Vermont, raising his eyebrows. "If I tell you that, it
would be bad policy. I may have discovered it so easily that my services
as a solver of mysteries would sink to insignificance, or again I may
have had to commit a crime; in either case, it is best to 'draw a veil
of silence,' shall we say; sufficient be it that Melba sings, and Lady
Merivale deigns to listen."
"Flatterer," she said lightly, as he rose, hat in hand. He glanced
across at Adrien, who was talking to Lord Merivale. "I am off on another
mission," he said, lowering his voice. "I fancy my friend must be
thinking of his honeymoon."
Lady Merivale started violently. "What do you mean?" she asked, striving
to maintain her usual cool, indifferent tones.
He looked down at her in innocent surprise.
"I am commissioned to buy a residence in the Swiss Lakes district for
Leroy; and as I happen to know Lady Constance Tremaine is devoted to
mountaineering--most exhausting work, I consider--well, there is only
one construction to be laid. But, of course, this is in strictest
confidence; you will not betray me, I know."
"Of course not," said her ladyship mechanically; her mind was working
rapidly, so that she hardly heard the rest of Jasper's purring speech;
and that gentleman, highly pleased at the pain he had so evidently
inflicted, made a parting epigram and left his poison to do its work in
Lady Merivale's mind.
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