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Confessions of a Well-Meaning Woman in the words or in the tone, but for some reason Sir Appleton chose to take offence.

“That’s not a very sympathetic line to take with some one who may be in great distress,” he said. “For all you know, she’s some girl friend of yours who’s stranded in London without money. If you’ll allow me to say so, Lady Ann, I think one of you should see her. It need not take more than a moment.”

I fancied that I knew better. . . “Norden can find out what the matter is while we’re at dinner,” I said. “You’ll agree that it is not a very reasonable hour for calling.” “Which is what makes me think that her business is urgent,” said Sir Appleton. “If you don’t want to be bothered, will you allow me to interview her? If it’s only a five-pound note she wants because she’s lost her purse. . .” What could one say? Obviously he should not have made such a suggestion, but, as obviously, I could not forbid him. It seemed fair to assume that she would not incriminate herself with a total stranger or try to blackmail us through him. . . And he had an assurance of manner which led me to hope that he would not stand any nonsense from her. . . “Try—by all means,” I said.

And it was on the tip of my tongue to beg him not to consider us; we could await his 243