“Perhaps you’ll now permit her to be sent away. A sordid intriguer. She must go at once.”
In the trying moment which followed, the Duke, badly hipped, fought valiantly to pull himself together. But somehow he only just managed to do so.
“You make a mistake, Charlotte,” he said, with an effort that clearly hurt him. “She is not that kind of person. You always have made that mistake. She is a superior woman in every way. At least, I have always found her so. I can’t imagine such a woman intriguing for anybody.”
“Shows how little you know ’em, Johnnie.” Another Gargantuan gust swept the room. “Every woman intrigues unless she’s a born fool, and this housekeeper nurse of yours is very far from being that—believe me.”
For a brief, but uncomfortable moment the Duke thought the matter over with an air of curious perplexity. Then he said abruptly and with defiance:
“I must have further information.”
“Sarah has the details. It would be well, no doubt, to have her views on the matter.”
Whereupon Charlotte rose massively, crossed to the bell and rang it in order that a much tormented male should enjoy this further privilege.
II
The eldest daughter of the house, when she came on the scene, found the atmosphere decidedly electric. Her father was glaring with very ominous eyes; while it was clear from the look on the face of Aunt Charlotte that she was under the impression that she had downed him at last. No doubt she had, but if those eyes meant anything there was still a lot of fight in the stricken warrior.