"
"Don't go."
"I must."
"Already! May I come and call?"
"Your father knows my address."
"Oh, I say--but--"
"You're not going already!" cried Mrs. Wolfstein, who was having a second
glass of Benedictine and beginning to talk rather outrageously and with a
more than usually pronounced foreign accent.
"I must, really."
"I'm afraid my son has bored you," murmured Sir Donald, in his worn-out
voice.
"No, I like him," she replied, loud enough for Leo to hear.
Sir Donald did not look particularly gratified at this praise of his
achievement. Lady Holme took an airy leave of everybody. When she came to
Pimpernel Schley she said:
"I wish you a great success, Miss Schley."
"Many thanks," drawled the vestal virgin, who was still looking into her
coffee cup.
"I must come to your first night. Have you ever acted in London?"
"Never."
"You won't be nervous?"
"Nervous! Don't know the word."
She bent to sip her coffee.
When Lady Holme reached the door of the Carlton, and was just entering
one of the revolving cells to gain the pavement, she heard Lady
Cardington's low voice behind her.
"Let me drive you home, dear."
At the moment she felt inclined to be alone. She had even just refused
Sir Donald's earnest request to accompany her to her carriage. Had any
other woman made her this offer she would certainly have refused it. But
few people refused any request of Lady Cardington's.
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