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Page 34
Lessingham's interest in the subject appeared to be non-existent.
He strolled away from the sideboard towards Philippa. She, for her
part, was watching Captain Griffiths.
"So many thanks, Lady Cranston," Lessingham murmured, "for your
hospitality."
"And what about that secret?" she asked.
"You see, there are two," he answered, looking down at her. "One
I shall most surely tell you before I leave here, because it is the
one secret which no man has ever succeeded in keeping to himself.
As for the other--"
He hesitated. There was something almost like pain in his face.
She broke in hastily.
"I did not call you away to ask about either. I happened to notice
Captain Griffiths just now. Do you know that he is watching you
very closely?"
"I had an idea of it," Lessingham admitted indifferently. "He is
rather a clumsy person, is he not?"
"You will be careful?" she begged earnestly. "Remember, won't you,
that Helen and I are really in a most disgraceful position if
anything should come out."
"Nothing shall," he promised her. "I think you know, do you not,
that, whatever might happen to me, I should find some means to
protect you."
For the second time she felt a curious lack of will to fittingly
reprove his boldness. She had even to struggle to keep her tone as
careless as her words.
"You really are a delightful person!" she exclaimed. "How long is
it since you descended from the clouds?"
"Sometimes I think that I am there still," he answered, "but I have
known you about seventy-six hours."
"What precision?" she laughed. "It's a national characteristic,
isn't it? Captain Griffiths," she continued, as she observed his
approach, "if you really must go, please take Mr. Lessingham with
you. He is making fun of me. I don't allow even Dick's friends
to do that."
Lessingham's disclaimer was in quite the correct vein.
"You must both come again very soon," their hostess concluded, as
she shook hands. "I enjoyed our bridge immensely."
The two men were already on their way to the door when a sudden
idea seemed to occur to Captain Griffiths. He turned back.
"By-the-by, Lady Cranston," he asked, "have you heard anything from
your brother?"
Philippa shook her head sadly. Helen, who, unlike her friend, had
not had the advantage of a distinguished career upon the amateur
dramatic stage, turned away and held a handkerchief to her eyes.
"Not a word," was Philippa's sorrowful reply.
Captain Griffiths offered a clumsy expression of his sympathy.
"Bad luck!" he said. "I'm so sorry, Lady Cranston. Good night once
more."
This time their departure was uninterrupted. Helen removed her
handkerchief from her eyes, and Philippa made a little grimace at
the closed door.
"Do you believe," Helen asked seriously, "that Captain Griffiths
has any suspicions?"
Philippa shrugged her shoulders.
"If he has, who cares?" she replied, a little defiantly. "The
very idea of a duel of wits between those two men is laughable."
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