"You wanted me?"
Tracy saw Mr. Fleming approaching "Only to ask if I may return with you to Grosvenor Square. I have something important to say."
"Certainly," bowed Richard, and turned aside.
Lovelace, who had succeeded in escaping from the Belmanoir claws, hurried in search of Lavinia. Not finding her in her box, he gathered she must be in the foyer and made his way towards it. As soon as she saw him coming she set down her glass and rose to her feet.
"Oh, Captain Lovelace! Have you come to fetch me back to my seat? I have scarce set eyes on you this evening. No, Markham, you may not come! No, nor you, my lord! Madam-" She curtsied low to the old Duchess and walked away on Harold's arm.
When they were once in the deserted passage behind the boxes, he turned eagerly towards her.
"Well, my dearest? Well?"
Lady Lavinia's mouth drooped miserably.
"Yes," she said, "I shall have to come with you."
The tone was damping, to say the least of it, but he did not seem to notice it.
"Lavinia! You mean it?"
"Yes," she assented, still more dejectedly.
"My beautiful love! You will really come? When? At once?"
"At- Oh, no, no!"
"Darling, the sooner the better. I understand 'tis a great step to expect you to take in a hurry, but I assure you 'tis wisest. Can you come to-morrow?"
Her big eyes dilated.
"No! No! I-oh, I cannot leave Dicky so soon!" She ended with a sob.
"But, Lavinia, my dearest! You surely do not want to stay with him?" he cried.
"Yes I do!" she answered. "I-I don't want ever to leave him!"
This blighting speech left him gasping.
"You-but-heavens! what are you saying? You love me!"
"No, I don't!" she contradicted. "I always s-said I d-didn't. I love my husband!"
"You are distraught!" he exclaimed. "If you love him, why do you consent to elope with me?"
She looked at him reproachfully.
"There is no one else," she said mournfully.
"Good lord! What-"
"I have to elope with someone-because-Dick-d-doesn't love me any more-you see. I will come with you, and I will try to be good."
He kissed her hand quickly "Sweetheart! . . . I still think you are not yourself. You will think differently to-morrow-you do not really love Carstares."
She shut her mouth obstinately, tilting her regal little head.
He watched her anxiously.
"If you really do love him, 'tis ridiculous to elope with me," he said.
Her fingers tightened on his wrist.
"But I must! You don't understand, Harry! You must take me! Don't you want me?"
"Of course I do, but not if you are longing to be somewhere else all the time. The whole thing seems preposterous!"