There was a dryness in her tone which grated on Hubert's ears.
"This is a case in which diplomacy is required. I wonder what there's been between them." Aloud he remarked, "Can you not forget and forgive?"
"Cecil, do you mean it?" She glanced behind her as if in sudden agitation. "I cannot stop now. Meet me in the garden after dinner."
She was gone before he even had a ghost of a chance of feeling his way.
CHAPTER II.
THE SECOND LADY.
"Cecil! Where are you? Here?"
Hubert, who had been leaning against the wall, came out into the moonlight. The lady stood on the top of the steps. The moon shone full upon her. It lit up the glory of her red-gold hair. She was clad in full evening dress. Her little opera cloak, which had slipped off her shoulders, revealed, rather than concealed, her magnificent proportions. Hubert, eying her critically from below, told himself that she was certainly a "oner!"
"I am afraid I am late. I hope you haven't been waiting long."
"Nothing to speak of. Just time enough to enjoy a cigar--and to dream of you."