“Shame upon you, Eric Darrell, for ever even thinking this little woman and wrong could have anything in common. She’s an angel if ever there was one on earth, and I hope her sister is built upon the same pattern.”
“Where is Joe?” he asked, suddenly.
“You haven’t seen him then?”
“I—no, indeed, not to speak to since he was in my office this afternoon.”
“I—thought he had gone to you—he spoke your name in connection with the matter.”
“What matter, may I ask?”
“The sad affair that took him from me to-night.”
Sad affair!
As Darrell saw again in imagination the gay surroundings of the hall where the grand bal masque was being held, he ground his teeth in silent rage, but knowing that a pair of sharp eyes were upon him he did not allow his fury to find a vent.
“Indeed! I am just as much in the dark as ever, Mrs. Leslie—enlighten me.”