“Sit down, please. It is well to hear one’s neighbor’s opinions,” she said, and he realized that she would not go.
“But he is an interesting kind of blackguard. If he had lived a few hundred years ago, he would have been quite a moral character. Just imagine what colossal impudence a man must possess to do as he did. Remember that he was as bad as any of the Belgians in the Congo. He coins a fortune out of the ill-treatment of the natives, and when his pockets are full he stands up and complacently denounces those who are doing as he has done.”
“Why do you think that he spoke if not for advertisement?” the lady asked curiously.
“I am puzzled to find a reason. He spoke with such evident sincerity that one might almost imagine that he had been suddenly—what the Salvationists term—‘saved.’ Of course you know that he married that good-looking woman, Lady Mildred Blythe, and I am wondering what she thinks of it all. Her ladyship is not the sort of person to——”
“Now I am ready,” Lady Mildred said very quietly, and they made their way from the corner.
Edward Drake gave a quick look at the speaker from whom they had been hidden by a group of palms, and recognized a famous novelist who was quick to see his indiscretion, for he ceased to speak, and his face became deeply flushed. It chanced that he was acquainted by sight with Lady Mildred and he half rose, as though it was his intention to follow and apologize, but quickly subsided into his seat again.
A motor-car was in waiting, and the order was given to return to Park Lane, but to all of them the drive was unpleasant. Lady Mildred stared fixedly through the window and remained silent until they reached home.
“I am going to talk to my husband, but afterwards I should like you to come to my room,” she said to Edward Drake and he bowed in reply.
John Gaunt was in the library and he looked up quickly when his wife entered but his face remained grave as he stood waiting for her to speak. It was the first time they had met since their interview of the previous afternoon, and he wondered what had caused her to come.
“Won’t you sit down?” he said politely.