"Pish! what good will that do? You can't tell stories about Mostyn without inculpating yourself. It won't harm his memory, which is black enough. It will only harm you, and through you, me. No, no, Mrs. Veilsturm, I've too much at stake to risk the world finding out what we want kept quiet, and if Lady Errington does not return your call, put your cursed pride in your pocket and hold your tongue." "I've got my wits about me as well as you," said Cleopatra coolly, "so you needn't lecture me as if I were a school-girl. Besides, my position is too strong in Society to be hurt by Lady Errington or any other silly fool of a woman." "Your position, my dear," remarked Griff with cruel candour, "hangs by a thread, and that thread is Mr. William Dolser, of 'The Pepper Box.' He put in what I wanted, and made people shut their mouths, but if he turned nasty, he could find out quite enough to make them open them again." "If he tried to, you could promise him a thrashing." "That wouldn't do much good. He's used to the horsewhip." "Then you could have an action for libel against the paper." "And very nicely we'd come out of it. Whether we won or lost it would be the death-knell of our campaign in town. No! no, I'll keep The 'Pepper Box' in a good temper by judicious bribes, and you on the other hand, don't play with fire or you'll have the whole place in a blaze." The dexterous arguing of Major Griff evidently impressed Mrs. Veilsturm, for she made no reply, but looked down frowning at one dainty foot in a high-heeled slipper that was resting on the green velvet foot-stool. She knew her partner was right in all he said, but with feminine persistence was about to renew the argument and have the last word, when a servant entered the room and presenting a letter to his mistress, left it again, closing the door noiselessly after him. Mrs. Veilsturm, leaning back languidly in her chair, was about to open the letter, when Major Griff stopped her. "Wait a moment, Maraquita," he said deliberately, with a certain anxious look on his face. "You know I often have an instinct as to how things will go?" She bowed her head, but said nothing. "I had an instinct that your calling on Lady Errington was a mistake, and that letter is from Lady Errington to tell you so." Mrs. Veilsturm laughed scornfully as she tore open the envelope, but the Major, putting his hands behind his back, leaned against the mantelpiece, and looked steadily at her with a satisfied smile on his lips. The woman had wonderful self-command, for as she read Lady Errington's curt note, no sign of anger escaped from her lips, but her dark skin flushed an angry red and a venomous smile curled the corners of her full mouth. Still she gave no further sign of being moved, but having read the note through in the most deliberate manner, handed it to the Major with a low, fierce laugh.