"My dear Lavinia, do I wear an air of mystery? I imagined you knew I was promised to Dolly Cavendish to-night?"
"Yes, but-oh, what matters it? I am so charmed to see you again, dear!"
"You flatter me, Lavinia."
"And now that you have come, I want to hear why you ever went! Tracy, take me into the room behind us. I know 'tis empty."
"Very well, child, as you will." He held back the curtain for her and followed her into the deserted chamber.
"You want to know why I went?" he began, seating himself at her side. "I counsel you, my dear, to cast your mind back to the spring-at Bath."
"Your affaire! Of course! So the lady proved unkind?"
"No. But I bungled it."
"You? Tell me at once!-at once!"
His Grace stretched out his leg and surveyed his shoe-buckle through half-closed lids.
"I had arranged everything," he said, "and all would have been well but for an interfering young jackanapes who chanced along the track and saw fit to espouse Madam Diana's cause." He paused. "He tripped me up by some trick, and then-que veux-tu?"
"Who was it?"
"How should I know? At first he seemed familiar. At all events, he knew me. He may be dead by now. I hope he is."
"Gracious! Did you wound him?"
"I managed to fire at him, but he was too quick, and the bullet took him in the shoulder. It may, however, have been mortal."
"And so you went to Paris?"
"Ay. To forget her."
"And have you forgotten?"
"I have not. She is never out of my thoughts. I plan again."
His sister sighed.
"She is then more beautiful than the Pompadour?" she asked meaningly.
Tracy turned his head.
"The Pompadour?"
"Ay! We heard you contrived to amuse yourself in a pretty fashion, Tracy!"
"Really? I had no idea people were so interested in my affairs. But 'amuse' is an apt word."
"Ah? You were not then épris?"
"I? With that low-born cocotte? My dear Lavinia!"
She laughed at his haughty tone.
"You've not always been so nice, Tracy! But what of your Diana? An you are so infatuated, you had best wed her."
"Why, so I think."
Lady Lavinia gasped.
"Tracy! You do not mean it? Goodness me, but a marriage!"
"Why not, Lavinia?"
"Oh, a respectable married man, forsooth! And how long will the passion last?"
"I cannot be expected to foretell that, surely? I hope, for ever."
"And you'll tie yourself up for the sake of one chit? Lud!"
"I can conceive a worse fate for a man."
"Can you? Well, tell me more! 'Tis monstrous exciting. Do you intend to court her?"