“Leave me alone,” she said unevenly. “I only want some air.”
He stopped, but stood staring at her in blank amazement. She dared not do anything. Leo Ulford stretched out his arm towards the cabman, who bent down from his perch. He took the money, looked at it, then bent down again, showing it to Leo and muttering something. Doubtless he was saying that it was not enough. She turned round again sharply to Fritz.
“Fritz,” she said, “be a good dog. Go upstairs to my room and fetch me some eau de Cologne, will you?”
“It’s on my dressing-table--the gold bottle on the right. You know. I feel so bad. I’ll stay here. The air will bring me round perhaps.”
She caught hold of the curtain, like a person on the point of swooning.
“All right,” he said, and he went out of the room.
She watched till he was gone, then darted to the window and leaned out.
She was too late. The cab was driving off and Leo was gone. He must have entered the house.
BEFORE she had time to leave the window she heard a step in the room. She turned and saw Leo Ulford, smiling broadly--like a great boy--and holding up the latch-key she had sent him. At the sight of her face his smile died away.
“Go--go!” she whispered, putting out her hand. “Go at once!”
“Go! My husband’s come back. He’s in the house. Go quickly. Don’t make a sound. I’ll explain to-morrow.”
She made a rapid, repeated gesture of her hands towards the door, frowning. Leo Ulford stood for an instant looking heavy and sulky, then, pushing out his rosy lips in a sort of indignant pout, he swung round on his heels. As he did so, Lord Holme came into the room holding the bottle of eau de Cologne. When he saw Leo he stopped. Leo stopped too, and they stood for a moment staring at each other. Lady Holme, who was still by the open window, did not move. There was complete silence in the room. Then Leo dropped the latch-key. It fell on the thick carpet without a noise. He made a hasty, lumbering movement to pick it up, but Lord Holme was too quick for him. When Lady Holme saw the key in her husband’s hand she moved at last and came forward into the middle of the room.
“Mr. Ulford’s come to tell me about the Blaxtons’ dance,” she said.
She spoke in her usual light voice, without tremor or uncertainty. Her face was perfectly calm and smiling. Leo Ulford cleared his throat.