"
Wingrave spread out the newspaper.
"I think," he said, with a faint sneer, "that it is quite time you
took this sea voyage."
THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES
Mr. Lumley Barrington, K.C. and M.P., was in the act of stepping into
his carriage to drive down to the House, when he was intercepted by a
message. It was his wife's maid, who came hurrying out after him.
"I beg your pardon, sir," she said, "but her ladyship particularly
wished to see you as soon as you came in."
"Is your mistress in?" Barrington asked in some surprise.
"Yes, sir!" the maid answered. "Her ladyship is resting, before she
goes to the ball at Caleram House. She is in her room now."
"I will come up at once," Barrington said.
He kept the carriage waiting while he ascended to his wife's room.
There was no answer to his knock. He opened the door softly. She was
asleep on a couch drawn up before the fire.
He crossed the room noiselessly, and stood looking down upon her. Her
lithe, soft figure had fallen into a posture of graceful, almost
voluptuous ease; the ribbons and laces of her muslin dressing gown
quivered gently with her deep regular breathing. She had thrown off
her slippers, and one long, slender foot was exposed; the other was
doubled up underneath her body. Her face was almost like the face of a
child, smooth and unwrinkled, save for one line by the eyes where she
laughed. He looked at her steadfastly.
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