern me.”
“Well,” said Kitty, with fortitude, “I have learnt a great deal since I came to town, and I think very likely it is true.”
“It don’t signify whether it is or whether it ain’t. Point is, Jack won’t expose your cousin any more than I will. Coming it a trifle too strong! What I mean is, if he nimbied the fellow’s lay, what the devil did he mean by presenting him to you, let alone a lot of other people? Yes, by Jove! Brought him to m’sister’s house! Spiked his own guns, Kit! He’s a bruising rider, but he don’t over-face his horses. He’ll keep his mouth shut.”
“Freddy, if he knew—or even suspected—that my cousin was not what he pretends to be, why—why did he bring him to Berkeley Square?”
“Because it’s the sort of thing he would do!” said Freddy tartly. “Same reason he tried to hoax me into going down to Arnside. Got a dashed queer sense of humour.”
“Yes, I see,” said Kitty. “I expect he wanted to punish me a little. Why didn’t you tell me what you suspected, Freddy?”