Louisa communicated this to the lackey and shut the door.

Richard bit his lip angrily.

“Are you sure I am not de trop?” he asked, savagely sarcastic.

Lady Lavinia cast aside her déshabillé and stood up.

“Oh, ’tis no matter⁠—I am ready for my gown, Louisa.”

There came more knocking at the door, and this time it was Carstares who rose to open it.

There entered Markham, heavily handsome in crimson and gold, and Lovelace, his opposite, fair and delicately pretty in palest blue and silver. As usual, he wore his loose wig, and in it sparkled three sapphire pins.

He made my lady a marvellous leg.