“Spare yourself the trouble of playing off your tricks on me!” Sherry flung at him. “I’m not the fool you take me for! I know what ladybirds you fly with, and Charlotte Gillingham is one of them!”
“Sherry, what in the world — ”
“Who set the Gillingham on to lure my wife into her house? She never did so for her own ends! Very clever, Revesby! But not clever enough! My wife was present when you disowned your bastard brat! It was she who took the girl under her protection, and you knew it! Yes, and all the town knows it, but it was not she who split on you, my buck! It was some others whom you would not dare to be revenged on, I fancy! By God, I should have known with what a fellow I had to deal! But I know now, and you shall answer for it!”
Sir Montagu was looking a trifle pale, but he replied with perfect composure: “You are out of your senses my dear boy. I suspect that you are even a little foxed. I do not know what you are talking of.”
“Oh, yes, you do!” Sherry said fiercely. “ I’m not a country wench to be fobbed off so easily! I knew whom I had to thank for this start as soon as I heard the Gillingham’s name mentioned! You fool, did you believe I should not? Why, what a flat you must think me!”
“I think you a hot-headed young man, my dear Sherry. Go and ask Mrs Gillingham if I had anything to do with Lady Sheringham’s visit to her house, if you do not believe me!”
“Where did you raise the money to pay her for playing your game?” Sherry asked insultingly. “Or does she do it for love of you?”
“Go home, Sherry: you are certainly a trifle bosky! I shall not allow you to pick a quarrel with me, you know.”
“Won’t you, by God!” Sherry said, and struck him across the face with the gloves he held clenched in his hand.
Sir Montagu’s pale cheek flamed under the blow, and he stepped back quickly, breathing rather hard, and glaring at his antagonist.