Lovelace was bearing down upon them.
"Lavinia! I have been seeking you everywhere!-ah-your servant, sir!" He bowed to his Grace, and took Lavinia's hand.
"Oh-oh, Harold!-you remember Tracy?" she said nervously.
"Tracy! I did not know you masked! I saw you last in Paris."
"Really? I regret I was not aware of your presence. It is a good many years since I had the honour of seeing you."
"Five," nodded Lovelace, and sent a smiling, amorous glance at Lavinia.
"Exactly," bowed his Grace. "You have, I perceive, renewed your acquaintance with my sister."
When they were gone he caressed his chin, thoughtfully.
"Lovelace . . . and Richard is so jealous, so unreasonable. Now I do hope Lavinia will do nothing indiscreet-Yes, Frank, I was talking to myself; a bad habit."
Fortescue, who had come up behind him, took his arm.
"A sign of lunacy, my dear. Jim Cavendish demands you."
"Does he? May I ask why?"
"He is in the card-room. There is some bet on, I believe."
"In that case I shall have to go. You had best accompany me, Frank."
"Very well. You have seen Lady Lavinia?"
Beneath the mask his Grace's eyes narrowed.
"I have seen Lavinia. Also I have seen an old friend-Lovelace by name."
"The captain with the full-bottomed wig? Your friend, you say?"
"Did I say so? I should correct myself: a friend of my sister's."
"Indeed? Yes, I believe I have seen him in her company."
Tracy smiled enigmatically.
"I daresay."
"And what of you, Tracy?"
"Well? What of me?"
"You told me this morning that you had at last fallen in love. It is true? You are honestly in love?"
"Honestly? How do I know? I only know that I have felt this passion for four months, and now it is stronger than ever. It sounds like love."
"Then, an she is a good woman, I hope she will consent to take you, such as you are, and make of you such as she can!"
"Now that is very neat, Frank. I congratulate you. Of course she will take me; as to the rest-I think not."
"Tare an' ouns, Tracy! but an that is the tone you take with her, she'll have none of you!"
"I have never found it unsuccessful."
"With your common trollops, no! But if your Diana is a lady, she will dispatch you about your business! Woo her, man! Forget your own damned importance, for I think you will need to humble yourself to the dust if all that you tell me has passed between you is true!"
They had paused outside the card-room. A curtain shut it off from the ball-room, and with his hand on it, Tracy stared arrogantly down at his friend.