"Where are the dogs?" said Sir Wilfrid, looking round.
"Aunt Flora's dogs? In the housekeeper's room, eating sweet biscuit. They adore the groom of the chambers."
"Is Lady Henry aware of this--this division of labor?" said Sir Wilfrid, smiling.
"Of course not," said the Duchess, flushing. "She makes Julie's life such a burden to her that something has to be done. Now what has Aunt Flora been telling you? We were certain she would take you into council--she has dropped various hints of it. I suppose she has been telling you that Julie has been intriguing against her--taking liberties, separating her from her friends, and so on?"
Sir Wilfrid smilingly presented his cup for some more tea.
"I beg to point out," he said, "that I have only been allowed two questions so far. But if things are to be at all fair and equal, I am owed at least six."
The Duchess drew back, checked, and rather annoyed. Jacob Delafield, on the other hand, bent forward.
"We are anxious, Sir Wilfrid, to tell you all we know," he replied, with quiet emphasis.
Sir Wilfrid looked at him. The flame in the young man's eyes burned clear and steady--but flame it was. Sir Wilfrid remembered him as a lazy, rather somnolent youth; the man's advance in expression, in significant power, of itself, told much.
"In the first place, can you give me the history of this lady's antecedents?"