“If she is a Mrs. Dene Hilyard, I know her already,” he answered. “I used to meet her with her husband in London sometimes—and a pretty brute he was! I nearly ran away with her just to get her out of his clutches,” he added lightly.
“Well, she’s out of them now, poor soul, for keeps,” said Lady Susan.
Later, as they walked home together across the fields, accompanied by the now jubilant Tribes of Israel, she returned to the subject.
“If you’ll promise not to discredit me by running away with her, Brett, we’ll go over to see your friend at the Priory. I should have to call, in any case, before long.”
“You needn’t be afraid. There’s not the remotest danger of my wanting to run off with her.”
“She’s rather a beautiful person,” warned Lady Susan laughingly. “You’ll probably lose your heart to her within half an hour.”
“I’ve only done such a thing once in my life,” he replied coolly. “I’m not likely to do it again.”
“When was that, Brett?” she asked with some curiosity. She had never heard of his having any serious love-affair.
“To-day,” he replied unexpectedly.
Lady Susan paused and surveyed him with unfeigned astonishment.