Two days later Hugh persuaded the professor to play more rapidly, with the result that in less than two hours the old man had won nearly two hundred thousand francs. The effort exhausted him and he retired to his bed for the day. He intended to repeat the performance the next morning.
When Hugh returned, he found Margot laying the table for lunch. He noticed that her hands trembled. Though quiet and reserved as always, she had a strange sullen set to her mouth and a resentful look in her eyes. Presently she said:
“A lady came to see you this morning.”
“A lady! Here! Who was it?”
“A haughty English lady,—with dyed hair.”
With some annoyance Hugh applied this description to Mrs. Belmire.
“What did she say?”
“I did not let her in. She took me for the domestic. I was scrubbing the kitchen and not very tidy. I said you were out and I had not the faintest idea when you would be in.”
“Yes?”
“She then said: ‘Tell him I will dine at the Carlton to-night at eight, and expect him to have dinner with me.’ I bobbed my head and answered, ‘Yes, ma’am.’ Then she said, ‘Do you think you can give that message correctly, my girl?’ I answered again, ‘Yes, ma’am. I think my intelligence will be equal to the strain you are putting on it.’ She then offered me a franc but I refused it.”