Mrs. Woffington went again to the window, and there she saw getting out
of a coach, and attended by James Burdock, Mabel Vane, who had sent up
her name on the back of an old letter.
"What shall I do?" said Triplet, as soon as he recovered the first
stunning effects of this _contretemps._ To his astonishment, Mrs.
Woffington bade the girl show the lady upstairs. The girl went down on
this errand.
"But _you_ are here," remonstrated Triplet. "Oh, to be sure, you can go
into the other room. There is plenty of time to avoid her," said Triplet,
in a very natural tremor. "This way, madam!"
Mrs. Woffington stood in the middle of the room like a statue.
"What does she come here for?" said she, sternly. "You have not told me
all."
"I don't know," cried poor Triplet, in dismay; "and I think the Devil
brings her here to confound me. For Heaven's sake, retire! What will
become of us all? There will be murder, I know there will!"
To his horror, Mrs. Woffington would not move. "You are on her side,"
said she slowly, with a concentration of spite and suspicion. She looked
frightful at this moment. "All the better for me," added she, with a
world of female malignity.
Triplet could not make head against this blow; he gasped, and pointed
piteously to the inner door. "No; I will know two things: the course she
means to take, and the terms you two are upon.
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