'And I take an interest--' Lady Montbarry abruptly lifted her hands with a gesture of entreaty.
'Ah, Miss Lockwood, don't waste time by talking of his wife! Answer my plain question, plainly!' 'Let me answer her,' Henry whispered.

'I will undertake to speak plainly enough.' Agnes refused by a gesture.

Lady Montbarry's interruption had roused her sense of what was due to herself.

She resumed her reply in plainer terms.
'When Ferrari wrote to the late Lord Montbarry,' she said, 'he did certainly mention my name.' Even now, she had innocently failed to see the object which her visitor had in view.

Lady Montbarry's impatience became ungovernable.