He had an engagement book before him and seemed to
be deep in its contents. When at last he looked up, his forehead was
furrowed with thought, and he had the weary air of a man who has been
indulging in unprofitable memories.
"Aynesworth," he said, "be so good as to ring up Walters and excuse me
from dining with him tonight."
Aynesworth nodded.
"Any particular form of excuse?" he asked.
"No! Say that I have an unavoidable engagement. I will see him
tomorrow morning."
"Anything else?" Aynesworth asked, preparing to leave the room.
"No! You might see that I have no visitors this evening. Lady Ruth is
coming here at nine o'clock."
"Lady Ruth is coming here," Aynesworth repeated in a colorless tone.
"Alone?"
"Yes."
Aynesworth shrugged his shoulders, but made no remark. He turned
towards the door, but Wingrave called him back.
"Your expression, Aynesworth," he said, "interests me. Am I or the
lady in question responsible for it?"
"I am sorry for Lady Ruth," Aynesworth said. "I think that I am sorry,
too, for her husband."
"Why? She is coming of her own free will."
"There are different methods of compulsion," Aynesworth answered.
Wingrave regarded him thoughtfully.
"That," he said, "is true. But I still do not understand why you are
sorry for her."
"Because," Aynesworth said, "I know the history of a certain event,
and I know you. It is, I suppose, for this end that you made use of
them.
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