“Does she not know?”

“Certainly not. I am Mr. Everard.”

“How wise of you, Tracy! So you’ve nought to fear?”

“Fear?” He snapped his fingers. “I?”

The heavy curtain swung noiselessly aside. Richard Carstares stood in the opening.

Tracy turned his head and scrutinised him languidly. Then he put up his hand and removed his mask.

“Is it possible the husband scented an intrigue? It seems I am doomed to disappoint tonight.”

Lavinia, smarting from her morning’s wrongs, laughed savagely.

“More probable he mistook me for someone else!” she snapped.