"And spent a charming evening?"
"Yes."
"Unspoilt by any idea that your presence there was due to a deliberate and successful device to give your companions the slip?"
Helpless as she was in those skilled, remorseless hands, Peggy nevertheless flared up at this.
"To have had such an idea," she said, with a dignity which was strangely piteous under the circumstances, "would have been an insult to Mr. Collingwood."
"Always assuming," said Sir Robert, "that Mr. Collingwood made his plans without your knowledge."
"I don't believe that Mr. Collingwood made the plans you suggest."
"And nothing will shake your faith in Mr. Collingwood?" said Sir Robert with great suavity.
"My faith in him is not likely to be shaken by the hired evidence of detectives, railway porters, or hotel servants."
"You mustn't talk like that, Mrs. Admaston," the judge said gravely.