"Come to the point," she told him sharply. "What did you do about Captain Sedgwick?"
Challoner gravely met her insistent gaze. "I felt compelled to suggest that he was not the best man for the post."
Mrs. Chudleigh's eyes sparkled and the blood swept into her face. Her pose grew tense and she looked dangerous, but with an obvious effort she controlled her anger.
"Then if I were a revengeful person, I would warn you that you must take the consequences."
"I suppose that follows, but I would prefer to think you are fair enough to make allowances for a man who tried to do the right thing in a difficult situation."
She was silent for a moment, watching him with a curious, half-ashamed feeling. Then she made an abrupt movement.
"It's hard to do so. A word or two, which you would not speak, would have led to the appointment of the most talented man. I'm not a saint; you mustn't expect a higher standard from me than I'm capable of."
She dismissed him with an angry gesture and got up as Mrs. Foster came in with Greythorpe. When the latter left his hostess she beckoned him and led him to a seat near the hearth.
"How far does Colonel Challoner's opinion go with you?" she asked boldly.
"That depends," he answered, smiling. "On some matters it goes a long way."