"And you make believe not to know who buys your poem," he exclaimed; "I call that humbug—and you," he said sharply, turning to Sir Albert, "why could you not be open about it?"
"But did you buy my poems? Are you the literary man from whose appreciation I have received so much encouragement?" and Margaret, mortified and disappointed, turned to go away.
At any rate she knew nothing, and Mr. Skidd was ashamed of the momentary suspicion that had filled him.
"No, this lady was acting on the square; as for the man...."
The little man felt as he looked at them that a whole drama was being played out before his eyes, the air was full of some secret thing in connection with these two.
Sir Albert, deferential and respectful, was evidently quite absorbed in the tall, graceful figure before him, who stood cold and apparently determined to show no satisfaction in his presence.
Mr. Skidd was a good judge of character.
"I'll be bound there is no harm in her," he said, and so saying left them to themselves.