"Sit down, dear," said Genevieve.
Mrs. Gantry turned to Ashton with a sudden unbending from hauteur. "My dear Lafayette, I observed your manner yesterday towards that—towards Mr. Blake. Am I right in surmising that you know something with regard to his past?"
"About Blake?" replied Ashton, his usually wide and ardent eyes shifting their glance uneasily from his questioner to Genevieve and towards the outer door.
"About my friend Mr. Blake," said Genevieve.
"You call him a friend?—a fellow like that!" Ashton rashly exclaimed.
"He has proved himself a disinterested friend,—which I cannot say of all with whom I am acquainted."
"Oh, of course, if you feel that way."
"My other friends will remember that he saved my life."
"If only he had been a gentleman!" sighed Mrs. Gantry.
"Yes, Vievie," added Dolores. "Next time any one goes to save you, shoo him off unless he first offers his card."