"You, sir," she said to him, "you have been dragged into this, I know not why." She broke off suddenly, looking at him, her eyes a pair of gimlets now for penetration.

"Why have you been dragged into it ?" she demanded.
"What is here?
I demand to know.

What help does my lord expect from you that he tells you this?
Does he--" She paused an instant, a cunning smile breaking over her wrinkled, painted face.

"Does he propose to sell himself to the king over the water, and are you a secret agent come to do the buying?
Is that the answer to this riddle ?" Mr.Caryll, imperturbable outwardly, but very ill at ease within, smiled and waved the delicate hand that appeared through the heavy ruffle at his wrist.

"Madam, indeed--ah--your ladyship goes very fast.