Mrs. Vansittart did not, in truth, always
understand Marguerite or her English, which was essentially modern.
They were standing and laughing at the window, when Marguerite suddenly
drew them back.
"What is it?" asked Mrs. Vansittart.
"It is Lord Ferriby," replied Marguerite.
And looking cautiously between the lace curtains, they saw the great
man drive past in his hired carriage. "He has recently bought Park
Straat," commented Marguerite.
And his lordship's condescending air certainly seemed to suggest that
the street, if not the whole city, belonged to him.
Mr. Wade pointed with his thick thumb in the direction in which Lord
Ferriby was driving.
"Where is he going?" he asked bluntly.
"To the malgamite works," replied Mrs. Vansittart, with significance.
And Mr. Wade made no comment. Mrs. Vansittart spoke first.
"I asked Major White," she said, "to lunch with us to-day, but he was
pledged, it appeared, to meet Lord Ferriby and his daughter, and see
them installed at their hotel."
"Ah!" said Mr. Wade.
Mrs. Vansittart, who in truth seemed to find the banker rather heavy,
allowed some moments to elapse before she again spoke.
"Major White," she then observed, "does not accompany Lord Ferriby to
the malgamite works."
"Major White," replied Marguerite, demurely, "has other fish to fry."
CHAPTER XXV.
CLEARING THE AIR
"It is as difficult to be entirely bad as it is to be entirely good.
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