human
Odd thing, Meddoes remarked,
gpt
Sounds interesting, Ennison remarked.
human
May I hear?
gpt
It really isn't much to tell, Drummond answered.
human
You know what a fearful old prig Ferringhall is, always goes about as though the whole world were watching him? We tried to show him around Paris, but he wouldn't have any of it. Talked about his years, his position and his constituents, and always sneaked off back to his hotel just when the fun was going to begin. Well one night, some of us saw him, or thought we saw him, at a café dining with 'Alcide,'--as a matter of fact, it seems that it was her sister. He came into the club next day, and of course we went for him thick. Jove, he didn't take to it kindly, I can tell you. Stood on his dignity and shut us up in great style. It seems that he was a sort of family friend of the Pellissiers, and it was the artist sister whom he was with. The joke of it is that he's married to her now, and cuts me dead.
gpt
I suppose, Ennison said,
human
I never saw the goody-goody one close to, so I can't say, Drummond answered.
gpt
Certainly I was a little way off at the café, and she had a hat and veil on, but I could have sworn that it was 'Alcide.'
human
Is 'Alcide' still in Paris?
gpt
Don't think so, Drummond answered.
human
I heard the other day that she'd been taken in by some cad of a fellow who was cutting a great dash in Paris, personating Meysey Hill, the great railway man. Anyhow, she's disappeared for some reason or other. Perhaps Ferringhall has pensioned her off. He's the sort of johnny who wouldn't care about having a sister-in-law on the loose.
gpt
Ennison here thought he saw her in London,
human
Very likely. The two sisters were very fond of one another, I believe. Perhaps Sir John is going to take the other one under his wing. Who's for a rubber of whist?
gpt
Is Lady Lescelles in?
human
Her ladyship dined at home, the man answered.
gpt
I have just ordered a carriage for her. I believe that her ladyship is going to Carey House, and on to the Marquis of Waterford's ball,
human
Is that you, Nigel? she asked.
gpt
I hope you are going to Carey House.
human
Come in here a moment, will you, Blanche, he said.
gpt
I want to speak to you.
human
I want to ask you a question, he said.
gpt
A serious question.
human
Well?
gpt
You and all the rest of them are always lamenting that I do not marry. Supposing I made up my mind to marry some one of good enough family, but who was in a somewhat doubtful position, concerning whose antecedents, in fact there was a certain amount of scandal. Would you stand by me--and her?
human
My dear Nigel! she exclaimed.
gpt
Are you serious?
human
You know very well that I should never joke on such a subject. Mind, I am anticipating events. Nothing is settled upon. It may be, it probably will all come to, nothing. But I want to know whether in such an event you would stand by me?
gpt
You can count upon me, Nigel, she said.
human
But for you Dad would never have let me marry Lescelles. He was only a younger son, and you know what trouble we had. I am with you through thick and thin, Nigel.
gpt
There are two things to be done, he said softly to himself.
human
The first is to discover what she is here for, and where she is staying. The second is to somehow meet Lady Ferringhall. These fellows must be right, he added thoughtfully,
gpt
ALCIDE