He had a reputation to maintain, and he would
maintain it at all hazards. He had begun to weigh carefully in his mind
the plans he had formed, when the door opened.
"Ah! you loveable little trickster!" he exclaimed as Harriet Payne
entered. "Come and let me thank you. Gold and trinkets I have none
to-night; but--"
"I do not want them," she said.
"Love and kisses, my love and kisses," he said, drawing her on to his
knee. "I've spent wakeful nights thinking of you; now I am happy again."
After a while she disengaged herself a little from his embrace.
"Playing the traitor is not pleasant," she said.
"It is a despicable game," he answered, filling a glass with wine and
handing it to her. "Drink confusion to all traitors."
"That would be to curse myself."
"You are so clever that I wonder you should think me capable of asking
you to do a treacherous action, even for love of me," said Rosmore. "You
shall know my great scheme now that you have so well earned full
partnership in it. But tell me the whole story first. I heard of the
dropped handkerchief. That was excellently conceived."
Harriet told him of her visit to Barbara Lanison in London, repeating
almost word for word what had been said.
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