‘Are you in the house here?’ said Dolly to Lord Nidderdale in a whisper.

’She sent for me.  We live quite close, you know.  She wanted somebody to tell her something.  I must go up to her again now.’

‘Had you seen him before?’

’No indeed.  I only came down when I heard your voices.  I fear it will be rather bad for you;—­won’t it?’

‘He was regularly smashed, I suppose?’ asked Dolly.

’I know nothing myself.  He talked to me about his affairs once, but he was such a liar that not a word that he said was worth anything.  I believed him then.  How it will go, I can’t say.’

‘That other thing is all over of course...