“Anything more?”
“That you have nothing further to do with Ethel Ogden.”
Barclay’s hitherto suppressed anger rose to boiling heat. “On what grounds do you make that request?” he demanded.
“As her affianced husband,” with calm effrontery.
Barclay flinched. “But that Mr. Ogden gave me to understand that you and Miss Ogden are engaged, I would decline to believe your assertion.”
“By—” Patterson in a towering rage stepped toward him, but Barclay stood his ground, and he stopped. “I will give you twelve hours to leave Washington, or I will expose you,” he announced.
“Thanks,” dryly. “I had planned to leave tomorrow, but now—I’ll stay here.”
“I will give you twelve hours to leave Washington or I will
expose you,” he announced.
Patterson’s smile was far from pleasant. “Bravado will not help you,” he snarled, raising his voice. “I shall go the limit to protect Miss Ogden and Washington society from the attention of——”