Lady John opened her lips and then closed them firmly. After all, why
pursue the matter? She had got the information she had come for.

'I must hurry back;' she rose, murmuring, 'my poor ill-used guests----'

Vida stood there quiet, a little cold. 'I won't ring,' she said. 'I
think you'll find Mr. Stonor downstairs waiting for you.'

'Oh--a--he will have left word about the car in any case.'

Lady John's embarrassment was not so much at seeing that her friend had
divined the gist of the arrangement that had been effected downstairs.
It was that Vida should be at no pains to throw a decent veil over the
fact of her realization that Lady John had come there in the character
of scout. With an openness not wholly free from scorn, the younger woman
had laid her own cards on the table. She made no scruple at turning her
back on Lady John's somewhat incoherent evasion. Ignoring it she crossed
the room and opened the door for her.

Jean was in the corridor saying good-bye to the chairman of the
afternoon.

'Well, Mr. Trent,' said Miss Levering in even tones, 'I didn't expect to
see you this evening.'

He came forward and stood in the doorway. 'Why not? Have I ever failed?'

'Lady John,' said Vida, turning, 'this is one of our allies. He is good
enough to squire me through the rabble from time to time.'

'Well,' said Lady John, advancing quite graciously, 'I think it's very
handsome of you after what she said to-day about men.'

'I've no great opinion of most men myself,' said the young gentleman. 'I
might add, or of most women.'

'Oh!' Lady John laughed. 'At any rate I shall go away relieved to think
that Miss Levering's plain speaking hasn't alienated _all_ masculine
regard.'

'Why should it?' he said.

'That's right.' Lady John metaphorically patted him on the back. 'Don't
believe all she says in the heat of propaganda.'

'I _do_ believe all she says. But I'm not cast down.'

'Not when she says----'

'Was there never,' he made bold to interrupt, 'a misogynist of _my_ sex
who ended by deciding to make an exception?'

'Oh!' Lady John smiled significantly; 'if _that's_ what you build on!'

'Why,' he demanded with an effort to convey 'pure logic,' 'why shouldn't
a man-hater on your side prove equally open to reason?'

'That aspect of the question has become irrelevant so far as I'm
personally concerned,' said Vida, exasperated by Lady John's look of
pleased significance. 'I've got to a place where I reali