Lady Felton had expressed her concern for Miss
Mallory. "Poor thing!--do you think she knows? Why on earth did she
ever ask him to Beechcote! Alicia Drake told me she saw him there."
These things Sir James did not disclose. He played Diana's game with
perfect discretion. He guessed, even that Fanny was in the house, but he
said not a word. No need at all to question the young woman. If in such
a case he could not get round a rascally solicitor, what could he
do?--and what was the good of being the leader of the criminal Bar?
Only when Diana, at the end of their walk, shyly remarked that money was
not to stand in the way; that she had plenty; that Beechcote was no
doubt too expensive for her, but that the tenancy was only a yearly one,
and she had but to give notice at Michaelmas, which she thought of
doing--only then did Sir James allow himself a laugh.
"You think I am going to let this business turn you out of
Beechcote--eh?--you preposterous little angel!"
"Not this business," stammered Diana; "but I am really living at too
great a rate."
Sir James grinned, patted her ironically on the shoulder, told her to be
a good girl, and departed.
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