Vere-Manville," said she, her soft voice calm and even, "pray
give me my scarf, your wife made me a present of it days ago!" And she
reached out her hand with the old, imperious gesture that I remembered
so well. So Anthony gave her the handful of lace and turned his back
upon us.
"O Perry!" he exclaimed with a groan, "O Perry, dear friend--what have
I done! God forgive me--"
"Heavens, Anthony!" quoth I. "Pray why distress yourself upon a matter
so trivial--besides, I knew already. And now, Mr. Trenchard or
Haredale or Devereux, if this lady will be so obliging as to retire,
we can settle our small concern very comfortably here across the
table."
"No, Peregrine!" said Diana in the same even tone.
"Mr. Trenchard--" I began.
"I say you shall not, Peregrine!" said she softly.
"Mr. Haredale--" quoth I.
"O Peregrine," she sighed, "suspicion has poisoned your mind against
me or you would never stoop to doubt me--even here--"
"Mr. Devereux," said I, "will you pray have the courtesy to desire
your charming friend to leave us awhile--"
"O Peregrine!" she gasped, and though I never so much as glanced in
her direction, I knew she had shrunk farther from me. "Some day, oh,
some day, Peregrine, you will regret this bitterly--bitterly--" Her
voice broke, and in its place came Devereux's hateful tones:
"'My charming friend' is well aware that her society is my joy and
delight, nor shall I cheat myself of one moment on your account, sir,
whoever you chance to be.
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