"But private property. Her husband is the Duke's second son, at present in the clutches of that little harpy, Mrs. Penworthy. Don't you make love to Lady Jim, or you'll burn your fingers. I mistrust red-haired women, myself. But she and Jim match each other capitally. Their marriage was made in heaven"; and Lady Canvey chuckled. "Is her husband here?" asked Askew, looking round, anxious to see who owned Circe-of-the-many-wiles. "No; he went out with Mrs. Penworthy a quarter of an hour ago." Askew remembered how Lady Jim had drawn his attention to an outgoing couple. "Didn't the lady go out with a Mr. Berring?" he gasped. "No; with Lord Jim Kaimes!" "And she--his wife--the lady I----" Askew stopped with a groan. "Try an unmarried woman," advised Lady Canvey, misunderstanding his emotion. "It's more proper, and less expensive." CHAPTER IX Keeping up the necessary Darby-and-Joan comedy, Kaimes strolled into his wife's dressing-room half an hour before dinner to inquire if she was ready. Leah had a second-hand view of him in a full-length mirror before which she posed, while her maid added a few final touches to an eminently successful frock. From the composed expression of his face she guessed that he had not yet renewed his acquaintance with Mr. Askew, and therefore must be ignorant that the free-spoken sailor had let the cat out of the bag. Lady Jim possessed the animal now, but she did not intend to reveal her capture until Jim explained how he had sped with the Duke. A slight nod towards the glass showed her husband that she was aware of his presence, and the maid continued to use experienced fingers. But Leah looked so charming, that further trouble in this way was like adding sugar to honey. Jim stared approvingly, and, when the maid was dismissed, saw his way to a compliment. "You have the good points of several women rolled into one, Leah," he said, with the look of a sultan appraising an odalisque. "That polite speech means much, coming from a man of your experience, my dear Jim. What good point of Mrs. Penworthy's have I annexed?" "You're jealous!" "Horribly! You are so deeply attached to that bundle of faded chiffon." "I don't care two straws for her." "Appearances are misleading, then. But," added Leah, remembering Askew's eulogy, "it may be that you prefer something that's good and holy and pure." "I don't know why you should say that," grumbled Jim, annoyed at being credited with such primitive tastes. "You may know before long," and she laughed at the thought of the marine bomb-shell which would shortly shatter Jim's complacency. "I don't know what you're talkin' about," said Kaimes, with unaffected surprise, "an' I'm confoundedly hungry." "Ah! Did the Duke's lecture give you an appetite?" "Leah!" Jim became so serious as to look almost intelligent. "My father is the best man who ever wore shoe-leather."