"
Leyton saw his mistake, but felt--as others sometimes felt--a doubt
whether this smileless man was not inwardly laughing at him. He replied,
with a keen, rapid glance at his host:--
"I was referring to some woman who stood in that doorway just now, and
addressed me rather familiarly, thinking it was you."
"Oh, the Signora," said Rushbrook, with undisturbed directness; "well,
you saw her at Los Osos last summer. Likely she DID think you were me."
The cool ignoring of any ulterior thought in Leyton's objection forced
the guest to be equally practical in his reply.
"Yes, but the fact is that Miss Nevil had talked of coming here with me
this evening to see you on her own affairs, and it wouldn't have been
exactly the thing for her to meet that woman."
"She wouldn't," said Rushbrook, promptly; "nor would YOU, if you had
gone into the parlor as Miss Nevil would have done. But look here! If
that's the reason why you didn't bring her, send for her at once; my
coachman can take a card from you; the brougham's all ready to fetch
her, and there you are.
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