Speaking, she scrambled down from the vehicle--a little unsteadily, as both Mr. Bodwin and Mr. Dante observed--and, cigarette in mouth, ran jauntily up to the veranda. “Good evening, my dear,” she said, as she skipped airily into the veranda and confronted Mrs. Bonair. “You needn’t wait any longer for Mr. Hazlitt, because he hasn’t the slightest knowledge of the wire that was sent you, and I dare say that he has been in bed and asleep for hours. Need I introduce myself?” Berry turned quickly, and faced her visitor. There was a brief pause; then she answered with cold, calm, scornful dignity: “No, that is not in the least necessary. But you may tell me, if you wish, why you presume to come here.” “I have come to either open your precious moneybags or to make you pay dearly for trying to shut me out of Crumplesea.” Berry gave a sort of faint gasp--so low that it was scarcely audible--then pulled herself together and tapped on the pane of the nearest window. “Thompson,” she said imperatively; “Thompson, come out here at once and take this creature away.” CHAPTER XLVI. A LAST DECISION. Rosalind’s insolent face went red with wrath. “I don’t know who ‘Thompson’ is or whether it’s a man or a woman,” she said threateningly, “but it will be a bad night’s business for both of you, if either he or she tries anything of that sort. I’ve some friends within call, and if I can’t take care of myself without them, I’ve only to call, to get all the help I need.” Berry looked the unutterable disgust she felt, and she involuntarily drew back a step from her unwelcome visitor. Fortunately for all concerned, however, Thompson--who was one of the under footmen--was in another part of the house at the time and did not, therefore, put in an appearance in response to her ladyship’s request. Rosalind waited for a moment in expectation of hostilities of a more formidable character than the mere resentment of an indignant gentlewoman, and, finding that none were likely to come, stuck her cigarette between her lips again and blew out a long writhing plume of smoke. “I reckon that ‘Thompson’ knows when he’s well off, and has made himself scarce,” she said with a laugh and a wave of one very much bejeweled hand. “And as there’s no way for you to get into the house unless I choose to step aside and let you, I also reckon you’ve got to stand and face the music whether you like it or not. Turn about’s fair play the world over. You tried to shut me out of Crumplesea, and now I’m shutting you in--in your own veranda.” “What do you want of me, that you have had the impudence to come here and to play me such a trick as you have done?” asked Berry, with cool scorn. “No! don’t come any nearer; keep your distance, please; you are quite too close for comfort as it is.”