"
To be sure Mrs. Vane had appeared a dove, but doves can peck on certain
occasions, and no doubt she had a spirit at bottom. Her coming to him
proved it. And had not the other been a dove all the morning and
afternoon? Yet, jealousy had turned her to a fiend before his eyes. Then
if (which was not probable) no collision took place, what a situation was
his! Mrs. Woffington (his buckler from starvation) suspected him, and
would distort every word that came from Mrs. Vane's lips.
Triplet's situation was, in fact, that of AEneas in the storm.
"Olim et haec meminisse juvabit--" "But, while present, such things don't
please any one a bit."
It was the sort of situation we can laugh at, and see the fun of it six
months after, if not shipwrecked on it at the time.
With a ghastly smile the poor quaking hypocrite welcomed Mrs. Vane, and
professed a world of innocent delight that she had so honored his humble
roof.
She interrupted his compliments, and begged him to see whether she was
followed by a gentleman in a cloak.
Triplet looked out of the window.
"Sir Charles Pomander!" gasped he.
Sir Charles was at the very door. If, however, he had intended to mount
the stairs he changed his mind, for he suddenly went off round the corner
with a businesslike air, real or fictitious.
"He is gone, madam," said Triplet.
Mrs. Vane, the better to escape detection or observation, wore a thick
mantle and a hood that concealed her features.
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