"Business!" He glances up and sees how white and strange her face is. "Is it important? It will wait, won't it?"
"No; it's a matter of life and death," she says, with trembling lips.
"Life and death? You are jesting, child, surely. I am very sorry, dear, but Vane has just sent me a line. He has gone—I mean he has been called away suddenly. He may be compelled to remain some time. You will have to be satisfied with my poor society. Vane sent you his love, and regrets that he could not bid you farewell."
A slight, cold smile touches the scarlet lips that curl in faint scorn.
"Do not fib to me, Uncle Langton. You know very well he sent me no such message. Let me see that note."
She draws it deliberately out of his fingers, and reads the curt message:
"Mr. Langton, I am about going away as we agreed upon. I will write you from abroad. Invent some excuse to satisfy the curiosity of Reine."
"So that is the love he sent me," she says, looking at him with reproachful, dark eyes. "How charmingly affectionate he is! Aren't you afraid that you'll never get to Heaven, Uncle Langton, after that tremendous fib?"
"Don't tease, child, I have vexation enough. I did not think it of Charteris, really. I wish now I hadn't——" he stops and gnaws his gray mustache, fiercely.
"I wish so, too," she says, with subdued bitterness. "It was a sad mistake all round. It cannot be helped now. But, uncle, I must see him. Tell me where to find him."