“I do not praise her. I am quoting facts. If you throw that cup, my tigress....”
“Well?” dangerously.
“It will spoil the set. Listen. Some one is at the speaking-tube.”
The singer crossed the room impatiently. Ordinarily she would have continued the dispute, whether the bell rang or not. But she was getting the worst of the argument and the bell was a timely diversion. The duke followed her leisurely to the wall.
“What is it?” asked Flora in French.
The voice below answered with a query in English. “Is this the Signorina Desimone?”
“It is the duchess.”
“The duchess?”
“Yes.”
“The devil!”