‘I fancy, sir, that her ladyship is in her dressing-room. I will inform her that you have returned.’
‘Needn’t do that. Take Miss Broughty into the Saloon! And mind this, Skelton!—if anyone comes here asking for her, she ain’t here, and you haven’t seen her!’
In the course of a long and successful career, Skelton had gathered much experience of eccentric young gentlemen. He had not previously included Mr Standen in this fraternity, and he was both grieved and shocked to find that his judgment had been so much at fault. But he concealed his feelings, and led the shrinking Miss Broughty to the Saloon while Mr Standen trod lightly upstairs to his sister’s dressing-room.
‘Good gracious, Freddy!’ exclaimed Meg, when she saw him. ‘What now, pray?’ A gleam of hope shone in her eyes. She cast aside the hat she was just about to set on her head, and said eagerly: ‘Oh, do you mean to tell me the secret after all?’
‘Not that one,’ responded Freddy. ‘Tell you another instead!’ He perceived that she was looking affronted, and added: ‘Not bamming you! Wish I was! Dashed awkward business! Fact is, need your help.’
A little mollified, but still suspicious, she looked an enquiry.
‘Got the Broughty girl downstairs,’ said Freddy. ‘Put her in the Saloon.’
‘Then I wish you will take her away again! I don’t want her!’ said Meg, with asperity.
‘That’s just it: I don’t want her either. Been thinking for some time I should have to get rid of her. Think I can do it! You knew that cousin of Kit’s was trying to fix his interest with her, didn’t you?’
‘Oh, I know that Kitty was attempting to make up a match between them, but I think it most unsuitable!’
‘No, it ain’t: best match she could make, if you ask me!’
‘She! And what of the Chevalier, pray?’
‘Now, listen, Meg! Going to tell you something I don’t want you to repeat. Got to trust you.’
&nbs
p; ‘As though you did not know I would never breathe a word to a soul of anything you told me in confidence!’
‘Well, see you don’t, because it ain’t a story I want to find flying round the town!’ said Freddy, unimpressed. ‘You remember what we were saying about the Chevalier before Jack brought him here?’
‘No,’ said Meg, mystified.
‘Yes, you do! Told Kit he’d very likely turn out to be a dirty dish.’
‘Oh, that! Yes, why?’
‘Exactly what he has turned out to be,’ said Freddy. ‘Not a Chevalier at all: deuced loose fish, in fact! Just what I thought: a dashed ivory-turner!’
‘Freddy, no!’ cried Meg, turning quite pale. ‘Oh, poor Kitty! Does she know?’
‘Stupid fellow told her. Thing is, Meg, must get rid of him too!’
‘Good heavens, yes! Only think of the scandal, if anyone should discover the truth!’
‘Exactly so! Dashed awkward situation. Queered me how to settle it, I can tell you. Hit on a notion just now. Get rid of them both!’
Meg stared at him. ‘Both? Do you mean Miss Broughty as well?’
‘That’s it. Poor girl’s in the devil of a pucker! Gosford offering for her, and she won’t have him. Ran off to beg Kit to help her. Met her in the Square, and she told me all about it. Very fortunate circumstance, because it gave me a notion. Pack ’em both off to France!’
‘You must be mad!’
‘No, I ain’t. In love with one another. At least, the girl is: keeps talking on about her Camille till you can’t but feel queasy! Kit says d’Evron is too. Shouldn’t be surprised: seems to be more of a gudgeon than you’d think. Trouble is, knows his case is hopeless.’
‘I should think so, indeed! If ever I saw an odious, scheming woman—’
‘Got to elope with her. Going to tell him so,’ said Freddy.