her host and openly flirting with him in the most marked way!
It had been too much for her self-restraint. But now Mary saw she had
gone too far. Her open fury had been less successful than her secret
intriguing, so she apologised most humbly, entreated him to forgive her,
and even swore never to interfere again. He was to be quite free. He
might see Mrs. Kellynch whenever he liked. But all this was, of course,
too late for Nigel, since Bertha herself had declined to see him again,
and Mary resolved to start afresh. Probably the husband had lost his
suspicions and they must be roused again. If only Bertha had told him
all that had happened at the party, and if only Percy had frankly shown
her the letters and concealed nothing from her, there would have been no
more trouble. But each of them, from mistaken reasons, had concealed
these facts from the other. So, within a week of the entertainment, when
he had been so enchanted with her coming home early, Percy received
another shock, another warning anonymous letter.

It told him that his wife had made herself so conspicuous with Nigel
Hillier that the hostess had requested her to leave, also that their
meetings and their intrigue were the talk of London. He was again
advised to put a stop to it, but was not this time given any day and
hour or place to find them.

This time Percy said nothing to his wife. He made up his mind to have it
out, for several reasons, with Nigel. Though he was angry and jealous,
he now did not believe for a moment that Bertha was in any way to blame,
but simply that Nigel must be paying her marked attention, and whatever
the cause of the talk he was determined to stop it.

He thought for some time about where he could have an interview with
Nigel. He could not ask him to his own house, nor could he go and see
him at Grosvenor Street. His former idea of talking at the club he saw
to be impossible.

He sat down and wrote:

"DEAR HILLIER,--I want to have a talk with you. Will you come
and see me at my chambers at four o'clock the day after
to-morrow? No. 7 Essex Court, Temple. Yours sincerely,

"PERCIVAL KELLYNCH."

Nigel was amazed to receive this, and rather alarmed too. It was about a
week since he had had Bertha's little letter, but he had made no attempt
to see her since.

He answered immediately that he would call at the time appointed and
passed a very restless day and night beforehand.

CHAPTER XXVIII