"There's some mistake, isn't there? You don't want me—this morning?"
Diana regarded her composedly.
"Certainly I want you—to rehearse for to-night."
"To rehearse? Rehearse?" Olga's voice rose in a sharp crescendo of amazement. "Surely"—bending forward to peer into Diana's face—"surely you are not going to keep Max waiting while you—rehearse?"
"It's impossible for us to meet to-day," replied Diana steadily. "I had—forgotten—the Duchess's reception."
Olga made a gesture of impatience.
"But you must meet to-day," she said imperiously. "You must!
To-morrow it will be too late."
"Too late? How too late?"
Miss Lermontof hesitated a moment. Then she said quietly:—
"I happen to know that Max is leaving England to-night."