I left him staring after me in Piccadilly. I was afraid of his asking inconvenient questions, just as I had been afraid of not saying anything at all. I might have lighted on a mare's nest, but in case I had not, it only seemed fair that he should have some sort of warning, so that the bolt might not descend on him altogether out of the blue.
Violet met me as soon as I entered the hall.
'Well, what has happened?'
I led the way back into the drawing-room, feeling indisposed to discuss delicate matters within quite such obvious sound of the servants' ears.
'I don't know that anything has happened.'
'Is Reggie going to marry Mary Magruder?'
'He says not.'
'Who is he going to marry?'
'He says he's going to marry you.'
'Douglas! In spite of Lady Desmond's prohibition? I suppose she did prohibit it?'