"Miss Erith?"
"Yes, sir."
"Announce Mr. Vaux, partly frozen."
"The library, if you please, sir," murmured the butler, taking hat and coat.
So Vaux went up stairs with the liveliness of a crippled spider, and Miss Erith came from a glowing fireside to welcome him, giving him a firm and slender hand.
"You ARE cold," she said. "I'm so sorry to have disturbed you this evening."
He said:
"Hum—hum—very kind—m'sure—hum—hum!"
There were two deep armchairs before the blaze; Miss Erith took one,
Vaux collapsed upon the other.
She was disturbingly pretty in her evening gown. There were cigarettes on a little table at his elbow, and he lighted one at her suggestion and puffed feebly.