Brett fell back a pace, his face wearing an expression of such blank
amazement that for a moment Cara could hardly refrain from laughing out
loud. But he recovered himself with surprising quickness, and looked her
up and down with characteristic coolness.
"I don't think I remember inviting you for to-night," he said slowly.
"No," she replied. "I've come instead of Ann. Brett, you had no right to
ask her here."
His eyes flashed wickedly, but he preserved his coolness.
"That, I think, is my business," he responded.
"It's not." A note of deep feeling came into her voice. "It's the
business of every one who cares for Ann to protect her from her own rash
unselfishness. Just to please yourself, you asked her to come here, without
a thought as to how it would affect her reputation--how people might talk.
And you used those bills of Tony's as a lever."
"Really, your perspicacity does you credit," he returned ironically. "I
saw no other way of getting her here, so, as you truthfully remark, I used
those bits of paper as a lever."
"Well"--quickly. "I've come for those bits of paper, as you call them."
Brett shook his head regretfully.
"I never made any bargain to give them to--you, even though you have
condescended to honour the _Sphinx_ with your presence to-night," he said.
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