"Oh, it will do you good," she went on ruthlessly. "You shall have
Miss Faversham on one side and the McCulloch girl on the other."
"If you're going to use threats--" I began with some dignity.
A sudden tap at the door interrupted me.
"Come in!" called out Lady Bulstrode.
I looked up, casually expecting Parkes, and for one radiant, blinding
moment I thought I'd gone mad.
Standing in the doorway was Astarte. She was dressed in a plain
black evening frock, and the plaits of brown hair no longer hung down
her back. But I knew her--knew her as instantly and surely as I
should know the sun or the stars.
So did Rufus. With one loud yell of joy he leapt to his feet and
hurled himself upon her in wild and vociferous delight.
"Bless my soul!" remarked Lady Bulstrode.
"Rufus!" I said, with a tremendous effort, "control yourself!"
Astarte picked him up in her arms, and with a couple of pats soothed
him into something like sanity. She was plainly as amazed as I was,
and I could see her breast rising and falling rapidly as she looked
first at me and then at Lady Bulstrode. When she spoke, however, it
was in her usual delightfully calm manner.
"I'm so sorry," she said. "I thought you were alone."
"My dear Grace," said Lady Bulstrode, fanning herself gently, "do all
dogs take to you like that?"
Astarte put Rufus down with a little laugh.
"Only well-bred ones," she said.
"Well, let me introduce you both. This is Guy Heathcote, Grace; I've
often talked to you about him. Guy, this is my friend, Miss Grace
Conway."