He laughed. “You’ll think me very rude in a minute; but I’ll explain to you. It was your sister I wanted to see. She is—a friend of mine. My name is Duplessis. She may have told you.” Jinny was as stiff as a poker.
“I have heard my sister speak of you, certainly. I understood that you were—an acquaintance.”
Duplessis nodded easily. “Put it at that. I suppose I may see her?”
“She’s away,” said Jinny. “She’s staying in London—with the Honourable Mrs. Germain.”
He began to bite his cheek. “Can you give me Mrs. Germain’s address? It’s not Hill-street, I suppose?”
Jinny was very happy just now. “I suppose that a letter to Mrs. Germain at Misperton would find her. You are related to her, I believe?”
“My dear Miss Middleham,” said Duplessis candidly, “let’s keep to the point. It seems to me that you don’t want me to see your sister.”
“Oh,” says Jinny, “it don’t matter at all to me.” He knit his brows.
“Then you mean——?”
“I mean,” said Jinny, “that my sister is going to be married to Mr. Germain. That’s what it comes to.”