He smiled to himself as over a thought that pleased him, and rang for his servant to go out and hail a taxi. CHAPTER XXIX It was not difficult for Alymer to persuade himself that a little diplomacy on his part would probably assuage his aunt’s wish to upset his friendship, and incidentally allay his mother’s fears; but, as it happened no one having his welfare so exceedingly at heart over this matter with the actress was in any degree as amenable or as quietly pacified as he imagined. Another interview took place between his mother and his aunt, in which the latter advised writing to Miss Vivian direct to tell her what his father and mother thought of the friendship, and that an uncle of his would call upon her at once. To say that the letter was an insult is to put it mildly, though at the same time it was not so much through intention as ignorance. Lorraine read it with silent amazement, and thought the writer must be mad. It seemed quite incredible that any lady in the twentieth century should apparently be so ignorant concerning the status of a celebrated actress. It was evidently taken for granted that she was an adventuress of the worst type. She was naturally somewhat angry and indignant, but decided it was not worth while to take any notice, and merely awaited with some curiosity the visit of the uncle who was to expostulate with her, and, practically, offer her terms. He came at about twelve o’clock, and he did not give his name, merely asking to see Miss Vivian on a matter of business. Lorraine dressed with special care, and looked her best when she quietly entered the drawing-room. She gave an order to her maid with the door half opened, in the most casual and imperturbed of voices, then she came slowly in, closed the door behind her, and advanced towards the figure standing on the hearth. When she had taken two steps she stood still suddenly, and in a voice that was rasping and harsh, exclaimed: “_You_!—” Alymer’s uncle squared his shoulders, stroked his white moustache with a gallant air, and replied: “Yes—er—Lorraine. We meet again, you see. I may say—er—I am very glad indeed that it is so,” and he advanced a step with outstretched hand. But Lorraine was rooted to the spot where she stood, and a sudden, sharp fierceness seemed to burn in her eyes. “Have—_you_—come—about—Alymer—Hermon?” she asked in slow, cutting tones, as if each word was hammered out of a seething whirlpool of suppressed emotions. “Alymer is my nephew, and his mother asked me to come and—er—talk to you about him. She is a good deal perturbed on his behalf—er—because—” “I do not want to know any more than I am able to gather from the extraordinary epistle I received from her this morning. What I should like to know is, did you agree to come here on this errand, knowing who I was?”