Lady Cantourne glanced round the room as if looking for some object upon which to fix her attention. It was a characteristic movement which he knew, although he had only seen it once or twice before. It indicated that if there was an end to Lady Cantourne's wit, she had almost reached that undesirable bourne.
“He has broken off his engagement,” she said, looking her companion very straight in the face, “NOW—at the eleventh hour. Do you know anything about it?”
She came closer to him, looking up from her compact little five-feet-two with discerning eyes.
“John!” she exclaimed.
She came still nearer and laid her gloved hands upon his sleeve.
“John! you know something about this.”
“I should like to know more,” he said suavely. “I am afraid—Millicent will be inconvenienced.”
Lady Cantourne looked keenly at him for a moment. Physically she almost stood on tip-toe, mentally she did it without disguise. Then she turned away and sat on a chair which had always been set apart for her.
“It is a question,” she said gravely, “whether any one has a right to punish a woman so severely.”
The corner of Sir John's mouth twitched.