"I will go for it," Mrs. Werner said, with a little gasp, but Mr. Werner prevented her intention. "Let your maid do so."
There ensued an awkward pause, during which Mr. Kleinwort, with much empressement, handed Mrs. Werner a chair.
"No, thank you," she remarked, and the pause continued, and the depth and gloom of the silence increased minute by minute.
At length the maid, having found the note, brought it into the room.
"Give it to me," exclaimed Mr. Forde, trying to snatch it off the salver, but Mrs. Werner's face warned him of the impropriety he had committed.
"The note is intended for me, Mr. Forde, I think," she said quietly, and opened the envelope after a courteous "Pray excuse me."
As she read her face darkened.
"Where are they, where have they gone?" demanded Mr. Forde eagerly.
Mrs. Werner lifted her eyes and looked at him slowly and absently, as if she had forgotten his existence.