"Miss Hepworth is going to the fancy ball at Goring as the Silver Queen," said madame.
Keith was silent for a moment; then he said,--
Madame looked full at him. Should she tell him, or should she be silent? Just for a moment she thought that she would reserve her information for the young man's mother; but on second thoughts the memory of her wasted time and the sorry trick which she considered Miss Hepworth had played upon her aroused her indignation. She spoke impulsively.
"I wished to see your mother, Captain Keith, on a matter of great privacy."
"Yes, and no, sir. I am very much troubled about a matter which occurred to-day."
"If it is a worry, I would rather you did not tell my mother now."
"Because she has other things to trouble her: my regiment is ordered south next week."
"I am sorry and yet glad, sir, to know that you are going to help to protect your country." Madame half rose, then sat down again. "I ought to tell some one," she said, as if questioning herself.
"Perhaps I shall do," replied Keith, smiling, and trying to control his impatience.
"What I have to say, Captain Keith, is in absolute confidence."
"Miss Hepworth!" cried Keith. He coloured, and an uneasy sensation visited him. "Then perhaps I had best not hear it," he said.
"Either you or your mother must hear it, sir; and as you are willing to listen to my confidence, I will give it to you. The fact is, I have been placed in a most awkward position. I asked Miss Hepworth to call on me this morning. She came. She owes me money."
Keith made no remark, but waited for madame to proceed. He did not suppose that Kitty had large private funds at present, and a sum of ten pounds or so owed to a dressmaker did not seem to him a heinous offence.
"Perhaps I can accommodate you with a cheque," he said. After all, the woman's story was scarcely worth taking up his time with.
"It is possible that you can do so, Captain Keith; but the matter I have to speak about means more than a mere cheque. Miss Hepworth has owed me money for a long time, and to-day I asked her for a cheque. She said it was out of her power to give it to me. I asked for a cheque for a large sum. When she refused to accommodate me, I told her that I could not let her have the dress she had ordered for the ball."