Though the club loungers were too well-bred to listen, it was
nevertheless obvious that the attention of all had been more or less
aroused by the baronet's tone and manner.
Douglas Dale answered, in accents as audible, and a tone as haughty as
the accents and tone of his cousin.
"Report is not likely to belie me," he said, "since there is no mystery
in my life to afford food for gossip. If by a certain villa at Fulham
you mean Hilton House, you are not mistaken. I have the honour to be a
frequent guest at that house."
"It is an honour which many of us have enjoyed," answered Reginald,
with a sneer.
"An honour which I used to find deuced expensive, by Jove!" exclaimed
Viscount Caversham, who was standing near Douglas Dale.
"That was at the time when Sir Reginald Eversleigh usurped the position
of host in Madame Durski's house," replied Douglas. "You would find
things much changed there now, Caversham, were the lady to favour you
by an invitation. When Madame Durski first came to England she was so
unfortunate as to fall into the hands of evil counsellors. She has
learned since to know her friends from her enemies."
"She is a very charming woman," drawled the viscount, laughingly; "but
if you want to keep a balance at your banker's, Dale, I should strongly
advise you to refuse her hospitality."
"Madame Durski will shortly be my wife," replied Douglas, in a voice
loud enough to be heard by the bystanders; "and the smallest word
calculated to cast a slur on her fair fame will be an insult to me--an
insult which I shall know how to resent.
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