"My dear Lavinia, do I wear an air of mystery? I imagined you knew I was promised to Dolly Cavendish to-night?"
"Yes, but—oh, what matters it? I am so charmed to see you again, dear!"
"You flatter me, Lavinia."
"And now that you have come, I want to hear why you ever went! Tracy, take me into the room behind us. I know 'tis empty."
"Very well, child, as you will." He held back the curtain for her and followed her into the deserted chamber.
"You want to know why I went?" he began, seating himself at her side. "I counsel you, my dear, to cast your mind back to the spring—at Bath."
"Your affaire! Of course! So the lady proved unkind?"
"No. But I bungled it."
"You? Tell me at once!—at once!"
His Grace stretched out his leg and surveyed his shoe-buckle through half-closed lids.