And having fought it out, he did a most unusual thing for him—he acted straightway upon his decision, and did not wait for it to cool and himself to doubt and hesitate and change.
He pushed the bell.
"Call a taxi!" said he to the boy.
When it came, he gave Mrs. Mourraille's number. There was a click, as the flag went up, and they whirred away.
"You need not wait," said he, handing the driver a bill as the car drew up before the house.
The man touched his cap and shot off.
Lorraine crossed the sidewalk, went up the steps and rang the bell.
The aged butler answered. He had been in the Mourraille family for a generation, but even his automaton calm was not proof against such a surprise, and he failed to repress wholly the amazement from his face and manner when he beheld who stood in the doorway.
"I want to see Mrs. Lorraine a moment, Tompkins," said Lorraine, and went in with the utmost nonchalance.