"
"You!!!"
"With your ladyship's permission."
"I can hardly believe my own ears! Well, 'Live and learn' is an
old proverb. I thought I knew your character. This _is_ a
change!"
"You forget, Lady Janet (if I may venture to say so), that the
circumstances are changed. She took me by surprise on the last
occasion; I am prepared for her
now."
"Do you really feel as coolly as you speak?"
"Yes, Lady Janet."
"Have your own way, then. I shall do one thing, however, in case
of your having overestimated your own courage. I shall place one
of the men in the library. You will only have to ring for him if
anything happens. He will give the alarm--and I shall act
accordingly. I have my plan," said her Ladyship, comfortably
conscious of the card in her pocket. "Don't look as if you wanted
to know what it is. I have no intention of saying anything about
it--except that it will do. Once more, and for the last time--do
you stay here? or do you go with me?"
"I stay here."
She respectfully opened the library door for Lady Janet's
departure as she made that reply. Throughout the interview she
had been carefully and coldly deferential; she had not once
lifted her eyes to Lady Janet's face.
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