"Ah, milady!"—his brown hand gripped hers. "Well met. And—you do not look well."
"Mr Herbert, I've dropped a brooch, just over there; try to find it for me." Esmé sent the boy away, stood staring at the Italian.
"I have not ten minutes," he said. "I have to go, but my uncle would have me come here to see the English monde. And so—I see the child is hurted, but is nearly well again. I came yesterday," he said. "I leave to-morrow, recalled to Italy, or I would have gone to see him and you."
He knew no one there. He was alone and he was leaving London. Yet at any moment he might meet Denise with her husband.
"I am so glad to see you," Esmé faltered. "See, come to supper, and I will try to find Esmé; she is here too."
She hurried him downstairs to the supper-room; saw Denise, and leaving Luigi ran across to her.
Denise was with Lord Ralph Karton.
"Denise!" Esmé bent down to her. "Get away. Luigi is here. He takes me for you. He is at supper with me. Get away, I say; but I must see the boy to-morrow, if I keep silence again—I must," she said.
Denise Blakeney slipped to the door, stood there panting, hiding; she was not well, she told Lord Ralph; sent him for her husband.
"Esmé—I dare not," she whispered back; "but here—you are hard up—take this for gratitude."