An opportunity soon presented itself. Frequently during the Winter she invited Fanny to go with her to the opera, and sometimes when there were to be several outings, her sister would come and stay at the Stafford home for several days, bringing her baby with her, a suite having been set apart for the Gillies' exclusive use. The house was so large that Virginia could well spare the room. Besides, she liked to have her sister's companionship.
It was on the last night of one of these protracted visits that Robert Stafford's wife found the long-waited-for chance to unburden her heart. She and Fanny had been to the opera and just returned home. Virginia was in her boudoir, still wearing the magnificent gown and wonderful jewels which made her the cynosure of every eye in the Metropolitan's aristocratic horse-shoe circle. Fanny had gone to her own apartment and Josephine, the French maid, took from her mistress her cloak and opera bag. While the girl disposed of the articles she chattered in French:
"Je pensais que Madame rentrerait un peu plus tard--"
"Yes," replied Virginia languidly, "we returned much earlier than we expected. The opera was stupid--"
Josephine, a born diplomat, stopped short and, going into ecstasies over her mistress's gown, exclaimed rapturously:
"Oh, que Madame est jolie ce soir, vraiement ravissante!"
"I'm glad the gown looks well," replied Virginia with an air of weary indifference as she sank down on a sofa.
"Mais oui--Madame n'a jamais été si jolie."
"Donnez moi mes pantoufles," said her mistress with a yawn. She was very tired and was glad to change her tight opera slippers for more comfortable footwear.
Josephine knelt down, took off the dainty slippers, and, going to a closet, brought a pair of easy bedroom slippers and put them on.
"Has Mr. Stafford returned?" inquired Virginia.
"No, Madame. Did not Monsieur go to opera with Madame and Madame Gillie?"
"Yes," said her mistress hastily, "but he couldn't stay. He had some business to attend to. You are quite sure he hasn't 'phoned?"
"No message, Madame. I find out." Picking up the receiver from a telephone on the bureau, she spoke downstairs: "Hello! Who is this? Madame want to know if any word has come from Monsieur since he went away! You are quite sure? Merci!" Replacing the receiver, she shook her head and said: "No, Madame."