[He reads it through and looks at her in dismay.

Mereston.

Good God!... What does it mean?

Lady Frederick.

Pray read it aloud.

Mereston.

I can't.

Lady Frederick.

Then give it to me. [She takes it from him.] It's addressed to my brother-in-law, Peter Berolles. The Kate to whom it refers was his wife. [Reads.] Dear Peter: I'm sorry you should have had a row with Kate about Roger Bellingham. You are quite wrong in all you thought. There is absolutely nothing between them. I don't know where Kate was on Tuesday night, but certainly she was not within a hundred miles of Roger. This I know because....

Mereston.