"Go on, Richard," Lady Calmady said, "I am listening."
He drew himself up, sitting very erect, keeping his eyes steadily fixed on her, speaking steadily and coldly, though his lips twitched a little.
"Lady Constance did me the honour to call on me last night, rather later than this, absenting herself in the very thick of Lady Louisa Barking's ball for that purpose."
Katherine moved slightly, her dress rustled.
"Yes—considering her character and her training it was a rather surprising démarche on her part, and bore convincing testimony to her agitation of mind."
"Did she come alone?"
Richard lapsed into an easier position.
"Oh, dear no!" he said. "Allowing for the desperation which dictated her proceedings, they were carried out in a very regular manner, with a praiseworthy regard for appearances. Lady Constance is, in my opinion, a very sweet person. She is perfectly modest and has an unusual regard—as women go—for honour and duty—as women understand them."—Again his voice took on that rasping quality. "She brought a friend, a young lady, with her. Fortunately there was no occasion for me to speak to her—she had the good taste to efface herself during our interview. But I saw her in the hall afterwards. I shall always remember that very distinctly. So, I imagine, will she. Then Lord Shotover waited outside with the carriage. Oh! believe me, admitting its inherent originality, the affair was conducted with an admirable regard for appearances."
Again the regular flow of Richard's speech was broken. His throat had gone very dry.
"Lady Constance appealed to me in extremely moving terms, articulate and otherwise, to set her free."