"Don't be foolish," he said sharply. "You were seen to leave the flat, and your handkerchief was found there. Very likely by this time the whole truth is known."
She smiled at him, an understanding smile, but her words defied him.
"What a beautiful mare's nest!" she exclaimed. "I can see you and Anna groaning and nodding your grave heads together. Bah! She does not know me very well, and you--not at all. Do have some tea, won't you? If you must, go then."
Courtlaw was dismissed. As he passed out he saw in the hall a quietly dressed man with keen grey eyes, talking to one of the footmen. He shivered and looked behind as he stepped into his hansom. Had it come already?
"Confess, my dear husband," Annabel said lightly, "that you are bewildered."
"My dear Anna," he answered. "To tell you the truth, it has seemed just lately as though we were becoming in some measure estranged. You certainly have not shown much desire for my society, have you?"
"You have been wrapped up in your politics," she murmured.
"There have been other times," he said a little sadly.
Her little white hand stole across the table. There was a look in her eyes which puzzled him.
"I have been very selfish," she declared. "But you must forgive me, John."
"I would forgive you a great deal more," he answered readily, "for the sake of an evening like this. You have actually given up a dinner-party to dine alone with me."
"And made you give up a political meeting," she reminded him.
"Quite an unimportant one," he assured her. "I would have given up anything to see you your old self again--as you are this evening."
"I am afraid I have not been very nice," she said sadly. "Never mind. You must think of this evening, John, sometimes--as a sort of atonement."
"I hope," he answered, looking at her in some surprise, "that we shall have many more such to think about."
They were lingering over their dessert. The servants had left the room. Annabel half filled her glass with wine, and taking a little folded packet from her plate, shook the contents into it.
"I am developing ailments," she said, meeting his questioning eyes. "It is nothing of any importance. John, I have something to say to you."
"If you want to ask a favour," he remarked smiling, "you have made it almost impossible for me to refuse you anything."